A walk along Mission St:
I like being on the ‘other end’ of the Mission near the outer Mission. It gives me a sense of what the Mission probably felt like years ago.
1. Finjan Qahwa: cute Arabic coffee shop
2. Casa Guadalupe 3: large grocery store with Peruvian empanada at the counter including be delicious guava and cream cheese flavor
3. If it were dinner time I would make a beeline to Mama Cholita which has some of my fave sit down Mexican food
4. Old Jerusalem: delicious kunafeh
5. Casa Guadalupe 2: same as 3, but smaller. I actually prefer the vibes here. I like density
6. Reem’s: flat breads!
7. Samiramis: cute little store for baklava, spices, bulk goods, frozen Middle East style breads and other things like coffee
8. Ooh, long line at La Taq. Not my type of burrito
But
9. Roosters on the same block is incredible. Way better than Limón
10. A florist that is also a cell phone repair service
I’m always fond of this side of the city. When I first started coming to visit SF as a tourist I often stayed with a friend who lived on this side of the Mission
Even today, the density and proliferation of ‘ethnic’ stores is what really brings me comfort and joy
11. A branch of Pollo Campero, a famous Central American fried chicken joint. I’ve been known to be a fan
12. Street food vendors on the street selling homemade tortillas and elotes and fruit and other things
These fruit juice combos would cost $20 in the Marina
13. The Italian ice shop at the ground floor of Gray theater is now a Mexican snack shop called What’s Up Coco. Very exciting!!
14. Of course the Grand coffee shop is always good
15. For people who eat seafood I think Sun Fat is the best place on this side of the city to get seafood. On the west side, Seafood Center. And of course east bay has the incomparable Monterey and Tokyo fish markets
16. There is usually an amazing Peruvian ceviche food truck in front of the Home Bargain store
17. When I still went out to watch movies I liked the Alamo Drafthouse. Their no cellphone policy was cool. I heard they’re changing that
18. Lots and lots of Mexican bakeries. I recently learned that a lot of Chinese baking probably came from Mexico
That’s was all in 4 blocks or so! The 49 bus is the bus I ride most often. The BRT along Van Ness does feel noticeably faster
Because it’s pretty much the only bus I take, I have an inaccurate view of how good buses in SF are (I think the 49 is great)
Adrianna Tan
Rebeca
HumToTable