July 29, 2005
After a few days in san francisco, you’ll begin to notice a strange proliferation of fat silvery cylinders sprouting from the hands and faces of the local population. Is it an alien invasion? A new kind of cellphone? No. You’ve discovered the secret passion of San Francisco, the vital fuel source of artists, students, plumbers and lawyers alike… the San Francisco mission burrito.
Though digestively challenging, the mission burrito is in many ways the perfect food, and San Franciscans are as passionate about their favorite taquerias as they are about their politics. This is not a subject to be taken lightly…and now I’ve discovered that they’re almost as serious about burritos in Berlin!
Thanks to twiddle for the use of the track “Latin Tang”. Check them out at their garageband website. use licensed under creative commons.
Sparkletack was the blog and podcast of a guy obsessed with diggin' up San Francisco history. The site is on permanent hiatus.
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July 29, 2005 at 5:21 pm
Na prima, jetzt hab’ ich schon wieder Hunger. Nice show, richard – but way too many calories in it ;-) .
July 29, 2005 at 5:22 pm
naja, bevor eine lange Reise ist es immer wichtig, was lecker und “energievoll” zu essen, oder? ;)
August 29, 2005 at 5:23 pm
Worst podcast ever. I’ll never be able to get those 743 seconds back. Large tasty burritos are a dime a dozen in any Southwest city.
August 30, 2005 at 5:23 pm
worst ever? i hope there’s a prize for that… i’ll have a word with albert einstein to see about getting your time refunded.
July 30, 2005 at 5:23 pm
Beck was spotted at Pancho Villa Taqueria playing his guitar in the back while the regular mariachis growled on. Apparently, hardly anyone knew it was Beck.
July 30, 2005 at 5:23 pm
Btw, El Metate has the best fish tacos in da Mission, I say. Their vegetable burritos are pretty damn good too. Love me some El Metate.
July 30, 2005 at 5:24 pm
it was indeed beck… i got the impression from what i read that he was just a “some dude in the back annoying us while we’re trying to talk” kind of guy. pretty funny, actually.
haven’t had the pleasure of el metate’s fish taco, and now i’m sorry i already ate tonight! well, not really — had dinner at el trebol, that little nicaraguan place at 24th and mission… cheap and yum.
August 1, 2005 at 5:24 pm
Hi Richard, I listened to this absolutely great episode while at work in Munich, Germany. You are killing me!!! I am sooo hungry now and no burrito anywhere in sight! You mentioned they are sold in BERLIN? Where??? As I’ll be in Berlin next week I have to have one!
August 1, 2005 at 5:25 pm
hi annik! to tell you the truth (m-hmm!), i’ve never actually had one there. my good friend — who grew up in berlin, lived in san francisco for several years and then moved back — tells me that they exist, but that they’re “just not the same”. we haven’t talked about it in a couple of years, so i’ll call her and see if the situation’s improved, okay? :) (viel Spass zur Reise! bin vollständig neidisch drauf. :)
August 1, 2005 at 5:25 pm
Richard,
Another fabulous episode…..
Thanks,
John
August 4, 2005 at 5:25 pm
Don’t forget to stop by a Salvadorian restaurant and try a pupasa. Sorta of a meat pancake. Delicious, greasy and cheaper than burritos. My favorite place is at 25th and Mission next to San Jose #2.
October 24, 2007 at 11:26 am
“Worst” only in the sense that it made me SO hungry. This was such a great podcast, I blogged about it. And it’s over two years since the podcast’s birth!
August 14, 2008 at 11:01 am
It looks good, but authentic burritos are usually unhealthy. Not that Grill Stuft from Taco Bell is anymore healthy, or any less digestively challenging.
February 23, 2009 at 3:32 pm
Hi, Richard,
Taqueria La Cumbre! I first went there when I was 4 or 5 years old. My father took my brother and me, and we kept going for the next 20+ years. Only on occasion, of course, but they always remembered us. We practically grew up there!
I went by there on Thursday night, seriously wanting a burrito as I’d just been to a viewing (my friend’s Mom had passed away) and it had taken me over an hour to get home, thanks to a stunted MUNI ride dropping me off at Mission and 26th (2 blocks shy of BART), then a just-missed BART train. I knew I was going to be too tired and drained to make dinner.
Alas, I found that their prices have surpassed those of Azteca, which is a short distance from me, so I had to walk back out. If I had recognized the proprietors, I may have purchased my burrito from them anyway, but I’m not sure who runs the place now. It was the Mom and Dad I always knew and recognized, and neithe was there. I think the Mom passed away some time ago, I’m not sure about the Dad. I remember the Mom always watching the Spanish soaps when we would go in, ringing up our purchases while still managing to pay attention to the TV. Quite impressive!
It’s pretty awesome to know that TLC (hey! That’s pretty funny! TLC – Taqueria La Cumbre? Or Tender Loving Care?) was the first place to sell burritos, that it still exists and that I used to go there so many years ago.
Chloe
August 6, 2009 at 6:56 am
Great subject.
Many food and drink trends started in the City.
I like to see more on this subject.
For me, you can’t beat the taco trucks and the tamale ladies at 24th & Mission.