I have often driven past, but have never gone into Red Burrito on Commercial Drive, but today was the day.
In fact I past them every day on my way to and from school. Their shared building a bold fire engine red on the corner of Commercial and 1st Ave. Their name eye catching in star struck lettering. They have been at this location for over 20 years, for as long as I can remember. A testiment to their quick and healthy Mexican cuisine.
As their name suggestions they offer Burritos to the on-the-go lunch time crowd. With their own parking in the back and quick assemble to order tacos, burritos, and bowl options; they make for a great pit stop.
You customize your meal with choice of proteins, toppings, salsas, and sauces. Tacos for smaller portion, burritos for a hefty hand hold, and a bowl if you want it without the tortilla as an easy pack up the rest to go option.
For ease of eating we decided on two bowls. You can have it either their classic burrito style with rice and beans or fajita style with sauteed peppers and onions instead.
Protein options include a spicy beef slow cooked and shredded for hours in their house spicy pepper sauce. The pork is equally slow cooked and shredded for hours, but dressed in their classic Mexican pasilla sauce instead. For seafood there is shrimp and vegan meat out of soy protein.
I was interested in their grilled chicken, watching it rotate on an upright kabob-like spit. It is slowly browned, marinaded in their Red Burrito spice, before being carved.
Add ons include cheese, guacamole, queso and various levels of hot sauce. All the toppings are fresh chopped on the day, and the meat and salsas donnot miss out on seasonings. It is exactly as how you make it, with the option to go healthy by subbing out rice for more leafy greens as a salad.
If you aren’t in the mood to build it your way, they also have signature items like quesadillas or their new “drowned burrito” smothered in their home made Ahogado sauce, topped with cheese and sour cream. This is their take on a chimichanga.
Fajita Burrito served in a bowl with no tortilla and Spicy Beef. Dressed in a medium spicy green chilli salsa with guacamole.
Red Burrito bowl with Mexican rice, beans, grilled chicken, a mild pico de gallo salsa, sour cream, and cheese.
For sides they have a Tortilla Soup. This is a Mexican soup made with tomatoes & chicken broth, filled with sour cream, cheese, and cilantro. Served with crunchy corn tortilla strips on the side for self topping to ensure maxium crunchiness. This was a nice tangy tomato based soup with plenty of acidity, it offered a nice pause from the one toned bowl.
We also got a side of the Chips and Queso for crunch. Crispy house fried chips served with a warm and melty thick cheese dip. So tasty, you can’t just have one.
And to wash it all down I could not pass up on their housemade Horchata. A palate refreshing, cinnamon-y bold, sweet, cereal milk. I found this a nice wash in between bites.
The Jamaica is Mexican ice tea made from hibiscus flower. A floral and more tart ice tea.
In closing I am glad I finally gotten around to trying this long standing staple on Commerical Drive, for the institution that it is.
Red Burrito Vancouver
1700 Commercial Dr, Vancouver, BC V5N 4A3
(604) 707-0877
redburrito.ca
