Shack Up at Burrito Shack
By: Mr. Wilson on
December 13, 2007
Owner Joaquin De Los Santos is friendly, outgoing, and a tireless promoter. It's obvious he's willing to bust his hump to get your business and to keep you coming back. For now it's pretty much just him and a couple guys in the back. If business picks up, he'll need to add another front room person. Burrito Shack's atmosphere is pretty basic. The decorations are simple and not overpowering. The temperature inside could have been warmer; you might want a sweater on a cold day. Customers eat at picnic tables in the clean dining area. You order up front at the counter and food is delivered to your table within minutes.
Burrito Shack's menu is relatively small. I'll start with the one item Mr. T and I didn't try: 6 oz. ribeye steak sandwiches. They are available in regular ($6.50); surf and turf ($7.75); fajita style ($7.00); and swiss, mushroom, and avocado ($7.50). I don't know about you, but I'm dying to try that last one. Add chips for $0.50.
The burritos are "fajita style", served with chicken ($4.00) or steak ($4.50) and sauteed peppers and onions. Make it a platter (rice and beans) for $5.99. Size-wise they roughly resemble those at Oso Burrito. Mr. T ordered the chicken burrito and found the meat to be very moist and nicely grilled. He described the burrito as having "very nice flavors -- not over powering and not bland." I noticed the burrito continued to steam even as he reached the bottom. Overall, he called the burrito "killer".
Wednesday featured a special on tacos, so I opted for a mix of three. First up was a hardshell ground beef taco ($0.50 on special, not on the regular menu). The meat was nicely seasoned and topped with lettuce and tomato. Next came the pork ($1.50 / $.75 on special) and chicken ($1.75 / $1.00 on special) soft tacos. They were served on a small flour tortilla and topped with tomato, a touch of cilantro, and white cheese. Both were excellent. So much so, that as I ate my tacos I knew I had to have more to eat. Not because I was still hungry, but because I was really enjoying the food.
Mr. T apparently felt the same way, because he next ordered a fajita steak taco (not on the menu, $2.00). It was served like the pork and chicken tacos, but with large strips of fajita-style beef. He described the strips as "bigger than what one might normally find in Lincoln -- closer to the carne asada one might find in the Southwest or California".
I followed up with chipotle shrimp soup ($3.49 cup, $4.99 bowl). The soup featured shrimp, potatoes, and corn in a delicious broth infused with a light chipotle flavor. Perfect for warming up on a chilly day.
Drinks are served by the can ($0.75) or bottle ($I don't remember). That works for now, but I can't help but wonder if a pop machine would make the restaurant feel more "legitimate" to some people. Just a thought. Mr. De Los Santos might also consider featuring more "unusual" drinks -- horchata, Mexican sodas, etc. -- as well.
Also available are a variety of homemade salsas, sold by the cup or pint. These aren't your everyday salsas:
- pico de gallo (OK, that's everyday)
- maple chipotle shrimp
- chipotle apple/mandarin orange
- coconut lime
- chocolate chipotle raspberry
- caramel apple
- strawberry kiwi (seasonal)
- watermelon (seasonal)
- peach/mango (seasonal)
Comments
See what your friends and neighbors have to say about this.
with all the good reviews I really need to check this place out.
I may even go back today to get some more. It was awesome.
I thought it was great and I’d definitely go again. I didn’t love the salsas, but that’s just me. The soup was awesome, but at $3.50 for a cup, I opted not to order it. Their daily specials are great deals though.
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