Garaje

We came to San Francisco to visit my brother and we visited this place too. I love the tuna tacos. They were great and fantastic. Recommend.

I didn’t have huge expectations coming to Garaje because I’m not a huge Mexican food person, but I actually really enjoyed it! The atmosphere is nice and chill, but it still has some character to it. I ordered a vegetarian zapato which had fries and avocado inside and it was really tasty! It was nicely wrapped and not too messy to eat either! I also tried their house sangria which was pretty good! I loved that they had an ice cube made of crushed berries and sangria as well.
Overall, I really enjoyed my experience here and will be back to try some of their other items!

This place is «interesting» but I didn’t find their food spectacular in any way.
I got the Grilled Fish and Guac taco and the Beer Battered Tilapia taco.
I had the Beer Battered Tilapia first. The fish was cooked well (think fish and chips) and the chipotle mayo was good. However, the size of the fish made for an awkward eating experience as I was having dinner with a friend. The chipotle mayo and cabbage could have been better placed — I had quite a few bites that were solely unflavored cabbage.
I had the Grilled fish and Guac afterwards. The tortilla on this one was small and hard to wrap around the contents, so I ended up picking at my taco with a fork. The fish was cooked well and guac was good (when is it not??) but it didn’t stand out to me in particular.
Not a bad place to go if you’re looking for reasonably priced Mexican food, but it’s nothing too special.

This place was great! The burgers are massive. I got a double cheeseburger and could hardly finish it! The salsa was tasty. There are a ton of beers on tap. And the atmosphere was alive!
We were visiting SF this weekend, but if I was local, I would eat there often. It was inexpensive, great food, and awesome atmosphere. Check it out!

Super interesting place — cash only, and their items are pretty cheap/​filling, though not very healthy! This place is best described as a day-​time bar. A ton of beers on tap, especially belgian beers.
On average about $ 6/​item, and it keeps you pretty full. Go with two, and you’ll definitely be very full. Expect it to be a little loud.
Remember your cash!

This restaurant has a rustic ambiance feel to it at its core. The walls are full of beer signs, vehicle license plates, street signs and posters. I love the vibe of this place as you enter. They are very busy during the lunch and dinner rush. Tables here are first come, first serve so keep an eye out for a spot as you’re in line to order. You can eat at a booth, table tops with stools, student desks, picnic table seating and counter type seating upstairs. After you order, you look for any available seats and they bring your order to you based on the number they give you. Heads up that it’s cash only!
I ordered the Maverick Zapato per my friends recommendation and it was awesome! It’s like this crab cake sandwich with different textures to it. The flavors compliment each other very well. We got beers that were recommended by the cashier based on flavors we liked and a side of fries. It was very filling and the perfect meal coming back to the Bay Area. We went during off hours and it was still very busy. It still took us awhile to get seating so keep that in mind. Great restaurant with awesome food and beer!

If a dive bar and a Cal-​Mex restaurant have a kid, it would be Garaje. This place is perfect as a lunch place, or a dinner hangout spot. Did I mention that they serve craft beer?
My favorites have to be the baja fish taco and the el camino taco (steak and shrimp with avocado). You got to try their zapatos too — it is a more filling option, think a flat burrito without rice and beans but with fries and guac. I had their previous version of sangria, which was blended with fruits. Apparently they don’t offer that any more.
They only accept cash and has an atm in –store. The place is really crowded during lunch hours — come early or later (11am or after 1pm) to avoid the crowd. They do takeaway too.

I came here with my friends for a quick bite. I heard this place has pretty good tacos, and I am a big fan of tacos, so I wanted to give it a try. Garaje was a little hard to find for me. If you’re not looking for it, you’ll easily walk past it. In fact, my friends and I did walk right past it until we realized we were too far and turned around.
Garaje’s carne asada tacos aren’t half bad. They’re the small street tacos size so you’d have to order at least 2. I thought the carne asada was marinated pretty well. They’re not as good as the tacos I’ve had in SoCal but pretty decent for the SoMa area. I find that it’s a little odd an establishment this size does not accept credit cards though.

