Illegal Jack’s

Great beer, terrible burritos.
As a native Californian, I was so excited at the prospect of finding a possible Chipotle substitute in Edinburgh but my excitement was quickly abated when I had a look at the dark green fluid they told me was guacamole (and charged me extra for might I add).
I had a chicken burrito which for whatever reason was prepared completely lopsided in such a way that the meat was on one side and the mealy flavorless thing they called rice was on the other side. Overall, the burrito lacked seasoning, the chicken was dry, and the dish missed that spicy and citrusy flavour characteristic in real tex mex. Luckily, there was a good selection of beers to soften the blow. But if you are looking for tex mex in Edinburgh, you may be better off getting one of those DIY taco kits in Tesco.

I ended up going here for dinner while waiting for a movie to start across the street. It is a lot like Chipotle (in the US) in that you order starts with them warming up the burrito/​tacos, followed by beans, meat and toppings. They are definitely fast and it is efficient. For a steak burrito, it was £1.75 extra, so around £8 without any added toppings such a guacamole or sour cream or cheese, which were all extra costs. So for the burrito, you get either pork or chicken with beans and salsa, steak being extra.
The pinto beans were great and very tasty, although from reading other reviews, a but of liquid in there so I can see where it might be soggy if they don’t ladle the liquid out. The steak was absolutely delicious, although super chunky, it took ages for me to chew, and there was a lot of it. The burrito itself was massive due to the amount of steak they put on. I’m not a huge meat eater as of late, so this was basically a protein explosion! I had the smoked jalapeño salsa, which was delicious! And I love that they stock, Louisiana Hot Sauce, Chulula Hot sauces to dash on to your burrito.
I think it is fairly pricy and I wouldn’t eat it all the time, as getting anything green on your burrito is extra, but if you just want a decent burrito, basic burrito this is your stop. It is fairly good Mexican food, although I might say maybe more Tex-​mex, but none the less it is a good and quick bite!

I describe this place to people as the racist UK equivalent of Chipotle, but it’s really not; Chipotle burritos taste alright. I don’t think I have such expectations, even as a Californian, and it should be hard to screw up a bean burrito… When I finally got someone who works there’s attention, they served me lukewarm, dry rice, weird «chili» (read: eggplant in tomato sauce), beans, terrible salsa, and a tiny spot of guac. Pretty much all of the ingredient seem to sit in warmers all day. I asked for veggies and they said it would take at least 10 minutes to make something fresh. WTF? And why is the name so racist?! Final nail in the coffin: they only have Louisiana hot sauce.

Illegal Jacks is pretty standard fare for many burrito joints I have explored so far in the UK. A reasonable atmosphere but sadly food that fails to excel or impress compared to what you might expect.
My experience centred around a haggis burrito, something that I haven’t seen offered anywhere else so naturally I was keen to try it. I quickly discovered why this is the only place that offers such an ingredient. I wouldn’t recommend the haggis but from what I experienced the beef and chicken are as good as you would expect, so I don’t hold that against them.
Overall my experience was satisfactory but not outstanding. The atmosphere was pleasant but frankly too dark. The ingredients were generous however some seemed less than fresh and the salsa was watery. A satisfying experience but not the best burrito that Scotland has to offer.

Haggis burrito? Uhh… Yes. Illegal Jack’s is officially awesome…
Myself and a group dropped in here for lunch the other day and I was genuinely impressed. The structure of the place is perfect for a quick lunch, the system being similar to that of Subway, where you go up to the counter, pick and choose what you want and pay at the till. It’s quick and easy and removes the hassle of doing lunch in big groups, where ordering alone can be an absolute mission, let alone trying to split the bill.
The menu here is great, with all your typical Mexican delights, along with a few more original Scottish options (most of which involved a healthy dose of haggis). The food is fresh and tasty and the portions are beyond humongous! I couldn’t even finish my burrito which, frankly, is not a problem I have very often. The hot salsa was great — just spicy enough to have a kick but still leave your taste buds in tact — and the guacamole was pretty tasty as well.
The space itself is pretty basic. We sat along a great big picnic bench table, which was ideal for our larger group. The décor was nothing to write home about, but all in all, it was a nice space.
Come here if you’re in need of a quick and tasty lunch spot to drop in to over a lunch break from work! It’s just what you need!

Illegal Jack’s built its reputation through the use of social media to publicise the venue and it is still possible to book a table over Twitter and you’ll get a personalised reserved sign on your table.
The format for buying your food is to queue up and order at the counter where most things like burritos or my particular favourite chilli is prepared in front of you then you go to sit down like famous fast food restaurant brands that I won’t mention.
The food is really good and as I say, you can’t go wrong with the Chilli served with Spanish Rice. There is also a good selection of local beers, including Brewdog and Fyne Ales.
There is always a good music selection playing in the background, not so loud that you can’t hear yourself talk but no so quiet that you don’t notice it being there.

