The late-night food wars at Fisherman's Wharf just got interesting. Taco Bell Cantina has claimed prime real estate in the heart of San Francisco's tourist mecca, setting up what promises to be the neighborhood's first legitimate challenge to In-N-Out Burger's after-hours supremacy.
The upscale fast-food concept will occupy roughly 3,000 square feet in the Anchorage Square shopping center, commandeering the former Auntie Anne's and Chipotle spaces at 333 Jefferson Street. According to the San Francisco Business Times, bold purple signage reading "FISHERMAN'S WHARF COMING SOON" now stakes its claim above the construction-wrapped storefront.
A Rare Victory for Struggling Shopping Center
This signing marks the first significant tenant win for Anchorage Square since Los Angeles-based BH Properties swooped in to rescue the largely vacant 200,000-square-foot complex in August 2023. The company paid $65 million for what had essentially become a pandemic ghost town—a shopping center that watched tenants disappear faster than tourists during the lockdown years.
The previous owner took a brutal financial hit: the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority affiliate had paid $85 million for the property back in 2004. "BH is making substantial investments in Anchorage Square and transforming it into a premiere destination in the Wharf that appeals to tourists and locals," said Alex Sagues from CBRE, who's spearheading leasing efforts with Graham Grealish. They're targeting late 2025 or early 2026 for the Cantina's debut.
Coming for In-N-Out's Crown
For years, San Francisco's lone In-N-Out Burger has enjoyed essentially uncontested rule over Fisherman's Wharf's late-night scene. But Taco Bell Cantina isn't just bringing tacos to the party—it's bringing tequila. While In-N-Out shuts down at 1 a.m. most nights (1:30 a.m. on weekends), San Francisco's other Cantina location at 710 Third Street near Oracle Park stays open until 3 a.m. daily.
Here's the kicker: the Cantina serves alcohol until 2 a.m., when California law forces last call. That gives late-night wanderers an extra hour of boozy sustenance compared to In-N-Out's strictly sober offerings. In a neighborhood where most sit-down restaurants call it quits by 9 p.m., those extended hours could be game-changing.
Part of Taco Bell's Urban Conquest
The Fisherman's Wharf outpost represents another calculated move in Taco Bell's expansion of its upscale Cantina concept into urban markets. The Bay Area already showcases some notable examples: Berkeleyside covered the Berkeley Cantina's 2017 arrival near the UC campus, while the Pacifica beachside location has achieved near-legendary status as what is widely considered "the world's most beautiful Taco Bell."
The Cantina format goes well beyond standard Taco Bell territory, serving beer, wine, sangria, and signature "Twisted Freezes" cocktails in settings designed more for lingering than scarfing. Think exposed brick, open kitchens, and abundant device-charging stations—all aimed at encouraging customers to actually stay put rather than grab and dash.
Broader Wharf Revival Efforts
The Taco Bell announcement lands amid wider efforts to resurrect Fisherman's Wharf from its pandemic doldrums. The neighborhood rolled out the Fisherman's Wharf Promenade project in November 2024 to boost visitor appeal, while the Port of San Francisco committed $1.43 million toward recovery initiatives.
The data suggests cautious hope: tourism figures show the neighborhood drew 10.5 million domestic visitors in 2023, with early 2024 numbers indicating continued recovery. But major wounds remain visible, with beloved restaurants like Alioto's, Tarantino's, and Castagnola's still sitting empty since their 2020 shutdowns.
Plenty More Space to Fill
Even with Taco Bell's arrival, Anchorage Square faces substantial vacancy challenges. The former Krispy Kreme space offers 9,149 square feet right next to In-N-Out, while the complex's largest available suite stretches 12,000 square feet along Jones Street—formerly home to the neighborhood's Walgreens.
The Real Deal reported that BH Properties filed renovation permits in March 2024, outlining ambitious plans to "transform Anchorage Square into a captivating and immersive space." The overhaul includes exterior upgrades, fresh awnings, digital signage, storefront refreshes, and courtyard improvements—all designed to lure back the foot traffic that once made this corner hum.
For a neighborhood still finding its post-pandemic footing, the prospect of late-night tacos and margaritas might just be the unconventional shot in the arm it needs. Whether tourists and locals will embrace boozy Taco Bell with the same enthusiasm they've shown for In-N-Out's animal-style fries? That remains the multimillion-dollar question.
