Brothers Miguel and Victor Escobedo opened their first Papalote at 24th and Valencia in 1999 and from it they’ve built a salsa empire — their roasted tomato goodness is available by the jar all over the area. Papalote’s particularly popular with vegetarians, who dig options like soyrizo and tofu mole. Its Valencia and Fulton Street locations offer online ordering (Valencia here, Fulton here) for delivery, and takeout is also available. Call (415) 970-8815 for its Mission spot or (415) 776-0106 to pick up in NoPa.

There are five locations of Gordo Taqueria, but the 9th Avenue location is where Inner Sunset residents get their fix of big, rice-filled burritos that require at least two hands to take down. The folks behind the counter will griddle your massive flour tortilla to order and then fill it up with all the beans (black or refried), rice, pico de gallo, and meat you heart desires. And if you want some guac, just do like the pros and ask for it “super.”

Pancho Villa, a spinoff of nearby Valencia Street El Toro, has been in the game since 1987, plenty of time to develop a lengthy menu of burrito options. Steak and prawns? Chile relleno? Classic orders — carnitas, carne asada, and so on — are your best bet, and be aware that “super” here includes lettuce on top of guac and sour cream. Also of note: The salsa bar is one of the city’s best, so if you’re picking up takeout, don’t forget to scoop some of your own — otherwise you’ll be eating dry chips when you get back home. Order via their website for takeout.

Chef David Chang declared it perhaps the best burrito he’d ever eaten. Judges for FiveThirtyEight’s burrito bracket of 2014 later confessed that El Castillito may have been the “one that got away.” One secret to its success: cheese perfectly melted onto tortillas on the plancha. Of the multiple El Castillito locations in SF, FiveThirtyEight and Chang referred specifically to the Mission Street outpost (between 16th and 17th), with its huge zapata burrito as a favorite (especially for splitting). Call 415-621-6971 to place a takeout order (menu here).

It goes without mentioning that when it comes to burritos on the west side of the city, the burritos at Hook Fish Co. are what comes to mind. The burrito comes with grilled fish, whatever the catch of the day is (the rockfish is a particular win) or with poke. In the poke burrito, the fish itself is so outstanding that the texture, something like butter or cream, adds to the aioli and slaw in total perfection. 

El Metate’s burritos are skinnier and lengthier than most, helping them stand out from the pack visually — as they also do in quality. Unlike some taquerias’ meatless offerings, El Metate’s vegetarian burrito is packed with vegetables, making it a hit with plant-preferring crowd. For something out of the ordinary, try a chicken mole or chile verde burrito.

This grocery store and deli is where to find the freshest tortillas in the game, so head to the back of the shop to order a burrito on a just-made flour tortilla (the super with roasted chicken is a safe order, or go for their famous chicharrones in burrito form).

This 24th Street gem churns out its own tortilla chips, chicharrones, pupusas, tamales, and more in the back and takes orders up front. Get a juicy carne asada burrito wrapped in their own freshly grilled tortillas: melty jack cheese, lots of avocado slices on the super version, and rich, satisfying spices take you to burrito nirvana.

And if you’re looking for a burrito that’s still filling, delicious, but slightly less of a rice-filled gut bomb, then mini-chain the Little Chihuahua might just be the ticket. With locations in Noe Valley, Lower Haight, and on Polk, this spot specializes if California-fied Mexican fare like the Fried Plantain and Refried Black Bean burrito that sports sour cream and a smoky chile salsa.  

Mission locals could have told you in a heartbeat what it took FiveThirtyEight’s intensive burrito bracket months to discover: La Taqueria, as its own sign claims, is “home to the best tacos and burritos in the world,” as it has been since 1973. That honor was clouded some years later, as repeated allegations of wage theft prompted $600,000 in city-mandated fines. Also of note: La Taq’s burritos are rice-free, leaving more room for perfectly cooked meat, transcendent pinto beans, and sour cream applied by squirt bottle, plus “guacamole” that’s actually just mashed avocados and nothing else.

Al pastor heaven awaits at this deeply dependable Mission Street taqueria (other SF locations are downtown and farther South in the Mission/Bernal borderlands). Its gooey, forearm-sized super burrito (grilled tortillas come standard) and the rest of its menu is available for takeout.

Since 1995, the Campos family has been slinging some of the city’s freshest burritos from its storefront in Glen Park Village, a business so successful that its since expanded with locations on Mission Street (between 23rd and 24th Streets), Burlingame, and San Carlos. La Corneta was one of the first classic-style taquerias in the city to highlight which of its menu items are completely free of animal products, making it a favorite for vegetarians wary of co-mingling with meat. 

Crispy carnitas make Taqueria Guadalajara the burrito pride and joy of the Excelsior, but another fine Taqueria Guadalajara outpost can be found on 24th Street: It followed the original, contending for customers with an El Farolito location across the street (as it also does in the Excelsior, where El Farolito operates, too).