Al Carajo — Restaurant in San Francisco

Some of the best tacos I've had in San Francisco, period.

I started with the quesito rico, which was a surprising hit. Cheese + shrimp isn't always the best combo IMO, but it blew me away when paired with the chorizo + potato. The cochinita was simple yet impressive, and I appreciated the ratio of pickled red onions to everything else. The fish tacos were so good I had to run it back, despite being too full to hold a conversation at this point. The fish was tender on the inside and had delicate wisps of batter that stayed crispy for the entire 30 seconds it took me to inhale them.

Also... I remember having an ube tortilla when Señor Sisig was doing a limited run, but these blew them out of the water. I picked up on the unique sweetness of the ube – it wasn't just a purple tortilla for the gram. I'm unsurprised, especially since I could see the guy making them in the back.

I want to inject the pineapple agua fresca into my veins. Do not skip. Full stop.

Javier, the owner, is a genuinely great guy. He's deeply passionate about what he does and how he does it. He loves connecting with his customers, and I got to hear about the early days of Al Carajo, how he sources his ingredients from the Yucatan, and his hopes and dreams for the restaurant.

I look forward to their success, even though it means I'll have to wait longer to get my tacos. I'm going to capitalize while they're still...

Sad to share a negative review as I was genuinely excited to try this place based on the reviews. I’m going to try to keep it short and simple; This place is overpriced for what it is and the problem really lays on the fact that this is not a place to dine in, there’s no space for you to dine in, this is not a restaurant and most of the times this will be TOGO food. There’s absolutely no reason why this place should be charging dine in restaurant prices.

I got two fish tacos and a canned soda and I paid $23 after tip.

The canned sodas are sold for $4ea (absurd), orange juice is a whooping $7, no self served water so they charge you for water if you want any.

The fish tacos themselves were a let down, extremely fishy which leads me to believe they were not fresh and also the breading was overpowering. The other tacos looked great on the menu but imagine spending $13.xx for two tacos after tax and still being left hungry. You’ll need to get another order and that puts you at +$30 after tip for lunch without a beverage and it’s TOGO food and to eat where?? At the side of a curb on mission street? This place is definitely not right in front of precita park.

Sorry but no. Dropped the ball...

Really creative, well-executed Mayan influenced Mexican dishes here.

I tried the Chilaquilles Torta and the Pastor Negro tacos. The Chilaquilles were crispy and had a nice deep roasted peppery flavor. The egg had a great fluffy texture and was perfectly cooked to compliment the Chilaquilles. Very good chicken tinga as well.

The Pastor Negro Tacos had a great grilled flavor, and large chunks of sweet pineapple to contrast and compliment the smoky grilled umami flavor from the meat.

I like how this place takes your common Mexican dishes and gives them a refreshing remix. Quality ingredients and quick service as well. It is small with no frills inside, but they do have a curbside/outdoor dining area as well.

As far as Mexican food goes, it is a little on the pricier side, but I feel that it is justified.

I recommend Al Carajo if you want fast, fairly priced, quality Mexican food with a fun, modern, Mayan touch. I will...