We’re happy to report that as of this weekend, “California Style Mexican” restaurant LA Burrito is open! From the menu dropped at my door today, the prices aren’t bad… that is, if we were a captive audience. But this is Bushwick, and every block has a joint selling some range of Mexicanish foods. On that account, it seems a bit pricey: tacos reach $3 by the time you can have any decent meat on them. That’s $1 more than Los Hermanos or El Poblano. And there’s no chorizo or carne enchilada (or pork of any kind, wtf) in sight.
It does have a wide range of familiar Mexican items. Burritos are $5.25-$8, fajita platters $7.25-$9.25, and others including flautas, nachos, quesadillas, soups, and salads range about $5 up to $8.
If anyone’s checked it out, let us know how it is!
LA Burrito
67 Wilson | 718-381-4740
Joseph January 26th, 2009 at 5:55 pm
I enjoy the food at Los Hermanos but it can get a little boring. They have a extremely limited menu so I am please to have another option. I suspect that if it is “California Style” there will be more stuff like whole wheat tortillas, more veggie options and more innovative offerings. I am looking forward to checking it out.
Evan January 26th, 2009 at 10:27 pm
I grew up in California, and spent every summer in LA eating burritos. While I haven’t tried this one in Bushwick, the location on bedford is awful. Bland and overpriced, it tastes like someone described to them a california burrito but they’ve never directly experienced it. This is the food equivalent of a police sketch and you don’t want it.
For a drastically better approximation of a california burrito, check out Los Arcos on Bushwick Johnson. Or even Burrito and Taco Corp, a few blocks more blocks down flushing towards cypress.
isayhello January 27th, 2009 at 12:56 am
i’m not holding my breath for this one, being from SF myself. but i’m hopeful. i have been waiting forever for this to open. my personal opinion is if you have to proclaim, “california-style mexican”, the end result will be anything but. food should speak for itself. it’ll remain to be seen…and if its true, ahem, california style, please god, corn tortillas only with my taco, thanks.
chupa chup January 27th, 2009 at 10:24 am
Yes, there are loads of Mexican restaurants in the area, and yes, if you are from CA you can be snobby about your burritos, but for anyone vaguely health-conscious, most of the neighborhood restaurants use too much lard, and not always the freshest ingredients. I’m just looking forward to brown rice options, salads, vegetables, etc. If you work in the neighborhood, you know how hard it is to find a decent lunch that won’t make you completely lethargic for the rest of the day. I’m optimistic… but haven’t tried it yet.
chupa chup January 27th, 2009 at 12:10 pm
Now that I’ve been there:
It appears to be family run. The interior is very low key, it seems like a nice mix of the neighborhood’s past, present and future. Everyone was incredibly kind and enthusiastic.
I ordered the spinach burrito. It will, without a doubt, last me more than one meal. The spinach was cooked fresh while I waited. The toppings all looked fresh and in clean bins. And although the burrito didn’t blow my mind, it was certainly good. Definitely much better than chains like Benny’s, San Loco, Burritoville and whatever that hippy themed place is on the graham stop (Loco?).
After the major let down with that unfortunate Thai place around the corner on Knick, I personally, am happy to welcome them to the neighborhood and anticipate ordering lunch from them once a week.
Give them a chance!
isayhello January 27th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
save for the namesake, were there any tacos?
cc January 27th, 2009 at 12:16 pm
same shit is Loco Burrito isn’t it? same owner i believes
chupa chup January 27th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
They have tacos, salads, fajitas, soups, enchiladas, etc. I just had a burrito.
I’d be impressed if they were same owner as Loco, because I don’t like Loco at all. But I guess it wouldn’t be shocking, since the basic concept is the same.
Anyway, I’ve had one too many burritos from El Fogon and Life Cafe (I know, my mistake) over the last 6 years and I’m ready to give this place a go. It’s a good option for all the lunch-starved people who work in the neighborhood. .
miked January 27th, 2009 at 2:20 pm
Just had a Chicken Mole burrito. Overall it was good, the mole sauce didn’t have a lot to it, but the chicken was very tender and the burrito was enormous. If I had my way I would reduce the price by a $1 and remove a $1′s worth of content from the burrito.
