El Tonayense Taco Truck
Categories: Food Stands, Mexican [Edit]
Neighborhood: Mission22nd St and Harrison St
San Francisco, CA 94110 (415) 550-9192
- Price Range: $
- Accepts Credit Cards: No
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: No
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: No
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Good for: Lunch
- Alcohol: None
708 reviews
Neighborhood: Russian Hill
"wow is this place great or what??? If you want real tacos that actually taste good then come by nick's. yes it's crazy when it's taco $2…" read more »
156 Reviews for El Tonayense Taco Truck
Some kids would perk up when the ice cream truck came by. Not me. The sight of this taco truck would make my mouth water.
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Passing the El Tonayense Taco Truck parked alongside Best Buy for years and hearing a great review on them on KQED's, Check, Please!, I had to see for myself. After ordering my vegetarian burrito, I spoke to a couple who claimed that this taco truck was better than any taqueria in the Mission. Well, I have to say that my veg burrito wasn't bad. The white sauce that they added to my good sized burrito helped give it a unique flavor compared to many other burrito shops. However, it was just *OK*, not great. Would I go back again? Sure. But only if I was starving while at Best Buy.
Be grateful, Juan Pablo, today is especially delicious...
The tacos, burritos and tortas are so good, they make me wet myself every time I think about eating them...
The al pastor makes me quiver and the horchata is like the nectar of love. This taco truck is orgasmic and only the best taco truck in the universe (if you count San Francisco the universe).
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The complete opposite of a roach coach. This truck is cleaner than most kitchens in normal restaurants. They serve up no nonsense tacos: just a bit of meat, chopped onions, cilantro and a wedge of lime on the side. Forget about getting a overdose of beans and rice.
It does exist!!! Taco Truck Heaven!
El Tonayense taco truck is unbelievably DELICIOUS! The tacos, burritos and horchata is perfection. We ordered 3 tacos, carnitas burrito, chips and horchata. Everything was so tasty! The chips were warm, the taco meat was perfectly seasoned and the burrito was fantastic! This is a great spot to grab lunch. There were a few items we were curious about, but weren't brave enough to try: tongue and brain. Perhaps it'll be tried on our next visit...
Come to the taco truck - you won't be disappointed!
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Favorite Taco Truck in the city!
Got a Torta con carne asada...YUM!!!!!!!!!!!!
And dude 100% of their Inspection Report! WOW!
I never seen that ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HIGH 5!!!!!!!!!!!
Delicioso!
So cheap, so good, no weird bits (my sister always seems to get random shit in her food, but not this time).
We usually stop on our way to Giants' games, and some times after, although I don't quite remember those usually due to a good beer haze. I know I've been post-baseball since I find bits of salsa on my clothes or in our poor designated driver's car. (Oops!)
Tacos are excellent, but burritos are bueno, tambien.
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As many a world traveler has discovered, and as the great philosopher Socrates might put it...
Often street food is actually amazing.
Taco truck fare qualifies as street food.
Therefore, taco truck food is often amazing.
I never actually know the names of taco trucks, and this one to me has always been "the one in front of the Best Buy." But I've been working in this neighborhood recently, and I've become a regular. I took note of the name so I could write this review, and I can't say I'm surprised to be putting mine on top of the pile of 175 others.
Here's my secret to a great Mexican meal: Order the cabeza.
In Mexico, the cook might then point you to a whole roasted head of a cow and expect you to point to the specific bits you favor - the ojo, oreja, labios, cachete.
In San Francisco, however, the result is not so horrifying. Here, cabeza is mostly the cheek (cachete) meat, slowly braised to perfection. It's the tenderest beef you can imagine, and when mingled with a few diced onions, a hint of cilantro and a squirt of lime, then laid before you on a pair of corn tortillas, it just might be the best $3.50 you could spend.
