Freebird World Burrito
6029 Metcalf Ave, Mission, KS, 66202
Freebird World Burrito Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Mission for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Mission for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Mission for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
6029 Metcalf Ave
Mission, KS, 66202 - Phone (913) 236-9830
- Website https://www.freebirds.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :10:30 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Very Loud
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : No
Caters : Yes
Categories
Mexican Cuisine
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
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Tiffany S.
OVER-RATED crappy food is what this is!! I had so many people telling me I had to go there. I did and it stinks! My burrito bowl barely had any black beans or veggies and was mostly rice. In addition, I can buy better salsa in a jar at the grocery store than they make. It is horrid. There is only one Chipotle and everyone other wanna-be is a knock-off. I will continue to eat at Chipotle where I am never disappointed.
(1)Mark D.
I've reviewed Freebird before, but this time I tried their quesadilla, with a spinach wrap and carnitas. Honestly, it was one of the best I've ever had. And it was huge. I wouldn't go unless you're actually hungry.
(4)Stephanie W.
Was out and about trying to figure out what to get for lunch, and happened to pass by Free Bird. I had heard a few things, and knew they were from Texas, so we gave it a shot. First off the layout is really weird, with a brick wall channeling people in and about. The menu was overwhelming as well as the colossal burrito models on the wall. Deciding that a Free Bird looked about right, we ordered. One Chicken Bacon Ranch Burritto, and One Steak with Tomatillo and grilled veggies on a red wrap of some sort. We love Chipotle, so figured with the menu and pricing this was probably pretty close or better. Wrong! I could use the rice to fix holes in my driveway. Sticky and lumpy with no flavor was not the cilantro lime flavor I had hoped for today. And the promise of bacon on a burritto was very disappointing as well. Weird textured microwave like bacon was a distraction. The steak and chicken had little flavor, and the veggies were done to a strange consistency, like they were cooked then frozen, then nuked. I am pretty sure that is what happened. Flow of the restaurant is cramped and uncomfortable. This bird never got off the ground in my book. Better off in the City Market to get Burrito Bros, or chain Chipotle.
(1)Carrie M.
I have been to Freebirds twice now. My first experience was by far better. My salad was tasty and different and I appreciated the vegetarian options. My second experience was horrible and now I won't go back. I went yesterday and it was about 3:30 on a Sunday and there was still a long line. No big deal I waited. I finally get up to order and I order a salad and the guy behind the counter made me awkwardly wait for 5 minutes while he and no joke, 3 other people, searched for bowls. I will make a note here, they had no less than 20 people working and they were all yelling and running around. You would think with that many people working things would be more efficient, not so. Instead all the extra people offered was more noise and occasionally interrupting your ordering process by barging in and refilling stuff on the line. Anyways, they finally find a bowl and I get lettuce and then the girl making my salad said they were just flat out of fajita veggies. I said well but there won't be anything to really put on my salad. And she just stared at me blankly. I finally decided I would lose the staring contest and just told her to put some stuff on the bed of lettuce aka cheese and salsa. Here is my problem, she never offered any other options or anything. I basically ate a salad that was boring and I could have gotten anywhere. It was annoying I paid for a pile of lettuce with salsa. As if it couldn't be a more annoying experience, I then waited another 10 minutes for her to package my salad up. I just felt like I spent thirty minutes in this whirlwind of a restaurant and got lettuce cheese and salsa for ten bucks. Definitely just going back to Chipotle.
(2)Mike J.
Good burrito with lots of choices. Get there early, line is long and slow.
(4)Chris C.
It's not often that I have such a disappointing experience with a restaurant that I feel the need to slam them online and tell all my coworkers to avoid the place, but Freebirds has unfortunately fit the bill this week. I didn't encounter lines at all (perhaps the initial boom is already over), but it nevertheless felt extraordinarily chaotic. The music was blaring as I tried to figure out the wall of menu options, and the hipster (read unshowered) staff was yelling playfully at each other. When I tried to place my order, I was assigned one person who hollered questions at me and reached around other staff members to assemble a chicken burrito bowl for me. I definitely didn't feel like I knew fully what the options were and what got communicated, and I felt that perhaps that's why my food was so terribly tasteless. I wondered if I didn't hear when my hipster hollered a seasoning option. Reading other reviews, I'm clearly not alone in finding the food incredibly bland. Grainy cubes of unseasoned chicken, globby rice.... nothing positive at all to report. And charging for sour cream is a sin. A SIN, sir. I took the food to go, because I was already developing a headache in there. At the register I paid a ridiculous price, received no thank you or even eye contact after I handed my money over. I could forgive some lapses (it seems the registers were confusing and/or slow for the staff), but I cannot justify returning to a place with such poor food. Bottom line: poor food, poor experience, and way overpriced.
