La Tapatia Mexicatessen - Mexican, South San Francisco

Best: Burrito, Chicharrones

411 Grand Ave, South San Francisco CA 94080
(650) 589-5881
Parking: street parking
Hours: Mon-Sat 7am - 7pm, Sun 7am - 6pm
http://latapatiassf.com/

Last Visited: June 27, 2012
Food: 4 to 5 stars
Atmosphere: N/A
Service: 3 stars
Price: $ to $$

I was really excited about trying La Tapatia, to try a burrito that has a reputation.  Despite the fact that there isn't any seating, there is a steady line at the grill and people seem to order burritos endlessly. 
Since this was my first time visiting, of course I had to try a burrito.  Here you can see the size of my super burrito which is just a little longer than the plastic knife.

- Super Burrito with Carnitas - This mass of goodness is a bargain for the price.  I only ate half of one and was quite content.  Choice of meat (carne asada, chicken, carnitas, chicharron, al pastor, and more), refried or whole beans, salsa, sour cream, lettuce, salsa, cheese, and hot sauce fill the burrito.  The texture of the contents is so comforting and creamy.  I really enjoyed this burrito and give it a best rating.  $5.80

- Chicharrones - There are two types of fried pork skins featured in their deli case.  The kind shown here were super fresh and almost every piece was fried to perfection.  Very flavorful.  The next time I go, I'll try the other type of fried pork skin which is larger in length and thicker, so it's not quite as airy/puffy in texture.  $6.99 per pound

- Regular Taco with Carne Asada - Since there isn't a place to sit, the taco is wrapped in foil and quickly steams, making it a bit challenging to handle.  The carne asada was super delicious - each tiny cube of meat was so flavorful and slightly crisp from the grill.  I'm not sure of what the difference is between the regular and super taco, but these were very good.  Eat it quickly because it starts to fall apart fast. $2.45

Other menu items include quesadillas, nachos, tortas, tostadas, chile relleno, and even a tamale plate.  Another thing to know - the place only accepts cash and chips are sold by the pound. The place is small, and service can be a bit haphazard.  The first person takes the order and cooks the meat on the grill.  The second person adds the toppings and wraps the food.  The third person serves as the cashier, and by the time you get to the cashier, you feel a bit like you have played a game of telephone.  Everyone is friendly, but it feels like there are issues with translating the order down the line. However, I would definitely go back to La Tapatia to try out some of the other dishes and go back for the burrito.  Yummy.