Burritophile: User Reviews

Dos Brasas (San Diego, CA) reviewed by NortonNice (9/10)

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 23:13:27 -0400

Fantastic food. The veggie-changa is a great mix of deep-fried flavorful goodness with the fresh toppings; a meal in itself. My boss (who has lived in Mission Hills for about 50 years) hipped me to the breakfast burrito with chorizo. I have yet to see a burrito that integrates the ingredients as well as that selection. Clean place with friendly staff, a big menu, and outdoor seating. Salsa cups are the size of thimbles, but there are plenty of free chips to go around!

Bomber's Burrito Bar (Albany, NY) reviewed by cocosciortino (9/10)

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 20:05:47 -0400

I've been eating at Bombers for about 7 years now and I have always really enjoyed their food. I understand that it's not an "authentic" mexican restaurant, but their quesadillas are amaaazing, particulary the bbq chicken quesadilla. Their wings are to die for, and their burritos are gigantic and taste DELICIOUS. Also, anytime friends visit me in Albany they beg me to take them back to Bombers. The staff is a little too hip sometimes, but the place is fun and the drinks are fantastic.

If you love burritos and you aren't a total snob about it, you'll be glad you ate at Bombers. (plus, my girlfriend is a vegetarian and she eats there 4 times a week!).

Taqueria Rosita (Napa, CA) reviewed by napamexaholic (9/10)

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 17:08:32 -0400

I can understand why the previous reviewer would be saying "hhhhmmmm" as this is not a typical mexi restaurant. However, it is a favorite to the locals here in napa and it constantly filled with customers for good reason. In fact I do not know of a local who doesn't love it. However, if you are an "out of towner" coming into napa I can see how you may be taken off guard as these are not typical burritos. Taqueria Rosita's burritos can be described as more of a... smooth burrito with subtle flavors rather than a typical burrito that's popping with different flavors. My favorite of their burritos is the Super Deluxe Chicken, this includes thier specialty which is their shredded chicken which is tender and juicy, followed by a creamy guacamole, rice, smooth refried beans, and jalepenos then topped with a delicious mild red burrito sauce. Really people, you don't even need to bring your teeth to the table, this chicken is so tender.

Tacos La Playita (napa, CA) reviewed by napamexaholic (9/10)

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 16:48:33 -0400

This my friends is a classic burrito joint. The interior could use a face lift but is still clean and once you try their food you really aren't looking anywhere but your plate. The meats are FULL of flavor and all ingredients I've found to be fresh and tasty. The spiciness of the food really depends on what type of meat you get . I've found the Al Pastor and the Carne Asada to be slightly spicier than the Pollo or Carnitas. And hats off to their tacos and taco salads which are personal favorites of myself and family.

Taqueria Arandas (Des Plaines, IL) reviewed by iskeith3 (6/10)

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 21:11:24 -0400

Taqueria Aranadas is a dive-like joint located in a strip-mall in Chicago suburb Des Plaines. But I've never been one to care for appearances, and I decided to give it a try. For starters, the price is right: just $4.10 for an enormous burrito. Also, it comes with complimentary chips and three choices of salsa. The pico di gallo salsa was quite tasty, with a delicious kick to it. So far, so good, right? Well, the burrito (as happens oh-so-often) didn't quite live up to the tasty salsa start. It's not that it was bad by any means, but it was pretty sloppy. When I attempted to pick up the gigantic burrito off the plate, all I did was make a mess. This was a knife and fork burrito. The meal was tasty, but it just seemed too thrown-together. I should note that this was not a Mission-style burrito, which means no rice. Maybe the inclusion of rice would have bumped it up a few notches. Also, guacamole was not an option, just slices of avocado. It's not that Taqueria Arandas was bad, it just wasn't crafted with perfection. I would go back in a pinch.

See all of my burrito reviews here: http://itsundertherotunda.blogspot.com/search/label/Burrito .

