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195 reviews
Neighborhood: Outer Richmond
"I've always wondered about this place and finally decided to go give it a try last month or so after getting so tired of the regular…" read more »
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The best chicken burritttttoooo in SF, without question. I even purchased a mug full of their spicy sause -- yes, that good people.
The worst customer service I've ever experienced. I came in here with a group of friends about 20 minutes before they are about to close. And the story begins:
Papalote: We are about to close in 20 mins.
Group: OK, we'll order and eat fast. (...eating a burrito only takes 5 mins to eat)
P: We are closing in 20 mins and it takes 10 mins to make your burrito and that leaves you with 10 mins to eat. (Giving us dirty looks with her fellow co-workers while talking)
G: OK we'll take it to-go.
....we receive our food 10 mins later and they did not give us napkins.....
G: Can we have some napkins?
....they hand me 1 napkin for 2 burritos...
G: Can we have some more?
...he hands us 1 napkin while laughing and talking shit in Spanish...
WORST CUSTOMER SERVICE EVER
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EWWWWWWW!
How the heck did this place end up with 4 stars?! I think I can get better Mexican food at a Taco Bell.
I give them 1 star for having a very clean bathroom and preventing me from starving to death.
I think its okay when your desperate but otherwise I would never take it seriously. It tastes edible but the flavors aren't great. It also is not very authentic and I would much rather go to the mission anyday.
The music is too loud and the seating is really cramped and uncomfortable.
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I walked in and at first felt confused...I thought I had walked into Chipotle by accident. But no, it was indeed Papalote....I guess the layout seemed similar to me, so I was taken aback.
Mmm, pretty good stuff here! Had the chicken mole burrito and was pleasantly surprised to see that chips came with the burrito (maybe this is common at other places? *shrug*). Anyway, the burrito was very filling and flavorful. Service was quick.
This Papalote seems like a nice hang-out spot for USF students....I should probably go check out the other Papalote in the Mission to compare the ambience at both locations.
The only complaint I have is about the cramped seating....but I suppose more people order to-go than eat-in. Hm.
Ok so pretty good prices...pretty good food...yummy salsa...huge portions...and very close to where I live. When I need a giant burrito or some nachos in a hurry then Papalote is definitely acceptable. 3.5 stars if I could. They're also very nice there.
But come on people. This is San Francisco: land of opportunity for Mexican food lovers. You mexiCAN get better.
Ah, Papalote II, at last we meet...
During my last jaunt to SFO (cool kids call cities by their airport code), I, of course, had a burrito at Papalote. BUT! Instead of going there a second time, we instead ventured to....Papalote _II_!!!!
This review is mainly a comparison to the original Papalote. So consider this as almost an addendum to my review of the original location.
We stopped by P2 (as I will hereby refer to it as) on the way to the Kabuki. Partly because it was closer than P1, but also to find out how the two places stack up. Well, fret not, because P2's food is just as good! For the sake of science, I ordered the same meal that i consumed less than 24 hours earlier. Chicken mole super burrito and a Coke. Well the burrito was spot-on, in typical Papalote fashion, even if they were a little stingier than normal with the jicama side-garnish-stuff. My dining compatriots were no less satisfied than I was with P2's relative quality. The one area I feel that P2 falls short of P1 is in the size & layout of the restaurant. There are maybe three tall tables crowded together in the front, and the only other seating is a long counter opposite the the kitchen/ordering area. So the place is definitely more suited for take-out or solo dining, rather than eating with friends. I do feel however, that it is located in a nicer area than P1, so we'll call it a wash.
Fret not, fans, Papalote's second location stays on par with the original.
I killed a man in the Papalote bathroom. Ok, that is untrue. Truth is, the only thing that ever died at Papalote was ranging hunger for some delicious tacos.
A few days ago I sat down awaiting my tacos and ended up in conversation with the owner of this establishment where I did not kill a man in the bathroom. After a few accolades regarding the quality of his salsa, he presented me with a jar of this sweet ambrosia (I use this term intentionally, because unlike much salsa, the Papalote salsa is a viscous liquid rather than a chunky mixture).
Delicious. If you're around, stop in and have a taco.
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01/01/2008
This place is good if you're nearby and feeling lazy (yeah, I eat there about once a week).
The…
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You're way off base if you act all righteous about the authenticity of a burrito at Papalote. Look, it's NOT El Farolito. It's not even trying to be El Farolito. Is that not obvious by the snappy sign outside, the fact that it has a color scheme inside, and the availability of vegetarian soyrizo on the menu? Take a hint or three. It's a California-healthy take on Mexican fast food. And for that, I think it's really good.
