J. Kenji López-Alt

"The Best Tacos in the Mission District? #2: Taqueria Vallarta - It's got a real taqueria feel to it, with a dozen varieties of steamed or grilled meats piled around a large circular comal. Ask the cook to get your filling extra hot, and he'll pull a bit out to the center to crisp up on the hot cast iron plate."

John Birdsall

"This is who you’re looking for. Order the buche (neck meat), suadero (shredded beef), or cumin-spiked chorizo, and he maneuvers it onto the griddle’s domed center to sizzle, flopping a few tortillas alongside to brown in the fat."

Jay Barmann

"You're going to walk in this place, if it's your first time, and you're probably going to want to walk out. But dammit if the meat selection here isn't top-notch, subtly seasoned, and awesome."

Andrew Simmons

"The tacos, however, have remained the same ― that is, the best on 24th Street. Tiny, saucy, and flecked with grease, Vallarta's tacos have little in common with the supersized, rice-heavy, lettuce-crowned specimens common at some taquerias."

Liv Combe

"Head straight to Taqueria Vallarta in the Mission for some of the best you’ll find in San Francisco."

Lauren Sloss

"Oh, and that suadero -- it’s a melt-in-your-mouth-tender cut of beef that resides in "the intermediate part of the cow between the belly and the leg,”. More importantly, it’s incredibly tasty -- Vallarta’s is served in large, just-fatty-enough chunks, and is reminiscent of slow-cooked beef stew."

Tess Mayall

"This colorful spot on 24th St is known for its taco bar. Its got every taco classic you could dream of: lengua, barbacoa, al pastor. Try them all!"