Intrepid Indy reporters search the Square for the best bite.
It’s 9 p.m. on a Thursday night, and you’re itching to sink your teeth into a gloriously greasy wrap of rice, beans, and meat. But which of the Square’s Mexican food joints should you go to?
We set off one afternoon with one goal: to establish, once and for all, which burrito is the best burrito; which Harvard Square burrito joint truly has the cojones to satisfy the deepest, darkest craving. In order to most accurately compare each restaurant, we consumed four burritos in a little over an hour. Our stomachs ached by the end, but we like to think every place got a fair shot at burrito glory.
Happily, our conclusion was wallet-friendly. The best burrito in Harvard Square can be found at the cheap and delightfully sketchy Felipe’s, although foodies may prefer the burritos at Chipotle, which uses higher quality ingredients than your average fast food establishment. While Boloco isn’t the place to go for a traditional burrito, it’s perfect for those times when you want a dash of hipster with your guacamole.
As for Qdoba … don’t even go there.
The No-Frills Burrito
Felipe’s Taqueria
83 Mount Auburn Street
(617) 354-9944
Su-Wed 11 a.m.-12 a.m., Th-Sa 11 a.m.-2 a.m.
The burritos at Felipe’s are the densest and greasiest in the Square. We mean this to be praise; after all, being dense and greasy is what a burrito is all about. Despite alarmingly juicy meat and average salsa and guacamole, the burritos are absolutely delicious; this is in large part because the restaurant melts the cheese, unlike any of its competitors.
Ultimately, Felipe’s offers the best deal around. A chicken burrito is $3.40, and a steak one $4.25. Round your meal out with a bag of salty, oily, tasty chips ($1) and a generous dash of salsa. You can pay more at other establishments, but what for?
The Gourmet Burrito
Chipotle
1 Brattle Street
(617) 491-0677
10 a.m.-11 p.m. every day
There are big burritos, and then there are Chipotle-big burritos. They are absolutely huge, and good thing — a chicken burrito is $6.25 and steak one $6.45, which are the steepest prices in the Square.
Chipotle uses high-quality ingredients, including flavorful salsas and a spicy rice that will appeal to fans of cilantro. And while expensive ($1.75), Chipotle guacamole can’t be beat.
Ultimately, Chipotle feels more upscale than any of its competitors; Mayan artwork hangs on the wall, the dining area is spacious and boasts fantastic acoustics, and its out-of-the-way location makes it almost a destination restaurant. The menu is limited, but what Chipotle does, it does well. For a Mexican food “experience,” go here; for a burrito, go to Felipe’s.
The Hipster Burrito
Boloco
71 Mount Auburn Street
(617) 354-5838
11 a.m.-11 p.m. every day
Boloco serves “inspired burritos,” whatever those are. Its classic one is heavy on the cilantro and low on the cheese, which is an unfortunate combo. Chips are prepackaged and decidedly mediocre, while the guacamole is nothing special.
However, there are perks to picking up a burrito at Boloco. The menu has many options, including wraps, salads, and smoothies, so it’s a good place to go to with a group. Whip out your laptop to take advantage of the free WiFi; the zen color scheme may even convince you that you’re dining healthily.
The Just Plain Bad Burrito
Qdoba
1280 Massachusetts Avenue
(617) 871-1136
M-W 10 a.m.-11:30 p.m., Th-Sa 10 a.m.-12 a.m., Su 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
Many were surprised when Chipotle opened a Harvard Square location, considering that its clone chain Qdoba already occupied a prime piece of real estate on Mass Ave. But after you’ve tasted a Qdoba burrito, it’s easy to understand why Chipotle thought it could gain a foothold in the Harvard-pricey-Mexican-fast-food market.
Simply put, Qdoba has the worst burritos in the Square. The meat is fatty, the guacamole watery, and the tortillas are disturbingly most. And, at over $6, these babies aren’t cheap. The chips are even worst than the burritos; hint of lime becomes a crime.
Admittedly, there are benefits to dining at Qdoba. It has far more options than its competitors; the menu includes nachos, tacos, quesadillas, gumbo, breakfast options, and even a low-carb “naked burrito” (although we’d like to suggest that a burrito isn’t a burrito without a tortilla). The location is great, and there is plenty of seating.
Sally Rinehart ’09 (rinehart@fas) and Caroline Corbitt ’09 (corbitt@fas) are still full.