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Red Burrito
Category: Restaurants Mexican Mexican [Edit]
606 Robson StVancouver, BC V6B 2B9
Neighbourhood: Downtown
(604) 676-0097
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
28 reviews for Red Burrito
28 reviews in English
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Review from Ryan M.
1/15/2012 1 photo
This review is for 12/31/2011. After being arriving in Vancouver and checking in at Samesun, I finally met up with my old friend from my neck of the woods. I guess the sushi that I ate earlier in the day and the drinking at Samesun, I got hungry. So, my friend and I headed over to the Red Burrito.
I don't remember how I got here. Actually, I am not even sure why I am writing. I do remember bits and pieces of Red Burrito. I do remember the two girls behind the counter....No...No...You're sick that I made you think that way. I remember my burrito or the tortilla was RED. Yup, the restaurant is defined by their tortilla. However, it does come to a pricey cost. With two burritos and two waters, I believe my total was about $21 and change.
The burrito was great, but the price was probably one big reason why the rating for this place is low. I was actually thinking if Baja Fresh could come to the Downtown Vancouver area and try to compete for business, unless they have already. I think I would have gotten more pizza and Starbucks for that price.
I would like to try this place again when I have the chance, but as I bring my verdict. Three stars is pretty reasonable. The price is one factor even for a person that drank a lot a few minutes earlier. I guess the prices are high since they are still building their website...lol.
Yelp is My Review, My Story, and My Life. Its time to share it. -
Review from Cyrus G.
Vancouver, BC
1/12/2012
Funny that I'm giving this such a low rating because I've eaten here so many times. Unfortunately, it's the best of a really poor set of burrito offerings in downtown Vancouver.
You might think this place is really good, unless you have had the pleasure of trying Chipotle burritos in the States or Toronto.
My list of complaints:
- not cheap considering cheap quality ingredients
- horribly bland rice
- chicken is about as low quality as you can get
- doesn't take visa and charges for debit
I really wish this place was better!! -
Review from Erin B.
9/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
I was looking for gluten free take out at the end of a long day of walking and stopped here. The namesake burritos were out (flour tortillas) but they use corn tortillas for their soft tacos, so I got those. Three tacos for $7 something. Could be cheaper, but not bad.
The chicken in the tacos was gyro style and seasoned as such, which was a bit weird. I refuse to pay extra for cheese and guac, so had mine topped with pico de gallo, hot sauce, and lettuce. They were ok. A bit spicy, nice flavour, but low-end tortillas and crappy chicken.
Service was pleasant, but neither overly speedy nor particularly bright. There are a few tables for eating in and it seemed like a comfy enough place to snarf down some mexifood. I'd eat there again if I was nearby, but I wouldn't go out of my way. And I might try a veggie option next time rather than the creepy chicken.Listed in: BC 2011
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Review from Katrina D.
7/12/2011
I came here for the sake of convenience since it was a block away from my hotel. After a long day visiting places in Vancouver, I was craving a mean, hearty burrito.
The cashier/food maker was rude and didn't even say hello when I walked in! I asked for a fajita spicy beef burrito and she made me a regular burrito-- whole wheat tortilla, rice, beans, beef, sour cream, and lettuce. It tasted good (the beef was tender & seasoned well) but I have had far better burritos in the Bay Area in California. ;)
It filled me up, but it's nothing extraordinary. I would rather eat Taco Bell. -
Review from Stephanie M.
Vancouver, BC
1/25/2011
I walk by this place several times a day as it's less than a block from my apartment, and finally decided to indulge my love of Mexican food and satisfy my curiosity.
Well, my curiosity is now satisfied, but my craving for Mexican food (even "cheap and dirty" Mexican fast food) is not. If you want a quick taco, you're much better off closer to Gastown at La Taqueria. Same price, almost identical atmosphere and much better taco fillings. Also if you want the full experience (rice, beans, cheese and guac) you have to pay extra for each. I guess I shouldn't have expected much, but I'm still disappointed. My quest for good and fast Mexican in the immediate vicinity of my place continues. -
Review from Anne G.
