Everyone in San Francisco knows that the best place to get Mexican is in the Mission, however there is one little spot in the Russian Hill area that could go head-to-head with any Mission Mexican place. That is Nick's Crispy Tacos on Polk and Broadway. It is tucked inside the Rouge Nightclub and is a little piece of taco heaven.

My personal favorite is their carne asada tacos served "Nick's Way". This means they are fried and covered in guacamole and cheese. This is the only appropriate way to serve a taco. The meat is tender, the guacamole fresh and the salsa has just the right amount of kick to it. Their nachos are another fabulous item, piled high with lots of chicken, cheese, guacamole and sour cream. And the chip to topping ratio is perfect. Some places have massive piles of chips with minimal toppings so you are left with a pile of empty chips. At Nicks there is an abundance of toppings for every chip. They also have a great selection of burritos and if you get there in the morning the breakfast burrito is yummy.

The atmosphere is a little funky with the red leather booths, chandeliers on the ceiling, and red picnic-esque tables in the center. In addition the other half of the place is the Rouge Nightclub, which in the evening is a really fun dance club. This is definitely not a sit down, fine dining place and that is what makes it great. You walk up order your food and they call your number when its ready. One item to note is that it is cash only, however they have an ATM right there for you to use.

Whether you are doing take out or sitting down the food is amazing. And after writing this, I may just head up there for a quick taco fix.

By Stephanie Law

WHERE:

Nick's Crispy Tacos
1500 Broadway
San Francisco, CA 94109
Ph. 415-409-8226 ‎