North-American Food and Cooking

SF Weekly Letters

Gustavo Arellano on San Francisco Tamales, Bacon-Wrapped Hot Dogs, Taco Bell, Part 2

According to this week's cover story, written by Gustavo Arellano, San Francisco played a surprising and key role in the spread of Mexican food across America. The story is an excerpt from Arellano's new book, Taco USA: How Mexican Food Conquered America, which comes out this week. Arellano's book c ... More >>

When We Were Red Hot: S.F.'s Tamale Industry Once Ruled America

According to this week's cover story, written by Gustavo Arellano, San Francisco played a surprising and key role in the spread of Mexican food across America. The story is an excerpt from Arellano's new book, Taco USA: How Mexican Food Conquered America, which comes out this week. Arellano's book c ... More >>

Gustavo Arellano Talks San Francisco Tamales and Burritos, Part 1

San Francisco has gotten used to thinking of itself as a remote outpost in the Mexican diaspora, since our lively but embattled Mexican American community is dwarfed by much larger ones in Los Angeles and the Southwest. But according to this week's cover story, written by Gustavo Arellano, San Franc ... More >>

Papito's Pollo Empanizado Quesadilla Brings New Promise To A College Staple

​The quesadilla has become a staple of late night drunken consumption. Frat boys the nation over have staved off the gnarliest of hangovers with hunks of cheese, possibly smothered in Sirracha, sandwiched between two crisply grilled circles of tortilla. It's a simple, filling staple of Tex-Mex c ... More >>

Hops & Hominy: Florida Chefs Bring the South to Union Square

Erin Browner​For all those daring enough to dash down the dimly lit Tillman Place alley, a buttermilk- battered chicken awaits you.In the past two years, Southern cooking has exploded in S.F., bringing us The Boxing Room and Criolla Kitchen. But four restaurateurs from northern Florida believe ou ... More >>

The Richest Spots for Fat Tuesday, No Mask Required

Planning ahead for Valentine's Day often means people forget to prep for Mardi Gras. Your pocket may be exhausted from the small-plate, three-course, $125 prix fixe Valentine's meal, but luckily the Southern tradition promises a full plate of food on Fat Tuesday (Feb. 21) for a quick buck.Boxing Roo ... More >>

Boogaloos Brunch: Quick, Dirty & Delicious

​In the brunch world, there exist two camps. First, there are the restaurants known as darlings of the dinner scene which have extended their fresh, farmers' market-inspired fare to Saturday and Sunday mornings. Then, on the other hand, we have aficionados of the good old two-eggs-and-bacon Americ ... More >>

Nopalito Brunch Recycles Dinner Favorites

​Nopalito's famous Carnitas -- pork braised in milk and beer with cinnamon -- put them on the SF dining map, and those pleasantly tart, bright margaritas keep us coming back. On that note, there's good news and bad news for brunch-goers at the sustainable Mexican kitchen. The good: You can still e ... More >>

San Francisco's Top 10 Burritos

Within five minutes of arguing with any San Franciscan about the best burrito in town, it becomes clear that what makes a great burrito is different for all of us. For some people, greatness is impossible without girth. For others, the quality and quantity of the meat is most important, and a few st ... More >>

With Stefano Restaurant, Guatemalan Pizza Becomes a New Anti-Fusion Meme in San Francisco

Within five minutes of arguing with any San Franciscan about the best burrito in town, it becomes clear that what makes a great burrito is different for all of us. For some people, greatness is impossible without girth. For others, the quality and quantity of the meat is most important, and a few st ... More >>

Q&A With Nopalito's Gonzalo Guzman and Jose Ramos, Part 2: 'We're Not Trying to Change the Authenticity of a Dish'

Alanna HaleNopalito's co-chefs, Jose Ramos (left) and Gonzalo Guzman.​Nopalito's co-chefs, Gonzalo Guzman and Jose Ramos, famously started off as cooks at Nopa whose food was so good owner Laurence Jossel built a restaurant around them. In part one of SFoodie's Q&A with the two chefs, Guzman a ... More >>

Q&A With Nopalito's Gonzalo Guzman and Jose Ramos, Part 1: Everything From Scratch

Alanna HaleNopalito's co-chefs, Jose Ramos (left) and Gonzalo Guzman​Gonzalo Guzman and Jose Ramos, co-chefs of Nopalito, both grew up in Mexico -- in Veracruz and Guanajuato, respectively -- but ended up as cooks in San Francisco through very different paths. Before working together at Nopa, ... More >>