Good. Fast. Tasty.
But…
Rather expensive and venue is a little tacky. Needs to be cleaner, with more modern, more comfortable seating and the extremely loud 80’s and 90’s hair metal music definitely took away from the ambiance.
Would go again just for the veggie chilli nachos which were fab. Loads of tasty veg in there. Aubergine, carrots, peppers. Good portion sizes, though presentation was a bit sloppy.
Good with potential for greatness. A Scottish Chipotle.

Twice I have been here now and there are only some good things about this place.
1. Fast and Efficient
2. No Nonsense approach to order taking.
3. Friendly staff
4. Good different food offers
4. Usually plenty of space
As you can tell the above doesn’t mention any food, because I found the food to be luke warm, stodgy and difficult to eat.
I had a Burrito — the aluminium foil kept getting stuck in the dough and irritated my fillings.
Nope.

Love the food here. I’ve been 2 – 3 times over the last couple of years and always had a good meal.
I’ve read through some of the previous comments, and think some of them are a bit unfair. In my opinion, it’s good food at a good price, I suppose, it says what it does on the tin!
Pulled pork … delicious!

If you’d have told me this morning that by lunch time I’d be not only eating, but also enjoying a quesadilla stuffed with haggis — I would have likely hit you with one of the following 3 phrases:
1. Get outta town chump
2. What u smoking there, bub?
3. Whatchu taking about Willis?
But the truth is that to have tried and ultimately wolfed down the Illegal Jacks Haggis Quesa, I feel like I’m at a kind of year 0 point in my life — I mean what else may be around the next corner: cheddar and sushi? Brie and swordfish? Gouda and unicorn steaks???
What really topped off this £7 feast was the extra gucamole and sour cream which added a few new flavours and dimensions to the meal, with a single portion without drink swelling my belly up for the rest of the afternoon.
My dining chums all ate for a similar price — with bowls of homemade chili and a burrito that could only be described as mammoth barely getting dented. Illegal Jacks looks like a fairly generic quick stop dining place, but delivers so much more in terms of quality of food, value and attention to detail in the taste.
I was obviously delighted to see a fully stocked fridge with around 5 different Brewdog bottled beers — less delighted that it was lunch time and was gonna have to leave the drinking alone till tonight.
Overall — if you’re in Edinburgh or visiting sometime soon — Illegal Jacks has to be the place to go!

I’ve been very kind in my rating as I am not a local (from Houston, TX) and have only eaten here once. I dropped in on a whim after working a long shift in Dunfermline as I was staying at the Sheraton across the street. I had high hopes and ordered the wings and a burrito.
The burrito was decent. The steak meat was under seasoned and overall the burrito was quite bland. Fortunately they had Louisianan hot sauce to give it some flavor and kick. The wings were odd and not what I expected. The meat was not fried and sauced like I had expected. Their «hot» sauce was extremely mild and was quite tangy.
Personally I would not call this place Tex-​mex. How can you have Tex-​mex without refried beans, mole, lengua, and menudo?

Meat was really dry…
Really greasy with no spice…
Was disappointed!
…On a side note, I’m wondering if they seasoned either the pork or the beans with cinnamon…

I’m a big fan of Mexican food. Actually, looking at me, I’m just a big fan of food… but Mexican especially.
Jack’s is one of the finest places I’ve ever eaten any kind of food — and it’s by far the best Mexican I’ve encountered in my travels in Scotland.
The décor is bright and friendly, without falling for that WACKY and ZANY trap so many places want to force down your throat these days. The menu is simple to understand — I ordered correctly the first time I visited, idiot proof may well be the word. Looking at the prices, they are slightly higher than other Mexican places I’ve tried, but you more than get your money’s worth in quality AND quantity.
Last time I was there, I was pulling a Johnny No Mates and dining alone. I was concerned about getting a seat — enquired on Twitter and reserved a seat there and then. The Twitter feed for Jack’s is one of the best customer service providers I’ve seen in some time — make use of it!
My burrito was just the right temperature, made and rolled expertly, and approximately the size of Falkirk. Danged tasty too, it has to be said.
It’s a 5 minute walk from Haymarket station, even for an anti-​fitness freak like me, and in a prime area for getting a taxi or bus afterwards to wherever you may wish to roam.
Highly recommended for all Mexican food lovers everywhere. Arrrriba!

Some people i talk to moan about the service but I have to say it’s not that type of place where you sit down and order, as it’s get your burrito, pay and eat. It’s simple and basic — which I love.
I’m a regular to Jack’s and more or less every-​time i get a brilliant burrito. I choose mainly between the Carnitas or the chicken filling or completely go off the scale and order Quesedilla!
Defo try the carnitas, I usually go for the mild salsa and the pinto beans.
Please don’t expect TABLE service because you won’t get that and remember to clear your table otherwise chill out and listen to the old school rock!