What's more, I love the mole burrito. I guess I'm just not a mole elitist like some of the mole aficionados who've left scathing mole reviews. And yeah, you can slap a whole wheat tortilla on that, shove in some black beans, brown rice, and leave out the cheese, because that's what I was expecting here. For Cal-Mexican fast food that tastes good and is near my house, I like Papalote. I'm not ashamed.
After all this talk of a Papalote Eat-off between J-To and Carlos A at Nico's yelpy office hours, I was craving a burrito for dinner tonight. Jessica and I were big winners, first scoring rock star parking out front and NO line inside. When we turned around after placing our order, there must have been 10 people who appeared out of no where standing in line behind us.
I ordered a super chile verde burrito, and Jessica ordered her favorite, a super fish burrito. Both were giant bricks filled with tasty ingredients. My pork was really tender and the fish was buttery and fluffy. Topping off with their special salsa increased the yum factor tenfold.
When my burrito arrived before Jessica's, she insisted that I start eating it, but I insisted on waiting for hers to arrive. I forgot that she was actually doing me a favor and giving me a head start because by the time she finished hers, I was only half way through mine.
All I can say is, Carlos better start getting some competitive eating tips from Takeru Kobayashi. I'm sorry, but I'm rooting for Team Jessica.
Carlos (and anyone else who dares challenge Jessica), here: http://www.youtube.com...
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It's late at night with a group of friends, we're starving, we have been circling around this neighborhood for parking and a place to eat, and we end up at Paplote. First off, the cashier ladies rushed us to order because it was close to closing time and kept emphasizing that we only have so very few minutes to eat if we DID decide to stay here to eat. We ended up taking everything to go. Pollo super burrito on a spinach tortilla was pretty good. Very flavorful meat, not too much rice, a little too much on the beans, I didn't taste the cheese, but the salsa and guac finished it off well. I was happy that they actually had options for different tortillas (Regular, whole wheat, spinach, and tomato). One word that sums this place up, STINGY! I mean my BF and I ordered two burritos, we got our chips with salsa under our two burritos in the same paper To Go bag. Um, couldn't you have put the chips in a separate bag? Not only that, our friend that ordered one burrito, got the same amount of chips. Not that I mind, b/c the chips were stale anyways, but come on now. I asked for napkins for my to go order and the guy hands me ONE napkin. Am I suppose to play tug of war between my BF and I to see who gets the bigger piece of napkin in the end. I ask for another napkin and EVERY one of the workers behind the counter stare at me like I committed a crime. Same situation happened to my friend. What makes it worse is the fact that burritos out of all things can get super messy and it's just a freakin napkin! Amoungst the 5 of us we spent about $50, can we just get a napkin each at least?
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I don't really know of many places that serve mole, and it happens to be one of my favorite mexican things to eat. Papa Lote has several mole items on the menu and they are all delicious. The location on fulton is a little hole in the wall. It's great for a quick bite or take out. There's parking right across the street in the Lucky shopping plaza.
Prices here are really good. Pretty much everything is 5-10 bucks, with the exception of a couple plates that are $11-12. There's a lot of vegetarian options too...like tofu mole...hmmm....that's creative :)
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OMG their soyrizzo burrito is one of the most amazing things I've ever eaten in my life. It's the kind of veggie food I dream about. This place is my new obsession.
The hype is what ruins this place for me. All these relocated-to-the-Bay type dudes hella gassed Papalote up, on some 'the mole is that ish man,' 'best burrito ever man.' And you know what? It's good. But that's it. It's just good. Maybe I just walked into it with hella expectations and now I'm hella salty cuz it didn't fit the bill? Like when I didn't think Dark Knight was the most incredibly amazingest awesomest film in the history of films. I dunno.
I'd definitely eat here again, especially if I was in the neighborhood. But it's just a decent burrito, and there's about 5,000 other places in San Francisco where you can get one anyways. So it's not like you've downgraded to an Ortega Taco Kit, but it's not like I land in SFO and cab it straight to Papalote.
I wouldn't mind eating here, but if I never did again, I probably wouldn't think twice. Nice decor though. I remember it being colorful and exciting. But the horchata was hella watery (aka the wackness.)
I am totally crushing on the Chicken Mole Super Burrito right now!
No, I can't speak to the vegetarian options that seem to predominate, but I can speak to the complex amazing-ness that is their Mole. It is smokey and velvety and sweet all mixed in a burrito with moist chicken. I can easily say its may favorite burrito in the city right now. It is also "paired" perfectly with a Negro Modelo and some chips.
