Parking and walk here were a little tough but the food was good. I got the pastor torta. She got the chicken. Both very good and unique.

A gringa in San Francisco! One of the Mexico City delicacies can finally be found here. It's great. Freshly cut off the trompo. Very legit. Been a couple times now.

One of the best taco spots I’ve tried in the U.S. — truly top-tier quality across the board. I’m originally from Mexico and a huge foodie. I’ve had tacos all over Mexico City, Querétaro, and Guadalajara — and Al Pastor Papi is easily one of the most authentic and high-quality spots I’ve come across outside of Mexico. The pastor is the clear standout — incredibly flavorful, perfectly crispy, and deeply authentic. But it’s not just the meat: the tortillas are fresh and high-quality, the cheese is rich and well-balanced, and the salsas are absolutely on point. Every ingredient complements the next — nothing feels like an afterthought. If you’re serious about tacos, this place is absolutely worth the visit.

Perfect place for lunch. I got a vampiro and 2 tacos. I was a big fan of their taco truck and i’m so happy they have a permanent location. It’s so close to union square and it’s easy to get to. The restaurant has a reasonable amount of tables and standing areas for a quick bite. They have a good option of drinks like mexican coke, aguas frescas and more. I only got the all pastor meat but they have other options for protein. I see myself coming back weekly cause the tacos are so good 😋 I love the fact that they use two tortillas per tacos, as it should. They also have different spicy levels for their salsa. We spent a little under $50 for 2 people.

Lisbeth

So happy this is in the union square area, yummy Mexican food, Mexico City style downtown! The food came out fast, which is perf when you’re starving downtown and want to eat quick. The prices are good, especially for a sit-down place near Union Square. Recommend

James Deperalta

I had an appointment by Union Square and needed some fuel but it had to be quick and no fuss. I remember the Mayor mentioning this place on his social media so I decided to swing by and I'm really glad I did. This place is easy to find and just around the block from Union Square. I got three tacos; a plain carne asada, a vampiro with prawns and an al pastor. It felt pricy at around $5/taco and $7 for the premium prawn taco but it was so worth it. Basically each taco was so loaded it could easily be times two so I felt like I ate 6 tacos. I'm talking mouthful bites full of meat, onions, cilantro and cheese for the vampiro. Everything was juicy and flavorful. The sauces that came with it we're tasty and fresh. One had a nice kick to it. The place was super clean and they were playing underground hiphop. The place is a nice vibe. One of the best places to eat around herr for sure. You have to check it out. You won't regret it.

Adella Lott

I love this place! We wanted to find a spot to eat that didn't cook with seed oils, and they don't, so that was a plus. I tried 3 tacos (Al Pastor, Nopales, and Carne Asada) and each were amazing. My partner got the burrito bowl with carne asada and they loved it. The Asada was grilled perfectly and flavorful. The service was also very friendly and helpful. We will definitely be back.

Kevin Drost

The meat here is seasoned to perfection and the tortillas have just the right amount of crisp — together they basically melt in your mouth. The chicken was juicy and well-seasoned, the asada had a nice char and tons of flavor, but the al pastor tacos? Easily the best I’ve ever had. The meat was sliced right off the trompo with that perfect char and crunch, and not overly sweet. Just insanely good tacos all around.

عبدالرزاق البرهمي

Al Pastor Papi serves delicious Mexican street-style tacos with juicy marinated pork, fresh pineapple, and bold flavors. It’s a vibrant spot that brings the true taste of Mexico City’s taquerías to every bite, full of spice, freshness, and authenticity.

Kristin N

SF has been gifted the treasure of Al Pastor Papi and the whole town is sleeping on their good luck. This place is a very short walk from Powell Station BART, so East Bay tacos aficionados don't be afraid to make the trek. Incredible tacos. My husband had a burrito and he has been raving about the pastor. The red and green salsas are creamy, a tad sweet, and so tasty. The highlight tho -- STRAWBERRY HORCHATA. So complex, tasty, and delicious. We all fought for a sip. Very friendly staff. Nice seating. I will absolutely be back!

Holly Zhou

Best Al Pastor in the city, plus the chicken burrito was exceptional 🤌🏻 Al pastor tacos were nice and crispy, well flavored, good balance with cilantro onion and pineapple. Chicken burrito Tijuana style was incredibly juicy, well flavoured, and the tortilla is so well grilled throughout. Cauliflower pastor was nice but nothing to write home about.

Richard Salgado

This place is legit, really good tacos and really good salsa. I ordered tacos Al pastor from the trompo, they were so good. Get the chips and salsa too! My only complaint is how long it took.

Cesar Silva

One of the best taco spots I’ve tried in the U.S. — truly top-tier quality across the board. I’m originally from Mexico and a huge foodie. I’ve had tacos all over Mexico City, Querétaro, and Guadalajara — and Al Pastor Papi is easily one of the most authentic and high-quality spots I’ve come across outside of Mexico. The pastor is the clear standout — incredibly flavorful, perfectly crispy, and deeply authentic. But it’s not just the meat: the tortillas are fresh and high-quality, the cheese is rich and well-balanced, and the salsas are absolutely on point. Every ingredient complements the next — nothing feels like an afterthought. If you’re serious about tacos, this place is absolutely worth the visit.

Jonathan Dominguez

Parking and walk here were a little tough but the food was good. I got the pastor torta. She got the chicken. Both very good and unique.

Alex Rudd

A gringa in San Francisco! One of the Mexico City delicacies can finally be found here. It's great. Freshly cut off the trompo. Very legit. Been a couple times now.

