The Taco Shop at Underdog's

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Practically everyone in the city has heard of Nick's Crispy Tacos.  It's famed happy hour taco shop housed inside of Rouge nightclub in Russian Hill.  The super long lines show how much San Francisco does NOT know what a good fish taco is.  A true foodie would know that Nick Fasanella actually sold out of the business years ago and now houses his delicious fish tacos at Underdogs bar in the Sunset district.  I've actually had tacos at Nick's Crispy Tacos years ago and was disappointed.  The tacos at Nick's Crispy Tacos are made in the same style and still uses Nick's name to sell the lackluster tacos.  If you've ever had Nick's Crispy Tacos, you need to go and have a REAL Nick's fish taco at Underdogs.

There is a whole bunch of other items on the menu here like burritos and street tacos, but you can get comparable if not better Mexican food without going into Sunset.  The thing to get here is the fish tacos.  It's a thick cut of white fish beer battered and deep fried wrapped in two corn tortillas.  That's not all.  You must get it made "Nick's Way", which is one fried corn tortilla and one soft corn tortilla, shredded jack cheese, pinto beans, pico de gallo, and a generous dollap of fresh guacamole.  I'm usually the first person to start lecturing about why pinto beans don't belong in a taqueria, but it works here.  I always get the tacos to go and I've never eaten them fresh out of the fryer, but I can vouch for that the crispy exterior has always stayed intact for my 15 minute car ride.     

Ever since San Francisco shut down my beloved Dona Tere street cart in the Mission, I've been scouring high and low for a replacement for its elote con queso (aka Mexican corn).  If you don't know what elote con queso is, I'm almost hesitant to say what it is because you must taste its awesomeness without fear.  It's   It's no Dona Tere, but its still yummy and on a stick.  The white corn is GENEROUSLY slathered with mayo and melted butter then sprinkled with cotija cheese (must have this key ingredient!) and cayenne pepper.  The very fatty mixture results in a combination of all things wonderful - sweet, rich, buttery, cheesy and ending with a spicy kick.  It's not as good as a getting it from a cart on a summer day, but it satisfies.

Address:              The Taco Shop at Underdog's
                             1824 Irving St.
                             San Francisco, CA
 

Type:                    Mexican

Popular chomps:  pescado "Baja" style fish tacos (Nick's way)              

Chomp worthy:    pescado "Baja" style fish tacos (Nick's way)  
                             elote con queso