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Mission Buzz” is a regular update on changes, tidbits and other news from the Mission’s commercial corridors. Got news? Send to tips at tips@missionlocal.com.
Carnitas el Ricon will serve slowed cooked carnitas at the former space held by Escape from New York Pizza. Photo by Oscar Palma.
A Michoacan-style carnitas restaurant is coming to 22nd Street. Carnitas El Rincon is taking over the space at 3222 22nd St., the former space of Gabriella’s Pizza, which closed in 2023.
“We’re serving carnitas 100 percent Michoacan-style,” said co-owner Fernando Guerrero. “This is artisanal cuisine. We’re using methods that go back a long time.”
Michoacan carnitas are usually cooked in a copper pot, braised slowly in their own fat with orange peel, garlic, bay leaves and a splash of coca-cola.
Carnitas el Rincon, which has 21 locations across California and Nevada, is set to open its Mission District outpost in about a month. The restaurant sells carnitas by the pound, tacos, burritos and combos that include the meat plus add-ons such as tortillas and rice.
“We’re also gonna have accessible prices for everyone,” said Guerrero.
“Four people would be able to eat for $40.”
Carnitas el Rincon will be open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
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Constructions workers worked on last minute details before Zhengxin Chicken Steak opened on Saturday. Photo by Kelly Waldron.
Carnitas will have a new neighbor. A Taiwanese-style fried chicken restaurant, Zhengxin Chicken Steak, opened at 3230 22nd St. last weekend. A restaurant employee named Ben, said the restaurant’s chicken shines for its “different blend spices.”
The Mission District is the second outpost for the restaurant in the Bay Area, which already has another location in Milpitas.
Zhengxin’s menu includes fried chicken by the piece, chicken sandwich, milk teas, skewers, rice combos, sesame balls and scallion pancakes.
Mona’s Apparel near 16th and Mission streets closed after 27 years in business. Photo by Oscar Palma.
After 27 years near 16th and Mission streets, Mona’s Apparel at 2035 Mission St. closed its doors on Jan. 31. Owner Alex Suen, 72, told Mission Local in December he had decided to retire.
Loyal customers lamented the store’s closing on Yelp, but thanked Suen and his wife, Mona, for the 27 years of service as a one-stop shop for affordable clothing and 75 cent key duplication.
Mission Comics and Art is calling a community meeting to discuss ideas to keep it alive. Photo by Junyao Yang on Dec. 1, 2023.
The Mission Community Market turns 15 on Thursday, July 24, 2025. Photo courtesy of Foodwise.
After its annual four-month winter hiatus, the Mission Community Market (Mission Mercado) is back today March 19.
The market, which was founded in 2010, runs every Thursday between March and November from 3 to 7 p.m. on Bartlett Street between 21st and 22nd streets.
For its 2026 debut, attendees will be able to enjoy free samples, and tunes from a live DJ.
There will also be a coloring contest for kids.
As many as 22 vendors make up the opening vendor lineup. Amongst those products offered: hummus, fresh vegetables, fruits and herbs, mushrooms, bread, rotisserie chicken, empanadas, dumplings, pan dulce, meats, flowers and more.
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Tagged: business buzz, Mission Community Market, mission district, restaurants
Reporting from the Mission District and other District 9 neighborhoods. Some of his personal interests are bicycles, film, and both Latin American literature and punk. Oscar’s work has previously appeared in KQED, The Frisc, El Tecolote, and Golden Gate Xpress.