Today, I rediscovered the true meaning of burrito. It was after marching in the sun all morning for Carnivale. I was exhausted, dehydrated, hungry. Someone picked up burritos for the group. They... More

Today, I rediscovered the true meaning of burrito. It was after marching in the sun all morning for Carnivale. I was exhausted, dehydrated, hungry. Someone picked up burritos for the group. They were from Castillito, a place I've eaten on many an occassion. I picked a regular veggie from the bag. True to Castillito form, it was nothing special. But damn, it was so good to be eating a burrito after having worked my ass off outside. And really, that's the point of burrito – not some delicacy for hipster elitists to endlessly blog and kvetch over – but the perfect wrap-it-in-tinfoil-and-take-it-to-work-with-you food. The easiest, cheapest, most satisfying sort of working man's meal. And it doesn't have to be a good burrito to do that. With burritos, it's so much less about what is being eaten than who is eating it.
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I've been going to El Castillito for about a dozen years and have never been let down. Their salsa bar is great from green to hot. They aren't as busy as some of the better known places in the... More

I've been going to El Castillito for about a dozen years and have never been let down. Their salsa bar is great from green to hot. They aren't as busy as some of the better known places in the area so you'll seldom have to wait. Less than a block form 16th Street BART. Pros: Great burritos, Very good value, Easy to get to Cons: Don't drive?
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There's a gazillion good burrito places in the Mission, and so many meet my standards for good cheap food with friendly service, but ever since a friend brought me to El Castillito on Mission St.... More

There's a gazillion good burrito places in the Mission, and so many meet my standards for good cheap food with friendly service, but ever since a friend brought me to El Castillito on Mission St. close to ten years ago, its been my favorite. It's a small place in a not so great neighborhood where you can regularly find a few unsavory characters hanging around outside (or inside). What makes it my favorite is the salsas which you can find in little glass condiment containers on each table. The green salsa (made with avocados) is so good, I can hardly restrain myself from eating it with a spoon. Pros: salsa verde, affordable prices, open late Cons: neighborhood?
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Im very happy that this place is finally on here! By far the cheapest place to eat in SF and sporting an ambiance that is truly original, colorful, and full of great people, El Castillito is by far... More

Im very happy that this place is finally on here! By far the cheapest place to eat in SF and sporting an ambiance that is truly original, colorful, and full of great people, El Castillito is by far one of the best places to eat in the city, period (.) Yes, there are other good places in the mission, but the value, culture, and hours of El Castillito make it shine above the rest. Veggie burritos are excellent, tacos too. They cook it up just the way you like it, (load up on the free salsa!)
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