Al Pastor Papi, the taco truck renowned for its authentic Mexico City-style al pastor, is making an exciting return, transitioning from its food truck roots to a brick-and-mortar taqueria in downtown San Francisco this summer.
Miguel Escobedo, the owner and former chef and co-owner of the popular Papalote Mexican Grill, is thrilled about the opportunity despite recently having closed Al Pastor Papi back in January.
After operating the bright pink trailer for seven years, Escobedo was exhausted from the relentless schedule of traveling across the Bay Area six to seven days a week.
His dreams of opening a fixed restaurant were thwarted by the pandemic, leading him to take a much-needed break.
During this downtime, Escobedo got some rest, spent quality time with his kids, and took a part-time job at Costco, where he appreciated the simplicity of work-life balance, clocking in and out without the pressure that comes with owning a business.
Then, in an unexpected twist, Escobedo received a call in early March from the Vacant to Vibrant program, organized by the nonprofit SF New Deal and the city’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development.
The program was seeking an established culinary brand to open in downtown, offering financial assistance that Escobedo saw as a golden opportunity.
Escobedo reflected on this moment, saying, “It was almost too good to be true.”
The adrenaline kicked in, and he noted, “Right now, I wake up eager and ready and excited. I haven’t felt that in a while.”
The new location at 232 O’Farrell St. will provide Escobedo with a space ten times larger than the trailer, previously occupied by a Chipotle, which makes it almost turn-key ready for al pastor production.
With just a bit of painting and new equipment needed, Escobedo aims to have the taqueria open as soon as June.
This exciting arrangement with Vacant to Vibrant will last 18 months, after which Escobedo will need to negotiate a new lease with the landlord.
While the location may not have been his initial vision, the deal proved too advantageous to ignore.
Initially, Escobedo plans to focus on lunch service, capitalizing on the area’s surrounding hotels and offices, seeing this as the foundation for quick grab-and-go meals, food delivery, and catering services.
Looking ahead, Escobedo is particularly enthusiastic about the prospect of weekend brunch.
Plans include serving micheladas and mimosas alongside traditional breakfast offerings and chilaquiles.
Escobedo, who has a passion for music and has DJed for over 30 years, intends to feature all vinyl DJs during brunch to create a vibrant atmosphere.
“The customer is going to get hit all over the place,” Escobedo said. “The mouth and the ears.”
Originally from Mexico, Escobedo moved to the Bay Area at the age of nine and has been working in restaurants since his teenage years.
He had early exposure to the industry by assisting at his uncle’s restaurant, Celia’s, where he took on various roles, leading him to realize his commitment to a life in food.
In 1999, Escobedo and his brother Victor founded Papalote.
After nearly two decades, he branched off to create Al Pastor Papi, frustrated by the lack of authentic al pastor in the city, which features marinated pork cooked on a vertical broiler, known as a trompo.
For nearly seven years, Al Pastor Papi earned a reputation as a successful operation.
Today, patrons can stroll down Mission Street late at night and find several taco trucks selling al pastor, a reflection of Escobedo’s influence on the local culinary scene.
Escobedo expressed a sense of victory in knowing that even if Al Pastor Papi didn’t return, he had sparked a wider availability of authentic al pastor in the area.
The operations of a food truck often require attention-getting, visually striking social media content.
Escobedo successfully navigated this landscape, amassing over 36,000 Instagram followers.
He used his platform to advocate for causes, including fundraising for Standing Rock protesters and providing aid to farmworkers evacuating from wildfires in 2021.
Reentering the restaurant business offers Escobedo a chance to reconnect with community initiatives.
He highlighted the importance of farm workers, noting, “They have always been under-represented and unappreciated, a silent voice that needs to be heard, because they’re feeding all of us.”
As he prepares to open his new taqueria, Escobedo emphasizes the need for community solidarity and support now more than ever.
Despite his previous social media success, he has no desire to chase viral trends anymore.
“Now that I have a place where people can come and just enjoy consistent good food, I don’t want to do any of that,” Escobedo said.
He aims to keep the food traditional, delicious, and fresh, focusing on what truly matters: the culinary experience.
image source from：https://missionlocal.org/2025/04/taco-truck-al-pastor-papi-open-downtown-sf-papalote/
