In Search of the Perfect Burrito
All you ever wanted to know about San Francisco Mission style burritos.
As they say...'the topic of which taqueria makes the best burrito can "encourage fierce loyalty and ferocious debate." '
I didn't know it until today when my cousin told me, but there is another chain that competes with Chipotle Mexican Grill called Qdoba. They haven't been around quite as long (2 years isn't much), but the food actually looks pretty good compared to Chipotle and that is saying a lot. I loved Chipotle because the place was always clean, the food was always good, and the service was top-notch. Most places miss one of those things. Chipotle was great, but I'd settle for something better if it came along.
In Missoula, there are 4 local places that do basically the same thing (2 good, 2 not so much), but I would probably continue to go to the 2 good ones even if Chipotle or Qdoba or any other franchise came to town. Mostly because I like to support local restaurants when I can and because they both offer things that Chipotle and I'm assuming Qdoba can't. Those 2 places are La Parilla and El Diablo.
La Parilla makes a good buffalo steak burrito. Plus they have really cool trippy African artwork on the walls and a clean bathroom. Thumbs up.
El Diablo makes mahi-mahi fish tacos just like I like them -- with broiled mahi-mahi. I've went there once and decided that this is probably my favorite one of all 4 of them.
You can't get buffalo steak and mahi-mahi just anywhere. Besides that, those places are kept really clean.
The 2 other places in town have the same setup, but the food isn't as good and/or there are other issues.
Taco Del Sol has horrible fried fish that sits under a heat lamp waiting for some 19-year old dirtbag to grab it with his bare hands. Gross. I had went there about 5 times and I always felt that something was missing. Then the guy grabbed my fish with his bare hands and it was the last time I went. They own 3 locations in town. I've been to all 3 and the experience is about the same. It was a good try, but they didn't deliver on all accounts. In fact, they are my least favorite of any burrito place in town.
The other place is called Taco Del Mar. The place is themed around surfing and Mexican culture and the food is decent. I really like their Mojito Burrito they had last summer. Extra cilantro and lime on whatever burrito you want. Yum. The food is decent, but it's not centrally located and the food is pretty standard fare. Nothing exceptional, except the mojito burrito.
Before I moved to Montana I was always trying to think of good business ideas that may have worked in other parts of the country but changing/adding different things to give it local flair and to distinguish it for this area. One great idea was to take the Chipotle idea and do it up local. I got here and realized that someone else thought of that long before I got here.
But what Missoula DOESN'T have is a place with good breakfast burritos like the taco shops in San Diego. Somebody, get on this.
