Mariana Reza and Alberto Pineda opened the first location of Tacos El Patrón in Pleasant Hill (2290 Monument Ave.) in February 2018. As quesabirria and consomé mania gripped the Bay Area’s social media accounts in late 2019, Tacos El Patrón debuted in San Francisco (1500 Van Ness Ave.) with a perfect, juicy take on the trendy taco.
But the restaurant didn’t pop just based on the quesabirria — the menu’s hearty plates (try the meat-and-cheese-heavy alambres or a couple of the namesake shrimp tacos) and huge aguas frescas sealed the deal. The welcoming atmosphere counts for a lot in comparison to all the places that do not give the impression that they want you to linger and enjoy yourself.
A nearby spinoff restaurant focused on stews called Los Guisados Del Patrón opened in August 2020, but was closed by January 2021. (If any concept was ripe for a comeback, this is it!) Fortunately, Reza and Pineda recently opened a second Tacos El Patrón in the Fillmore District (1325 Fillmore St.).
Opening on a stretch that has challenged the longevity of many restaurateurs and club owners over the past several years shows their faith in Tacos El Patrón’s high-quality food and in San Francisco’s rebound. Go get some!