Where to go before a Giants game for a quick bite? Garaje fit this bill, only I filled up a little too much and wasn’t able to indulge in all my favorite ballpark treats. When we walked in on a Thursday night around 6:30, there was a line about 15 people long. There were no places to sit, and it appeared a lot of people were saving seats for their friends waiting in line.
Garaje is dark and crowded, with cool seating options like padded booths, elementary school style desks, long picnic tables, and countertops. There are a couple TVs where you can watch whatever game is on. The décor is garage-​themed (no surprise), with road signs and other driving-​related vintage looking decorations. The line moved fairly quickly, and we ordered about 15 minutes after arriving. The food is cheap, but the menu is not too clearly laid out on the signs on the wall. The menus that are on the tables and available at the registers are clearer. The beer selection is varied and posted on the wall. My boyfriend had an interestingly spicy Mexican chocolate stout.
After staking out multiple spots, we were able to snag a table near the front. You have to be pretty quick, but turnaround isn’t too bad and you just have to be patient. It also helps to spread out and coordinate. About ten minutes after we ordered, we got our food.
Carne asada zapata — very bean heavy and filling.
Grilled tilapia taco — light and refreshing. I could have done without the chipotle mayo type sauce they put on it.
Beer battered tilapia taco — the chunk of fish is huge and the batter is thick and crispy.
I would recommend the tacos over the zapatas, as they taste better and are a pretty good value. The zapata is just a lot of meat and carbs.

Came here after happy hour for a real dinner.
We kind of had trouble finding this place but enter through the door with an APPLAUSE sign above it. Right when you get in, it just feels like a off the road bar. There are license plates hanging around everywhere with posters of concerts from the 80s. Order at the counter and then go find your own seat.
Got the sangria which was good, until the ice ball of berries melted which made the end of the drink way too sweet in my liking.
I also got the baja fish taco, which was pretty good. Not much in the taco except for my nicely fried fish and some lettuce with sauce for major flavor.
However, the pork fries did not hold up. Pork was really dry, all the fries stuck together and were a bit soft with no crunch on the outside. The cheese at the bottom was all cold and hard. Did not like these.
Might be worth coming back for another beer or taco though.

This place has a great hipster vibe going on but I’m struggling giving 3 stars. The food was just so-​so. Had the Carnitas taco and even though the meat was flavorful and the flour tortilla didn’t tear apart like other places, the carnitas was dry and tough. The guac was not flavorful and the chips were rather thick and way too hard.
When you enter proceed to the rear and order. When you pay the cashier will give you a number and then you seat yourself at any open table. The runner will bring your food to the table. Btw, cash only!
They have a decent beer on tap selection.
Seating can be challenging but they do have an upstairs seating area.
Again, good vibe but in my opinion the food seemed lacking.
Even with a harsh review, I would be willing to give them another shot.

Complete fat kid status, but it tastes so good. However, those looking to watch the waistline should avoid this spot like the plague as it tends to be fried and greasy, in the best ways possible.
Lunch and dinner time, this place is packed. It tends to be loud and it’s super casual. You wait in line, order (CASH ONLY) and find seating.
The zapatos are like grilled burritos stuffed with steaks, shrimps, fries, guac and so on. So delicious. The hamburgers are infamous and available in chicken and vegetable variety. The tacos are large and in charge with a huge shoutout to the fish. The asian salad is delicious and I opted for the fried carnitas and DAMN! It was bangin’.
Sangria slushies and a killer beer list makes Garaje an iconic SF eatery for those looking to indulge.

Someone please tell me why they’re called zapatos.
Not a bad place for tacos and zapatos I must say. The place is really popular even with an obscure looking entrance. You’ll know the entrance once you see the sign that says applause on top. Once inside, it kind of feels like a dive bar but with lots of seating for dining. Basically the definition of a gastropub? Came in around 6:45pm, and all the seats were taken. Like damn, it’s that good huh? Also they have chargers on the side tables, and they work decently well.
I ordered a skirt steak zapato and a sangria.
What’s funny about the sangria is that they drop a sangria-​looking popsicle ball in your glass first, and then fill it with sangria from the tap. Like what I didn’t even notice until I drank most of my drink. Maybe that’s their secret to their amazing sangrias. Not feeling the pulp at the end though. The steak zapato, again I wanna know the origin of the food name, tasted really good, but it didn’t exactly blow me away. It looks like a plain burrito panini style, but I guess it’s not and that observation might be insulting to the dish.
TIP: It’s cash only so bring cash. Yes I know it’s SOMA but do it.
A nice place for Mexican food.

