Report: Nick's Crispy Tacos on Polk Street

[ssfire]

Now that Helmand Palace has embargoed their lunch buffet, I sought out alternative Chow-worthy establishments on upper Polk Street. First up: Nick's Crispy Tacos. Highly recommended, for a few reasons:

- It shares space with a nightclub: Nick's is open until 9 PM, then the nightclub opens at 9:30. But not just any nightclub: it's very Austin-Powers inspired (see photo #1). It's somewhere between campy and garish, a perfect setting for Mexican food.

- I recommend the tacos. See photo #2 for a shot of the carne asada (steak) and the pescado (fried fish). I also tried the carnitas tacos. The pescado were the best, and the others were good as well. But be sure to order them "Nick's Way"; For 75 cents extra, you get guacamole, and they also dunk one of the tortilla layers into hot oil to "stiffen" it, which is brilliant.

- There is also a happy hour deal: "$2 Taco Tuesdays" (see photo #3 for the info: they apparently have no website.)

Enjoy.

[mofo313]

They're great after a long day of drinking, never tried them any other way.

[karma_bites]

I went last weekend. It was okay, just okay, maybe good for late night drunken dinner.
If you get it Nick's Way they put a soft tortilla around the (barely) fried inner tortilla, which causes it to steam a bit, defeating the purpose of getting something crispy. And the guacamole was beyond tired, I scrpaed it off after the first bite. What is the big deal about making fresh guac to order? I'm paying you a premium, yeah $4/taco is a premium, at least pretend to care.
I have to admit a big part of my disappointment was due to my own inflated expectations. I was hoping for a true crispy taco, the kind you get in Mexico City where they put the picadillo etc. in a soft tortilla, fold it over, then fry it on each side on a griddle in a little fat, then pile in anything else you want. Now if somebody opened that place here I'd go twice a week.

[Fig Newton]

Funny, I did the exact same thing the other day when HP was closed. I was starving and went to Nick's. The tacos hit the spot every once in a while -- I don't crave them, but don't mind having them when I'm in the area.

Little Thai across the street is pretty good.

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Little Thai
2065 Polk St, San Francisco, CA 94109

Nick's Diner
san francisco, ca, san francisco, ca

[mchan02]

i'm not a taco expert by any stretch of the imagination, but I think Nick's grilled fish tacos are fantastic.

re: chow worthy places on upper polk: Star of India has a decent lunch special- I had a tasty vegetable naan-wrap for about 5 bucks. La Boulange de Polk is usually pretty crowded, but they had reliable Bay Bread fare- same goes for Le Petit Robert- although i've only had bad service there.

Pesce is wonderful. Most other places are just so so. I've had good meals at the Bell Tower, but I certainly wouldnt make it a destination. If California Street is still considered "upper," Cordon Bleu lives up to their sign "The Best Chicken You'll Have Outside of Vietnam."

Near Polk: U-Lee at Jackson and Hyde does some darn tasty potstickers, and almost everything I've had here I've ordered again. I'm a sucker for their sweet and sour fish. Also right nearby is Ristorante Milano on Pacific between Hyde and Larkin.

[Lori SF]

honestly their tacos are below average. I have tried them a couple times mainly because I was shopping in the area and thought what the heck although I knew better. I would call them the white man can't dance of tacos.

[ML8000]

I agree. I think their tacos are at best so-so or adequate given no other choice. It's also the price however. At $2 bucks on a regular basis, I think it would be in the realm of consideration...although not necessarily worth a stop. However at $4 per, I don't see it.