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Oh Taco Truck, how I miss you! We used to live two blocks from 22nd and Harrison and my biggest complaint about the neighborhood was that the truck was not parked two blocks closer to us. Gone are the days of walking to the truck for the delicious tacos. Luckily I still work pretty close to the truck on 18th and Harrison so on the rare occasion I have an opportunity to step out, you know you can find me enjoying my chicken tacos and a penafil at El Tonayense.
Put simply, I am a huge fan of taco trucks, and El Tonayense did not disappoint. I was a little put off when trying to pronounce the name, but the carne asada super burrito I ordered quickly laid to rest any doubt I had. It was definitely one of the best burritos I have had in a long time, and at a great price as well. Check it out when you're in the neighborhood.
A taco truck, a gem and missing of houston, good said, its cheap, filling and good culture and very authetnic
No better way to get a good taco from south of the border without emptying out your greenback out your purse
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Having this taco truck near my work makes me very happy. It's cheap as hell, delicious (especially the salsa) and filling. A cross section of the city is there, and the service is brisk.
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This place made me nostalgic for who my former coworkers and I affectionately called "The Burrito Lady" in Goleta - she'd come around in the catering truck to different businesses (showed up at ours around 10 or 11) and provide yummy goodness for all who paid.
I've only had the carne asada taco from this place so far, but I'm reminded that I really need to come out here more often - maybe get a taco here, try the quesadilla, and stop by El Farolito on my way home...
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Amazing. This place has the best burritos in the city, at a very decent price.
The tacos are equally as good, but a little overpriced here ($1.75). However, they are good as a side for your burrito. Also, I think it was voted as having the best SF Style burrito last year.
The only problem I've ever had with this place is when they gave my boyfriend the super burrito just because he said he wanted everything on it, which includes sour cream. He can't eat sour cream. When he tried to take it back the man behind the counter said that when people say everything (even when they don't say they specifically want a super burrito) they get the super burrito. It took my boyfriend about 3 times of telling this guy he couldn't eat it because the sour cream would make him sick before they would make him a new one. So minus one star for lack of understanding/miscommunication.
Definitely a must, especially if you're in the mood for Mexican food, and especially if you need to pick up some stuff from Best Buy.
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The tacos here are excellent. the first time I went here I told everyone at work I was going to eat sesos for lunch. No one knew what sesos were. I told them that they were brains. Then i told them I was going to buy them from a taco truck (roach coach). Well i did, and they were impressed. I was super hungover, and the meat was grey, which didn't help, but it tasted pretty good. I did get some gnar points, but I would stick with the usuals, which are great.
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This is THE best taco truck in San Francisco (and probably in the entire Bay Area). I have tried many and none else has such a great sauce.
If you go there order TACOS (not burritos), that's why it is called TACO TRUCK.
The one on Harrison and 20th is really good as well as the one outside the Best Buy.
Usually stays open till 9:30pm
Amazing tacos!
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This taco truck has angel wings they are just invisible... because we're just not ready to see a taco truck of such glory.
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love love it. Such amazing carrots! Such amazing super chicken tacos...get it ALL on there! YUM! And the horchata is good too. And CHEAP! Holy shit - so cheap and yummmy.
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Who would have guessed that the best tacos come from a taco truck?
I Love these tacos.
Love them.
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So much more sane than Norteno (http://www.yelp.com/bi...)! I'm sorry my love, Norteno... but alas, the mix-up orders and the vague pricing sometimes frustrate me.
Enter Tonayense! While not having the same variety as their nearby competitor Norteno, Tonayense still provides some very good (and some would argue the best) taco truck fare, fewer mix-ups and consistent pricing.
I had three tacos here, $1.75 each--lengua (beef tongue), cabeza (head and cheek, only have seen this at Tonayense), and carnitas (fried pork). By far, the lengua here reigns supreme of the three. I might also add, if you're a lengua fan... I'm sorry Norteno but Tonayense's lengua was so much better! Flavor, texture, all around it was better. The cabeza was an interesting menu item, but while I found it to be very tender and quite flavorful, it was not as surprising as I thought it would be.
