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Corn, black beans, and red pepper pieces spill out of burrito on a dark wood surface. A red pepper and cilantro sit in the background. — Amelia’s Taqueria burrito

Where to Eat Burritos in and Around Boston

Sorry: Chipotle didn’t make the cut

by Terrence Doyle Updated Nov 11, 2019, 3:28pm EST

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Amelia’s Taqueria burrito

| Amelia’s Taqueria/Official Site

by Terrence Doyle Updated Nov 11, 2019, 3:28pm EST

1 comment / new

Anecdotally, Bostonians often complain about the city’s dearth of good Mexican and Tex-Mex food. While it might not be a destination for Mexican food like Los Angeles or San Francisco or El Paso or, you know, Mexico, Boston’s definitely got some good spots for burritos (Bostonians just might not be looking hard enough.)

From tiny little carts hawking lunchtime burritos inside train depots to mom-and-pop-neighborhood-joint-cum-local-taqueria-juggernauts, there are plenty of spots in and around the city to snack on a tasty burrito. Here are 18 of the best places to do so in Greater Boston.

This map was originally published on November 30, 2017; it is updated periodically, and the date of the most recent update appears above.

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Tenoch Mexican

Tenoch has multiple restaurant locations and food trucks these days, not to mention a sit-down restaurant and tequila bar in the works, but it all began over on Riverside Avenue in Medford. It’s best known for its tortas, but Tenoch’s burritos are every bit as good.

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24 Riverside Ave, Medford, MA 02155

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Sabroso Taqueria

The Assembly Row location is Sabroso’s second brick-and-mortar (go to the OG in Boston, too, or hunt down the food truck.) The Somerville spot serves beer and wine, which means that an eater can get a burrito and a Boom Sauce. Comfort food paired with a local brew? Good stuff.

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475 Revolution Dr, Somerville, MA 02145

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Taco Loco Mexican Grill

Taco Loco is surely best known for its tacos — they’re in the name, after all — but patrons of the popular Somerville spot have just as much love for its burritos. Try the beef tongue or the adobada. Taco Loco now has a Medford sibling, too.

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44 Broadway, Somerville, MA 02145

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Cantina La Mexicana

This Union Square touchstone has been slinging great food for more than two decades now. The burritos (er, burros) are ample and customizable (get the al pastor, though.) Oh, and it’s got one of the sneaky best bars around.

247 Washington St, Somerville, MA 02143

Visit Website

Also featured in:

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Taquería Jalisco

Eastie is always worth the drive, but it is especially so when Taquería Jalisco is part of the equation. Ask for the burrito with lengua.

291 Bennington St, Boston, MA 02128

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Felipe's Taqueria

Felipe’s is one of the best summer spots in Harvard Square because it’s got a spacious roof deck on which patrons can sip cheap but good frozen margaritas. The burritos aren’t bad, either. Order the carnitas or the chicken tinga.

21 Brattle St, Cambridge, MA 02138

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Cactus Mexican Grill

If you don’t live in Eastie, you’ll have to cross the river for this gem. It’s worth it: After wrapping, cooks at Cactus Grill put the burrito on the flat top to achieve browning on the tortilla. It should be the only way.

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44 Maverick St, Boston, MA 02128

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A burrito sits on a white plate with a side of tortilla chips. There’s a wooden wall in the background. — Maverick square has got some burritos, gang

Taco Mex

The portions at Taco Mex are generous. The Colombian-style burrito is the way to go here — pork rinds and a boiled egg star, supported by rice, beans, cheese, sour cream, lettuce, and pico de gallo.

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65 Maverick Square, Boston, MA 02128

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A burrito, wrapped in foil and sliced in half, sits on a white plate on a tablecloth with brightly colored stripes. — Taco Mex’s burrito paisa

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Villa Mexico Cafe

Like Cactus Grill, Villa Mexico Cafe is also down with browning the tortilla on the flat top. A great option for downtown diners. (And the downtown location is a lot more homey than the old location, which was nestled inside of a Beacon Hill gas station.) Pay attention to the special black salsa.

