Garaje - San Francisco

Oh my gosh! Their zapatos, which are basically chunky burritos, are absolutely addictive! I visit this place at least once a month. It’s conveniently located near my workplace, so as long as my coworkers want to treat themselves, we’re here! Occasionally, we try to balance things out with a healthier option, haha. But if needed, I’ll go solo. Here’s a pro tip: order ahead if you’re in a hurry or want to skip the wait. The lunchtime lines can get pretty long. Everything is delicious, but the zapatos are definitely the highlight!

The real highlight at Garaje is the food, which is simply delicious. The tacos, burgers, and their signature "Zapatos"—a pressed burrito—are all exceptional. Even the Mermaid taco, a vegetarian option featuring cauliflower as its base, is so tasty that you won't even miss the meat. But the true standout item has to be their carne asada fries. I find it hard to visit without getting an order for the table; they perfectly encapsulate the classic Mexican-American taco and burger shack experience. They also offer a great selection of beers on tap and a delightful, smoothie-like sangria that is wonderfully refreshing. Just a heads-up: the place tends to get incredibly busy at lunchtime, so it’s best to arrive before noon if you want to secure a seat during the lunch rush.

The atmosphere and decor inside the restaurant has a cool, grungy garage vibe that fits its name, but unfortunately, the food left much to be desired. They're famous for their zapatos, which are like flatter, grilled burritos. I tried the Surfer Vero zapato, featuring battered fried fish, fries, and avocado. Despite sounding delicious, it turned out to be surprisingly bland. It felt very dry and lacked any noticeable sauce. Both the fish and fries were tasteless and had a firm, almost stale texture. I could only finish half and ended up taking the rest home, where I had to dip it into some sauce to salvage the flavor. While the seating is quite plentiful, I found it a bit uncomfortable, and the overall cleanliness could be improved. However, the dim lighting does make it easier to overlook some of these issues. If you’re in the mood for a great burrito without rice, I recommend trying La Taqueria in the Mission instead!

Came here with a few friends, and the rock vibe was interesting, with dark lights and signs and various decorations. They also had some Christmas rock music playing since we came a few days before Christmas. I ordered the Steak Zapato and Baja Fish Taco. The Steak Zapato gave off a Taco Bell crunch wrap vibe, minus the crunch. It was creamy, mainly tasting of steak and avocado. I felt it could've used a fresh salsa or lettuce and something with crunch. I would have really liked some spice too, and I guess there was supposed to be salsa or sauce, but our table didn't have a bottle so I didn't know at the time. The Baja Fish Taco had two massive pieces of fish, super crispy, but it taste like it might've been fried a bit too long. More sauce would've been nice; it tasted better with one piece of fish rather than two. My friends tried other zapatos and seemed to enjoy them. Overall, it's a decent spot. I'd probably order different items next time and make sure to get the sauce. The taco, though, is a good deal if you're after a sizable portion.

Garaje is a FOR SURE place to go for some yummy eats! My girlfriend and I normally order the Cali Steak Zapato and the 1995 Zapato and trade one of the halves with each other. We also order the Asada fries as a side. The flavors are always on point and it isn't too greasy or oily. I like the addition of the fries in the Cali Steak. The Asada fries are a bit on the more expensive side but it's delicious and I have a weakness for fries. The cheese has a good creaminess to it that reminds me of mashed potatoes. The zapatos are decent in size and there's a sauce bottle at each table to pair with them to spice things up (it's a bit similar to a vinaigrette). You order at the counter and they bring you the food to your table. The water is self serve and there seems to be a good variety of beers you can choose from. It does tend to get a bit loud with the music and everyone talking. Definitely a great spot to try in the city.