London's best burritos
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By Charmaine Mok and Peter Watts
Posted: Wed Aug 19 2009 -
We're noticing more and more stalls, takeaways and restaurants serving top-class examples of Mexico's greatest contribution to the culinary world. Get to grips with our guide to the best burritos in London
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Benito’s Hat
56 Goodge St, W1T 4NB (7637 3732/www.benitos-hat.com)
A vibrant little spot on Goodge Street where fast-moving, cheery staff assemble super-fresh burritos, filled with the likes of chicken braised in achiote spice, tomatoes and guajillo chillies or a good veggie option of grilled courgettes, chayote squash and peppers with seasoned with garlic, parsley and olive oil. A free basket of tortilla chips comes with your order, too. Works equally for takeaway lunch stop or sit-down evening dining. Bonus points for selling horchata, a rice-based milky drink. Read more
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Daddy Donkey
Pitches 100-101, Leather Lane Market, EC1N 7TE (07950 448448/www.daddydonkey.co.uk)
To call DD a simple burrito ‘stall’ or ‘van’ would be an understatement – it’s far too big, bold and confident. A sprawling operation in Leather Lane market, it handles the crowds with a well-oiled assembly line that knocks out excellent burritos – six different fillings available, which is always good. Check out the tomatillo beef with lime salsa or the picodollo (ground beef cooked in plenty of spices, including paprika, cumin, oregano and chipotle). Read more
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El Burrito
5 Charlotte Place, W1T 1SF (7580 5048/www.mestizomx.com)
Across the road from Benito’s Hat and slightly cheaper, but has lost some of its character since the disappearance of the bloke dressed in a donkey suit who used to lure people inside. After folding burritos the size of a small designer dog, the staff pack takeaway orders in styrofoam lunchboxes and throw in some knives and forks for attacking it with. Good, hearty fillings such as chicken mole and beef arrachera (skirt steak) hit the spot. Read more
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Chilango
27 Upper Street, N1 0PN (7704 2123/www.chilango.co.uk)
As the story goes, the founders fell in love with ‘real’ Mexican cuisine and went travelling around Mexico as well as the parts of the US with the biggest Mexican communities. Armed with newfound knowledge, they opened Chilango to serve ‘fresh, fabulously tasty Mexican cuisine’ – they’re also less Cali influenced, and serve pinto beans slow-cooked rather than refried for a healthier option. Read more
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Buen Provecho
Lower Marsh (outside Silver Witch), SE1 (8858 3649)
Hailing from just outside Mexico City, chef Arturo Ortega Rodriguez came to London six years ago and did a brief stint working for a hotel before breaking off to open his own Mexican food stall. He offers three ownmade salsas, too.
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Freebird
Stalls on Goodge Street, Rupert Street, and Exmouth Market (www.freebirdburritos.co.uk)
Excellent stalls selling monstrous, filling burritos. But don't dawdle getting back to your desk – burritos don't stay hot for long.
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Luardo’s
Whitecross St Market, EC1Y
A striking turquoise van in the middle of Whitecross Street Market often surrounded by burrito fans. Extras include, along with the obligatory guacamole, chorizo for an extra 50p.
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Tortilla
13 Islington High St, N1 9LQ (7833 3103/www.tortilla.co.uk)
A favourite among the denizens of Islington (there’s also a branch behind the Tate Modern), this Cali-Mexi style cantina does a brisk trade in your classic pork/chicken/beef burritos. Their most popular filling is pollo asada, a smoky chargrilled chicken marinated with their own top-secret adobo seasoning. Read more
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Burrito Bros
17 Clerkenwell Road, Farringdon, EC1M 5RD
Burrito Bros has nothing in the way of local competition. Even so, they’re taking things slowly at first: you can get pork, chicken, beef or veggie burritos, three types of salsa (even the mild has considerable bite) and a small selection of drinks. You can eat in the main room downstairs or outdoors in a small garden. Read more
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15 comments
Chilango is the best American style burrito (or should I say Chipotle style burrito?) in town. The rest are garbage, full-stop.
I personally love the buritios in Whole Foods High Street Kensington as well as the Westfield food court. I'm looking forwrd to trying many more from your list.
Daddy Donkey all the way!! i have been a fond follower of burrito's for many years and for me personally the perfect mix of flavours is daddy donkey (especially if you like it spicy then their cut chillis is a must, but beware, tasty yet deadly :-)
some of the rest for me dont have the spicy , tangy taste that makes them addictable...but hey each to their own, i am just so glad there are so many burrito and mexican places around.
ps if you are ever around Balham then Tacuba on bedford hill is well worth checking out, true mexican street food and friendly bar
El Burrito is the only one worth bothering with. The rest are pale imitations. The Man-Donkey may have gone but the burritos are huge and delicious. The best thing is you get a FREE burrito with every 10 burrito's. For hardcore burrito lovers like me that's a lot of free burritos.
Burritos are not technically Mexican cuisine and travel away from the tourist hot spots and you will not find the. They were a food developed by immigrant miners during the California gold rush, who took whatever left overs they had down the mines wrapped in a giant tortilla. Ala cornish pastie.
Real Mexican street food comes in the form of a taco and the best one in London comes from Buen Provecho on Marsh St SE1.
I would recommend Camino under the Westway on Portobello Rd. It is also really cheap.
<strong>Chilango is average at best,</strong> certainly not a Mexican I would put in the best burritos list. I've been a few times, their only saving grace is the guacamole, the other ingredients really aren't great. The atmosphere is poor (it's in & out as fast as possible). But can be quite spicy so that's +1.
6/10 - Seriously.
Where is Freebird??? one of the first and my personal favorite.??????
Ok.. I agree on some of the comments where they say that a burrito is not a mexican plate... That's so true.... I'm Mexican, right now I'm in London, and the best place to eat some kind of this food, is located in Chelsea... it's called Mexicalli, there you could find burritos, quesadillas, sopa de tortilla, enchiladas, etc.
It's very very nice... and... you can say it has good mexican flavor cause the ones that work over there are Mexicans as well... so... enjoy!
Where is Freebird? it should most defiantly be on this list.
Burritos greatest Mexican contribution to the culinary world? But buritos are not Mexican they are Tex-Mex and so are fajitas and chilli con carne. You'll never find a burrito in Mexico or any so called Mexican food with cold tortilla in Mexico.
@TO: I'm sorry but I thought it was now renown that Burritos are far from being "top-class examples of Mexico's greatest contribution to the culinary world" for the simple fact of...NOT being Mexican at all.
I'm sure burritos are good but it is simply not mexican and the fad that is currently living Chilango by being the "best Mexican restaurant in the UK" is again misleading. Mexican food is exquisite and far more than tacos (yes, that is mexican)
Just thought of clarifying
this is coming from a person who transplanted herself to london from austin texas - land of endless taco stands and gourmet tex-mex restaurants.
more often than not mexican/tex-mex food here is such a let down it's not worth the money. key indicator - any market food stall with an old el paso box in sight or anything old el paso in general. just walk away.
chilango is quite impressive i have to say and reminds me from home. their hot salsa was acutally hot, too hot in fact but that's a good sign, guacamole amazingly fresh and made just right, and the flavours of the meat were spot on. plus who wouldn't want to drink a frozen margarita out of a neon plastic cup. highly recommended.
I agree, Freebird in Exmouth market should be on the list, It's better then Daddy Donkey in Leather Lane.
What about Freebird in Soho?! The carnitas are definitely some of the best in London. Think they also have stalls in Camden (Canal Market) and Exmouth Market.