La Palma Mexicatessen: Authentic Mexican Cuisine in San Francisco

⭐⭐⭐⭐ = Solid (1=Avoid, 3=Standard, 5=Can't Miss). There's no seating here, just pickup. But in my search for good Mexican food in the city, La Palma takes the top spot for fast, casual. The spicy refried beans here are a must if you are getting a burrito and the orange sauce is good! Prices are also fairly reasonable given the quantity, but I would stick to the burritos here (tacos and super tacos were difficult to eat). Street parking only for La Palma.

I love this place and loved the food there! The burritos are full of flavor and the pupusas are hella good too. Super packed on the weekends so be ready to wait. Mission icon!

Great place to pick up freshly made tortillas, good Mexican food that has a homey and comforting flavors.

If you want masa to make your own tortillas you can order at the deli counter by the pound. It’s not sitting in the display cases. And then you pick it up at one counter and then you can pay at the third counter. There is the “simple” kind or the tamale kind that has lard in it. You can make your own tamale with the simple kind and add oil or butter. This is the authentic deal!

Of the many, authentically yummy treats at this historic Mexican deli / taqueria is the CHICHARRON — $12.99 per pound and coming in three different forms: (a) pure meat, (b) pork belly, and (c) skin-on pork belly. The latter makes for a flavorful, texture bomb — crunchy, tender, juicy all in one bite. Perfect for a picnic or weekend lunch at home, with handmade tortillas hot off the grill (around noon), and wrapped ready-to-go. Containers of salsas, guacamole, and pico de gallo also conveniently available.

Masa products made on-site, fresh daily, and they've been open for over 80 years. Trying a variety of things here is a good idea if you've only ever been exposed to tacos and burritos, but this is truly mexican territory on 24th Street and it may take some figuring out if you, like me, don't speak a lick of Spanish. So this place is a mexicatessen, in that it's roughly operating similar to a deli with a selection of things you can eat freshly made or buy ingredients to make your own or snacks for later. Since they grind masa one of those products is varieties of masa products like corn flour masa, tortillas, corn chips, but also all the things that go with it - queso, dried chillies, canned beans and pickles by the jar, house made chicharron, dips, hot sauce, premade guacamole, etc. That part makes up the bulk of the public space, counter at the front on your left as you walk in, fridges on the left wall and a shelf of goods that splits the small stall into two tight fitting aisles, if it's busy you may not have much room. Towards the far side as you walk in you get to the food ordering counter. You can pick off the screens, which rotate between submenus, so waiting for the screens can be annoying. Everything is made in the large manufacturing space behind that counter, and they are always busy with production. Now, even if you and one of the folks behind the counter are speaking English, it may be hard to communicate because of accents - as an Aussie with a soft voice that can't pronounce the things on the menu I had to repeat things many times so your mileage may vary, but they are there to help while accomplishing other tasks so be patient. Now you can get tacos, burritos, or quesadillas, sure. But you want to try pupusas (flat breads stuffed with choice of protein), gordita (think stuffed pita with lots of cheese and choice of protein), tamales (steamed masa with choice of protein), tortas (sandwiches), be different and try a variety, look at pictures here on google maps and ask, the menus are fairly descriptive. Once you place your order you get a number and can pay at the other counter at the front, which is also where you pick up your order. They call out numbers in Spanish so I had to listen for something tres because I can only count to 6 thanks to the Offspring and Pretty Fly for a White Guy but they won't get upset if when it's quiet that you check on your order. There's space to the side of the shop outdoors with a small row of tables and chairs, which may be quite sunny and only lightly shaded if you need it depending on time of day.

Great place! I got a super burrito, it was huge and deeeeelish!!!

Amazing pupusas, chicharon and horchata. There are even tables outside so you can dine al fresco.