Downtown S.F. is getting hit Mexico City-style tacos
A Bay Area taco specialist known for his marinated pork sliced from a spinning spit is making a comeback.
After shuttering his food truck earlier this year, Al Pastor Papi will be opening a fixed location in San Francisco's Union Square through the city's Vacant to Vibrant program, which offers temporary leases in downtown San Francisco. Chef-owner Miguel Escobedo will be shaving his flame-roasted pork off the trompo and onto tortillas and tortas at 232 O'Farrell St., formerly the site of a Chipotle franchise.
Escobedo, who co-founded Papalote Mexican Grill with his brother over 25 years ago, first launched Al Pastor Papi in late 2018 to compensate for a lack of taquerias roasting pork on a trompo, or vertical spit, as is ubiquitous in Mexico City. His signature pink trailer was a common sight around Bay Area food truck hubs like Parklab Gardens in Mission Bay.
'I'm combining everything I've learned into this new location,' Escobedo said.
The space will soon begin a quick remodel, and the chef hopes to open no later than the first week of June. The new location will be offering Escobedo's in-demand tacos, tortas and burritos along with lunch bowls and salads. The new kitchen space has a grill, meaning carne asada, shrimp, chicken and nopales will be made fresh. Escobedo plans to include more vegetarian options like jackfruit, soy and Impossible plant-based 'meat' products.
'The grill being part of the menu will make it more exciting. It's a great flavor,' he said.
In January, Escobedo put an end to the Al Pastor Papi trailer after six years in business. In an Instagram post, he said that we would be planning the next phase of Al Pastor Papi, and cited the need for time to care for his physical and mental health.
Al Pastor Papi isn't the only business taking part in the latest cohort of Vacant to Vibrant. Apparel company Nooworks and craft workshop company Craftivity are also opening in formerly vacant downtown spaces, while three previous Vacant to Vibrant popups — Koolfi Creamery, Hungry Crumbs and Paper Son Coffee — have just signed long-term leases downtown. The program, a partnership between the nonprofit SF New Deal and the city's Office of Economic and Workforce Development, launched in 2023; support from private donors includes a recent $500,000 in funding from JPMorgan Chase.
Escobedo hopes this next chapter catapults Al Pastor Papi back into the center of the city's taco scene. He is happy to see other local businesses find support in landing what could become a permanent location.
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