El Metate Restaurant

This place is fabulous! We liked everything, from the decor to the service to the delicious food. My friend got pozole and i got chile relleno. Everything was scrumptious. Like most Mexican joints they give you a lot of food, enough for lunch the next day. They offer salsa in cute little ceramic dishes, not those awful plastic things that take up space in the landfill. Kudos to them for that. This is the only place i've seen that does that. They have beautiful decor, lotsa little Mexican things on shelves to look at and art all around. The whole experience is enjoyable. The one drawback is that it's a ways away from BART, so you can take MUNI or walk (or ride bike). That's why i had never discovered it and it's been around for some time. But it's totally worth it.

Tasty comfort food in an area spoiled for choice when it comes Mexican fare. I tried the carnitas torta, which is served with side of soup, and the steak nachos. The meats were well seasoned, and the carnitas in particular were a standout, extra juicy and succulent. I would return for the torta alone!Each dish was just shy of $15, which is pretty good value considering the amount of food you get. They also have a salsa bar and complimentary chips. Overall, this a solid choice if you are looking for something a little more local, and a bit easier on the wallet than some of the more "well known" joints.

I love the pozole and the menudo here. Tonight I got Chicken flautas To go. $15. Great portions. Best salsa bar in the city. Nice vibrant interior and seating outside. Convenient location. They serve bottled beer and have desserts. What else do you need?

El Metate opened up in 2002 when I was living only a couple blocks away, there were not nearly as many restaurants on Bryant at the time, so it was nice to see the neighborhood energy come in and the colorful paint on the exterior of the building. I moved away from the neighborhood, but have been coming back since covid. I came for the nachos and trying up the different items on the menu. Things I love most about this place are:- Lots of meat choices that can be added to tacos, tortas, burritos, plates, salads and more. The meat flavors are tasty too. - The prices are inexpensive for the Mission- Spacious interior with room for large groups- Nice little sidewalk tables - Excellent salsa bar with pickled veggies, cucumber salsa, etc. - Parking is not difficult- Friendly and fast service.What else could you ask for? Check it out.

What a gem of a mexican food restaurant hidden in a quiet suburb area of the mission.The building is so rustic and colorful on the outside with the bright yellow walls and cute vibrant tables and chairs along the side- this paired with the delicious food makes for a very happy meal.Going to claim these are the best tortas in the city- filled to the brim with ingredients and soft, crunchy bread it's making my mouth water thinking of it- definitely worth checking out.Also great tacos and salsa bar that has plenty of sauces if needed, although their food speaks for itself and is saucy enough with plenty of flavor.Lots of seating inside and quick friendly service, cute authentic mexican decor and food. Will travel from the other side of the city just to eat here when craving a taste of Mexico.

Gonna keep this one short as this establishment is not even worth my efforts.Menu Item: Carne Asada Burrito. Taste: Basic, no bold flavors. Texture: Undercooked rice, non-descript meat that could be pork, chicken, or beef if you close your eyes.Value: Absolute Rip-off. Thinnest burrito ever. So thin they could wrap the tortilla around it an extra layer.

They have the basics here and they do them very well. I like this place a lot it's probably my favorite Mexican spot in the mission because I don't feel sluggish and nasty after eating food here. It's slightly pricier than other spots but I really prefer coming here for burritos or steak quesadillas when I'm in the mood and know I can always expect the same quality. The inside is a cute little vibe, it's usually on the colder side for me to sit in but I run very cold normally. Great spot highly recommend. Even better if you order takeout ahead of time and then you don't need to wait as long.

Came here for dinner with a few friends on a Friday evening! This place is more cafe-style, so you order at the front and find a table. They give each person a small, complimentary basket of chips. They have a variety of different salsas to choose from (all self-serve)! I got the Taco Plate with 2 chicken tacos - the chicken was very flavorful! The portion size was generous. A couple of my friends got burritos - they mentioned that the burrito could have a bit more meat, but were good overall. The prices are reasonable and the menu is extensive! The interior also feels very cozy - would recommend!

Delicious food! Cute salsa bar. Enough seating for 48 people. Flour tortilla chips! We ordered burritos, tamales, and tortas de carne asada. Worth it, and highly recommend!

Great local taqueria. Love the chicken mole burrito. Fried Fish tacos also sleeper hit. Great salsa bar and love their chips -- enjoy in their charming dining room. Paired with a modelo, this spot is on my weekly roster.