The Taco Shop at Underdog's is a great sports bar and tacqueria rolled into one

I recently reviewed Underdog's organic hotdogs, but aside from the common name and Irving Street location, this "Underdog's" eatery is a completely different, and honestly, even more compelling reason to head over to the Sunset if you don't already live nearby. Last September, Nick Fasanella, of Nick's Crispy Tacos fame in Russian Hill, and his friend and business partner Doug Marschke, teamed up to present all the things that a great sports bar and taco shop should have. I'm talking about lots of flat screen TVs; local sports team memorabilia and banners; a dartboard in the front; a coin-operated free throw basketball hoop in the back; several classic arcade games like Ms. PacMan, Galaga and Centipede; a jukebox; high-top tables for adults and wooden picnic tables in the back for families with kids; casual but friendly and attentive service; a variety of Mexican, domestic, imported and micro-brewed beers; margaritas and sangria; and oh-so-tasty Cal-Mex food.

Fassanella, who was trained at the Culinary Institute of America in New York's Hyde Park, sold his namesake eatery on Broadway in 2006 and opened The Taco Shop at Underdog's Sports Bar & Grill, his fifth restaurant venture in San Francisco. Other local projects include Tortilla Heights on Divisadero at Bush which has strong appeal with the single set, and an Italian deli in North Beach called La Spiaggia. Word of mouth is spreading that those beloved taco's made "Nick's Way" - one grilled crispy corn tortilla and one soft tortilla filled with fresh ingredients like steak, pork, chicken, pinto beans, pico de gallo, Monterey Jack cheese and guacamole - can now be found across town. They also have a variety of affordable burritos and quesadillas, tortilla soup, elote con queso (white corn brushed with lime salsa and dusted with cotija cheese and cayenne pepper), nachos, chicken wings, chips and salsa, and a grilled corn and black bean taco salad. Everything is made with local, organic ingredients for under $10, so you get good value for your buck. No wonder this place has such a loyal following already, especially among neighborhood residents and students.

If that's not enough, they have free Wi-Fi, frequent events and special deals. On Taco Tuesdays, grab $1 street tacos from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 pm. Thursdays are college night, so with school I.D., get $3 well drinks after 9:00 p.m. On Saturday, April 18th, they will televise UFC 97 Redemption at 7:00 p.m., $15 cover. Check their web site for more happenings.

Now I'm craving a Carnitas Taco, Nick's Way. By the way, if anyone has an allergy to peanut products, this place is peanut-free! For more info: The Taco Shop at Underdog's 1824 Irving Street. 415.566.8700.