Casa Burrito

This was my first and last visit to Casa Burrito. I had checked out their website and the food looked promising. False advertising. Four of us went for lunch, and as one of my friends pointed out, when the owners can’t be bothered to give the place a quality paint job, it isn’t a good sign. The two staff were largely incompetent and couldn’t take our simple orders correctly. Items in the menu, specifically the chorizo burrito, we’re not available. The restaurant also isn’t licensed as advertised. For what looks like a fast food place, it was not fast. We waited 45 minutes for quesadillas and burritos. My friend got a burrito instead of the quesadilla she ordered and settled for it. I was given a quesadilla when I asked for a burrito so I had them correct it. That took another 15 minutes or more and my friends had finished eating what they describe as very mediocre food. I wasn’t waiting any longer and asked for my money back, which I got, but without an apology. Don’t waste your time or money here. If I could give it zero stars I would.

Had for the first time in a long time today. I hate having a big lunch in the middle of the day if I’m heading back to work, so I asked if they can make me a burrito without the tortilla (naked), like I’ve had at certain competitors. Even though it wasn’t listed as an option on the menu the girl who took my order was super friendly and cool with it. I was a bit disappointed they didn’t have a carnitas option (only chorizo, fish, chicken, beef or bean) so I got the chicken which also came with beans topped with the salsa verde. When I opened the box everything was neatly sectioned on a few large pieces of lettuce. At first I was disappointed, expecting more lettuce, but when I cut it up and stirred it all together it was more than enough. Plus it came with guac, a red salsa, sour cream and crunchy corn chips!
Most importantly it was delicious! The best Mexican food I’ve had in Winnipeg and I’ve eaten a lot! Everything was fresh and tasted homemade. Oh man. It reminded me of food I had in California and Tijuana. I can’t wait to be back!

I tried the chicken burrito by delivery and that was delicious. Not sure if it was just a fluke, but the beans in my burrito were not cooked all the way, and I really dislike beans that are crunchy.
Seasoning was good, and I liked the fact the burrito itself was grilled; that really ups the flavor.

I have gone there a few times. One of the advantages of the place is that you can order a beer alongside your food. They have a respectable selection of local beer and a few Mexican imports. The restaurant itself is in a clean but fairly unexceptional place with a counter and a few chairs. They are always playing an eclectic mix of music and the posters of Mexico round out the décor. If it’s empty, you get to chat. If it’s not, you can pick up a copy of The Uniter and brood over the U of W’s paper.
The place is set up to give you a few choices: taco/​burrito/​quesadilla? Large or small? and your choice of salsa. They also have sour cream an occasionally sour cream with mango bits in it, which is great.
I have ordered:
— The Cocoa Yam
— The Bean & Cheese
— The Curried Lentil
I have had these as quesadillas and as burritos. I prefer them as quesadillas because there seems to be more cheese and less filling. I like spicy and the salsa verde is a medium to me. The mango salsa is a good choice for a sweeter burrito. I tend to order the bean and cheese, because it is what I expect from winnipeg’s Mexican food: lots of beans, sour cream, and fairly neutral tasting. But! If you order the other ones, expect more fun. The cocoa and yam is very rich and flavorful. I like it, but I would never order a large. The curried lentil is good too!
It is a good lunch place, or somewhere to grab dinner on the way to somewhere else. That makes it perfect if you are going to a show, a play, a hockey game, maybe even a club. It is good food and it is well priced.

The selection may seem a bit confusing to begin, but you break down your burrito build using either beef, chicken, or wine chorizo.
The times I’ve been there the staff have been busy with other tacos, and the décor is rather clinical. The view is nice out the window as you sit and chow down.
The quantity of food you get is the most appealing part of the visit, and the flavors blend together wonderfully.
Suggestions: have some additional hot sauce as the heat of the burritos is not extreme enough. All burritos have a wonderful flavor but never enough heat for me. The rice used seems instant (minute rice), and a slowly prepared seasoned rice would be better.
4 out of 5
would be 5 out of 5 if they would heat up their food a bit (spicier) and use slow cooked parboiled rice that isn’t minute rice

The smoky flank steak with salsa verde is a spicy and flavourful combination! So yum! It’s filled with lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, red onions, green peppers. You really taste the smokiness of the cumin, chilli and chipotle adobo spices in the meat. I really liked the salsa verde which is their spiciest salsa; I like spicy food so this wasn’t super spicy by my standards but it packs a decent amount of heat.
The chicken taco is marinated in cumin and chilli and it’s filled with red and green peppers, tomatoes, lettuce and sourcream. I asked for the chipotle corn salsa — nothing too great, I’d get the salsa verde next time cause I like the intense flavours and heat from it. This salsa is more chunky and definitely very mild. The chicken is not as jammed packed with spices compared to the flank steak but still just as good. 2 tacos comes to $ 4.80 after tax. It’s a delicious fast and fairly healthy lunch as nothing is deep fried and you get real meat with fresh veggies. You can’t go wrong with that!
There’s also burritos, quesadillas, nachos and salads that are around $ 6 – 8.
Note: For a quick casual eatery, this the wait here can be a tad long during the lunch rush, especially on Fridays.