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I don't quite remember who proclaimed that 2010 was going to be the year of the Burrito in the UK, who ever said it, is not far off the mark. Coming from the states where there is a burrito shack on every corner of Main Street USA I went into burrito withdrawal when I moved to the UK eleven years ago. In the last few years London has seen a few burrito outposts popping up, some of them are rolling out great burritos and some of them.... Well not so.
My current favourite burrito joint is Tortilla. They have 4 locations in London serving up burritos that are filling, flavourful and excellent value. I had the most disgusting burrito in my life from the Soho branch MexiCali. The meat was over salted, guacamole was slimy and the beans under cooked. Never again! Over in Clerkenwell, Daddy Donkey has garnered a cult following, but I've yet get my mouth around their burrito.
Burritos are big business in the US. Probably the god of the burrito chains is Chipotle. They started out in my home state of Colorado, then spread like wild fire across the USA with millions of followers that worshiped in their house of burritos.
Chipotle has opened up their first European location of the Stateside smash burrito hut. I was a huge fan of Chipotle in the states, so to say that I was muy excited when they announced their first London location would be an understatement. I was more than excited to see how Londoners would take to Chipotle and if it would live up to my memories of eating it in the US.
Looking through the glass front of the restaurant, you get the sense that in it's week of being open it's an instant hit. Tables are packed and there is a small queue at the counter. All the standard fillings are on offer from Chicken, Pork, Beef and Vegetarian. They also proudly declare that their chicken is 'Higher Welfare', the beef is 'Farm Assured' and the pork is 'Outdoor Reared' which is nice to know, but remains vague enough for interpretation. As with all burrito bars it's built for you as you walk down the counter. You pick your meat, then are given the one rice that is on offer (coriander & lime) then choose from pinto or black beans. You get the choice of sour cream or cheese. Finally your choice of salsas; mild, roasted corn, medium or hot. You can add guacamole for £1.40 extra. 
I ordered my 'standard' burrito that I get where ever I go; Pork, Black Beans, Cheese, Guacamole and Medium salsa. Watching them construct my burrito I can't but help notice..... Dare I say it?..... How mean they are with their portions. Maybe I'm spoiled by other burritos I've had, but they were really stingy on the cheese and guacamole. £1.40 for a small portion of guacamole?No! No! No!..... Despite my gut feeling that my hungry gut would not get filled, I was still excited to get my mouth around this wrap.
The burrito felt heavy for it's size which is a "good start" I thought. It took a good few bites to get all the components into one mouthful. The mean portion of guacamole was fresh and zingy, but not really worth the £1.40 price tag. The rice was fragrant of coriander and lime, with the black beans yielding to the tooth. The carnitas were dry in places, it didn't have a uniform moistness that i've come to expect. To be honest I could not taste the cheese or the salsa even though I watched them put it in. After a spot of DIY with the Chipotle Tabasco sauce my burrito was saved.
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Overall the burrito was fine, nothing more nothing less. Would I go back? Only if I was in Soho with a craving for the wrap. Would I make a cross-town pilgrimage to worship at the Church of Chipotle? No. I'd travel a bit further and find a Tortilla.
Chipotle Mexican Grill
114-116 Charing Cross Road
London
WC2H 0JR
Tel: 020 783 6849
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