Vancouver, BC
6/1/2011
The chicken is disgusting and everything is greasy. The staff was unfriendly and it was too hot inside! Don't go there!
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Review from Steve L.
Victoria, BC
6/23/2010 1 Check-in Here
I used to frequent the Red Burrito further down Robson around the Jervis street area until one day it simply disappeared and became yet another donair shop.
I decided to hit up this location as I was looking for a quick and filling meal, and I knew what I was getting myself into. Red Burrito delivered just that, a giant burrito that was tasty and fast.
Yes, this place probably isn't the most authentic Mexican food around, but this is Vancouver and the last time I checked our southern border was shared with Washington state, not Mexico so I'll cut them some slack.
My biggest issue has to be the fact that guacamole is an extra $1.25! What the hell?! Why is guacamole so expensive? It's just a mushed up avocado with extras. I agree with Brooke T., this is like McDonalds charging for ketchup. Ridiculous. -
Review from Marc D.
Vancouver, BC
1/28/2009 ROTD 4/16/2009
Rule #1 in Vancouver: Lower your expectations about Mexican food
Rule #2 in Vancouver: Lower your expectations about Cal-mex food
Rule #3 in Vancouver: Lower your expectations about Tex-mex food
Rule #4: Repeat 1-3 until you have proper level of expectations before eating any of the above in Vancouver.
Ok, after you've been thoroughly prepped by the above rules, then Red Burrito is one of the better options in Vancouver for Cal-mex style burritos.
Yes, it is a chain. But it is passable, and considering it is in Vancouver and not California it is decent.
I had the spicy beef burrito which came nicely packed with black beans, spanish rice, corn, cilantro, onions, lettuce, a spicy salsa, and a squeeze of fresh lime. Really not terrible for a chain at all.
Bonus points for them having horchata that had a nice cinnamon flavour without being overly sweet.
Yes, I crave a real California burrito like the type you can find in the Mission district in SF, and California style fish tacos like you find in San Diego, and real Tex-mex like you can find at taco trucks in El Paso, and real interior Mexican fine dining along the lines of Fonda San Miguel in Austin.
But if you lower your expectations appropriately Red Burrito will do the local trick.
Is there such a thing as beer goggles for Mexican food?!?!?!?! Horchata goggles perhaps?!?!?!?!Listed in: Vancouver Latin and Caribbean…
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Review from Tee D.
8/2/2009
Please beat me with a stick. I am done.
This is the last time I will attempt to eat "Mexican" food here in Vancouver.
Okay, I'm lying. There may be 2 or 3 more futile attempts in my future, but if you hit me hard enough, I may reconsider.
There's this well known chain in the US; it's called Chipotle, and it is near and dear to my tiny little heart.
When I first spotted Red Burrito, I thought, "Dear god! It's bizarro Chipotle!"
I felt my heart soar.
I went home that night and dreamt of having a deliciously satisfying lunch at Red Burrito the next day.
First of all, after inspecting their food line (is that a word), I was absolutely appalled.
HOLY SHIT. Is that BROWNING, liquidy guacamole I spy there?
Five seconds into this whole dining experience, and I am skeptical!
The guy looks at me expectantly.
"Do you want chips and guac?"
"Hell to the no!"
"Why not?"
"Uh, take a look." *Points to the green-brown liquid guac.*
"Oh."
One "beef" and "chicken" burrito later, our bellies feel absolutely raunchy. My chicken ended up being mostly chicken fat, and if it wasn't chicken fat, then it was congelling pieces of skin. The rice and beans were actually ok, but for some reason, the Mexican rice reminded me of Rice A Roni.
The guy says that he'd return to the Red Burrito, but I'd much rather die than cheat on my Chipotle with this bizarro version again. -
Review from Brooke T.
