475110 Tue Jan 01 15:26:19 -0800 2008 23 1 San Francisco Bay Area 0 3251852 I'm moving to the inner Richmond soon (5th & Clement) and I'm happy about all the Asian food, but how far will I have to go for a good Mexican restaurant? Are there any near there? Tue Jan 01 15:26:19 -0800 2008 153933 thecreepingkid 1 3251989 Tommy's Mexican Restaurant on Geary at 25th in outer Richmond and not super great..but a great tequilla list one of the best. The food can be so so I guess it would depend on what type of Mexican you are looking for and what your expectations are. My friends that have not travelled to Mexico and are from out of state like it. A rather fun campy American style Mexican is Tia Margarita Mexican Restaurant. This is a fun place to go with a group..its all about big plates of beans & rice with your food and good margaritas, family owned place... not great. Gordo Taqueria is the only other place I can think of, still very mild and just ok- on Geary at 19th Ave. Not a restaurant just a burrito shop. Tue Jan 01 16:43:15 -0800 2008 3251852 52212 Lori SF 2 3251997 Yep, Tommy's, Tia Margarita and Gordo are the only three I can think of as well. There really aren't any Mexican options in the Richmond, unfortunately, and they're all mediocre. Amongst the three, I'd go with Tia Margarita. The plates are generous, and fill you up. Always go for the top shelf margarita, on the rocks :) Tue Jan 01 16:46:03 -0800 2008 3251989 67321 courtneyp 1 3252051 There's also Pancho's Tacqueria on Geary near Stanyan. It's decent, and the quality of the meat they use seems pretty good. Tue Jan 01 17:18:39 -0800 2008 3251852 82741 kresge86 1 3252212 Gordo Taqueria is okay to good. It's a subjective call and compares to La Taqueria at 24rd and Mission, in my opinion...on the bland/gringo side but good if you order appropriately. It's not the Mission but if you live in the 'hood it's convenient and inexpensive. The carnitas and grilled chicken are good, all things considered. The most down home might be chile verde pork. Tue Jan 01 18:28:28 -0800 2008 3251852 27275 ML8000 1 3252351 As mentioned, there's nada in the Inner Richmond. Another outer Richmond place not mentioned is Chino's Taqueria on 3416 Balboa. I haven't tried it yet though. However, if you are going to travel that much for Mexican it might be better to head in the other direction and try Cocina Pobalna on Fillmore http://www.chow.com/places/4023 Tue Jan 01 19:38:01 -0800 2008 3251852 10264 rworange 2 3252496 I used to live in the Richmond. Chino's isn't really a choice. I gave it two chances a long, long time ago. I'd rate it below Gordo's. But again, it's subjective, some people like it. For either Gordo or Chino's, I'd say it's worth a try given the price and you can afford a mistake and nether will be awful. Tue Jan 01 20:59:46 -0800 2008 3252351 27275 ML8000 2 3253299 I've given it several tries, and yet never had a decent meal at Chino's. Pancho's and Gordo's are far superior. BTW - There are two Gordo's locations in the Richmond district - one at Geary x 19th (as mentioned above), and another (the older of the two, and I think the better location) is on Clement at 24th. Wed Jan 02 09:14:21 -0800 2008 3252351 82741 kresge86 3 3253602 That's pretty much what I thought about Chino's...didn't like the food. Some people like Chino's and I was trying to be diplomatic. If it was a $25 p/per sit down, I would have been more direct. Wed Jan 02 10:42:40 -0800 2008 3253299 27275 ML8000 2 3253737 I had these two on my chowdar after researching the board for my last trip, but wasn't able to get to either, wondering if they're worth a visit? Papalote taqueria, 1777 Fulton St. (at Masonic) across from the SE corner of USF and Green Chile Kitchen at 601 Baker, for their green chile stew and the pozole, Wed Jan 02 11:16:28 -0800 2008 3252351 18150 PolarBear 3 3253973 Even though it's not in the Richmond, Papalote is great... always gotta bring home a jar of that salsa! They're also in the outer Mission. Also: This is the first time I've heard "Chowdar". I think I might start to use that term :) Wed Jan 02 12:16:20 -0800 2008 3253737 67321 courtneyp 3 3259166 I like Green Chile Kitchen. I usually get the chile verde in a bowl. As has been mentioned here, they're not super generous with the meat but it's large enough for me. Last time I got a side of veggies and put them in with the chile verde sauce. The thing that keeps me coming back is that their spice level in the verde sauce is just right for me. Thu Jan 03 19:08:36 -0800 2008 3253737 