Taco & Burrito House (Chicago, IL) reviewed by iskeith3 (7/10)

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 21:07:50 -0400

My favorite burritos are San Francisco mission-style, served with rice, beans (choice of black or pinto) and all the rest of the good stuff. Often wrapped in tin foil, often ordered in an assembly line (like Chipotle or Anna's). Many traditional Mexican-style joints, however, do not serve rice in the burrito, nor give the option for black beans. Still, burrito lover that I am, I often find myself eating both styles. For the most part, however, I tend to rank mission-style burritos higher. Taco & Burrito House, in Chicago, serves their burritos traditional Mexican-style, but I still rank them in the top 10. Why? Simply because it was a very tasty burrito. While they lack the option of a vegetarian burrito, the chicken was not bad at all. Their ingredients melted together with the sprinkled-on cheese and formed a tasty alliance. The salsa was standard green hot sauce, which gets you by alright. The deal-breaker, though, was the tortilla, which was one of the best I've ever had. It was flavorful, soft yet crispy, and delicious. And did I mention that the junior burrito, which is well-sized, is only $3.50? The only negative aspect was the wrapping job, which was a mess. The ends were hardly tucked in at all, meaning I had to eat with one end sitting on the plate to avoid a mess. And once I was near the end, I had no choice but to utilize my knife and fork. Alas.

See all of my burrito reviews here: http://itsundertherotunda.blogspot.com/search/label/Burrito .

La Pasadita (Chicago, IL) reviewed by iskeith3 (7/10)

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:16:36 -0400

La Pasadita is a rather interesting establishment, so I had to make a few trips down to truly take it in. You see, they have three locations -- but they're all on the same block, right next to each other. Two of them are strictly joints, and the third is a restaurant. What's the difference between a joint and a restaurant, you ask? Well, there are no waiters at a joint, you order at a counter and simply pop a squat or take your food to go. I strictly review joints in my search, since they're generally quicker in service and cheaper (no tips, good for my poor-college-student self). Nevertheless, I ate at both the restaurant and taqueria version of La Pasadita, to get the whole picture. First was the restaurant, since it was the only place I could get a vegetarian burrito. It's worth noting that not only do the joints not offer a veggie burrito, they also do not offer guacamole. Anyway, my first burrito was nothing special. It featured all the usual ingredients, but just didn't go the extra mile. The guacamole was alright, but far from being a true contender. At first glance, La Pasadita wasn't too high in my book. My second experience brought it up quite a bit, when I visited one of the two lower-class joints. Here, I got a burrito more my style. This wasn't served on a plate, this was a well-wrapped burrito complete with the outer edge of tin-foil. Their choice of ingredients, however, were not exactly my style. You get cilantro and onions, cheese, hot sauce, and a lot of meat. No rice, no beans, no pico de gallo, no lettuce, no gauc. This was a bare-bones display, but damn if it wasn't tasty in its simplicity. Their cilantro and onion blend was impeccably delectable, the key to the tastiness. Unfortunately, my choice of meat, barbacoa, was not the best. While the meat itself was delicious, it was compounded by a constant companion of meat fat. The amount of fatty globs was a little overwhelming, so I couldn't enjoy the burrito entirely. Nevertheless, the taste was great, and I would go back to try their highly regarded carne asada. If you're a carnivore, I recommend trying out one of the taquerias.

See all of my burrito reviews here: http://itsundertherotunda.blogspot.com/search/label/Burrito .

Taqueria Los Pericos (Campbell, CA) reviewed by SmarterCactus (10/10)

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 18:56:50 -0400

Alright noobs, here's what's up with Pericos.

First off, this place is the real deal. They have the full package; Amazing (free) chips that taste like they were made on the spot, INCREDIBLE salsa bar, with home-made salsa's made fresh daily, and the BEST burritos you can get anywhere in San Jose/Campbell. (Iguana's is really good, but not quite).

I would only choose one burrito over Perico's and that is from Taqueria La Bamba in Mountain View. And that's only because I eat Perico's so much, I need some variation and La Bamba is the only place that can hang.