The family is very nice, they were full of smiles, and offering chips and salsa. They seem to enjoy classic rock, and particularly the Rolling Stones – the speakers were turned up a bit for Gimmie Shelter.
There’s a lot of menu options and I’ll definitely be going back to try some of them.
Elisa January 27th, 2009 at 5:15 pm
I stopped by there on Saturday. I got an order of nachos to go and enjoyed two cups of sangria with fresh fruit on the house while waiting. It was a pleasant atmosphere and the proud owner was here and there, rearranging already rearranged things and checking up on people. The nachos were decent, just a little bit of kick with enough topping to go with chips. As a vegetarian and someone looking for just healthier food in the neighborhood, they have more to offer than the standard taco joint.
Armstrong January 27th, 2009 at 6:10 pm
OMG, I just got delivery from this place and it came QUICK: 15mins or LESS!! I was amazed.
My chicken burrito was good but let me RAVE on about their Traditional Tortilla Soup:
Delicious! big chuncks of avocado and corn, full of cheese and chips, great stock.
Dare I say, it’s the best tortilla soup I’ve ever had?
Jeremy Sapienza January 27th, 2009 at 6:54 pm
Oh you fancy pants white people will eat anything that looks, smells, and tastes good; is made of fresh, quality ingredients; and is delivered with a smiling face. Trans fat-soaked poverty slop isn’t good enough for you colonialist pigs? You won’t stop until Bushwick is one big mall! etc.
Seriously, glad to hear the place is good!
gurgle January 28th, 2009 at 9:31 am
Went here last night, and man, am I excited that this place is so close to me. I ordered the enchiladas and a cannoli. The nachos while waiting were a plus, as I was starving. I started with the cannoli, and damn it was good. Mind you, I was stoned, so maybe that has more to do with it. The enchiladas were good enough, but lacked flavor. All in all, the food could have been better, but the location and cleanliness of the kitchen will keep me coming back.
Jeremy Sapienza January 28th, 2009 at 10:22 am
A cannoli?
isayhello January 28th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
well i couldn’t not go last night after so many comments here. it was clean and everyone was very friendly. i had the black bean/cheese tacos, tortilla soup, and a horchata.
My horchata was spot-on, and the tacos were actually really good (very fresh veggies), save for the flour tacos. kinda bummed they didn’t even offer these in a corn tortilla and i have never seen hard-shell tacos (or cannolis for that matter :) in a taqueria before.
digging on the free chips but the salsa whilst fresh, had no kick to it whatsoever.
and as Armstrong raves the tortilla soup rulez!
Matt January 28th, 2009 at 8:14 pm
Yup. this is a loco burrito, renamed. Exact same menu. I just had the mole burrito. Eh. Not bad just not all that mole-y. I should have gotten the Arizona, a favorite of mine from the loco.
If indeed ‘exact’ I’m looking forward to getting the salad with spicy beef. Always a tasty choice from the loco, be it via Graham or Bushwick Ave.
bobba11237 January 29th, 2009 at 10:21 pm
good food, i ate there tonight. place is clean, food was fresh. thumbs up
jill February 2nd, 2009 at 4:52 pm
i got the chicken super flautas and they were really quite yummy. two thumbs up =) it beats cooking for myself!
miked February 4th, 2009 at 2:50 pm
went back and got Baja Burrito and it was excellent
niina February 7th, 2009 at 2:02 pm
I definitely welcome any place with diverse veg options. I had some tacos with black beans, and drowned them in green hot sauce for a delicious mess. However, the other day I had a burrito from there; it was lackluster because the pinto beans were pretty bland. So black beans yea, pinto nay. Can’t and won’t speak for the meat options.
burritoman February 8th, 2009 at 1:13 pm
Just had a Mole burrito. Was pretty bland, but seemed very healthy. Ingredients seem fresh, place is clean.
smuikas February 16th, 2009 at 9:12 pm
Anybody got a menu from here? Sitting home and need my burrito fix.. ha
yasky March 6th, 2010 at 6:37 pm
Can you get beer there to have with food? Or bring in your own?