— Parking is tricky because it’s in such a prime area
— Cash only (ATM available inside)
— Fills up quickly
— Android + iPhone chargers available!
I coincidentally came here on St. Paddy’s day with my friend and we were able to try this special red ale that they only have once a year. We also tried their horchata beer which was super yummy and cinnamon-​y.
You order first and then sit. I got the red ale, skirt-​steak zapato and a basket of fries to share with my friend. The zapato didn’t look too intimidating but it was actually hella filling! In addition to the beers and fries, I was uncomfortable but couldn’t stop eating because it was so good hahaha
I do wish that it had less beans inside though. Other than that, everything was delicious.
The vibe was pretty chill and the deco was eclectic! Kind of reminded me of Butter. They also had two tables with phone chargers, which I thought was a great idea! Such a bay area thing to have :)

Came here for St Patty’s day and beat the crowd! I’ve been wanting to try this place and my boyfriend raves about it.
You order in the front + pay and then get a number and seating is first come first serve.
We ordered:
Ahi Tuna Taco: Pretty good, tuna was cooked perfectly. I feel it needed more flavor.
Thai Peanut Shrimp Taco: Interesting and good, I like the asian fusion!
Carne Asada Fries: Meat was tender and fries will crispy. Pretty high quality! Recommend adding an egg on top!
Overall, good experience, it is pretty filling, definitely needed to hit the gym after ;), but I would come here again, great atmosphere, crowd and food!

5 when you’re drunk
4 when you’re not
So 4.5!
Garaje is soooooo good. Okay, so I may be a little tipsy right now and just finished my meal here (and may still be sitting here) but Garaje is still really good!
I’ve tried various fish tacos: fried, grilled, ahi, you name it, I’ve tried it. Avocado ratio on these are ridiculousss. I’ve also tried the Thai shrimp peanut taco which I thought was really good too. Crab crack was okay (I thought this was supposed to be a sandwich?). I tried the Surfer Leo (beer battered fish) Zapato today, BOMB. Anyway, I appreciate all the pescetarian options here!
Seating is a BITCH during dinner time so prepare to swoop like a hawk once a table opens up. Cash only!

Probably my favorite Mexican Place/​Restaurant in San Francisco. Love this place so much. Every person I bring here loves it as well. Lets start with the décor. It feels like an old inside movie drive in dive? If that make sense. So colorful! Love all those license plates along the wall. A good amount of TVs for bay area sports games. Not really a sports bar. Which that a good thing, too many of those in the city.
The food is amazing! EVERYTHING is AMAZEBALL! You need to start with the Carne Asada Fries. So many flavors just in one bite. My favorite TACO is Seared Ahi Tuna with Avocado. That huge piece of tuna is amazing. The slaw, salsa and sauce they use, makes it the best ahi tuna taco you will ever eat. Also I love the Zapatos with steak. It’s like a burrito and quesadilla mixed together. GRILLED! The flavors and ingredients they put into their food will blow your mind. One last thing, do not forget to top it off with their Sangria! Its blended with ice. OMGoodness. So good, so refreshing!
Cash ONLY. And make sure you order everything you want because if you forget, you will have to line up again. They have two floors for you to dine. Must try everything!

I came in at 6:30pm on a Friday night to snag a spot to sit and the place was packed by 7pm. The tables closest to the walls even have cell phone chargers, which I’ve never seen at a restaurant/​bar before.
I ordered the surfer leo zapato and the pumpkin madrugada stout. I found it ironic that the beer was more expensive than the food, but I guess it shows how cheap the food/​expensive the beer is. Surfer leo was delicious and the zapato was an interesting spin on the typical burrito. The madrugada stout had a hint of sourness and I couldn’t really taste the pumpkin.
Even with all the people, it was actually quite easy to maintain a conversation without yelling across the table. This was a huge plus.
Cash only, so hit up the atm at the entrance if you’re out of cash.

Wow, I love this eclectic pub for its amazing selection of Mexican grub and service. Try any of their tacos (e.g., mojo/​baja fish, fiery prawns with Thai peanut sauce), zapatos (aka burritos), and burgers with a side of chips, salsa, and guacamole. You’ll be amazed at how tasty the food is at such a low key place.
I’m a fan and will definitely be back for more. The booths are comfortable to sit in for eating and lounging around with the free device charges at every table. What more could you ask for?

Seriously worth the hype. Garaje is the stuff taco dreams are made of (What, you don’t have taco dreams?). I ordered two Como se Llama taco (one with chicken, one with steak) and I was seriously full for the rest of the day. A crispy taco embedded in a cheesy flour tortilla with refritos, then filled with chicken/​steak, pico de gallo, and guacamole — all for $ 6. Truly delicious.
Water is self serve, food is cash only. Funky, fun ambiance. Bus your own damn tables.
Altogether delightful.

Gute Bierauswahl, mit 5 Dollar auch sehr günstig. Dazu die passenden mexikanischen Speise und freundlichen Service.