Does Money Have Flavor? Find out at Taste of Microfinance

​Taste of MicrofinanceWhen: Sept. 27, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.Where: Yerba Buena Center for the ArtsCost: $40 in advance, $50 at the door Some people call money "bread" or "cheddar," but you can do better than a cheese sandwich at the Taste of Microfinance. Opportunity Fund claims be the largest microl ... More >>

Boxing Room: Fresh Take Saves Cajun and Creole Cooking from Cliche

​Taste of MicrofinanceWhen: Sept. 27, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.Where: Yerba Buena Center for the ArtsCost: $40 in advance, $50 at the door Some people call money "bread" or "cheddar," but you can do better than a cheese sandwich at the Taste of Microfinance. Opportunity Fund claims be the largest microl ... More >>

Where Did Crispy Tacos Come From?

Joy of Cooking's first taco recipe (1964).​While researching this week's review of Tacko, the Nantucket-themed taco shop in the Marina, I started asking around to find out the history of the anglo taco. Now, Nick Fasanella's crispy tacos have far more complex, Mexican-inspired flavors than the rec ... More >>

Tacko: The Nantucket Gringo Take on the Taco

Joy of Cooking's first taco recipe (1964).​While researching this week's review of Tacko, the Nantucket-themed taco shop in the Marina, I started asking around to find out the history of the anglo taco. Now, Nick Fasanella's crispy tacos have far more complex, Mexican-inspired flavors than the rec ... More >>

Outside Lands Food Gets Even Better

W. Blake GrayThe huarache Alambre from El Huarache Loco​Outside Lands last year had what might have been the best lineup of food purveyors ever at a music festival -- not hard because at most big outdoor shows, people are happy if they can even get food. This year the music lineup is signifi ... More >>

The Food at Outside Lands Is Gonna Be Even Better This Year

The huarache Alambre from El Huarache Loco, which you can eat at Outside Lands this year.​ Ostensibly one goes to Outside Lands for the music, right? I mean, spending three days in Golden Gate Park amid throngs of crazy young ravers, rock dads, children of rock dads, hipster trash, and jaded a ... More >>

Tie One On for the Tamale Lady's Birthday

SanFranAnnie FlickrLooking for tamales​The Tamale Lady's 58th Birthday Where: Zeitgeist, 199 Valencia (at Duboce) When: Tuesday, June 21, 6-10 p.m. Cost: Free, but buy a few drinks to celebrate The Rundown: Anyone who frequents the Mission bars is going to run into the Tamale Lady: Virgin ... More >>

Gumbo and Etouffée, Twice Weekly

Easy Creole​Easy Creole Pop-Up Where: The Residence, 718 14th St (at Market) and La Victoria, 2937 24th St (at Alabama) When: Wednesdays and Fridays, starting Wed., May 25 (The Residence) and Fri., May 27 (La Victoria), 5 p.m.-? Cost: $8 per item, $10 for specials The rundown: With the gal ... More >>

¡Viva San Francisco! with CUESA and La Cocina

Hecho en San Francisco​Where: CUESA Kitchen at the Ferry Building (in front near Gott's formerly Taylor's Refresher)When: Thurs., May 5, 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.Cost: $50 online The rundown: Cinco de Mayo is an easy holiday to handle -- it requires nothing more than hanging out with friends and indulgi ... More >>

What Taqueria Is Tasty Enough for an MS-13 Member to Risk Getting Shot?

View Tacos on 24th Street in Norteño Territory in a larger mapSF Weekly reporter Lauren Smiley followed up on her (stunning) cover story, "A Rat's Life," with a blog post yesterday, "The Insider's Guide to the MS-13 Gang." In between tidbits like not using gang funds to buy broken-down Impalas and ... More >>

Tequila and Tamales by the Bay: Too Good to Pound

Maria Antonieta SolorzanoThe Whole Tortilla picked up the People's Choice Award.​Around 300 people breezed about the sunny atrium at San Francisco Design Center Sunday, munching tamales and sipping from baby shot glasses of tequila. It was the fifth year of Benchmark Institute's fundraiser Tequila ... More >>

Sunday: Tequila and Tamales, More or Less by the Bay

Tamales by the Bay​A Taste of Tamales by the Bay Where: San Francisco Design Center, 101 Henry Adams (at Alameda) When: Sat., April 17, noon-4:30 p.m. Cost: $45 ($50 after today) The rundown: This Sunday is a big day for single-food celebrations, as the Chocolate Salon and A Taste of Tama ... More >>

