Best Cheap Eats in San Francisco for Burritos, Dim Sum, Banh Mi, Bakeries, and Late Tacos

Guide: Burritos, Dumplings & Bakery Lines

A practical San Francisco cheap-eats guide for Mission burritos, Chinatown dim sum, Richmond pastries, Tenderloin banh mi, late tacos, and tiny counter meals. The point is not romanticizing budget food; it is knowing which lines and counters actually save the day.

• La TaqueriaLa Taqueria is the Mission burrito stop that justifies the argument: no rice padding, excellent carne asada, and a line that moves with purpose. Go outside peak lunch, keep the order focused, and understand that this is counter-service efficiency, not a lingering dining room.
• Good Mong Kok BakeryGood Mong Kok is Chinatown utility at its best: steam trays, buns, dumplings, cash-register speed, and enough food for a park bench lunch without financial drama. Treat it as takeaway, know the line can be abrupt, and order more than you think you need.
• Arsicault BakeryArsicault makes the Richmond croissant pilgrimage feel rational: shatter, butter, almond paste, and a queue that smells better than most restaurants. Go early, buy for later, and build the stop into Golden Gate Park or Clement Street instead of crossing town for one pastry.
• Saigon SandwichSaigon Sandwich is the Tenderloin banh mi counter that keeps the city fed for pocket change: crusty bread, pickled crunch, pate, and no ceremony. It is best as a fast lunch or transit-adjacent save; bring patience for the tiny room and a plan for where to eat.
• El FarolitoEl Farolito is the late Mission answer when the night needs a super burrito more than another opinion. The room is bright, fast, and not sentimental; use it after bars, before BART, or whenever hunger outruns your reservation discipline.
• YamoYamo is a tiny Mission Burmese counter where the cooks, flames, noodles, and waiting stools are all basically in your lap. Go for tea leaf salad and noodles when you want flavor over comfort, and do not bring a group that needs personal space.