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.
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.
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.
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.
Slow sales made Mission Comics at 2250 Mission St. near 18th consider a possible closure in 2023, but 2025 was its best year ever, the store announced in a social media post on Feb. 10.
The business attributed the release of DC’s Absolute Comics as a key factor in finally pulling business out of its pandemic slump.
The post adds that new comics outsold graphic novels and that DC outsold Marvel by 10 points.
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.