Despite the rampant Americanization of Mexican cuisine, the Bay Area is home to countless Mexican restaurants touted for their culinary masterpieces and cultural accuracy. Yet, mega-chains like Taco Bell, Pollo Loco, and Chipotle overshadow the reputations of smaller, independent cantinas. In an attempt to elevate some of these lesser-known businesses, I visited three such establishments: Los Panchos, Tacos Walnut Creek, and Taqueria Extra.

With the pandemic at full steam throughout 2020, many restaurants and bakeries were left without their regular consumers, forcing businesses to shut down. Many food businesses struggled to survive with takeout services being the main source of income, and the food industry was taking an immense toll while some people took up new hobbies like cooking or baking, not being able to enjoy fresh goods from local bakeries still plagued the minds of many. However, in June 2020, restaurants began offering outdoor seating, and many businesses were finally able to regain some semblance of normalcy.