I don't even think I have anything to add. The guys here are waaay friendly and I always seem to find a place to sit. Plus it is really a pleasant walk afterwards through USF's campus on my way home. Makes living in the foggy Richmond almost worth it.
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MOLE BURRITO! Bomb bomb bomb. And their jicama tastes very good. Variety of other things, but once you try the mole you never go back :)...my house frequents this place.
Tomorrow I start the Low Carb diet...YIKES! So, how do I spend my last night of happiness...
Why with a carbo-licious burrito of course!
I am new to this area and I happened to pass by this restaurant a few times. Tonight I gave it a try and I am more than satisfied. I'm a vegetarian so I was really pleased to see all the other options. They also had a whole wheat tortilla available which was great!
We will see how this low carb thing goes and if I can't handle it...Papalote will be seeing more of me!
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Pretty darn good...I prefer my Mexican a bit greasier. They do have great veggie options, many of which I've never seen anywhere else (tofu mole...). The pureed salsa they give you with chips is incredible. I wish that was the salsa that came on the burrito.
I hate it when I forget to ask for no salsa. Raw onion and cilantro are bratty kids who steal all of the attention away from the quiet, well behaved beans, rice and meat.
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what a difference actually eating here makes!
my friends that live near here all rave about it. awesome chicken mole, salsa, and on and on. i totally agree about the salsa, is why i had originally given this place 5 stars. but that was until i ate here...
was up in sf a couple of weeks ago. and we finally made a trip here. we ordered the asada tacos and chicken mole. both terrible. i couldnt believe it! after all my friends' raving. after all the positive yelp reviews. stunned!
i stopped eating, and we walked down the street to el farolito to salvage this trip up to mission. thank god for el farolito.
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08/20/2008
this review is for their salsa, which u can buy by the jar. i've not actually eaten here... yet.… Read more »
WARNING: Please read this review before going to Papalote's. Worst restaurant experience ever.
I went last week for the first time expecting to love it. I'm a big fan of El Farolito (which I understand Papalote's is *not*), but I was prepared for something my friends described as a little "healthier" and "fresher." When we arrived, my boyfriend was seriously put off by the lack of carnitas, but I had heard good things about the carne asada. I had also heard that the black refried beans were fantastic, so even though I don't like beans, I ordered them on the side along with a super carne asada burrito.
My burrito arrived, poorly wrapped, dangerous close to a puddle of gooey, liquidly bean substance. I cleaned off any bean contamination and started eating. I soon found that there was no guacamole. I told the waiter, who was bring food for someone else in my party, that I had ordered a super burrito but there was no guac (I think there was also no cheese & crema, other features of the super, but I wasn't sure). He asked for my check number to verify if I had indeed ordered a super burrito. I was part of a large party and although I remembered our check number "range" (17-22), I didn't remember my own number. I told him I'd ordered the beans on the side and he went to the kitchen to check the order. When he came back, he said they "needed to check." I thought he meant they needed *the* check, and I repeated that I didn't have it. He said no, they had to TAKE MY HALF-EATEN BURRITO BACK TO THE KITCHEN, to check if there was guacamole in it, because they DIDN'T BELIEVE ME. I was dumbfounded, as were the others in my party. We asked if he was serious; he was. But there was nothing I could do if I wanted guac, so I sent it back.
When my burrito returned, it had been opened and poorly re-rolled, plopped down in the bean puddle, and a teaspoon of guac had been added to the side of the plate. I scraped the beans off the tortilla and finished eating because I was hungry, rationing my small bit of guac for the remaining meal.
Needless to say, I will not be returning here. I have never had such a horrible experience in a restaurant in my entire life.
(And about the food: it was mediocre. Gordo's is even better, and El Farolito blows them all out of the water. And the beans were disgusting-- even for a bean dip, they should have been thicker, and more flavorful.)
Two burritos down the hatch! Good eats, but I had to fire off some serious torpedo's the next day....if you know what I mean.
Thanks Yelp! When I started this site, I promised myself that I would NOT be addicted to it but here I am, aiming so hard to one day get the "Review of the Day."
What exactly does one have to do? Be funny? Be creative? Be original? Regardless, I'm up for the challenge. I'll set aside the GRAND essay I am supposed to be working on of why I want to live in a Laos' village for three months. Ehhh, my priority is Yelp.
I would like to be original and write PapaNOte, but I would be lying. It's okay for where it's located. I prefer my burrito/tacos VERY VERY greasy, with sour cream, guacamole and HOT HOT salsa. I'll have to go to the Mission for this or Mexico. It's a healthy California spin, you'll feel great after your meal. I give them props for their salsa which is so delish and perfect hint of spices - I so wanted to lick the salsa from its container but I refrained. Something told me I needed to be "ladylike" in front of Daniel.