I'll review my usual burrito, the Veggie Burrito. My friends always get the Carne Asada, which they say is amazing as well.

The wrap: Contrary to popular belief, the wrap is a crucial part of the Burrito's quality. And Perico's knows how to wrap it up. Excellent folding, and almost never falls apart. Burrito is wrapped in foil for the extra support near the bottom.

Tortilla: Great texture and flavor, perfection.

The insides: Pinto beans, guac, sour cream, rice, lettuce, pico de gallo, cheese; all you need! Equally distributed for superb bites, every time. Dunno how they do it, but this is one of the most flavorful and satisfying burritos I have ever had.

Salsas: Hands down the best I have EVER had, anywhere. I would honestly buy these if they would sell them. La Vic orange sauce, or Iguanas sauce have nothing on Perico's. Made fresh daily, they tend to have a slight variation each time, which I love. And I'd like to make special mention of the Pico de Gallo, which is absolutely incredible. Hell, they're all worthy of special mention. Oh and mixing them is a great idea.

Drinks: Unlimited refills on Horchata! Now that's a rare find... Unlimited refills on the other stuff too, sodas, etc.

Atmosphere: It's really chillin at Perico's, you can almost always find a seat, and it's always nice and clean. They have a Jukebox, and TV that's always on the Spanish channel. It's really just a super chillin place. I often find myself sitting there for a while after eating, so I can reflect on the amazing burrito I just ingested, and finish my chips.. if there's room.

PERICOS FTW.

Nico's (Morena Pl) (San Diego, CA) reviewed by BurritoSmurf (7.5/10)

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 01:35:26 -0400

I tried Nico's on my latest trip to San Diego. Although I can't echo the glowing reviews that led me there, but I did enjoy my burrito very much. I'd rank it as well above average, and I'd definitely hit it up again to go deeper into the menu if I were in the neighborhood. The only negative of the experience was that the location was a bit of a dive. I would have liked to hang out a bit longer than I did, but the lack of drink refills and the generally dinginess of the location prompted me to do more of an eat and run. Perhaps I'll try one of the other locations next time.

Roberto's (Clairemont) (San Diego, CA) reviewed by onefinelady (10/10)

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:11:26 -0400

WOW!!..this place was the BOMB! Their breakfast burritos are awesome. I always get my usual potato,bacon,egg and cheese..mmmm. The food here tatses so fresh and high in quality. Love it. I've been eating here for 10 yrs +. this is the only place i will go and eat mexican food. Not only is this place delicious but always looking clean.

Gordo Taqueria (Berkeley, CA) reviewed by burrkito (8/10)

Sun, 17 Aug 2008 17:04:33 -0400

Gordo's (as most enthusiasts call it, though it is a misnomer) is precisely what a burrito should be. Highfalutin ideals about burritos needing more than what this little taqueria has to offer are foolish and misguided. This is my Gordo Taqueria experience:

It's an assembly line operation, and these men are machines of precision. If you were to sit and watch this place on a week day, let alone a weekend, you'd notice there's scarcely any down time. Simple, quick, and tasty without unnecessary complications. There's no wonder why it's so popular.

The options are adequate, meaning you can get the general fare of meats (carne asada, carnitas, chili verde, grilled chicken, juicy chicken) and they don't add in anything dumb like corn, carrots, or lettuce. It's just rice, beans, meat, and cheese with delicious guacamole and sour cream available on upon request. The holy trinity of beans is offered: Pinto, Black, and Refried. I prefer black beans, but they are all seasoned well. The salsa has a fair amount of cilantro already in it, but you can ask for more as well as onions. Experienced burritophiles will ask for extra hot sauce (they have two kinds, green and red) and if you're really trying to kick it up a notch, ask for jalepenos. The day I learned this was a happy day indeed. Personally, I think the taste is welcoming and unpretentious, not "bland" in the least, but exactly what a good cheap burrito is supposed to be, IMO.

