168296 Wed Aug 06 17:36:53 -0700 2003 16 14 Washington DC & Baltimore Area 0 900290 I haven't had a good burrito since I moved here from Chicago 2 years ago and I'm wondering if anyone has any suggestions. Although you might not expect it, Chicago has a lot of little burrito places (typically in bad neighborhoods) that sell fantastic burritos for very little cash ($3.50 after tax at my favorite). I've been to several Mexican/Tex-Mex places in and around Capitol Hill and Alexandria, and all of the burritos I've had have been awful. Most places serve you a bland object on a plate smothered in sauce. I've only been to a few that see burritos as something to be eaten with the hands (Burrito Brothers, Taqueria Poblano and McMexico/Chipotle) and they were all pretty mediocre. Can anyone suggest a burrito place that 1. expects burritos to be eaten with the hands, and 2. serves something with more flavor in it than I could get at home by frying low-grade hamburger and dumping some cheese on it? Wed Aug 06 17:36:53 -0700 2003 0 Josh 1 900291 You appear to be very demanding. This is not a bad thing, however. In any case, Taqueria El Carrito Caminante in Arlington, which has often been mentioned here and which is a favorite of mine, surely would fill the bill. Try the chorizo; there are several others as well; everything I've tried has been good. Wed Aug 06 17:57:36 -0700 2003 900290 0 johnb 2 900299 Thanks. This sounds very promising. Chorizo was always one of my favorite burrito fillings. A good chorizo burrito would definitely satisfy my craving. Wed Aug 06 19:02:52 -0700 2003 900291 0 Josh 3 900353 Yes, El Charrito Caminante is the best burrito in town-hands down. Try the burrito supreme (I know that sounds Taco Bell-esque but don't worry) with any of the meats (goat, beef, chicken, chorizo, pork) and you won't be disappointed. I am from Las Vegas and have lived in Southern, CA so I agree 100% that there is no good mexican food in DC. This is the closest I've found to a good mexican (although many of the dishes are Salvadorean, and I think the people are too) taco stand in the CA style. By the way, the burrito supreme is $4 and there is so much meat, FRESH vegetables, rice and cheese in it that I don't know how they make a profit. The tortas, tacos, tamales and asada plates are also great and cheap. Thu Aug 07 12:08:18 -0700 2003 900299 0 Brandon 4 900369 Just have to reiterate that El Charrito Caminante is the best around. I've eaten there probably 40 times and it's always consistent. The call ahead always works well. Brandon, which Las Vegas, I'm from LV New Mexico? Thu Aug 07 15:24:34 -0700 2003 900353 0 red or green 1 900295 My wife swears by a burrito stand at 15th and K which is only open weekdays from 11 to 2. She thinks it called "Honest to Goodness Burritos". THere have been a few articles in the Post food section about it. It is strictly vegetarian, but she says the tortillas are excellent and both beans (black and refried) are very good. Wed Aug 06 18:13:16 -0700 2003 900290 0 bilrus 2 900320 warning: the proprietor of the 15th and k burrito stand moved to west virginia, and although someone apparently bought the cart, he didn't get the recipes - the burritos are virtually inedible now. Thu Aug 07 09:46:41 -0700 2003 900295 0 christine 3 900334 My wife will be devastated. Thu Aug 07 10:19:06 -0700 2003 900320 0 bilrus 1 900297 How about giving up the Chicago/California/Mexican burritos? DC doesn't have the same type of Mexican-American population as Chicago does... But don't dispair, DC does have an amazing and diverse Central American community. Have you discovered the wonderful world of Salvadoran food yet--pupusas, tacos, etc. Go to where the ex-pat populations are (Mount Pleasant, Columbia Heights, Shaw, Petworth) and try some of the places that have been recommended on this board further down. Wed Aug 06 18:29:47 -0700 2003 900290 0 butterfly 1 900298 I posted the same question on this board a while ago (although my standard is burritos in the Bay Area in California) and got quite a few responses. The best place I have found so far is MEX TEC on Columbia Road near 18th Street. Although the burritos that they serve in the restaurant can't be eaten by hand and cost more than take out (but which are good), the take out burritos are consistently good and are wrapped so you can eat them by hand. The hot salsa (red) is very good. Another place that was recommended and that I tried once and didn't like at all was the Well-Dressed Burrito (in the Alley-1225 19th St NW Washington, DC Betw M & N Sts @Jefferson Pl.(south of Dupont Circle.) 202-293-0515, M-F 11:45-2:15. Wed Aug 06 18:59:03 -0700 2003 900290 0 Pixie 2 900518 Based on these recommendations, I tried Mixtec. With all due respect (and it was indeed out of respect that I followed the rec.s), I am afraid that I must dissent. The burrito was mainly red rice, with very salty black beans. To be sure, the grilled chicken was tender, but it was overwhelmed by the mass of rice and salty beans. Although not convenient to me, I too have found El Carrito Caminante startlingly good: in particular, the fresh vegetables garnishes make for a wonderfully bright flavor. For convenience, I find myself sticking with Baja Fresh. I had originally turned my nose up at it as a chain, but my arrogance was to my own detriment. I am now especially fond of the fish tacos (which is grilled, not fried), and the shrimp tacos too. Mon Aug 11 22:26:38 -0700 2003 900298 0 Bonz 1 900331 There are no good burritos in this town. I lived in SF for five years and was spoiled by them there. Most of the "Mexican" food here is more El Salvadoran or not very good. I will second the Mix-Tec recommendation. Very good, cheap food. Aside from that, fly back to Chi-town more often. Thu Aug 07 10:17:42 -0700 2003 900290 0 Turtle 2 900348 I concur - as a native of SF I miss carne asada burritos terribly. And although I respect venues that attempt to satisfy my cravings here, they just don't cut it. However, Mixtec is probably the best I have tried in DC.....followed by Chipotle:-( Thu Aug 07 11:32:14 -0700 2003 900331 0 Mari 3 900359 Me three. I spent too many years in Tucson to ever really enjoy a burrito in these parts. Mixtec is good, but it is no authentic drive thru burrito dump. (Oh how I miss my machaca burritos.) There should not be rice in a real burrito. Thu Aug 07 12:33:26 -0700 2003 900348 0 Chuy 3 900372 I miss La Taqueria in the Mission and Los Hermanos (not the greatest, but it was my first burrito in SF and I always had a soft spot for the place) in the Marina. La Taqueria you could get your burrito or nachos and a Pacifico or a Negra Modelo for just a few bucks at 2:00 am. How could you finish a night in any other way? Thu Aug 07 15:38:30 -0700 2003 900348 0 Turtle 4 900385 I love Pancho Villa in the Mission. Thu Aug 07 17:19:49 -0700 2003 900372 0 Pixie 1 900398 All of the displaced Californians and Southwesterners (and Chicagoans, apparently) have the same gripe about DC -- not enough good Mexican food. We miss our machaca! Or carne asada. Or chile verde. I'm surprised that no one has mentioned Baja Fresh. They are obviously limited, in that they serve no pork, but for your basic California-style grilled chicken or steak, beans and salsa burrito (no rice!), no one else in this area comes close. I consider flour tortillas a waste of taste, and so I prefer the tacos, with beans on the side. Baja Fresh isn't transcendant, but it's better than Chipotle Grill. Fri Aug 08 01:13:13 -0700 2003 900290 0 zora