Lizzethe Barcenas

Perfect place for lunch. I got a vampiro and 2 tacos. I was a big fan of their taco truck and i’m so happy they have a permanent location. It’s so close to union square and it’s easy to get to. The restaurant has a reasonable amount of tables and standing areas for a quick bite. They have a good option of drinks like mexican coke, aguas frescas and more. I only got the all pastor meat but they have other options for protein. I see myself coming back weekly cause the tacos are so good 😋 I love the fact that they use two tortillas per tacos, as it should. They also have different spicy levels for their salsa. We spent a little under $50 for 2 people.

Ashley K

If you're looking for the best al pastor tacos in SF, Al Pastor Papi is an absolute must-visit! Every item is packed with flavor and cooked to absolute perfection. Their al pastor is consistently juicy, tender, and beautifully caramelized, with that perfect balance of sweet, smoky, and savory that keeps me coming back again and again. The gringa tacos were the first thing on the menu I ever tried, and I always recommend it on someone's first visit because they're rich, cheesy, and loaded with that deliciously seasoned meat. And the al pastorta is a flavor bomb: comforting, satisfying, and perfect cheese-pull. One of the things that sets Al Pastor Papi apart is their attention to detail, especially with flavor. Every bite feels like it was made with care. And don’t even get me started on their rotating horchata flavors! They’re always creative, super refreshing, and the perfect pairing to cool off the heat from the tacos. Whether it’s strawberry, matcha, or classic cinnamon, I never skip grabbing one. It’s rare to find a spot that nails flavor, consistency, and creativity all at once, but Al Pastor Papi does it effortlessly. I can’t recommend them enough!

From popular food truck to Union Square! You love to see it. Actually great tacos (& more) in tourist central. Plenty of seating, service is friendly, and the tunes are always good. Do not drive here. Taking public transit is easy. Or if you're a tourist, you're probably staying nearby right? So walk on over!

The tacos were very fantastic. They did not over-season their ingredients and yet the flavors still came through. I had the beef, chicken, and pork tacos. They provided two sauces, of which the orange-ish one was the most tasty.

Ryan Schafer

This is the best place I’ve eaten in San Francisco hands down and also the most affordably priced. The food is delicious and I tried lots of things. The staff are warm and attentive for a casual place. I can’t imagine how anyone could give less than 5 stars

Alan Bucio

Wonderful! The food was delicious and came out quickly. The atmosphere was welcoming and made it easy to unwind. The staff was so kind and saw that I was struggling with my young kids and put on a movie for them. I can’t speak highly enough of my experience here.

Michelle V

I came in because they were doing the jerk chicken burrito for the Jamaican fundraiser. I got my burrito and it ended up being a regular chicken burrito, not a jerk chicken burrito. ( I did eat it thinking I would eventually find the salsa they advertised and it seemed like maybe they ran out of the tortilla they said it would be on) I should have just showed the picture on IG instead of just saying it, I also didnt get a reciept to confirm what my order was so that was one me. I went to the register to ask if what they had given me was the jerk chicken or just regular chicken- thats when I showed the IG post. She said she didnt hear me say that. I was going to buy the right one and take it with me to go to eat later. They hooked it up and I really appreciate it. The owner was cool 😎 Highly recommend location. Super cute. Good music. Good food. Easy to get to on foot/bus/bart.

Tacos are delicious here! Each taco comes with plenty of meat that is flavourful and juicy. That's the best part here! The seating area isn't too bad, but it feels a bit dirty and needs some TLC. It's a neat street theme inside, that makes it a good food photo spot. The service is okay.

The food is excellent. one of the best taco in town. Service is decent and since it's rather a fast food place, there isn't much of atmosphere. But you shouldn't expect that anyway.

Ecstatic that Al pastor Papi now has a brick and mortar. Their food truck put me on to some of the best tacos in SF. I recently checked them out for lunch. I got a burrito and a vampiro taco. Everything was pretty solid, it came out to $25. The burrito was so huge, I had to take it home for leftovers. I’m really rooting for them and hoping the new location does well!!

Kelly Wu

Tacos are delicious here! Each taco comes with plenty of meat that is flavourful and juicy. That's the best part here! The seating area isn't too bad, but it feels a bit dirty and needs some TLC. It's a neat street theme inside, that makes it a good food photo spot. The service is okay.

Michael Wu PhD

The food is excellent. one of the best taco in town. Service is decent and since it's rather a fast food place, there isn't much of atmosphere. But you shouldn't expect that anyway.

Lamarrathon

Ecstatic that Al pastor Papi now has a brick and mortar. Their food truck put me on to some of the best tacos in SF. I recently checked them out for lunch. I got a burrito and a vampiro taco. Everything was pretty solid, it came out to $25. The burrito was so huge, I had to take it home for leftovers. I’m really rooting for them and hoping the new location does well!!

Lots of options on the menu but I think the burrito is probably the way to go. The tacos with the crispy cheese frico also look pretty good. Pastor is on the trompo and all but they use a very lean and thicker cut and it's also sliced thicker, so it's a bit dry and chewy. It doesn't have that melting flavor where all the meat layers get laminated together. Maybe I'm an al pastor snob but I wasn't super impressed.

Isis N

When I saw this place had opened up, I was excited to give them a try. I’m glad I stopped by, but I left feeling a little underwhelmed. The burrito was okay not bad, just nothing that stood out. As for the chips, I honestly could’ve gone without them. The portion was tiny, and they tasted stale, like they came from the bottom of the bag. I really wanted to enjoy the full experience.