I'll make a return if some apparent reason the following equation comes to mind when I'm starving:
burrito + healthy + no grease + California style + willing to pay $1 more than the Mission = Papolote
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As a vegan with a very strict diet I was very happy/excited to find papalote.
Their whole wheat tortillas are delicious and they listened to every annoying substitution I had for my vegan soyrizo burrito (no rice, add guacamole, whole wheat tortilla) and it was amazing!
I highly recommend this place to any vegan or meat lover that wants a good, not greasy, burrito in a very clean and uplifting atmosphere!
Came here often for lunch during summer school. Each time I did not order because I would let my friend Em order for me. She knew the REEL GOOD burritos. She was right every time! Although I like it, I always feel like there is something missing...something to make it the BEST burrito.
I also get the rice water drink. I do not know what it is called because my friend orders that for me as well. LOL.
Not a really helpful review. LOL.
If you want a delicious burrito, and you're nearby Papalote is the place to go!
SO delicious! Right near the bank so whenever I am doing chores I know I'm in for a great lunch. Their burritos are off the hook and the green sauce on the table is DIVINE.
Sometimes they've gotten my orders wrong but whatever I get tastes good anyway. The decor is cool and they play AWESOME reggae music.
Sometimes it can be hard to find a spot to eat and it is a little noisy and cold, so it's hard to want to stay and hang out. Also the horchata is too sweet and not homemade tasting.
As a Native San Franciscan, I'd like to think of myself as a burrito connoisseur ... but I digress ... anyway, if you're looking for an authentic SF Mission-style burrito, you've come to the wrong place. If you're looking for that guilt-less, non-greasy, healthy-tasting burrito made by Latinos, you've come to the right place. Look, I moved in before this place popped up in the Panhan, and before that, I lived around the corner from its original location on 24th, so I know this burrito (taco, nachos, etc.) quite well. I admit, I like it. But as a Mexican-American, I have to admit that it is not what I am craving after an 8-hour shift. But what has me coming back each time? The damn pico de gallo, and the fact that I order chicken tacos or a chicken burrito and not feel the grease for 24 hours. It is damn tasty, but like I said, not authentic.
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Papalote is pretty awesome. Not only do they have a wide selection of tortillas, killer salsa, and high quality ingredients, they cook your meat after you place your order! Steak, chicken, or prawns are all fantastic, although they tend to fail at cutting the steak, and oftentimes I find myself pulling out half the meat in one bite. Let's try a little harder, guys.
The prices are semi-high considering the burritos are on the smaller side, but if you want a lot of meat you can order the special burrito that comes with steak, chicken AND prawns. I have never ever enjoyed a prawn burrito before, but theirs is so well-cooked, juicy, and a great contrast of textures.
I dislike that they usually skimp on rice, beans, and all the other ingredients, but I think the tortillas must be small because the burrito always seems at capacity despite the fact that I know there's only seven kernels of rice in there. I think it could be improved if the burrito was bigger, with a better ratio of ingredients. Other than that... fabulous! (but totally different than La Taqueria or other greasy yet classic burrito joints)
I got a tofu burrito here and it was amazing. The salsa is also really good. I can't wait to try the other location.
I hadn't been until last night, even though I'd walked by it a lot. In fact, I tried out for The Real World right next door; now I'm too old to be on it.
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The first time I went here was with a couple of friends for a late night dinner. And that's usually when I got to Papalote, after a long day and realizing around 9pm that I haven't had dinner yet. Very convenient location at Fulton and Masonic.
For awhile I only got the carne asada burrito, but have recently tried the chile verde, both are superb. I always get my burritos 'super', which adds sour cream, guacamole, and cheese for 99 cents, good deal. The salsa that they give you with tortilla chips is amazing, and there's usually some left to put on your burrito too, YUM.
The staff is always quick and efficient, if there isn't a clear table for you after a rush they will have it clear for you in only a couple minutes.
Opening up this review page literally made my stomach growl.
This place used to be around the corner from my house and I ate there at least once a week, if not several times a week. I have since moved far far away and miss it like an ex-junkie misses heroin.
Get the super burrito, it's worth the extra 99cents. The marinated tofu was my favorite but I also quite often went for the chicken, soyrizo or fish. My suggestions would be the tofu and chicken with black beans, fish with pinto and the soyrizo in the breakfast burrito. They provide different tortillas for no extra charge, spinach or sun dried tomato. Don't forget to add their hot sauce. It beautiful.