(1)Elizabeth P.
Seriously. The two-taco deal is insane. Two tacos, chips and salsa (though I'd suggest swapping for queso) and a soda for $5. Order it online and skip the wait.
(5)Jared L.
Tried this for the first time today, around 1:30. Very, very slow process. Basically a clusterfu#k of a layout. We waited about 20 mins in line just to order. They need to put up a sign asking people not to take seating until they have their food. We watched people sitting in tables for 15-20 mins while others ordered their food. We stood around for about 5 mins, with our food, waiting for a table to open up. All in all, the decor and atmosphere could be pretty cool, especially once the patio opens up during warmer weather. I had a chicken bowl that was just ok, but in all fairness, I was pretty frustrated with the process of getting the food - I will probably try it again during a slow time to ensure I've given it a fair shot.
(3)Ken D.
Okay, I love burritos, so I had to check this place out. The pork was SALTY. I love salt. I eat too much salt, but this was over the top. We pointed this out to the manager and he said a lot of people think the pork is too salty but he cannot do anything about it as he gets his pork already seasoned. Everyone said the chicken was not so great, so I tried the pork. Yuck Noise level is high. The people working there were very nice.
(1)Steven G.
I've been twice. Let me first say I'm impressed with the young people working there. In spite of insane lines this whole past week, they pretty much all seemed charming and enthusiastic. I don't know if they'll be able to keep that up forever, but it's worth noting. The food is different from Chipotle, way more choices, chunkier toppings, etc. I first had a taco meal made with white chicken, and though I was ready to be unhappy after the line and daunting ordering process, I thought they were pretty good. Chips and salsa, too. The second time I ordered a burrito bowl with steak, and I have to say that wasn't particularly good. The steak was salty and not stringy exactly, but a little off. The veggie and tomato toppings seemed pretty good, but overall I was thinking this is an incohesive, sodium-drenched mess. I'm not sure how many different variations I would have to try to actually figure out a mix of ingredients I'd like. Both times I've been they had run out of pot brownies, which I hear are pretty good. I did get a chocolate chip cookie one time. Completely bland and nothing special. I'll go back sometime for more white meat tacos and to try to finally snag a brownie. But I'll probably continue to frequent Chipotle.
(3)John G.
Been to this location 4 times. Every time the food was very good. The first two times the line moved fast and there were more than ample employees behind the counter that moved the line. Third visit different employees, very apathetic, and extremely slow line. Fourth visit only two people were working behind the counter preparing food and it took forever, and it was lunch time. Had I not been there with other people I would have left and gone across Jo Drive to Chipotle's and had same day service! Great food and concept, I think this location has management problems, bunch of teenagers doing their own thing. Last visit was late October 2012, won't be back because too slow. Who do they think they are, Oklahoma Joe's!
(2)Angela W.
I've eaten here 1-2 times a week since they've opened, normally take-out with my boyfriend (he loves hot stuff). Half of the time we order online and pick-up. I normally get a steak burrito or bowl with black and refried beans and about half of the veggie and salsa options. He normally gets a chicken burrito or bowl with various items on it. We like the chips and salsa, guac, queso, and the brownies. I had the ground beef once and I liked the steak better. It's not as good as every burrito joint in southern California, but is better than half of the local burritos I get in KC. I can buy it a few miles from home, go home, sit on my couch and enjoy. I can't do that at MiRanchito or Frida's so easily. I still go to Chipotle, but I prefer their carnitas and the beef at Freebirds. Also, I've noticed several comments about the staff and they've always been incredibly friendly to us from managers down to the lowest ranking person, they may hire hipsters, but everyone has always appeared to be clean that I have seen. If people with facial piercings is a problem for you, I would suggest not eating at half of the establishments in KC or the suburbs. Maybe you should even walk-in, look at the employees, and leave if you're not happy. Many of the Chipotle employees have half sleeve tattoos covering their arms if you look close enough. Also, I don't remember anytime they were out of items we wanted to buy, so maybe that was during the grand opening. Not sure.
(5)Dana D.
Not Impressed! I had the bowl. The cilantro lime rice was sticky with no flavor. I chose white meat chicken and it was bland. The sour cream come out like whip cream not smooth and creamy like at chipotle. There was nothing I liked about this bowl. Plus it was cold. Not even the rice was warm. I will not be returning to this place especially since Chipotle is right around the corner.
