By: Katie Kadue | July 30 2010

When you ask a local tacovore which of the many taquerias in San Francisco's Mission District to try, you might be directed to "the taqueria." Thanks. That's helpful. But the aptly named La Taqueria, where you can wash down your carnitas with strawberry agua fresca, may deserve the title of the taqueria in the Mission, though it's got close competition from places like Pancho Villa, La Cumbre, and El Farolito, whose salsa verde earns raves.

When it comes to taquerias, everyone's got their opinion, and the debate can get spicier than the salsa: does Taqueria San Jose's al pastor, traditionally served in tacos, pass the test of authenticity, and if so, is it blasphemy to enjoy it in a burrito?

Photo: Lee-Sean Huang

Pork purists aside, the consensus seems to be that all taquerias are pretty good, and since so many are within a few blocks, you could even taco-hop through them all: many offer happy hour specials of a taco and a beer. Or, if you just want a burrito as big as your cabeza, filled with beans, rice, and all the fixins, head to Taqueria Cancun or La Cumbre, whose bulging Mission-style burritos have long been considered a San Francisco specialty.

Not a carnita-vore? Even vegans can get in on the taqueria scene at Gracias Madre, where fresh corn tortillas heaping with guacamole and nopales won't have you missing meat. Cashew nacho cheese is not your typical chip accompaniment, but you'll be surprised how creamily it coats your quesadillas de calabaza.

Photo: Lesley Tellez

No matter your taste in taquerias, finding satisfaction in the Mission is far from impossible. And once you've got your tacos, you can truck them over to Dolores Park, park yourself on the (sometimes) sunny hillside, and congratulate yourself on a mission accomplished.