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121 Water St, Boston, MA 02109

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Cross-section of a stuffed chicken burrito. A wrapped starlight mint is on the side of the plate. — Chicken burrito at Villa Mexico Cafe

Amelia's Taqueria

Amelia’s has four locations now, and all three are exceptional. Residents of Allston and students at Northeastern, BU, BC, and Berklee are all lucky to have one in their ’hood. The grilled Santa Fe chicken burrito is the correct order at Amelia’s.

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180 Brighton Ave, Allston, MA 02134

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Corn, black beans, and red pepper pieces spill out of burrito on a dark wood surface. A red pepper and cilantro sit in the background. — Amelia’s is one of two Allston shops on this list

Habanero Mexican Grill

Habanero serves perhaps the best burrito in the city, and it is so because of the care with which it’s made. Like at Cactus Grill and Villa Mexico, the cooks finish the burrito on a flat top grill, browning the outside of the flour tortilla, adding that Maillard element not present in enough burritos. The pollo burrito is necessary.

Open in Google Maps

166 Brighton Ave, Allston, MA 02134

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Maria's Taqueria

Boston Magazine once called Maria’s the best burrito in the city. That distinction was no accident. This Tremont Street taqueria has been serving some of the best Mexican food in the city for the better part of the past decade. Go for the shrimp burrito.

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226 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02116

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A burrito, sliced in half and wrapped in foil, sits on a white plate with guacamole, salsa, and tortilla chips. — A burrito at Maria’s

Cha Cha Cha Taqueria Boston

The Cha Cha Cha Taqueria cart inside Back Bay Station is a hungry luncher’s dream. There’s never not a solid line, so plan accordingly. The original spot in Everett is also worth the trip to Everett.

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145 Dartmouth St, Boston, MA 02116

El Triunfo

This South End Mexican-Salvadoran spot is open late (as is its next-door neighbor and sibling restaurant Ali Baba, which is a dope spot for doner kebab and other Mediterranean treats). Try the ground beef burrito, and get some pupusas while you’re at it. Stay tuned for a new Charlestown location of Ali Baba that’ll also include some El Triunfo dishes.

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147 E Berkeley St, Boston, MA 02118

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El Pelón Taqueria

It’s hard to write anything about El Pelón that hasn’t been written before. It’s a remarkably good taqueria, evidenced by pretty much every food rating website ranking it at the top of every “best burrito in Boston” list. It’s all good, but the right thing to do is to order the El Guapo, which comes with grilled steak and fried plantains. There’s also a Brighton location.

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92 Peterborough St, Boston, MA 02215

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A burrito, sliced in half, sits in a white and red paper container on a wooden table — El Guapo at El Pelón

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Anna's Taqueria

This taqueria chain has grown so much in the past decade that it feels as though there isn’t a neighborhood in or around Boston that doesn’t have an Anna’s. Don’t let all that growth or the chain status deter you, though — Anna’s is decidedly not Chipotle. Go to the original location on Beacon Street in Brookline and order the carnitas or the veggie. Neither will disappoint.

1412 Beacon St #1, Brookline, MA 02446

Visit Website

A burrito, split in half and wrapped in foil, sits on a wooden table with a side of salsa and tortilla chips nearby. An orange Jarritos soda bottle is visible in the background. — Anna’s may have become a chain, but it’s still serving high-quality food

Also featured in:

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Chilacates

Chilacates is serving excellent street food at its two JP locations, as well as its newer spots in Mission Hill, Chestnut Hill, and the South End. (It’ll also eventually expand to Roslindale.) Get the lengua burrito.

224 Amory St, Boston, MA 02130

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El Barrio Mexican Grill

This cozy Dorchester spot — which boasts recent renovations — features a streamlined menu of burritos and more. Choose a protein, such as carnitas or shrimp, and extras, such as pickled onions or refried beans. Bonus: There’s beer and margaritas, not to mention tres leches for dessert.

