Mission District Secret Food Tour

Today I joined the Secret Food Tour through San Francisco’s Mission District, and it ended up being far more than just a food tour. Our guide, Dana, was incredibly knowledgeable and filled the walk with fascinating stories, local legends and quirky facts that brought the neighbourhood to life.

One of the highlights was learning about the incredible street art that covers the Mission. Much of it has been supported by the community organisation Precita Eyes, which has helped create and preserve murals in the area since the 1970s. These aren’t just paintings on walls – they’re giant outdoor history books, telling stories about immigration, social justice, culture and community.

We also visited the historic Mission San Francisco de Asís, the first mission church in San Francisco, founded in 1776. It’s remarkable to think that while modern San Francisco is famous for tech companies and skyscrapers, the city itself grew around this small Spanish mission. The entire neighbourhood gets its name from it.

Food-wise, we sampled the famous Mission-style burrito. I learned that this San Francisco invention is famous for being absolutely enormous, packed with rice, beans, meat and fillings, all wrapped tightly in a large steamed tortilla and usually finished off in foil. It was developed right here in the Mission District during the 1960s and has since become one of the most influential burrito styles in America.

One of the most interesting things about the Mission is that it still feels like the cultural heartbeat of San Francisco. You’ll hear Spanish spoken everywhere, see colourful murals around almost every corner and discover food from all over Latin America. It has a vibrant energy that feels very different from the downtown business districts. In fact, locals often describe it as one of the last neighbourhoods that still feels like “old San Francisco.”

A fun little fact I loved: the Mission is also known for its wild parrots. Yes, actual wild parrots fly around the neighbourhood and have become local celebrities over the years!

By the end of the tour I was completely and sufficiently stuffed. I genuinely couldn’t have eaten another bite.

We finished at Dandelion Chocolate, a famous bean-to-bar chocolate maker. Their rich drinking chocolate had a subtle hint of cinnamon and was absolutely delicious – the perfect sweet ending to an afternoon of eating my way through one of San Francisco’s most colourful and fascinating neighbourhoods.

A fantastic tour, a fantastic guide, and a wonderful way to experience the real San Francisco beyond the usual tourist attractions.Read more