(1)Christie M.
My experience was really disappointing. Line wasn't terrible, but wasn't exactly short either. Lots of employees that didn't seem to know what to do other than stare blankly as you asked for things. While they have lots more options than Chipotle, the tiny pinch I was given of each really didn't amount to much foodwise, especially given the price. I ended up with a carnitas bowl with the cilanto rice and various toppings and couldn't believe how greasy and flavorless everything was. Most disappointing was the pork, with a mushy consistency that wasn't at all appetizing. Next time I'm in the mood for the build-your-own Mexican chain experience, I'll be back at the Chipotle down the street. The choices may be far more limited, but at least they do everything reasonbly well.
(2)Lisa T.
I went a few weeks ago, about 8:00 on a week night, and waited about 25 minutes in line... starving. Got to the ordering point and ordered a veggie burrito bowl. As I progressed through the confusing mass of people, I couldn't see what the options even were and the chick was not helpful at all. Being VEGAN, I was most looking forward to a big scoop of guac on my VEGGIE burrito bowl (which ended up being rice, lettuce, some chunks of tomatoes, and some kernels of corn)... only to watch in horror as they squirted out a 2 inch turd looking amount of 'guac' onto my already pathetic 'burrito bowl'. Seriously, the bowl was like half empty, but she went ahead and wrapped it up anyway. When I got home, I tasted it and discovered that it was quite bland. So, not only was it only half there, but it was pretty tasteless. I ended up adding my OWN ingredients from my fridge/cupboards just so I would have enough food for a complete meal! Really disappointing and I don't plan on going back any time soon.
(2)Kipp K.
I'm really conflicted in writing this review--this place is great when they can get it right. Unfortunately, they're maddeningly inconsistent at doing so. I've been several times, but today was my last. On three separate occasions they've had issues with major ingredients. The first time was a few months back, and they had run out of their cilantro lime rice. They informed me it was going to be 20 minutes before they had more ready to go. At the time they hadn't been open for very long, and I was willing to overlook the issue. The manager also bent over backwards and comped me the meal, which was more than they needed to do and was something I really appreciated. The second time was last week. We went in on Saturday night. Though there was no line, my wife and I waited at least five minutes for anyone to acknowledge us, and several minutes more before anyone actually came to take our orders. As I started building my burrito, the guy rolling it pointed out that the cilantro lime rice wasn't very well cooked--it was wet and extremely clumpy. I'd been looking forward to having a burrito for dinner, and he assured me it didn't effect the taste, so I decided not to worry about it. As we worked further down the line I was informed they didn't have salsa (what sort of burrito place runs out of salsa?). At this point my burrito was 3/4 built, so I had them put on some extra death sauce and decided to continue on my way. I then told them I wanted guac to go with my chips--and you can probably guess what happened next. Yes--they were out of guac, too. The only option for my chips was queso--and I don't like queso--so I simply skipped the meal and only got the burrito. To add insult to this, after we sat down and started eating, other people going through the line were able to get salsa. Apparently more magically arrived after we'd been through the line. Also, despite their assurances to the contrary, the cilantro lime rice did not taste right--it was clumpy, wet, and bland--thus making the whole burrito less than delicious. Tonight was the last straw. When we walked in, there was again no line (which judging by how busy they used to be, I'm thinking is a clue that I'm not the only one having issues here). My wife ordered the taco meal and I ordered a Freebird. We hit the rice station (the first ingredient, mind you) and guess what? That's right--no cilantro lime rice. But they assured me they'd have some up in a couple of minutes. A couple minutes turned into five, and finally someone came out and informed us that it was actually going to be a lot longer than a couple minutes, as the batch of rice they were making was bad, and they'd have to start a whole new batch. My wife's tacos were already 3/4 complete at this point, so she decided to simply go without rice. I hadn't gotten past selecting my tortilla, so I told them I was opting to go elsewhere. My wife then told them twice she wanted both guac and salsa to go with her meal, and they bagged everything up and sent us to the cash register. At this point the manager came out and said he was going to take care of us because we'd waited for rice, then didn't get any. We got to the front of the line, and he disappeared into the back, never to be seen again. The cashier then helped someone with a large to-go order who arrived at the register after us and needed additional food wrapped up. Another employee then opened another cash register, and rang up an employee who was either on break or whose shift had ended--and who had been in line behind us. Tired of waiting after several minutes, once they rang up the to-go order, I simply paid for my wife's meal and left to get my own meal at Chipotle (who by the way, had all their ingredients and got me out the door in less than 5 minutes with my food). When we got home, my wife opened her to-go bag, only to discover that she didn't receive her guac. I've been able to get past the fact that this place is incredibly slow--for better or worse they want to get away from the assembly line style of their competitors in favor of providing you with your own "burrito consultant", and they seem to have major issues ringing people up after their food if finally ready--but there is clearly a more fundamental problem here than just the speed of service when they're unable to manage their staple ingredients. The food is great when they do it right, but I'm tired of gambling every time I come in on whether tonight is the night that all the stars align and I'm actually able to get the burrito built how I want it. As much as I don't want to do it, they've given me no choice but to go back to Chipotle.