Vancouver, BC
11/16/2009
God, the asterisks I need to put in this review..
But, first and foremost, the burrito bowl I had didn't make me throw up.
So, it WAS celiac friendly. I played russian roulette in here because another Yelper had said this, and one of the counter girls gave a weak nod when I asked if I was ok to eat there. There is no earthly reason I should have taken the risk, but it paid off. I now have another fast food-ish option when we are Christmas shopping and I am crawling along the pavement with hunger.
So, how was it?
Expensive - almost 10$ for a burrito bowl and bottle of water.
It is straight bullshit to charge more for cheese and guacamole in a Mexican place. Seriously, it's like McDonalds charging for ketchup.
The beef I wouldn't get again; spicy and clotted in a way that my mouth felt like it was in danger, it didn't need to be in there. The beans and rice with guacamole, cilantro, salsa, cheese and a few shakes of salt will do me just fine next time.
Again, though, the non-barf means I will eat there again. -
Review from Roanna Z.
4/16/2009
Ooooh that aroma, it reached out to our nostrils, drawing us in to what appeared to be a traditional Burrito shop as we know them. But also turned out to be a disappointment to our taste buds :-( and then I had terrible indigestion. (but, that's just me, maybe).
But still, even after that, I still wanted to try it again. And so, I bet we will, especially because they have had pretty good reviews. Now lately, there has been a lot of discussion on where to find good Mexican food here in Vancouver and I just KNOW we will find it! Until then, we know Red Burrito has a few locations around to tease us.
May 1st. update. So, it turns out that indigestion I had last time did not lie to my body. They DO indeed put flour into the meat for the Chicken dishes. Sits on a stick, spins in the heat until cooked, Let's face it, this is a Mexican Shwarma. So, I would recommend that anti-gluteneers eat black beans and rice (side dishes). It's not very exciting. -
Review from Garry C.
Whistler, BC
8/11/2010 4 Check-ins Here
It seems I come here for lunch every time I visit the city now. I have the exact same thing - veggie burrito with the red tortilla, rice, beans, pico de gallo, salsa verde, guac(!), corn (yes, really), cilantro and some lime juice.
For me, it's the best burrito outside of Cali! -
Review from Mina B.
2/8/2010
I've been here quite a few times and all i've ever tried is the veggie burrito which tastes great and is very filling. little bonus no extra charge for the guac if you are a vegetarian.
The service has always been ok except for once!!!
The guy who was making our burritos just threw everything on the burrito in a rush, impatient as hell, rolled it up and it was a mess!
So we watched him do that but didn't say anything, we paid, we sat down and then saw the guy and the reason why he was in such a rush. He was sitting two tables down holding his girlfriend's hand! WTF??? you're at work so take a few friggin extra seconds for your customers or get a new job!
I recommend the red burrito on commercial drive better service and it's a little cheaper too! :) -
Review from Travis W.
Toronto, ON
4/27/2009
I hit up this place a few times when I was in town and it's alright for a quick and dirty place to get a Burrito.
Though the staff should learn how to wrap better because the second time I ordered a burrito from here it was wrapped or poorly and messy (with sour cream all over the outside).. I walked back up to the counter and asked if they could rewrap it.
The manager was cool about it and put a little extra in, so props for customer service. But still, I'm not one to complain about food, espeically go up and ask them to redo something. -
Review from Megan S.
11/19/2008
I have mixed feelings. On one hand I love burritos. On the other hand, I wasn't crazy about their chicken and I really really wish they had cheese! The chicken did not have much flavor. My reasoning is that if I can't taste it then it's pointless to consume those extra calories. So next time I will either go without meat or try the beef. The black beans were wonderful, and they have a spicy verde salsa which was fantastic. The burritos are huge, and well priced for what you get.