My only major complaint was the carnitas--it was way too dry. The complimenting sauces and pickles were very good, though I have to say Norteno does provide many more pickled jalapenos and carrots, as well as garnishes of radish whereas Tonayense supplies a single jalapeno. Still, for the CONSISTENT value and overall impression, I really like Tonayense. I think I would go with a burrito next time, but I there will definitely be a next time.
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Best taco/burrito truck ever. Friendly service, amazing burrito. The horchata is delicious, not too sweet, entirely refreshing. The salsa roja is flavorful, a bit spicy, and totally delicious. The ingredients of the burrito really meld well. Consistent quality. Tip, try to get there before noon or after 1...the lunch hour can be busy. Great for lunch break at work.
Now this is what I'm talking about. My favorite burritos over in Oaktown were always from trucks, so it's no surprise that my favorite burrito so far in the mission is from one as well.
Just a short walk from my house and I'm face deep in a slab of goodness. I got the Carne Asada and it was fab. The sauce and spices were right on and unique. Meat was good and the burrito was good sized.
At $6 it wasn't cheaper than going to a taqueria, but far superior to the places I've tried down here so far. I'll be hitting this place up on the regular...tacos, burritos, tortas...I'm down for it all.
I'm pretty sure the burrito made me shit my pants later in the evening, but it was a small price to pay.
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Can't find another burrito joint better than this truck which is always parked outside of Best Buy. Yum! I haven't mustered enough courage to try the Brain Burrito, only had the chicken and beef which are moderately spicy and taste nothing similar to those in stores. ;P
this taco truck is park right in front of a sitdown mexican restaurant. how can they get away with that? there's even a few chairs for sitdown eating (from the taco truck) right in front of the restaurant!
the carne asada burrito (5.50) was mostly meat. few beans, very little rice, some onions. and salsa. and VERY TASTY. the meat was tender
and a little crunchy, the salsa just spicy enough. the al pastor taco (1.75) had lot of meat on it as well, justifying the extra quarter. chips (1.00) are extra. tortas (5.00) and burritos can be supersized for .50.
pros:
good value, burrito may look smaller since it is bulked up by beans & rice.
friendly quick service.
cons:
parking may be a problem. don't know how the meter maids et al. responds to double parkers.
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Awesome Taco truck! The tacos are quick and cheap here. I also had a quesadilla once, it tasted great... but i'm not so sure it's good for you. It was basically a regular burrito with cheese instead of the rice, meat, and other fillings.
By far my favorite has to be the pollo asada burrito, one of the best chicken burritos I've ever had. The chicken was juicy enough to soak the rice in it's juices, it was delicious. I don't live near this area but when i'm near I try to stop by for a burrito! I like these burritos better than CHINOS and GORDOS in the outer richmond, and even some of the burrito places that i've been in the outer mission.
- Quick and fast service
- Good prices (especially compared to the inflated prices of the burrito places in the Richmond district)
Overall 4.5 rounded up to 5 stars.
Like French kissing a taco.
No silly, I was referring to the lengua (tongue) tacos. Sounds horrible, but the texture is oh-so-tenderly good. At $1.75 a lick (no pun intended), these quick and dirty meat grenades are a great cheap consolation snack after dropping major loot at Best Buy next door. Darn you Magnolia Home Theater!
They sauce it up real good with this thick red chili paste and a generous amount of crisp cilantro and chopped raw onions. Super hot , fresh, and cheap - just the way they should be.
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Can't beat the value here and these trucks are peppered along Harrison. Highlights are the al pastoral (barbecue pork) and pollo asado (grilled chicken) in taco or torta (Mexican sandwich) varieties. Wash it all down with the yummy horchata (rice water) drink.
Hand down BEST taco in the city. I grew up in Southern California on a diet of my mom's Chinese/Cambodian/Vietnamese cooking and tacos from a taco stand in El Monte next to my dad's store. I still remember them to this day-- little pockets of deliciousness wrapped in foil that came accompanied with a little wax paper baggy of limes. Open them up and they were these simple creations of carne asada, onions, cilantro, and a little hot sauce on a beautiful little corn tortilla. Perfection.