Tortilla options include flour, wheat, tomato, and spinach. Flour and spinach are probably the best of the four, wheat following close behind. Tomato is just kinda weird.

Their cheese is creamy and will stretch for days if you're not careful. It might just be the secret to their success.

Yes, the burritos come wrapped in two pieces of foil, to keep it warm for longer (there is very limited seating room) and in case you want to wrap it up and finish it off later, which, for me, RARELY happens unless my stomach's not up to the challenge.

I think the Gordo controversy stems from it's avid fan base's vehement insistence on it's superiority, which will only disappoint those new to it with high expectations. This is not the most extraordinary burrito of all time, but it's solid and simple and cheap. I must admit, I'd feel like and infidel giving it anything less than an 8, regardless of the criteria your scoring system demands.

Burrito King (Los Angeles, CA) reviewed by Burritoholic (8.5/10)

Sat, 16 Aug 2008 00:59:11 -0400

Taking the lead in the hunt for a burrito stand after me and a few friends meet up with another friend bartending down the street at a local upscale mexican food restaurant, Los Compadres (who's kitchen had just closed prior to our arrival) I saw the bright yellow sign of Burrito King, drawing me in like a moth to a 100 watt light bulb. It was the first place that we came across on our journey. At the stop light I asked a local beatnik looking fellow waiting for the bus if the burrito stand was worth stopping at, he nodded yes. My friends commanded me to get out of the car and ask the people outside eating if the food was any good. The individuals outside eating convinced me that the carne asada was fantastic, and who was I to not trust the judgment of a group of local bicyclist sitting outside a random burrito stand on Sunset Blvd. that had hookers and pimps on the corner at 1:30 in the morning.

I took the advice of the big yellow sign and decided to order the burrito to see if it really was the king in this town. I ordered up a Pastor burrito, it came out of the window within seconds of paying. It was a good burrito, the pastor had a very good flavor, wasn't dry or burnt. Their red sauce had a good kick to it, and all the other ingredients melded well with each other. I couldn't help myself and decided to go halves on a California burrito with my buddy. The bicyclist gang was not lying, the carne asada was fantastic. It was moist, had a great texture and had the right amount of salt and spices in it. The fries in the California burrito were crispy and the cheese was melted nicely, my only gripe with it was that they put in sour cream instead of guacamole, and overall the tortillas used for the burritos were decent, not handmade, but it's hard to find a place that makes their own tortillas around these parts.

Overall this was a good burrito stand with lightning fast service and a very interesting atmosphere full of all sorts of different people, but I guess you'll find that just about anywhere in LA.

Big Ten Burrito (Ann Arbor, MI) reviewed by arborite (8/10)

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 18:52:20 -0400

I have to disagree with the low reviews given to BTB. I think the food is good, it's fast, seems fresh, and is open really late. Also, compared to other burrito places like Pancheros, the service is friendly, and its cheaper. I eat there at least once a week. And its a local Ann Arbor place, which gives it a plus in my book.

Casa Orozco (Livermore, CA) reviewed by tulefogg (9.5/10)

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 14:20:57 -0400

I can't see why everone would love this place. I asked for a bowl of Tortilla soup and ended up with plain old Chicken soup. It's a typical mexican restaurant. The accoustics are terrible, you can't even have a decent conversation. I prefer Los Vaqueros when it comes to a great meal.

Taqueria Don Pepe (Fresno, CA) reviewed by Mrhiroller (8.5/10)

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 22:29:49 -0400

I am stuck in Fresno for the evening so I did a google search, "best burrito in Fresno". The first name that comes up is Don Pepe Taqueria. Don Pepe's is a small hole in the wall type place. As I pull up I notice how busy it is and think this must be a great place.

It doesn't dissapoint! I ordered the carne asada Super Burrito (and a torta because I always have a back up plan if the burrito disappoints); beef, rice, cheese, avocado, pinto beans and a finely chopped pico de gallo in a manageable sized tortilla. It wasn't spicy, but was full of flavor. They have a salsa bar with the normal offerings. The guys doing the cooking were super nice and the atmosphere was fun.

