I get easily intimidated by Mexican restaurants and burrito joints, because I was always one of those kids (and still am) who doesn’t like their food to touch. Understandably, Thanksgiving has always been a bit of a struggle for me. Still, it’s hard to pass up rice and beans, spicy ground beef, or a burrito just because it’s got a little guacamole on it. So I left my picky eater at home this week and decided to go all-out at Cali Burrito, the Hamilton Blvd. burrito joint that has already earned a ton of local fans.
The Dishes: The Sonoma and The Old Monterey
What’s on the Plate: The Sonoma, a taco dish, served up two hard shell tacos wrapped inside cheesy soft shells. The Old Monterey was filled with chicken, black beans, rice, cheese and guacamole. Both entrees were served with homemade chips, and we dished out our own sides at the salsa bar.
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How’s it Taste? The Sonoma, my dish of choice, put a new twist on the taco. I was served two hard shell tacos, filled with ground beef and shredded lettuce and topped with an absolutely delicious tangy cilantro lime sauce. For me, that would have been good enough, but what made it even better was that both hard shells were wrapped by thick soft shells coated with melted cheese. It sounds crazy, but it worked.
My partner in culinary crime opted for The Monterey, a burrito that was filled with chicken, black beans, rice, cheese and guacamole. From my end of the table, it looked delicious, but be warned: these burritos are HUGE. When Cali Burrito’s menu claims they serve burritos ‘loaded’ with ingredients, they’re not kidding.
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Eat this Because: There are plenty of Mexican restaurants in town, and you can pick up a so-so taco at your local fast food restaurant. But Cali Burrito’s founders have ensured that a visit to their restaurant will be a lot more memorable. Colorful walls, a beach bum mentality and personal mementos will make you feel as though you’re eating on the California coastline.
Tab: $17.00
Etc: Cali Burrito is a vegetarian-friendly eatery. Quesadillas, burritos and tacos are all available with locally-made organic tofu. And another plus worth mentioning? It’s BYOB.