Taqueria El Castillito

Reviews

• Ryan K.

  star star star star star_border 1 June 2026

  I could have a meal just on the salsa bar alone.
  
  Highly recommend the tacos though. The carnitas is among the best I've had: crispy, fatty goodness
  The beef cheek (cabeza) was also super tasty. Healthy portioned tacos. 3 is probably the ideal number for a meal.

• Bobby C.

  star star_border star_border star_border star_border 14 May 2026

  This place could not provide a Door Dash driver, thus couldn't deliver my order of 4 gourmet ( wet burritos)...
  They kept the 50 dollars, stating they already started my order, and I was refunded only $12.83 in delivery fees....what a crock!
  Your a rip off and a scam, and lost my respect and my business!...

• Alex R.

  star star star star_border star_border 7 May 2026

  World-renowned chef David Chang calls the super burrito here "the best he's ever eaten." FiveThirtyEight's national Burrito Bracket (which, by the way, saw San Francisco's own La Taqueria take home the Title of "America's Best Burrito" for its amazing Dorado-style super burritos) named this "the one that got away." Naturally, being a self-proclaimed burrito aficionado, I had to see for myself whether or not there was any truth to the claims that El Castillito makes the best burrito the city has to offer.
  
  Upon entry, you definitely notice the classic no-frills atmosphere characteristic of many spots in the Mission. I ordered the super burrito al pastor, which includes rice, beans, sour cream, sliced avocado, and cheese, along with the marinated pork. First observation: the burrito was large -- heavy, dense, and best of all, forearm-sized. Taste-wise, it was pretty solid as well; the al pastor was very tender and flavorful. What really took away from the experience, however, was that the ratio of the ingredients was completely off (see photo). The burrito was swamped with rice, with only a little bit of meat and beans, and to make matters worse, they were all sequestered in one spot. Same goes for the avocado -- while fresh, every slice was placed in the center, with none spread out anywhere else. It was a disappointment because the flavor was there... but not so much for the execution.
  
  Despite the mishap in the assembly, though, I'd definitely be willing to give this place another shot; if put together right, this place is worth your attention for sure.

• David S.

  star star star star_border star_border 7 May 2026

  Consistently good food and decent service. I'm always happy to see a salsa bar.
  
  It's Mission, and therefore not this restaurant's fault, but it's hard to avoid the large number of sketchy sorts that always seem to be loitering around this place.
  
  I also looked over the other day and saw an employee cutting up a huge pile of questionable-looking meat and without gloves... or I couldn't see them, anyway. I was the only one in the place being served food at the moment, but it still felt like an extra few minutes' time than it needed to get my fajitas.
  
  The employees seemed to notice my eyeing them, and the man who brought my fajitas did it with this extra flourish, where he sprinkled cilantro on the meal in front of me.
  
  Thanks fella, but it doesn't quite comfort me that I could either get shanked eating here or get e-coli from the meal.
  
  I exaggerate. I like this place, and I will be back. They changed up the decor a bit recently... almost didn't recognize it.

• Ayala K.

  star star_border star_border star_border star_border 5 May 2026

  Based on the place being included in the San Francisco Chronicle's 2019 Top 100 Restaurant we decided to check it out.
  The chicken of the burrito was so dry! It seemed like someone cooked it, and then re-heated it several times. Upon complaining, the arrogant counter person said that "it is what it is and everyone likes it this way."
  The shrimp taco, overpriced, was way too greasy.
  We will not return.