I am a lover of burritos like the rest of you and what surpised me the most about this burrito was that it managed to have a unique taste. I have certainly had better, but it was way above average. The torta sits next to me uneaten asking "why order me if you didn't want me?" Well my little torta friend some people in this world are on the A team, like Mr. Burrito, and some will always be back up.

Ricks (Pasadena, CA) reviewed by snclfe (6/10)

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 16:39:37 -0400

You don't go to Ricks for their burritos; you go for the Spuderito. Mark's review accurately describes their nothing special burritos for which I think the 5.5 is generous. But their Spuderito is a handful of french fries with onions and hot sauce all wrapped up in a flour tortilla. The Spuderito is a quintessential fast food experience - it is nothing you want from a burrito yet everything you want from fast food. It is a classic one-of-a-kind dish that makes Rick's Drive-In a local institution. I always get mine with extra sauce and onions to heighten the experience. If you go to Ricks for the burritos you'll be miserable; but if you go for the Spuderito, you'll be part of an institution.

* the 6.0 score is an averaging of their burritos (4.0) and the Spuderito (8.0).

Taco Express (San Diego, CA) reviewed by Jesse (10/10)

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 15:48:42 -0400

I'm eating a carne asada burrito combo from taco express right now. I called in my order so I just walked in and got my food. the customer service there is always the best... the previous reviews did't (i don't think) mention the owners' son (i presume), but you can add him to the good customer service list. I don;t normlly eat carne asada burritos, because I've already eaten enough to last me a lifetime, but I do eat a lot of mexican food, and taco express is a 10/10. Always good. The owners take pride in thier shop. They must be rich.

Muchos (San Jose, CA) reviewed by bahshiyah (6.5/10)

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 12:53:13 -0400

Definitely not as good as the people are saying. I ordered a Grand Gigante with chicken. For me, the chicken was dry, which made the burrito almost chewy. Strangely though I was also disapointed that there wasn't more chicken in it. It was overloaded with beans, which were kidney beans. I prefer black beans, so maybe this partially accounts for my distaste of this burrito. If there weren't so many beans and there was better chicken, it would be a much more enjoyable burrito. The rice seemed like filler as well. I prefer the rice in my burritos to complement the taste of the chicken and not serve as plump for the burrito. Instead, the rice was bland, so much so that I was still a little hungry after my meal. (My friends and I went to La Vic's afterwards). In terms of comparison, I thought it was a step above Chipotle, and a few steps below Iguana's. So, for this to be the highest rated taqueria in San Jose is ridiculous.

On the other hand, it is relatively cheap and good sized. And the salsas and sauces are really good and plentiful too.

Los Gallos (Redwood City, CA) reviewed by eadamson (9/10)

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 00:03:32 -0400

I went here with a friend who highly recommended this place. Upon entry, the taqueria is a little cleaner and more expansive than most taquerias - not quite chipotle, but certainly a little more sterile. Which is a fine thing. A nice jukebox belting mexican tunes. But let's get to the food. I ordered a chicken super burrito. Got some free chips - there is a little salsa bar and the salsas were great. Red tomatillo very spicy, pico de gallo very fresh, and another two good red/green salsas. The burrito came after about 8 minutes. It was massive. Very thick. Well wrapped. I let it sit so that the colder guac and cheese could warm up a bit. First bite - the ingredients were fantastic. Juicy and flavorful chicken, but not too watery. Great combination of beans, cheese, rice, guac, and pico de gallo... completely delicious. This burrito was absolutely worth it. I had to compare it with my favorite burrito shack, and it was comparable in every way except perhaps having a just good tortilla. Slightly more grilled would have been better but seriously I'm nitpicking. I will never give higher than a 9.5 so this baby settles at a 9 flat. Near perfect.