10922 Fig Newton 1 3258083 I'm afraid that the answer is no. I live at 5th and clement as well, and there is no mexican food worth eating within a reasonable distance. The gordos at 9th and irving is just as close as the two outer richmond locations, all of which are quite horrible if you actually are making a comparison. Panchos is the best bet if you are desperate, and closest of all to 5th ave. I just stick with the asian food in the neighborhood, and head to the mission, south city or fruitvale for anything latin america related, granted i drive...so i suppose that makes a difference. Unless you are getting booze, there is no reason to go to Tia's or Tommy's. why spend 14 dollars on a mediocre carne asada platter when you can get the same thing in the mission for half the price. If i hear anyone lamenting about the lack of mexican food next to my house i'll say hello. Thu Jan 03 13:49:12 -0800 2008 3251852 23879 kairo 2 3258613 Agree that Papalote is amazing, and it's probably the closest burrito to the Inner Richmond that would qualify as muy bueno! If you walk south on Arguello and cut over to Stanyan and then the Haight, you could go to Balazo. Their Jerry's burrito is mighty fine! Thu Jan 03 16:28:18 -0800 2008 3258083 136252 rahir 1 3259729 No! I'm really sorry! No good mexican food here. But don't be too down, there's plenty of other great stuff around. You'll be at a dessert epicenter what with Genki and Toy Boat nearby. Don't forget the surprisingly good Italian coffee at the underrated Caffe De Sole at California near 5th. Fri Jan 04 00:37:50 -0800 2008 3251852 17638 tacos 2 3260660 What kind of Italian coffe is at Caffe De Sole? Why underrated? Any other good things there? Fri Jan 04 09:25:15 -0800 2008 3259729 10264 rworange 3 3261906 well, they do a good job at my preferred version of an americano, which is pretty hard to find in the richmond district. Their espresso tastes pretty good. I admit, I haven't had anything else there, but have heard good things about the pastries. Oh yeah, and the guys working there are real life Italians! Fri Jan 04 14:33:03 -0800 2008 3260660 17638 tacos 1 3259760 Just curious, when people say Chino's, Pancho's and Gordo's arent' good, what are they ordering? I'm not doubting any dislike since the Richmond isn't taqueria heaven but it's insightful to see what people order and how, and tastes are of course subjective. As a reference there's a discussion about Picante in Berkeley that runs over the same territory...blandness and what to order and ordering around strengths and weaknesses. http://www.chowhound.com/topics/474256 Okay, I started a new thread about it here: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/476010 Fri Jan 04 01:33:32 -0800 2008 3251852 27275 ML8000 2 3261924 My #1 complaint is that the food at the Gordo on my block has a strange smell and aftertaste that aren't particularly appealing. The food doesn't seem especially fresh. The grilled chicken is sitting in a pan of liquid for example. They charge extra for chips. The menu is limited. If it were open until 2am, I could overlook these problems. Fri Jan 04 14:37:30 -0800 2008 3259760 17638 tacos 3 3261952 I'm not sure which Gordo's is the one on your block, but I went once for burritos at the one on Clement. Bland is an understatement and I totally agree about your comments on the freshness issue. The grilled chicken in a pan of liquid came as a surprise to me. I couldn't finish the burrito and won't be back...I much prefer the burritos at Los Hermanos on Chestnut to Gordo's. Fri Jan 04 14:45:01 -0800 2008 3261924 44765 dinnerout 4 3261985 If I still lived in the Richmond I'd just drive to the Mission for tacos...it's just as far and convenient as the Marina. Fri Jan 04 14:55:09 -0800 2008 3261952 27275 ML8000 5 3262637 That's true, but I actually live in the Marina so the Mission is a schlep for a burrito... Fri Jan 04 18:45:55 -0800 2008 3261985 44765 dinnerout 3 3261973 What did you order? I've experience after taste on the grilled items, which I take as the charbroiler or sitting in the pile. Their stuff is bland...except for a few items, one being the chile verde which is basically what I order (stewed items can sit). I also the grilled chicken if I just need to eat and want something basic and bland. Fri Jan 04 14:52:01 -0800 2008 3261924 27275 ML8000 4 3261978 I had a grilled chicken burrito - but I like grilled chicken meat to be dry...well not dry, per se, but not sitting in liquid! Fri Jan 04 14:53:34 -0800 2008 3261973 44765 dinnerout