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1782 Dorchester Ave, Dorchester Center, MA 02124

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Tenoch Mexican

24 Riverside Ave, Medford, MA 02155

Tenoch has multiple restaurant locations and food trucks these days, not to mention a sit-down restaurant and tequila bar in the works, but it all began over on Riverside Avenue in Medford. It’s best known for its tortas, but Tenoch’s burritos are every bit as good.

Open in Google Maps

24 Riverside Ave, Medford, MA 02155

Visit Website

Sabroso Taqueria

475 Revolution Dr, Somerville, MA 02145

The Assembly Row location is Sabroso’s second brick-and-mortar (go to the OG in Boston, too, or hunt down the food truck.) The Somerville spot serves beer and wine, which means that an eater can get a burrito and a Boom Sauce. Comfort food paired with a local brew? Good stuff.

Open in Google Maps

475 Revolution Dr, Somerville, MA 02145

Visit Website

Taco Loco Mexican Grill

44 Broadway, Somerville, MA 02145

Taco Loco is surely best known for its tacos — they’re in the name, after all — but patrons of the popular Somerville spot have just as much love for its burritos. Try the beef tongue or the adobada. Taco Loco now has a Medford sibling, too.

Open in Google Maps

44 Broadway, Somerville, MA 02145

Visit Website

Cantina La Mexicana

247 Washington St, Somerville, MA 02143

This Union Square touchstone has been slinging great food for more than two decades now. The burritos (er, burros) are ample and customizable (get the al pastor, though.) Oh, and it’s got one of the sneaky best bars around.

247 Washington St, Somerville, MA 02143

Visit Website

Taquería Jalisco

291 Bennington St, Boston, MA 02128

Eastie is always worth the drive, but it is especially so when Taquería Jalisco is part of the equation. Ask for the burrito with lengua.

291 Bennington St, Boston, MA 02128

Felipe's Taqueria

21 Brattle St, Cambridge, MA 02138

Felipe’s is one of the best summer spots in Harvard Square because it’s got a spacious roof deck on which patrons can sip cheap but good frozen margaritas. The burritos aren’t bad, either. Order the carnitas or the chicken tinga.

21 Brattle St, Cambridge, MA 02138

Visit Website

Cactus Mexican Grill

44 Maverick St, Boston, MA 02128

If you don’t live in Eastie, you’ll have to cross the river for this gem. It’s worth it: After wrapping, cooks at Cactus Grill put the burrito on the flat top to achieve browning on the tortilla. It should be the only way.

Open in Google Maps

44 Maverick St, Boston, MA 02128

Visit Website

A burrito sits on a white plate with a side of tortilla chips. There’s a wooden wall in the background. — Maverick square has got some burritos, gang

Taco Mex

65 Maverick Square, Boston, MA 02128

The portions at Taco Mex are generous. The Colombian-style burrito is the way to go here — pork rinds and a boiled egg star, supported by rice, beans, cheese, sour cream, lettuce, and pico de gallo.

Open in Google Maps

65 Maverick Square, Boston, MA 02128

Visit Website

A burrito, wrapped in foil and sliced in half, sits on a white plate on a tablecloth with brightly colored stripes. — Taco Mex’s burrito paisa

Villa Mexico Cafe

121 Water St, Boston, MA 02109

Like Cactus Grill, Villa Mexico Cafe is also down with browning the tortilla on the flat top. A great option for downtown diners. (And the downtown location is a lot more homey than the old location, which was nestled inside of a Beacon Hill gas station.) Pay attention to the special black salsa.

Open in Google Maps

121 Water St, Boston, MA 02109

Visit Website

Cross-section of a stuffed chicken burrito. A wrapped starlight mint is on the side of the plate. — Chicken burrito at Villa Mexico Cafe

Amelia's Taqueria

180 Brighton Ave, Allston, MA 02134

Amelia’s has four locations now, and all three are exceptional. Residents of Allston and students at Northeastern, BU, BC, and Berklee are all lucky to have one in their ’hood. The grilled Santa Fe chicken burrito is the correct order at Amelia’s.