I’ve been away from California for too long, because I’m upgrading my review.
Recently, after a loooooooooong day of chasing the sales, I needed food STAT. We were on Lothian Road, THB was closed and Illegal Jacks was the closest eatery so we went for it.
I was pleasantly surprised at the nice girl serving who asked if I wanted a normal burrito or the deal which was a small burrito and a drink for £5. Normally those items would cost nearly £9 so this was a bargain. Especially as the «small» burrito was still massive and shared between us.
I learned on this visit that in order for these burritos to have anything close to proper flavour, you need to spring for the extras — I got jalapenos and sour cream on our carnitas burrito which improved it greatly.
Unfortunately we also got the hot wings (a change from last time’s cajun wings) which were coated in a very sour vinegar-​ey sauce that was almost the least-​nice thing I’ve ever tasted.
A «small» burrito, two drinks, and wings were £12. Still pricey, but the combo deal made it much better and the addition of the jalapenos helped incredibly.

I remember when Illegal Jack’s first opened and i was soooooo excited that finally Edinburgh had a place that made proper burritos. the first few times i went the excitement stayed and i enjoyed the food, but on my last few visits i feel like things have started to slide a bit.
last night the boyfriend and i decided it was time to put the christmas tree up and get some takeaway for dinner. burritos and tortilla chips was quickly agreed on so we headed to lothian road. the place was rather empty, but considering it was a monday night this was hardly surprising. what was surprising though was the incredibly slow and poor service.
we got in the queue, only two people before us and waited a few minutes. when it was my turn to order i stepped up and the girl walked away from the counter… umm what? she then put a tortilla in the steamer and was like oh, i’ll help you in a minute and then looked like she was about to prepare someone else’s order but then turned back to me and asked what i wanted. my burrito was made promptly and i paid and then my boyfriend stood waiting to be helped and the girl behind the counter proceeded to ignore him and walk away. yet again, um what? she seemed to be the only one serving as she brought some fajitas out to a table but then just stood by the kitchen as if waiting for other items. after another few minutes a different girl appeared and decided to take my boyfriend’s order.
after another wait to get some tortilla chips and dip we finally exited the near empty restaurant to head home. the burritos were good, but they weren’t great and i felt like the salsa had a kick but sort of lacked any actual flavour. the guacamole was a bit bland as well and i found the carnitas in my burrito were a bit on the dry side. so overall after a poor customer service experience the food was a bit of a let down as well. i’ll be taking my tex mex cravings to the much tastier establishment near my flat next time.

Hmmmmm really just not sure about this place at all, went for a lunch and just wasn’t impressed. I had the quesadilla with carnitas which was ok, we also got chicken wings and they were well awful! Cold, greasy and just not very good.
The search for good tex-​mex goes on!

The grub fills you up and is really fast, so a place for a quick stop if you need to catch that movie or are about to go into the Usher Hall/​Picture House for a music fest. Talking of music, there’s always great tunes.
I’m really not a fan of the burritos, so I always stick with nachos and they’re usually decent. I find it quite expensive for what it is as the scran is all pretty much pre-​prepared. But it fills a hole and staff are very friendly. Extra points for the ambience, as the restaurant is social media savvy and is happy for people to hang out and play board games/​chat/​use the wifi.

I had my first taste of Illegal Jack’s during the Unilocal Springtime Spectacular event when the friendly chef graciously handed out his amazing beef chilly which he proudly boasts to have cooked for up to 10 hours (if I remember correctly)…
I was determined to have more!
Went to the restaurant recently as my friends and I had a little get together. Having tried the chilly, I decided to have the burritto. Since I still have my Scottish tourist hat on, I decided let’s go with the Scottish flavour and order the Haggis burrito with pinto beans and loads of cheese.
After I took a bite I sat quietly enjoying it. My friends noted my silence and asked how was it, stealing a bite, they were quite pleasantly surprised despite not being haggis fans.
Their order of the quesadillas and nachos were pretty nice too!
Anyway, about the restaurant, it is a bit of a Subway concept, in which you go to the counter and tell them how you want them to make your food. The food is a bit pricey but the portion is large.
With the added bonus of good company, I enjoyed myself :) Ok for a group of 6.

What a disappointment. If you have ever had mexican food before do not come here. I may be from California but that doesn’t mean I have some extraordinarily high standards cause I’ve been an expat for almost a decade now… so my standards have gone down a bit. Also my partner is from Glasgow and wholeheartedly agrees that this place SUCKS.
I never knew one could mess up salsa, but even with all the choices you have for your burrito ours tasted like an uninspired insipid mess of «stuff». Not even real food, but stuff that you’re not sure what it is cause it all tastes in the same flavorless way. I can’t even describe how disappointed I was cause its SO HARD to mess up assembly line burritos! I mean just add some onions, garlic and tomato concentrate to white rice and there you have some tasty mexican rice, Flavor folks! I wish I could get into that kitchen and teach their staff how to cook easy, tasty mexican food.
If there were awards for flavorless food joint this place would take first in my book. Its over priced and seriously bland stuff.