Bites Nearby: The Burrito Grille

There’s a serious shortage of Qdobas and Chipotles here in the Valley, at least compared to what I’ve seen elsewhere. Luckily, that doesn’t mean there has to be a shortage of delicious Mexican-inspired fast food.

In the past couple of years, the Valley has built up its own collection of delicious Mexican restaurants that make it easy for you to get your fix without settling for a combo meal at the Taco Bell drive-thru.

on Tilghman Street in Allentown is just one of the local spots where you can find a menu that boasts everything from chorizo to chicken tacos. One of the restaurant’s biggest hooks is that all of their ingredients are made fresh daily. So you won’t find any day-old beans or stale tortillas on the assembly line and their do-it-yourself option makes it the Subway of Mexican lunch spots.

I made my inaugural visit to the Grille last week, and I think it’s safe to say those bigger chains don’t hold a candle to what we’ve got going on in our own backyard.

The Dishes: A Burrito Grille Lite combo and one beef burrito meal.

What’s on the Plate: My Burrito Grille Lite, touted as the best choice for smaller appetites and budgets (I was the latter), offered a choice of two tacos, a mini-quesadilla or a mini-burrito served with chips and a small drink. I opted for the two tacos with ground beef. My dinner amigo’s beef burrito was served with chips and cilantro-lime rice and beans.

How’s it Taste? Don’t let the name of the combo fool you, there was nothing ‘lite’ about the flavor or freshness of my meal. Both my tacos were soft shell and filled with tender ground beef, something I feel is worth mentioning since we only arrived an hour before they closed for the night. They really weren’t kidding about the freshness. I topped each taco with corn, sour cream, lettuce, tomato and the Grille’s Verde sauce, which was a step above mild, but not too hot to handle.

My dinner buddy’s meal seemed to be equally as delicious. As much as she loved the beef burrito, her favorite part of the meal was the cilantro-lime rice and black beans, which I actually consider to be the most crucial part of the meal. I stole a couple forkfuls of rice, so I can speak to the tangy and delicious flavor of the rice, and I think it might need to be a part of my meal on my next visit. Oh yes, there will be a next visit.

Eat This Because: We got a free sombrero on our visit and their food was absolutely delicious. I think that says it all.

Tab: $15.00, including an extra side of chips and a soda upgrade.

Etc: If you want to add a little kick to your morning meal, leave the drive-thru behind. Burrito Grille opens at 7 a.m. on weekdays, and their menu boasts breakfast burritos.