I've seen this place packed at lunch, but at night it's always pretty low key. There's a counter in the window, and lots of tables in the back. -
Review from Darien C.
BC
1/5/2009
I've never been one to have any extreme love for Mexican food. Sure I'll eat it at the resort when down south, but that tends to be a poor facsimile of the real thing.
Despite this, when done well, a good burrito is a damn filling meal. Red Burrito certainly has this base covered.
This shit's a tandem venture. I've never been able to finish one of these.
Problem is, there is no way RB will keep. The bread becomes soggy quickly, rice spills out, and soon your hand food requires a knife and fork.
Unless I'm indulging in fine dining, I tend to scarf back my meals, and so the time limit on the burrito's quality doesn't faze me. For others, this may be problematic. Regardless, for the cost and efficiency, RB is a great place to grab a quick bite. -
Review from Catherine W.
New Westminster, BC
5/25/2010
Lets just say there is nothing like watching a rat run through the restaurant to ruin your appetite. I have not been back since. There is no food in the world that is so delicious that I must put up with that.
Listed in: Places I Will Probably Never…
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Review from Angela C.
6/2/2009
If it's a chain, then it's a definite no go. I was skeptical, and had doubts..... I should have gone with my instincts. I was so disappointed, I followed the burrito with pastries from the korean market across the street, and a week of burritos at various taco/burrito trucks and local stores back home.
Marc D. was right - and I should have listened. Too high of expectations.
Too bad I couldn't give this place 0 stars. -
Review from Andrew F.
Vancouver, BC
6/21/2010
I went back to Red Burrito after a long hiatus. I went to San Francisco last year, and every burrito you try after going to places like El Farolito just fails to compare. Vancouver is not an exceptional place for mexican food, and while it is getting better you will still find run-of-the-mill places like Red Burrito to get bastardized versions of amazing food. It's right in the heart of downtown on Robson with very few mexican places in the surrounding blocks (barring Taco Time on Granville) so I'm sure it's doing well with those factors alone.
It's a 20-30 seat place with very little in the form of atmosphere beyond a few retro latino movie posters. The ordering section is a Subway type counter where you follow your burrito maker along the way pointing out what you want. While the employees were eager to take your order I don't think the knowledge and the passion was there. When I asked the guy what type of shredded cheese they were using he blanked out for a minute, looked under the counter and subsequently responded "uh, mozzarella". I opted for no cheese. That was following a bad start where my only two choices were pre-made tomato or whole wheat tortilla. Kudos to the alternatives, but where are the mainstay white flour or corn tortillas?? The shredded chicken had flavor but was too dried out. The black beans were, I think, poured straight from the can into the container. All the beans were still swimming in that goopy liquid. They don't grill their tortilla first, which is sacrilege amongst most of the burrito elite. It just seemed to reek too much of a subway sandwich: all ready to go so you can eat fast, but nothing very fresh.
On a positive note the horchata I drank was quite good, like a drinkable rice pudding. The option of jamaica was surprisingly welcome! What you get for the price you pay is reasonable, and the staff do know how to layer the burrito well (every bite is a different flavor). And you can get a full meal out of one burrito, which is very convenient.
I want to be more lenient towards Vancouver mexican food - after all we don't live in close proximity to the country and share very little of the same culture - but I can't because I know we can do so much better. Places like La Taqueria are proving this true. This Red Burrito, while not terrible, should be doing more to justify the food which it is titled after. -
Review from Bill T.
BC
6/18/2009
This is just ok.. Twice I've went all ready to get a burrito and they didn't have any cheese. No cheese? Too bad, as I left the burrito half made. Tell the customer first ponchito! (ponchito is a word I just made up). Their chicken is a tiny bit rough...
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Review from Mark H.
1/3/2010
Tried once, won't try again. The burritos are not cheap for what's in them. Look inside and you'll find a ton of rice, and little meat. Not much flavour to them. Loading it with sauce helped a little, but it remained un-finishable.