I've tried tacos at La Taq, Can-Cun, etc. etc. and nowhere does it compare to tacos from taco trucks (or taco stands, for that matter). El Tonayense does it best by not doing anything, really. No beans, no rice, and most of all, not lettuce. Simple perfection.
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I ate here three times a day when I first started my company back in the 90s. At the time, they were the best damn tacos in the city. Carnitas, chicken and al pastor served on a pair of delicious corn tortillas, topped with hot sauce and cheese (extra, but recommended), garnished with a lime and radishes, it just doesn't get any better. The jalapenos and carrots add some nice kick between bites. You can wash it down with Mexican cokes in bottles or Jarritos. Seven years later, they haven't missed a step. Same place, same food. I'm going to see about renting them for a party.
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I know what your thinking. A taco truck? No seriously.....I saw this featured on Check Please Bay Area on KQED this weekend. Friends of mine went tonight Sunday evening, to their restaurant in the Mission.
The restaurant was freezing cold and the food wasnt very good.
All of us were not very happy with the food. : (
This place has the best burrito in the city. The super burrito is unlike any burrito I've eaten anywhere else. They are friendly and fast. And there's great parking since it's right by Best Buy :)
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For months I've complained to my wife about how there are only a few good burrito places here in the bay how much I miss all the "-ERTO'S" restaurants down in LA. You know what I'm talking about .. Alberto's, Adalberto's, Roberto's, Robertito's, etc etc. Anyways, this taco truck was AWESOME. I can't wait to get food from here again. I hear a lot about how big burritos can get at certain places, but I don't give a shit about how big it is if its just not that good. This truck has a decent sized super burrito AND it's damn good. I wish they had more of these trucks around. The fact that it's next to best buy is good too. Nothing better than knocking out from food coma to make you forget how much you spent at Best Buy
This is one of the mamy unique things about SF, Our street food, no other compares, wait til they get a liquor lisence, i know I wouldn't be the only one chasing them down
dont be scared of that truck parked next to best buy its the best shit u can have , try the carne asada quesadilla oh man i can live with those guys on that truck one of the best mexican food in the area !!!
I think this is the better of the taco trucks because you have a place to sit (2 tables, the floor) and it's not so busy, since it's not right next to Best Buy. I love how I can get 6 tacos and 2 drinks for less than $20. I also wonder how the Mexican restaurant this truck parks right in front of survives.
I am planning on moving closer to this truck so I can get fat and die on $1.75 tacos.
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We were going to Best Buy and saw this truck so fiance halted the car and I immediately jumped out and got us a torta chicken and rice water to share! It was so delicious and cooked to the right taste and toasty! YUM! $7 meal for 2, good stuff. :)
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mmMMm the tacos with Al Pastor!! oh the cravings! enough said!
Some years back when the manfriend and I were going through our initial courtship rituals, I made him go to the Tonayense taco truck with me. Over the years, his food comfort zone has expanded but at the time, a "roach coach" was pushing it. I explained that the trucks in SF were regulated as well as the taquerias and that they had amazing tacos, spicy salsa, some were open late night, and it was super cheap. He was skeptical. Now he goes more than I do, so I guess we have a convert. El Tonayense will always hold a special place in my heart because it too was my first taco truck. I had read about it on chowhound and made a detour in SF to try it out way, way back in the day.
I always opt a plate of different tacos, pollo asado, carnitas, and maybe al pastor. Hot salsa, a lime, and some napkins and you have a perfect quick meal. The taco trucks on the Harrison corridor are also convenient if you're driving downtown for a shopping trip. Super easy parking and god knows that shopping on an empty stomach is trouble. I thought that the El Tonayense trucks were one of my first reviews but I can't seem to find them now. Better late than never.
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Normally I'm a burrito girl, but I always order tacos from El Tonayense Taco Truck. They're pretty good and cheap ($1.75 ea.) Great for a little snack on the way home. One of these days I will definitely try the burrito.
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