Saturday's Green Festival: Crunchy. The Food: Less So

Elaine N./YelpA Donna's tamale.​Green Festival Where: Concourse Exhibition Center, 635 Eighth St. (at Brannan), 487-3293 When: Sat., Apr. 9, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sun., Apr. 10, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Cost: $10 in advance, $15 at the door The rundown: Hey San Francisco, it's time to walk your talk. Sure ... More >>

Taco Libre: Nombe Chef Vincent Schofield Opens a Taqueria

Luis ChongThe mango salsa an Taco Libre's fish taco (lower left) is delicious.​Vincent Schofield has to be the busiest chef in San Francisco. He's executive chef at Nombe, still keeps an eye on the food at Darwin, and last Friday, Schofield and his partners opened Taco Libre, a casual, brightl ... More >>

Queen's Louisiana Po-Boy Café Marks Lundi Gras

Jesse HirschMJ's Brass Boppers, tearing it up at Queen's Louisiana Po-Boy Café to mark Lundi Gras.​A little rain didn't stop moneymakers from being shaken at Monday night's Lundi Gras celebration at Queen's Louisiana Po-Boy Café. With as many band members as there were tables, the festively ... More >>

Best Practices for Eating a Burrito in San Francisco

​John Birdsall​ A happy man once said, "The best burrito in the city is the one you are eating." He said it while cradling a ruptured super whose mass had burst through its tinfoil housing and was flowing, lavalike, down his forearms and plopping onto the sidewalk. We caught sight of let ... More >>

Haltun Mayan Cuisine May Make Yucatecan Food a New S.F. Staple

​John Birdsall​ A happy man once said, "The best burrito in the city is the one you are eating." He said it while cradling a ruptured super whose mass had burst through its tinfoil housing and was flowing, lavalike, down his forearms and plopping onto the sidewalk. We caught sight of let ... More >>

Fresh Eats: We recommend Reverie's pozole and Ajisen's ramen

​John Birdsall​ A happy man once said, "The best burrito in the city is the one you are eating." He said it while cradling a ruptured super whose mass had burst through its tinfoil housing and was flowing, lavalike, down his forearms and plopping onto the sidewalk. We caught sight of let ... More >>

Fresh Eats: Urban winery in Dogpatch, Farm:Table is small but beautiful

​John Birdsall​ A happy man once said, "The best burrito in the city is the one you are eating." He said it while cradling a ruptured super whose mass had burst through its tinfoil housing and was flowing, lavalike, down his forearms and plopping onto the sidewalk. We caught sight of let ... More >>

New Restaurants

​John Birdsall​ A happy man once said, "The best burrito in the city is the one you are eating." He said it while cradling a ruptured super whose mass had burst through its tinfoil housing and was flowing, lavalike, down his forearms and plopping onto the sidewalk. We caught sight of let ... More >>

New Restaurants

​John Birdsall​ A happy man once said, "The best burrito in the city is the one you are eating." He said it while cradling a ruptured super whose mass had burst through its tinfoil housing and was flowing, lavalike, down his forearms and plopping onto the sidewalk. We caught sight of let ... More >>

What's a man gotta do to find the real soul food deal?

​John Birdsall​ A happy man once said, "The best burrito in the city is the one you are eating." He said it while cradling a ruptured super whose mass had burst through its tinfoil housing and was flowing, lavalike, down his forearms and plopping onto the sidewalk. We caught sight of let ... More >>

Sanctuary for Salvadoran Food

Give me your tired, your poor, but most definitely your pupusas.

Secret Places

A few modest ethnic eateries that are worth checking out.

San Francisco Street Food Top Ten

A few modest ethnic eateries that are worth checking out.

Map to the Carts

A few modest ethnic eateries that are worth checking out.

Monte Carlo Kicks It Creole in the Bayview

Our weekly pick from Thrillist.com

A weekly listing of new restaurants around town.

Our weekly pick from Thrillist.com

A Weekly Listing of new Restaurants Around Town

Our weekly pick from Thrillist.com

It's Maya Pleasure

This Yucatecan kitchen has a magic touch

The Maddening Crowd

Seasonal New American food in a reimagined industrial setting draws a noisy throng downtown

A Little Grilled Gift

Fresh Mexican fare is just the thing to lure you out of the house and toward the Mission

FiDi After Hours

A few oases in the Financial District's evening desert

Best Mexican

Oakland's divine Doña Tomás opens a nifty taqueria in Berkeley

Antojitos Antics

Calvin Trillin and assorted other out-of-town tipsters inspire a round of tacos

On a Mission

Mission burritos

Carnival of Sorts

Monte Carlo Restaurant & Bar