Freebirds World Burrito (Goleta, CA) reviewed by oshinnluv (7.5/10)

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 14:46:29 -0400

Freebirds is an interesting place. It's Americanized Mexican food, but that's not necessarily an outright criticism. The food is tasty and the portions are always large. This location sits right in the middle of Isla Vista proper and is a magnet for college students going to UCSB. They're discerning patrons to be sure, and they flock to Freebirds with a devotion that clearly indicates its quality and affordability.

The setup is cafeteria style. You place an order at the register and then the burrito is passed down the line from station to station with you following it, looking at it through the sneeze guard, and dictating the addition of various contents. Chicken or beef? Cheese? Veggies? What type of beans? You choose as each worker passes the progressively more complete burrito down the line.

If you have the appetite and are willing to let digestion creep along for at least 24 hours, go ahead and order the monster, which is what I did. Filled with chicken, rice, pinto beans, cheese, salsa, and barbecue sauce (yes, barbecue sauce!) it was wrapped in an extremely large tortilla by a very skilled burrito professional.

The ingredients were fresh and crisp, and the entire meal was beyond filling. In fact, it was almost just too much. The highlight was the chicken which was perfectly cooked. The rice just sort of seemed like filler. And believe it or not the barbecue sauce added something tangy to the whole thing that was really enjoyable. Is it authentic? No. Filling and good? Yes.

El Tapatio (Imperial Beach, CA) reviewed by oshinnluv (9/10)

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 13:38:05 -0400

El Tapatio has been family owned and operated for as long as I can remember, with the same folks always working the counter, taking orders, and serving food. I like that. Located about a block from the ocean, it's an excellent option after a morning surf or swim. Their menu is vast and the fare all-around excellent. For breakfast, I ordered a bacon and egg burrito and added refried beans to it. It took a few minutes to arrive, and I had a chance to sit down and relax outside where there's a few small tables available for patrons. The burrito was served hot with a tomato, some lettuce, and a chip on the side. The tortilla was obviously fresh, and the burrito was expertly wrapped, ensuring that I didn't lose any contents while noshing. Each bite was a study in ideal (for me) breakfast burrito textural contrast: crispy, pleasantly greasy bacon, smooth, hearty refried beans, fluffy eggs, and cold, spicy and refreshing hot sauce. As a fan of bacon in the extreme, I was happy to taste some in each bite, although I could almost always welcome more.

My only criticism is about the restaurant setup, not the food. There's a window for ordering on the outside of the building. When you order, receive your food, and sit down outside to eat, there's some confusion. Apparently, the outer window is strictly for take out, and if you plan to eat in, you should really be seated and order from a server; more like a traditional restaurant than a taqueria. This preference isn't clearly communicated, which makes things awkward when you sit down and the staff rushes over to give you silverware and napkin. Should you tip? At a taqueria?

The food didn't disappoint. All of the ingredients were authentic and flavorful. I used about half a bottle of hot sauce while consuming my meal, and the heat was exactly right for my taste. I left with a full stomach, a vaguely scorched palate, and a smile on my face.

Taqueria Los Compadres (Riverbank, CA) reviewed by Oski (9.5/10)

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 22:37:19 -0400

This small family owned taqueria has been around for years and is located in a stripmall. However, it is always packed. They have a wonderful menu, but the burritos are spectacular. As you walk through the parking lot, because you had to park in Eygpt, you get wafts of grilling meat and mexican spices. Then you see the people waiting outside at the picnic tables in 95 degree heat. You open the door and you are instantly in line, that streams past a few tables to the counter. It is quite warm inside and a bit of smoke from the grille...smells awesome. For the purpose of this trip I selected the Chile Verde super burrito. Which is pork sauted in chile verde salsa and other spices. It is grilled to the left of the cash register. About 6 people in the small kitchen area cranking out the food. So the pork is grilled infront of you, the sizzle is quite loud and a puff of smoke hits the ceiling hood. Upon grilling, the meat is placed down the middle of a frisbee sized flour tortilla and is passed to person number two who proceeds with a scoop of whole pinto beans and a smalled scoop of rice. Followed by a line of guac and Mexican creame. They don't put salsa on it because the salsa bar on the side of the room has no fewer than 10 freshly made salsas with peppers, lemons, and more guac of you want it. She rolls the burrito right in front of you, I had a picture from my phone but it didn't make it, and she hands you an aluminum baseball bat end wrapped burrito. I can only eat half of it in one sitting. I have had every type of meat available in a burrito. I beleive this is one of the best taquerias I have ever eaten.

