San Francisco has so many great taquerias, taco trucks, and hole-in-the-wall places with blow-your-mind carnitas that we could have stayed for weeks and still not be done choosing. Or eating.
We looked up taquerias and best of street food lists and asked all our friends. Where do we get great carnitas?
In the end, we just did what felt right. When we passed one that looked good, we went in.
On our way back from Humphry Solcombe with our friend Melissa, we walked past Tonayense Tacqueria as we made our way toward the BART.
“That looks good,” I said, sensing something from the outside of the building.
“It is,” Melissa said. “They have taco trucks all over the city. This is their only store.”
We walked right in.
And what did we find? Tacos for $1.75.
I didn’t look at the rest of the menu. I knew I needed a carnitas taco. (Or is it taco carnitas?)
I wasn’t disappointed. The meat was tender to the tooth but crisp on the outside. Just the right amount of heat. And the right amount of meat to the taco. (I could hold it in my hands without it all falling out, but I wasn’t biting on air either.)
As someone on Yelp wrote, these folks “…understand the Platonic ideal of tacos ingredients is meat, onions, cilantro, spicy salsa, and freshly squeezed lime juice for that perfect balance of flavors.”
Oh yeah.
We were lucky. When we went in, the housemade tortilla chips had just come out of the fryer. The fryer with lard.
These chips are fried in lard, as they should be, as they are in any authentic place.
Crisp and just thick enough, with a bit of a tug on the teeth. And since they were fried in lard, you know the taste was amazing.
I’m not saying this was the best taco carnitas (or is it carnitas taco?) in San Francisco. I’m just saying that on that afternoon of walking, these were the perfect bites for that moment.
What do you think? Any other suggestions for places to buy great carnitas you want to pass on to the rest of us?
3150 24th St.
(between Shotwell St & Van Ness Ave)
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 559-0404
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
After jumping into this blog at the behest of my gluten-free counterpart Sarah, I feel the need to comment on this post, as SF tacos are near and dear to my heart.
The pork to try is actually half a block down — Taqueria Vallarta. Their carne asada is so-so, but their pork is crispy and well-flavored, and their salsas are smoky and delicious.
Not sure if you’re still in SF, but it’s a mistake to pass that up.
Now, don’t get me started on Oakland tacos….
Hey Shauna! This post just hit my soft spot. We heart carnitas around here. The best ones we have had lately are just a bit south of San Francisco: in Los Mochis, Sinaloa. I will send you some photos by tweet since I don’t know how to upload them here..
Carnitas are not hard to make. I have tried many versions and have been happy with results. But I have yet to try those from this taco shop in the middle of the main highway in Los Mochis (some things are found where you least expect them huh?) The owner (such an extraordinary cook and adorable woman) gave us some great tips. I will test and let you know.
A little known but well-appreciated taco truck in NYC that parks on 86h and Lexington Ave just by the subway has that “balance.” But alas - their presence is scant in the winter months….
I don’t live near the west coast, but sometime, try the tacos carnitas al pastor style (marinated in a chipotle-chile-pineapple sauce). Oh it is heaven.