Listed in: 1 Star 'Gems'
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Review from Sam L.
1/12/2011
I've tried Red Burrito exactly three times now and will not be going again. The first time I had the tacos, which were passable, the second time I had a chicken burrito which was bland and the chicken was dried out and a bit hard. I decided to give them one more shot and ordered the chicken burrito again. The burrito was basically just rice and beans with a few veggies, but the chicken itself was rock hard little shards, disgusting! I don't care how cheap this place is, I was offended that they would serve people crap like this so I marched back with my burrito in hand, minus a couple bites, and asked for my money back. They apologized and explained that they don't give refunds (which leads me to believe that I'm not the only person who's asked for their money back), but they would make me another burrito. I was hungry and angry, so instead of waiting around for them to make me another barely edible bundle of crap, I tossed it in the garbage and then went for sushi. Mexican food in Vancouver falls under one of the following: A. Cheap and crap or B. Expensive and mediocre. It seems there is a growing population of Mexican people in Vancouver, so why the lack of good Mexican food?
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Review from Cindy G.
Vancouver, BC
5/13/2010
I have to say I was not impressed. the store looks mexican, and the girls spoke spanish, but the food was not that mexican. The burrito was too juicy to not disappoint me. The price was okay, but you can get something better with the same amount of money. My friend said that once the burrito she had there was amazing. I don't know, maybe we got our hopes up but ended up let down.
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Review from Lisa N.
Vancouver, BC
3/24/2010
Red Burrito is about another block or two down from Babylon Cafe on Robson and Granville. You can't really miss it, the entire place is painted in a bright red colour. There's always seating and some different kinds of soda other than your usual Coca Cola or Pepsi.
The service is fast and friendly. I would definitely not suggest the tacos (they're tiny and small portioned and are more expensive than the burritos) but the burritos are big portioned and delicious. From what I`ve heard, the beef one is okay, the chicken is really good, and the shrimp.. well you can't taste it cause it's so small. But because I'm a vegetarian, I don't eat any of those and it's perfectly fine. There's a choice between whole wheat wrap and the tomato wrap. Normally I put the rice, black beans, red sauce, cilantro, onions (cooked and uncooked), corn, and sometimes guacomole (extra charge). There's hummus and other sauces that they add, as well as hot sauce. It comes together really well and super filling. My order normally comes up to $6 ish to $7 so yeah. By the way, I think the salad thing is just silly. The tortilla chip thing with guacomole dip isn't bad but small portioned. So really, just get their burritos.
My boyfriend usually orders the chicken one and it fills him up too (he's a pretty big boy) and he says the cilantro overtakes the flavour of the burrito. I'm not sure cause I love cilantro. There's your tip! Hahaha. -
Review from Victoria R.
BC
11/25/2008
Well, it's a chain burrito place, what can I say? I thought the meat varieties were okay. It's the typical cheap cuts of chicken and beef, which means it's full of fat, skin and calorie-laden oil. The beans were very oily as well. I liked the salsa and the option of getting a bowl that has no tortilla hence the low carb option but for $8, I'll take the carbs and the calories thanks! I think the fact that they have no authentic staff working there, as in nobody speaks Spanish or seems to know anything about burritos really sucks. I probably would not go here unless I really had to, which I did that's why I went therein the first place. If I had to choose, I'd rather go to Taco Bella and get the mexi fries.
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Review from M C.
Vancouver, BC
4/26/2011
l really like this place, their food is quite authentic, as a mexican l'll have to say it's hard to find authentic mexican food, l recommend not to put beans or rice on burritos, that's an american tradition, you will enjoy more the flavor of the mean by not adding those and it's healthier!
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Review from Christopher S.
Vancouver, BC
1/3/2010
I saw a rat running across the floor. The burrito tasted worse.
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Review from Dick J.
Vancouver, BC
6/17/2009
Didn't like it at all. . . .