Taqueria y Fonda la Mexicana (New York, NY) reviewed by tulrich (6/10)

Sat, 09 Aug 2008 14:06:12 -0400

I've gotten delivery a couple times from here, though it's been a couple years since I bothered. As I recall, they have pretty decent tamales, but the burrito is not Mission-style; it's the typical NYC Mexican restaurant by-the-numbers wrap with sauce on top and lettuce/tomato on the side. It may be a fine place to get dinner on occasion, but this is not the burrito you are looking for.

Burrito Box (New York, NY) reviewed by tulrich (5.5/10)

Sat, 09 Aug 2008 14:00:40 -0400

It's a small bright yellow storefront directly across the street from a similar small bright yellow storefront called "Lunch Box" that serves bagels and sandwiches etc. From the outside it looks semi-promising.

The sight of the menu deflated my expectations a bit. They offer chicken and beef options, but no pork. Under the burrito ingredients, they list black beans (no pinto available), rice, cheese, sour cream, pico de gallo, and... LETTUCE! Hm.

I ordered a grilled steak burrito, no lettuce. The order taker seemed a little surprised. "You mean, no rice?" she asked. "No -- no lettuce please", I replied. Hm.

The result came naked on a plate, no foil, in a lightly grilled, somewhat loosely wrapped form. The first bite was decent enough. But it was downhill from there. The steak was in the form of long, bland, slightly chewy strips. The black beans were nondescript, likewise with the rice and cheese and pico. A little too much sour cream. To be fair and balanced, the tortilla was not bad, there were no glaring integration problems, and they stock Jarritos. But those are minor mitigations. To give my burrito any sign of life, I had to liberally drip Cholula sauce into it.

Verdict: edible, not offensive, but very generic.

Taqueria Pancho Villa (16th St) (San Francisco, CA) reviewed by Danno (4/10)

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 00:15:11 -0400

Seriously underwhelmed with this place. Seriously.

Upon entering I had a look at the big board and saw lengua on the menu. Always a good sign. Not that I'd ever get lengua, but it takes a bold/authentica taqueria to put it up on the menu. The wet burrito was an add-on option. Also a positive sign. While waiting in line, the big pile-o-steak had just come off the grill and was being chopped with two huge cleavers with a glint of grease covering the whole pile. Excitement definitely building.

Problem was, when I got the actual final product -- a Carnitas Especial burrito. It was hugely disappointing. The first bite was pure rice. Where the hell was my meat? For a second I thought they had given me someone else's rice & bean vegi burrito by mistake. No such luck. Two more bites in, I finally got to the carnitas. And despite asking for the hot salsa, I couldn't taste the caliente anywhere. Adding salsa manually didn't work either since the hot salsa from the salsa bar wasn't much better. So... bland... I needs me some flavor!

Maybe the tacos are better. Or maybe going with the wet option would have helped. But I'll never know. There's no reason to go back with so many better options in the neighborhood.

Flash Taco (Chicago, IL) reviewed by iskeith3 (4.5/10)

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 01:14:08 -0400

I don't understand what all the fuss is about. Since the Burrito Blog loves them, I was expecting good things from Flash Taco. But this was a very mediocre burrito. While their black bean mash was alright, and their rice was alright, the rest just didn't hold up. The salsa, lettuce, and sauce were all mild and well-mannered, never leaving the comfort of Taco Bell-esqe flavors. And as I continued bearing through, there appeared to be a water-like liquid running out of the burrito. Was that their sour cream? Their salsa? I'm not sure, but it was not enticing. Flash Taco also uses a poor wrapping technique, not only in style but also in physicality. Instead of the usual tin foil, they first wrap it with a plastic sheet, which unfortunately has a tendency to stick to the hot parts of the burrito. Tsk, tsk, not a good idea. The only redeeming quality about the place is their guacamole, which is quite delectable, full of flavor and chunks of goodness. Other than that, much is left to be desired. While perhaps the hipsters of Wicker Park love Flash Taco and their late-night hours (and TV setup, always playing hyphy music videos), I don't think I'll be back anytime soon.

