Your Mission: Eat Cheap
San Francisco is a melting pot of diversity. From Chinatown to North Beach to the Sunset, every ethnic group is well represented. But one neighborhood, nestled north of the 101 freeway, bordering Caesar Chavez Boulevard to the left, San Jose Ave to the north, and the Duboce triangle to the east, is perfectly situated for an inexpensive evening out on any budget. If you haven’t guessed it, I am talking about the one and only Mission District.
Yes that’s right, for cheap eats, I’m impartial to the Mission’s numerous taquerias dotting Valencia, 16th, and Mission Street. With this being the Mission you’re likely to find a taqueria within a stone’s throw from wherever you may be standing.
For an inexpensive dining experience, start at one of my personal favorites, El Toro Tacqueria, located at the corner of 17th and Valencia. After recently undergoing remodeling this tacqueria serves up IMHO, one of the best bangs for the buck. First off, don’t be overwhelmed by the many selections on the board. Yes, there is a lot to look at and decisions can be difficult, but be smart and if you don’t know what you want, step to the side… after all, the line moves fairly quickly. I love the smiling and courteous women behind the counter; they are a model of efficiency. Henry Ford would be proud. The women standing alongside the men manning the grill weave in and out of the food preparation stations with ease, like a synchronized swim team. If you’re not careful you’ll miss the women lavish each order with copious amounts of beans, cheese, and salsa. This assembly line approach to preparing food churns out plate after plate within minutes for an ever-growing line that often snakes out the door.
Horchata
For about $10 you’re rewarded with a flavorful and filling meal of freshly cooked and prepared ingredients. My personal favorite, their steak and prawn super burrito. Its gigantic nature may intimidate some but do what I do, starve yourself for about 5-6 hours and you’ll have no problem finishing off what I call a Godzilla-sized burrito. Add a Horchata (creamy rice/milk drink) for a couple of more dollars and you’re looking at a steal of a meal for under $15. And before I forget, they give you free chips that you can adorn with an impressive selection of salsas and hot sauces.
If you’re in the mood for some music head over to the Elbo Room, within view of El Toro. The Elbo Room, a two level venue, boasts a downstairs bar that serves beer and mixed drinks with seating available in small wooden booths. Upstairs, you have space to dance. Watch out when you come here on a weeknight- you may catch yourself in the middle of a full-blown salsa invasion or a reggae influenced jam band. Other nights you can catch a local band for free. On certain nights you’ll be asked to pay a cover to go upstairs so be careful because that “inexpensive night” may turn costly with a $5-$15 cover charge and copious amounts of their strong, cheap drinks.
If you’re in the mood for a few cocktails, head over to one of the Mission’s many watering holes on Valencia Street like Blondie’s, where the crowds are often overflowing, or cross the street to Casanova’s, with seating in the far back.
Want a quiet location, off the beaten path, with strong mixed drinks and “eclectic artwork” hanging on the walls? Then head over to the Latin American Club on 22nd, between Mission and Valencia streets. Saddle up to the bar, admire the “artwork”, and be prepared to fork over about $6-$8 for a mixed drink using fairly top shelf alcohol like Ketel One.
If you want to see the city from a rooftop deck, head back over to Mission Street between 21st and 22nd to Medjool. It’s a great place to start your night but not end one, so be careful when you decide to visit. This restaurant transforms itself on the weekend to a sweaty, packed night club with young twenty-somethings gyrating their hips and grinding their bootys against a willing participant’s body. Don’t come after 10 PM or you will be stuck with a $10-$15 cover. If you must come here on the weekend, come early around 6-7 PM, walk up to the 2nd floor and head to the elevator. Jump inside and take it straight to the roof deck. Here you can admire the San Francisco skyline, order a drink from the bar (cash only), and get cozy on one of the lounge chairs while admiring the view of the Bay Bridge, Twin Peaks, and downtown.
Banana Split
If your night doesn’t involve cocktails and you want to indulge your sweet tooth, visit Mitchell’s, the Bay Area’s oldest family-owned and operated ice cream store. This ice cream parlor on the outer Mission is located at San Jose Avenue and 29th Street. WARNING: The lines are ridiculous. Once you’ve grabbed your ticket, and your number has been called, order one of the tropical flavors such as avocado, mango, papaya, or guava. You’ll thank me as you inhale the creamy goodness off of a cone (waffle available) or from a cup.
So, Weotta head out to The Mission and dig through its treasure chest of jewels. Look carefully and you’re sure to find something that you’ll like on any night of the week.