I want more Tacos! Denn die sind einfach allererste Sahne hier! Bei meinen beiden Besuchen hatte ich einmal den Thai Prawn Taco und den Seared Tuna Taco. Ganz großes Kino, besonders der Thunfisch, der die Pfanne nur einmal kurz geknutscht hat. Daher ist er noch fast roh und superzart. Bei größerem Hunger sollte man sich ruhig 2 Tacos gönnen, da kann man auch ein bisschen rumprobieren. Die Zapatos sehen auch super aus, ich wage mal zu behaupten, dass man hier auf der ganzen Karte nichts falsch machen kann. Außer bei der Sangria vielleicht, das war mehr Fruchtpürree und Fruchtplocken finde ich doof. Lieber beim Bier bleiben, da gibt’s eine große Auswahl. Nächstes Mal komme ich auf jeden Fall wieder vorbei. Allein für den Thunfisch!

Foram uns colegas que me trouxeram aqui e confesso que fiquei impressionada logo nos primeiros minutos. Adorei o espaço e a decoração. Tinha ido a um restaurante mexicano na noite anterior, mais tradicional, e achei muito interessante esta variante urbana do Garaje. Fiquei com os olhos presos nos hambúrgueres que vi pelas mesas enquanto esperava na fila. Pensei que era uma boa oportunidade para experimentar os famosos hambúrgueres americanos.
O rapaz do balcão sugeriu que acompanhasse o hambúrguer (pedi o mais simples de todos) com as «carne asada fries» que os meus colegas já tinham pedido. O serviço foi rapidíssimo e foi uma das coisas que mais me chamou a atenção neste restaurante.
O hambúrguer era delicioso, mas foram as batatas que me marcaram: um monte de batatas fritas, envoltas em queijo fundido e pedaços de carne assada, debaixo de um monte de guacamole e de molho de tomate e pimento. Meu Deus, cada vez que me lembro disso, o meu estômago ainda treme de medo.
A comida era deliciosa, sim, mas demasiado hardcore para a dieta mediterrânica. Se vierem aqui, preparem-​se para uma refeição que marca o resto do vosso dia e que vos faz pensar o quão mau será abrir o fecho das calças numa reunião de trabalho. Dei graças pela água com gás no escritório.

Como Se Llama?
Jawohl, genau das habe ich bestellt, als ich gestern zum ersten Mal «in der Garaje» zum Essen war… und es war ein Fest! — Zumindest ein Fest für meinen Gaumen…
Garaje wurde mir von meinen Arbeitskollegen wärmstens empfohlen, was, mich natürlich sehr neugierig gemacht hat. Wie es sich gehört, habe ich gleich mal auf Unilocal nachgeschaut und auch dort wurde Garaje von den meisten Leuten bis über den Klee gelobt. In der Tat, ich muss zugeben, dass ich bei dem ganzen Hype um diesen Laden doch ein wenig skeptisch war, denn oft passiert es mir, dass meine Erwartungen so hoch sind, dass wenn ich letztendlich dort hinkomme, ich oft enttäuscht bin.
Nun, wie meiner 5-​Sterne Bewertung zu entnehmen ist, war dem nicht so: meine Erwartungen wurden übertroffen! Die Tacos waren echt erste Sahne! Beim nächsten Mal werde ich Abends vorbeikommen, denn die Bierauswahl hier klingt echt gut!
Tipps:
— Wenn du zur Mittagszeit hier vorbeikommst, würde ich ein frühes Mittagessen vorschlagen — nach 12Uhr ist die Schlange wirklich sehr lang!
— Ich kann die Tacos sehr empfehlen: Como Se Llama (Carnitas) & Ahi Tuna (und dann fleißig mit Hotsauce beträufeln)
— Bargeld mitbringen, denn Kreditkarten sind hier nicht akzeptiert!

Un espacio genial reconvertido en taquería. El garaje debe su nombre a que en verdad el espacio antes se dedicaba a la reparación de motos ¡y aún conserva la decoración! convirtiéndolo en un lugar expléndidamente original. Carteles de Ducati por aquí, bombillas de las antiguas por allá. Una cocina que me pareció rápida y efectiva (éramos 5 personas y nos sirvieron unos tacos deliciosos en un santiamén). Intuí que el espacio lo frecuentan personas aficionadas al deporte por las 3 o 4 pantallas de televisión enormes y con fútbol –en silencio-​.
Yo comí un taco de pescado al grill que me encantó aunque para comer una sola pieza es algo escaso. Lo acompañé con unas patatas de queso, guacamole y ternera que me supieron a gloria. Muy bueno e interesante.
Atención: no aceptan tarjetas de crédito pero tienen un cajero dentro donde sacar pasta… así que al menos o frecen una solución.