Find out which El Paso restaurant serves the best burrito
Editor’s note: This story was originally published March 14, 2012. Rock and Roll Cafe has since been permanently closed.
After the opening of Chipotle Mexican Grill in 2012, the question arose on Twitter and Facebook: Could a chain restaurant compete with hometown El Paso burritos? And who makes the best burrito in El Paso?
After taking nominations from readers, reporters Aaron Bracamontes and Evan Mohl narrowed it down to five candidates plus Chipotle.
Over the course of five days they traveled to each location and ordered the best item on the menu. As our editor said: “Someone had to do it.”
Obviously, taste was the first thing they judged on, but when things got too close to call, they broke it down into four areas: filling, tortilla, value and atmosphere.
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The most emphasis was put on the filling and the least on atmosphere.
Judging each burrito on those criteria, Rafa’s Burritos edged out the burritos from Rock and Roll Cafe, which almost pulled off the underdog upset.
In the end, Bracamontes and Mohl felt that if there was one burrito you have to take a visitor to see or experience when you get back in to town, it is Rafa’s.
Here is how our taste buds broke it down:
1 Rafa’s Burritos (Montana location)
Aaron’s angle: A burrito the size of your arm, full of great taste in a warm flour tortilla. That’s nearly impossible to beat. You have to experience it to believe.
Evan’s evaluation: Now, this is a burrito. You need two hands, multiple napkins and even some extra plate space for the filling that inevitably pours out of the tortilla. Everything about this place and burrito is good. It’s the total package. Free chips are a nice touch.
2 Rock and Roll Cafe (Piedras location)
Aaron’s angle: Almost like a mini-Rafas and just a little bit cheaper. They are good enough to make you want seconds. I did not expect this place to contend. It was the Rocky of El Paso burritos.
Evan’s evaluation: A pink building with James Dean posters on the wall — this place is as unique as it gets. And the food? Simply awesome. I also really enjoyed that Rock and Roll Cafe offered delicacies such as tongue, tripe and even fish.
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3 Alice the Burrito Lady (Canutillo location)
Aaron’s angle: Small restaurant packs a great homemade tortilla with good food. First time there, but staff made us feel like regulars. Great customer service, but the filling couldn’t compete with Rafa’s or Rock and Roll.
Evan’s evaluation: Alice definitely made my favorite tortilla: fresh, soft, warm and just the right thickness. It elevated the burrito without overpowering the filling. The place also offers a great mom-and-pop feel — I’m pretty sure Alice did the serving — with just four tables and a hole-in-the-wall location. The only complaint I had was my filling.
4 Chipotle Mexican Grill
Aaron’s angle: Filling burrito without the sluggish afterthought. Chipotle isn’t homemade, but it tastes good and is satisfying for what it is. Could maybe use more ingredients. Once you get past the fact that this isn’t really “Mexican,” it is enjoyable.
Evan’s evaluation: While I wouldn’t classify Chipotle as “Mexican” or “authentic,” it makes a solid burrito (even if there is rice inside). There’s also something to be said for using healthy, organic ingredients — Chipotle’s burrito doesn’t have that heavy feel. The long lines and high prices — compared to local competition — didn’t help.
5 Burritos Juarez (Alameda location)
Aaron’s angle: It is good, but not much more than that. It’s a great value. It’s a little too greasy for my taste, but I’d recommend it for a try.
Evan’s evaluation: This is the last place we tried. It was good, not great. The tortilla did not have the same sponginess as the others.
6 Burritos Crisostomo
Aaron’s angle: Very disappointing. Tortillas and filling were not fresh and the staff wasn’t too concerned with making sure they were. Even the simple bean and cheese was too dry. Definitely lacking the homemade taste other local places had.
Evan’s evaluation: Maybe it was the time of day we went (evening), but I was disappointed. The barbacoa was completely dry, and the restaurant ran out of several fillings. The one saving grace was the rajas con queso, which was quite good. Also, Crisostomo accepts only cash.
Online voters chose newcomer Chipotle for best burrito, followed by Alice the Burrito Lady in Canutillo.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: National Burrito Day is here; who serves the best burritos?