See all of my burrito reviews here: http://itsundertherotunda.blogspot.com/search/label/Burrito .

Gordo Taqueria (Sunset) (San Francisco, CA) reviewed by Dylan (6.5/10)

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 20:03:43 -0400

While my burrito at Gordo Taqueria looked great as they piled in the ingredients, the end result lacked the flavor I've come to expect from SF burritos. To start, excessive beans and rice took it down a notch. Compounding that, the salsa and guacamole didn't do much to salvage the flavor of the chicken--which while barbecued, didn't have any spice of its own. The burrito itself is a good size and the price is reasonable, but I shan't be dissuaded from speaking the truth: All in all, Gordo is satisfactory for the Sunset, but pales in comparison to the Mission burritos. My suggestion, get on the N-line and head eastward for burrito salvation.

Fiesta Del Mar Too (Mountain View, CA) reviewed by racheld (8.5/10)

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 14:11:26 -0400

I work very close to Fiesta Del Mar, so it is an easy walk, and an enjoyable lunch time destination. You can sit on the shaded patio an enjoy your meal in the fresh air!

As a vegetarian, I'd say there are a few very good options, but I wasn't overwhelmed with giant or unexpected menu. The refried beans are vegetarian (and so are the rice, chips, etc.), so you don't have to worry about animal fats there, and all of it is very tasty. There are the usual Mexican options for nonmeat eaters (veggie burritos, etc.).

The tostada salads are good, and they will make them with grilled vegetables on top instead of chicken/beef if you ask.

Wonderful salsas!

El Grullense (Palo Alto, CA) reviewed by Maka (7.5/10)

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 15:44:28 -0400

As a Stanford student who loves burritos, this is the closest place to campus I've found that is actually good.

Strengths:
1. Grilled tortillas add a nice touch of flavor
2. For the health conscious burrito eater (yeah right), they offer whole wheat tortillas if you ask for them.
3. Every meat I've had here is tasty.
4. Unlimited chips, nice salsa bar.

Weaknesses
1. Burritos can be a little dry at times.
2. Long waits / lots of crowds during the week around lunch.
3. Integration of flavors within the burrito isn't phenomenal
4. Rice flavor could use improvement.

All in all, a decent taqueria that will hold me over until I can get back to San Jose for an Iguana's or Super Taq.
Note: This review isn't indicative of the other items on their expansive menu, which are actually pretty delicious.

El Rodeo Mexican Restaurant (Pomona, CA) reviewed by PapaJohnx63 (8.5/10)

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 03:15:38 -0400

I ordered a carne asada burrito with extra beans and no rice. It also included fresh onions and cilantro. The flesh was grilled just right; not too dry, nor was there any chunks'o fat. The beans taste like real refried beans. And yes, it came wrapped in foil (papel de aluminio, as my mom would say). This was a decent size lil' donkey. Not so big that you can't pick it up. I then added their salsa roja (red) to every bite. This is an excellent burrito!

I must say that the salsa roja is one of the best I have ever had. My wife calls it a chipotle style salsa. It has a paste-like consistency. There are no chunks of anything in this salsa. Every ingredient appears to have been ground down to near powder form. It is spicy-hot according to my taste buds but not according to my wife or son. The salsa has a smoky quality to it.

The restaurant is clean, narrow and has about 7 small tables. The staff is always courteous and efficient. The prices have been reasonable. This place is situated in the southwest corner of the Arrow Hwy and Towne Ave intersection.