All-You-Can-Eat Tacos from 18 Restaurants at Eat Drink SF’s Taco Knockdown

It's a down-and-out San Francisco restaurant fight to the death, all in the name of tacos and charity. Eat Drink SF is quickly approaching, and this week a few smaller events (like the Super Duper Burger guest chef series) are leading up to the main weekend event of eating, drinking and education from some of the city's top talent at Fort Mason Festival Pavilion.

Thursday brings the first annual Taco Knockdown at Folsom Street Foundry with 18 restaurants making their own versions of the "taco," of which the (very loose) guidelines just maintain they need to be a "foldable food inspired by the legacy of the taco." This means you can expect some of the more traditional variety, plus creative options like a pork belly bahn mi taco, a coconut sour cream chocolate taco, a duck vindaloo taco and a crispy taco Bolognese.

Bacon Bacon, CHAYA Brasserie, Chez TJ, Coqueta, Delfina, Dirty Habit, Dosa, El Capitan, Fog City, ICHI Sushi, LA Chapter (Ace Hotel, Los Angeles), El Techo de Lolinda, Mekong Kitchen, One Market, PABU & The Ramen Bar, Trick Dog and Uno Dos Tacos are all in the running to steal the judge's pick of "Best Overall" and the crowd favorite "People’s Choice" award. Judges include Joe Hargrave (Tacolicious, Chino), Marcia Gagliardi (Tablehopper), Jonathan Kauffman (SF Chronicle), Jaime Salas (US Milagro Tequila Ambassador) and Layla Schlack (Fine Cooking).

There will also be tons of tequila on hand with the Bon Vivants (Trick Dog) mixing up nine signature cocktails, plus beer and wine. There are some tickets left ($75), so grab them while you can here. Proceeds from the events will support CUESA and the Golden Gate Restaurant Association Scholarship Foundation.