Item: #46 Chips and Salsa
Where: Papalote Mexican Grill
Milk and cookies, peanut butter and jelly, Corona and lime, chips and salsa. One can’t exist without the other, and together they create a harmonious union. It’s hard to screw up such a classic pair, and luckily Papalote doesn’t, which is why 7×7 Magazine decided to put it on their list of Things to Try Before You Die. The salsa is a very rich and spicy sauce, and is pretty flavorful. It’s got some heat to it, so if you can’t really handle spicy foods you may want to tread carefully. The chips, however, are fairly standard. It’s also hard to screw up tortilla chips, especially when they are paired with good salsa.
Does it belong on the list? No. The chips and salsa are good together, the chips are standard on their own, and the salsa is better than most. I wish I could recommend something else from Papalote, but everything is just good to really good and there are other taquerias I would go to before Papalote. If you’re looking for a light snack you could get good chips and salsa at any number of taquerias in the Mission.
A much better alternative would be a bag of Chicharrones from acclaimed local Chef Ryan Farr of 4505 Meats, which specializes in pork products. Chicharrones are fried pork rinds, and 4505 Chicharrones contain natural pork, sea salt, cane sugar, and the finest chiles. They are light and airy, salty and spicy, and literally melt in your mouth. I always have to remind myself to slow down, otherwise I’d finish a bag in seconds. A small bag runs a pretty steep $3, but they are definitely worth trying! Chicharrones are available at different bars and markets around the city, and you can follow them on Twitter at @chicharrones.
Also check out:
7×7 List: Apple Fritter At Bob’s Donuts
7×7 List: Angels On Horseback from Anchor & Hope
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i agree. nothing special about the chips. i guess their big pitch is that their burrito is healthy because they have SOY alternatives instead of meat and small portions… i’d rather get a burrito anywhere in the mission. haha
yeah, who would get a soy burrito when u have real burritos on every block in the Mission.