Open in Google Maps

180 Brighton Ave, Allston, MA 02134

Visit Website

Corn, black beans, and red pepper pieces spill out of burrito on a dark wood surface. A red pepper and cilantro sit in the background. — Amelia’s is one of two Allston shops on this list

Habanero Mexican Grill

166 Brighton Ave, Allston, MA 02134

Habanero serves perhaps the best burrito in the city, and it is so because of the care with which it’s made. Like at Cactus Grill and Villa Mexico, the cooks finish the burrito on a flat top grill, browning the outside of the flour tortilla, adding that Maillard element not present in enough burritos. The pollo burrito is necessary.

Open in Google Maps

166 Brighton Ave, Allston, MA 02134

Maria's Taqueria

226 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02116

Boston Magazine once called Maria’s the best burrito in the city. That distinction was no accident. This Tremont Street taqueria has been serving some of the best Mexican food in the city for the better part of the past decade. Go for the shrimp burrito.

Open in Google Maps

226 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02116

Visit Website

A burrito, sliced in half and wrapped in foil, sits on a white plate with guacamole, salsa, and tortilla chips. — A burrito at Maria’s

Cha Cha Cha Taqueria Boston

145 Dartmouth St, Boston, MA 02116

The Cha Cha Cha Taqueria cart inside Back Bay Station is a hungry luncher’s dream. There’s never not a solid line, so plan accordingly. The original spot in Everett is also worth the trip to Everett.

Open in Google Maps

145 Dartmouth St, Boston, MA 02116

El Triunfo

147 E Berkeley St, Boston, MA 02118

This South End Mexican-Salvadoran spot is open late (as is its next-door neighbor and sibling restaurant Ali Baba, which is a dope spot for doner kebab and other Mediterranean treats). Try the ground beef burrito, and get some pupusas while you’re at it. Stay tuned for a new Charlestown location of Ali Baba that’ll also include some El Triunfo dishes.

Open in Google Maps

147 E Berkeley St, Boston, MA 02118

Visit Website

El Pelón Taqueria

92 Peterborough St, Boston, MA 02215

It’s hard to write anything about El Pelón that hasn’t been written before. It’s a remarkably good taqueria, evidenced by pretty much every food rating website ranking it at the top of every “best burrito in Boston” list. It’s all good, but the right thing to do is to order the El Guapo, which comes with grilled steak and fried plantains. There’s also a Brighton location.

Open in Google Maps

92 Peterborough St, Boston, MA 02215

Visit Website

A burrito, sliced in half, sits in a white and red paper container on a wooden table — El Guapo at El Pelón

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Anna's Taqueria

1412 Beacon St #1, Brookline, MA 02446

This taqueria chain has grown so much in the past decade that it feels as though there isn’t a neighborhood in or around Boston that doesn’t have an Anna’s. Don’t let all that growth or the chain status deter you, though — Anna’s is decidedly not Chipotle. Go to the original location on Beacon Street in Brookline and order the carnitas or the veggie. Neither will disappoint.

1412 Beacon St #1, Brookline, MA 02446

Visit Website

A burrito, split in half and wrapped in foil, sits on a wooden table with a side of salsa and tortilla chips nearby. An orange Jarritos soda bottle is visible in the background. — Anna’s may have become a chain, but it’s still serving high-quality food

Chilacates

224 Amory St, Boston, MA 02130

Chilacates is serving excellent street food at its two JP locations, as well as its newer spots in Mission Hill, Chestnut Hill, and the South End. (It’ll also eventually expand to Roslindale.) Get the lengua burrito.

224 Amory St, Boston, MA 02130

Visit Website

El Barrio Mexican Grill

1782 Dorchester Ave, Dorchester Center, MA 02124

This cozy Dorchester spot — which boasts recent renovations — features a streamlined menu of burritos and more. Choose a protein, such as carnitas or shrimp, and extras, such as pickled onions or refried beans. Bonus: There’s beer and margaritas, not to mention tres leches for dessert.

Open in Google Maps

1782 Dorchester Ave, Dorchester Center, MA 02124

Visit Website

Related Maps