A collage displays burritos from the Taco Stand (top left), Moe’s Southwest Grill (top right), Willy’s Mexicana Grill (bottom left) and Barberitos (bottom right). After careful consideration, the ODYSSEY Variety Staff crowned the victor of the Quest for Athens Best: Burrito Battle.
After sampling burritos from a variety of fast-food Mexican restaurants across Athens, members of the Variety staff rank them based on a variety of criteria.
The Mega Burrito of The Taco Stand displays Chicken, rice, beans, guacamole, cheese and sour cream. The burrito gives the customer a warm and homey feeling in their belly while providing a calm and summery experience. Photo by Chloe Sears
The Taco Stand
Harboring the smell of irresistible black beans and chicken that could be smelled miles away, The Taco Stand‘s selection of burritos has an authentic Athens taste that will fill one’s mouth with fresh, crunchy veggies and savory meats that are the perfect balance between sweet or salty.
The burritos at The Taco Stand are offered at affordable prices, with many of their specialty items costing between $4 and $6. One example of this is the Mega Burrito, which harbors a well-grilled taste as well as meat with a hint of sweetness.
Another specialty burrito offered is the Baja Burrito, containing a choice of meat or tofu and fresh vegetables with a well-made, steamed spinach tortilla or a sun-dried tomato tortilla.
Overall, both burritos provide the customer with a warm and somewhat tangy meal that has just the right amount of mild spice and a thick tortilla to make for some deliciously roasted and toasted burritos.
With a breezy outdoor dining area and tubular music that enhances the burrito eating experience as a whole, the restaurant maintains a retro summer atmosphere, offering a palatable and aesthetically pleasing Athens dining experience.
Barberito’s Heavy-D Burrito is composed of black beans, rice, chicken, lettuce, guacamole, pico de Gallo and sour cream on a spinach tortilla. The ƃavors complement each other nicely, providing a satisfying menu option for customers. Photo by Chloe Sears
Barberitos
The Barberitos on Prince Ave. offers several freshly made burritos filled with an excellent balance of spicy and savory elements. The aroma of tangy chicken and homemade guacamole fills the air, creating a family-friendly atmosphere that complements the food.
Barberitos has a wide range of burrito options, ranging from their famous burrito bowls to their “build your own” choices. Two of the choices include the salty Fajita Burrito and the flavorful Heavy-D Burrito.
Both are filled with nicely salted chicken and complementing flavors in the lettuce, homemade guacamole, pico de gallo, rice and black beans. Although the flour tortillas break easily, the overall burrito experience will have customers coming back for more.
This eatery also offers large amounts of seating as well as quick and easy service. The modern and fashionable color pallets brighten up the building, bringing a more aesthetically pleasing twist to the typical fast-food Mexican restaurant.
These two burritos are reasonably priced at $9.75 with chips and a drink on the side. This well-portioned meal draws in the public’s attention, keeping them coming back for the flavors and an overall enjoyable experience.
A burrito from Moe’s Southwest Grill containing brown rice, black beans, lettuce, guacamole and adobo chicken is shown. Although its restaurant environment encapsulates a “Southwest Grill” atmosphere, the lack of a variety of ingredients leads to less-than-stellar burritos from Moe’s. Photo by Chloe Sears
Moe’s Southwest Grill
With a smaller selection of burritos than some of its competitors, Moe’s Southwest Grill does not deliver a satisfying taste to customers because of its lackluster ingredients.
Unlike Barberitos, Willy’s Mexicana Grill and The Taco Stand, Moe’s does not offer many specialty burritos. The restaurant offers a comparatively smaller variety of meats and vegetables for their “build your own” burritos, which are offered at $6.49 and $7.49 for a junior and regular-size tortilla, respectively.
Add-ons such as guacamole, pico-de-gallo and other vegetables do not taste as fresh as options at other restaurants, leading to poor blending of ingredients and flavors. Some combinations such as adobo chicken and seasoned rice do not combine well, which can take away from the dining experience.
The burritos are accompanied by abundant, almost crowded indoor seating, which helps establish the “Southwest Grill” atmosphere. The similarities to the sit-down style of restaurant end there, however, as customers dine in the presence of a few flat-screen TVs, adding in an unwelcome bar-like aspect.
While the seating area generally makes the dining experience feel more authentic, most of Moe’s burrito ingredients do not effectively combine to provide a palatable burrito.
A burrito from Willy’s Mexicana Grill, filled with chicken, rice, beans, pico de gallo, lettuce and guacamole, is displayed. The variety and quality of Willy’s ingredients makes their burritos enjoyable. Photo by Chloe Sears
Willy’s Mexicana Grill
Neatly wrapped in flour tortillas and packed with a variety of different ingredients, the burritos at Willy’s Mexicana Grill are fresh and flavorful.
Customers have a lot of freedom when building their burritos, with options being rice, two types of beans, seven proteins– including two vegetarian options– and a wide variety of sauces and sides. This allows customers to tailor their burritos to their own taste, ensuring that there’s something on the menu for everyone.
Willy’s “Favorite Burritos” are also available. Priced based on their size and fillings, prices range from $6.50 to $9.25, and come with a side of salsa and tortilla chips, albeit a little stale.
While the flour tortilla breaks easily, making the burrito difficult to eat, the taste of the food makes up for this. The salted and spiced protein of the burrito is balanced well by the rice, with sides and sauces adding accents of flavor.
Although the taste isn’t quite as authentic as that of a non-chain restaurant, Willy’s burritos still make for a tasty meal or snack.
Story by Isabella Westrich
Visuals by Chloe Sears
Package by Ireland McCage
Package by Natalie Schliekelman