They also have this black bean dip that is simply black beans with cheese melted over the top but it manages to be magical. I've had the tacos and the quesadillas and they've never disappointed but the true stars of this place are the burritos. They won best burrito in SF three years in a row or something like that. I believe it.
Service is surprisingly quick too, even when there's a line out the door. There's about ten people behind the counter ensuring that. You're in and out within ten minutes and a burrito and a beer will cost you less than $10. Can't go wrong.
Dude, so Xamot came running back to the car after picking up a couple of things at Papalote with a giant jar of delicious salsa cradled in his arms. This salsa is the shit and since we live in LA, we wanted to get a bigass bottle to tide us over between bay area visits.
"Does it need to be refridgerated?" I asked in a worried tone.
"Well, she said that it may lose its consistency and texture if it gets warm, so let's try to keep it cool."
I suggested we find a styrofoam container ASAP to keep that shit on ice, but we had places to be and people to see, so I had to think of a Plan B. So I took it upon myself to carry around a jar full of Papalote salsa in my purse all weekend to insure the integrity of the all important consistency of this beautiful salsa.
It was a warm ride back on the 5 to LA, but I made sure Salsa was kept cool and safe. I am happy to report we are back home now and Salsa is quietly "chillin" in the fridge, awaiting my fat ass.
Woo hoo!!!!!
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Not too shabby if you need a burrito STAT!
Things I do enjoy about them:
* they are always jamming out some great dub music here
* got some homegirls at the counter
* they have a yummy veg burrito
* they usually have planet earth playing on the LCD screen...
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10/06/2006
Not too shabby if you need a burrito STAT! The ones they sell here are about the size of a premie... Read more »
Best cure for a hangover, hands down!
SF Food Inspection Score: 94
yummmmmers. yes, i am a fan.
though i got an "interesting" burrito, i was so stressed from my work day that i didn't care. i got the veggie which i didn't know was VEGETABLES: like potatoes, mushrooms (i think), and all that jazz. though yummmmmers (refer to above), it was quite odd.
but i enjoyed their one of a kind salsa that's on the creamy side and quite delectable.
btw, my first time here was with reina t., our fellow yelper. she introduced me to papalote and to shortening words such as "totes" for totally and "situash" for situation...
anyway! enough name dropping. i do want to return and try more more more burritos and less less less potatoes.
gracias.
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OK, I'm over the pricey guac. I've been to Papalote many, many times and the food is consistently good. Plus, if I get my burrito "super" for $.99, they will put the guac on the side if I am so inclined...and it avoids having to pay the "market price."
I am at peace.
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08/15/2007
I've had several solid meals here (grilled veggie burrito, grilled veggie quesadilla, grilled veggie… Read more »
The burritos and the salsa are my favorite in the city. Yes, I've tried the taco trucks and I still prefer the burritos here. The sun dried tomato salsa is fantastic. They don't advertise it, not sure why, but you can buy the salsa by the jar. That's why there are all those empty glass jars by the register. $6 a jar = quality purchase.
Went here the first day it opened and two plus years later, Papalote is still going strong!
I swear, this place just gets better and better every time I visit. And the jars of salsa you can now buy for $5 are a steal!
Keep rockin', y'all. Keep rockin'.
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06/21/2006
This place is amazing!!!
The people are super nice, the food is delicious - especially the Chicken…
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You have to get everything here "super" because super = delish! For the extra buck you get guacamole and sour cream, and who doesn't like that combination?
For my first time in this little gem of a restaurant I ordered the fish tacos and a beer. It think my total was about $8 and I was pleased that they also serve you chips and salsa. The tacos were really good too and perfect portion for one person. The kites flying above our heads were such a bright (and semi-creepy) added touch.
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Ummm yes, I ate this fantastic burrito after Bay to Breakers (see http://www.yelp.com/bi... if you need a point of reference), so no, I don't remember many details, but HELL YES it was delicious. I know it was grilled, I know the salsa during our wait was amazing, and I know that I was a little skeptical because it wasn't as "hands on" with the choices as Chipotle and Qdoba (I was afraid I wasn't going to get everything I wanted!), but I also know that it exactly hit the spot. Maybe from now on I can just ask for a Papalote's burrito when I go to one of those joints?
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Sometimes I find myself looking out my living room window (I live across the street) just to see if the neon 'OPEN' sign is lit up. Even when I'm not hungry. Maybe I just like knowing there are hot vegan burritos a stones throw away if I ever want 'em. Totally delish, cheap, and fresh tasting. And of course, their salsa is killer. Love calling them to put an order in and running across the street 10 minutes later in my jammies to pick up food. And then right after to Lucky's to get a 6-pack of Mexican beer.
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