TLDR

For our last edition as CoA editors-in-chief, we (Sonia and Geoffrey) made the very tasty (but gastrointestinally devastating) decision to find the best burritos near Menlo. We were very methodical, doing our best to order the same burrito at each establishment and weighing taste with value. Below are the five takeout burrito vendors closest to Menlo — reachable in a lunch period. Overall, Guapas missed the mark — and Taco Bell was not even in the running. The other three were more-or-less tied on food satisfaction, but Lulu’s relatively high price meant Chipotle and Chavez got ahead. While we were split on who truly won this competition (Sonia
was team Chavez, Geoffrey couldn’t make up his mind), we can wholeheartedly recommend both establishments.

Geoffrey’s order: black beans, red rice, cheese, carne asada, sour cream and guacamole.

Sonia’s order: red rice, cheese, chicken, lettuce, corn salsa and green salsa.

Guapas: 5/10

Sonia: For our final mega-food review, we thought it was only fitting to go back to the place of our very first review: Guapas Mexican Grill, only a six-minute drive from Menlo. Guapas was our first stop on this burrito tour, and for me, it was a learning experience. First lesson: if you see the carnitas looking extra slimy, maybe opt for the chicken instead! Second lesson: ALWAYS get salsa! I made the mistake of getting slimy carnitas and no salsa at Guapas, and it resulted in a less-than-stellar, and quite dry, burrito. While some of my dissatisfaction was certainly on me, it was hard not to be annoyed by the rather-slow service at Guapas (which was also referenced in our first review in the fall of 2023).

Geoffrey: Guapas is certainly good (separating it from Taco Bell). They serve nice portion sizes. But for $17, it’s not worth it. The carne asada is a little too tough, but the rest of the ingredients were good. Not delicious. Just good. 

Chipotle: 8/10

Sonia: On our trip to Chipotle, we brought along freshman and Staff Writer Deven Dholakia, who has their bowls three to four times a week. Geoffrey and I also usually opt for bowls instead of burritos from Chipotle, but for the purpose of this mission, we deviated from our typical order. I preferred the Chavez chicken to the Chipotle chicken, but there is no denying that the cilantro-lime white rice from Chipotle is unparalleled. Honestly, I might have to change my Chipotle order — the ingredients wrapped in a warm tortilla were better than any bowl I’ve had. As Deven said, “I’m astonished.” This burrito was a little over $11 which, compared to its competitors, was not too hard on the wallet.

Geoffrey: In the past, I’ve been disappointed by the small size of the Chipotle burrito, but they (or at least the one at Stanford Shopping Center) have markedly improved. Chipotle’s burrito wasn’t bigger than the other burritos, but for $11.25, it didn’t need to be. Chipotle also serves standout cilantro lime rice (they did not have red rice, but I honestly didn’t mind). And their tortilla was weirdly tasty and complemented the burrito very well. However, our burritos were wrapped so hastily that they struggled to hold form (unlike a Lulu’s or Chavez burrito) and looked cubic.

Chavez: 8/10

Sonia: Chavez is very close to my house, and thus, it’s my go-to takeout for Mexican food. However, I had never visited the establishment in person, so I was excited to finally see it for myself. I was not disappointed. The Redwood City Chavez restaurant is a quaint order bar and seating area within the larger supermarket. I’m not great with large meal portions, so I was delighted to see the “junior burrito” on the menu, a burrito I could completely customize (unlike most children-sized burritos). Senior and Spread Editor Amelie Giomi, who accompanied us on this excursion, also elected for the junior burrito. I was further delighted when they took out a chicken thigh and diced it in front of me before putting it in my burrito, as fresh as could be. However, I will note that for a “junior burrito,” I paid just over $12. My huge burrito from Chipotle was nearly a dollar less, which was a disappointing price differential. But, I guess that’s what you pay for a non-fast food option.

Geoffrey: While Sonia nibbled at a burrito fit for an American Girl Doll, I was devouring my super burrito. It was neatly-packed, and the ingredients were spread well throughout the burrito (as opposed to being clustered at one end). When going down the burrito bar, I was impressed when the… what do you call someone who makes a burrito? A burrista???

Sonia: Wait… did we just revolutionize the Mexican food employment industry?

Geoffrey: Anyway, when I asked for carne asada, they took out a whole piece of steak and cut it up in front of me. The act assured me that the ingredients were fresh — consistent with the $14.99 price tag. And while Chipotle is closer to Menlo, Chavez is a quicker drive — perfect for a grab-and-go lunch. That said, the burrito was an eeny weeny bit bland; the rice could have used
more flavor.

Lulu’s on the Alameda: 7.5/10

Sonia: As someone who was Menlo Park born and raised, Lulu’s on the Alameda is synonymous with my post-AYSO soccer game lunches and takeout cheese quesadillas. I was thrilled to return to my Lulu’s roots with my elementary school BFF, Menlo senior Jaya Vazirani. I ordered the regular burrito with pollo asado, and while I preferred this chicken marinade to the one at Chipotle, Chavez chicken still reigns supreme. As with Guapas, I was disappointed that I did not ask for the salsa, as I feel the burrito would have been drastically improved by a fresh, green dressing. Overall, I would rank this burrito above Chipotle, because it felt more authentic, but below Chavez.

Geoffrey: I am also a Lulu’s on the Alameda regular, and its burritos hit the spot consistently. I got my usual: though the ingredients were not as well-distributed as Chavez, all of it was tasty. Lulu’s guacamole, though, is the best of all of these establishments, and their red rice is delicious, as well. However, though Lulu’s is not as expensive as Guapas, it still lands on the pricier side — $15.25 for my super burrito.

Taco Bell: 3/10

Sonia: When Geoffrey suggested we go inside the Taco Bell instead of the drive through, I gave him the benefit of the doubt. I should not have. We had to order on a kiosk iPad, but there were only two and we were behind two very slow moving groups. In Taco Bell’s defense, however, the food did come out relatively fast once we were finally able to place our orders. I ordered the chicken cantina burrito, and while the first bites were appealing (I enjoyed the crunch from the purple cabbage), I started to feel sick. The ingredients were *coated* in a heavy chipotle mayo sauce, which quickly made my stomach start to turn — to the point that I publicly announced on the senior quad, “I’m going to throw up.” Fortunately for everyone, I kept it down.

Geoffrey: This was my first time ever in a Taco Bell, and suffice to say, I was not impressed. I did my best to replicate my burrito from other restaurants in my Taco Bell order, and to their credit, my order came in at under $8. It was, however, woefully small — I would guess about half the size of the other establishments. It also just wasn’t good — edible, yes, better than I expected, yes, but not good, let alone delicious. The closest thing to carne asada Taco Bell offers is ground beef, which just isn’t the same. The burrito was also just mushy and fell apart easily — a combination of a lack of solid ingredients and a generic, thick, store-bought tortilla. Although Sonia was a bit dramatic, it is true that neither of us was “living más.”