(2)Kody W.
I tried Freebirds because of the excitement of friends. So I went in and I was not impressed. I went and walked right up to order. There were a lot of choices and the size/price of burritos were interesting. Being a Chipolte fan I looked for a similar size burrito. What kinda bummed me out is how I felt upsold on extra charged toppings. Queso? Sure. Bacon? Okay, and as soon as it was placed on my burrito I heard the words 'additional charge'. But I though it would be like 50 cents so okay. Sadly it was almost two bucks for those add ons. I should have known better that there was such a thing as free bacon. All told my burrito was $9.43. It was okay and not as filling as I hoped. When I went to pay the cashier told me the price and without skipping a beat saying tips gladly appreciated. Not today, one because I hate when people basically imply that I tip them and two your burrito was almost 10 dollars. For that I'd have a complete meal at Panera or even Applebee's. Perhaps if the staff did a better job interacting with customers I would feel different. Maybe I'm the wrong clientele or just not hip enough. This is my first post on Yelp and my disappointment caused me to sign up and post.
(2)Eddie C.
Heard a lot of hype of this new burrito place, so went to try it. We went by a couple of weeks ago, but the line was out the door and did want to wait ( it was 110 and I have a 4 yr old). So today we went on an off time (Sunday 3pm) no line. I like the decor and the way the place is set up. No big on you cannot see the kitchen where the food is being made. Ordered a beef burrito. Asked for grilled veggie (out) asked for sour cream (out) they had some to replace the out, but it took some time of waiting. I don't understand their operations, but they have 30 people working there all with no clue. The cold and hot prep table was a mess and not appetizing looking. The burrito was ok. Nothing over the top. I did like the different wraps to chose from and the Spanish style rice. I probably will go again, but not wait in line if there is one.
(2)Longorious L.
Does anyone have taste buds that ACTUALLY work? I'm beginning to think that people in the Midwest are so deprived of good food that their palettes are conditioned to think mediocrity is a good thing. Freebirds isn't "trying" to be anything - it's an already well-established hipster, burrito joint in Texas and California with quite the following. It's not Freebirds fault they couldn't find the right type of employee in KC. All those things you find wrong w/ the place (moving ahead in line), people elsewhere understand that's what makes the place awesome. And for the record, you don't get the same size burrito regardless of what size tortilla you get. The only thing Mission location is lacking is speed and personality. That comes from the staff. With that being said, Cabo Bobs in Austin is even better than Freebirds. So go there if you're ever in ATX.
(5)T C.
Ok, so it wasn't bad, but I'm a die hard Chipotle fan....SORRY! I saw a lot of choices on the menu (a tad bit overwhelming), but as I got to the assembly counter, not all the choices where there. My only complaint is while I was was standing next to the kitchen window, I noticed the man cutting meat with no gloves. I also saw him, wipe down a cutting board with a very nasty looking rag and then toss it back in the dirty water. He put that board away and grabbed another funky looking cutting board and proceeded to cut meat on there. I hope on my next visit I see a change in that area. I won't rush back in, as it's 45 minutes away from me, but if I'm in the area, I would definitely stop in again. BTW, the staff was super friendly.
(3)Lola S.
We stood in line for at least 15 minutes. There were a ton of ingredients to pick from so it looked like the wait would be worth it. When I got to the end of the line, I realized I had no sour cream or avocado in my burrito bowl. I asked for both, and was charged for each. Charged for sour cream!? With out it my bowl consisted of chicken, rice, cheese and beans. The meal was so gross I didn't even want to eat it. Whoever said the chicken tasted like it came from a can was spot on! It tasted like canned chicken. There was no flavor at all. I had to force myself to eat it bc it was so expensive, I felt bad not trying to finish it. Blandest meal I've ever had. Very disappointing, the deor is nice but that is the only thing saving this place. Will not return!
(1)Michelle M.
Really, 20 minute line for bowling alley food? And not good bowling alley food. Really LOUD inside. The line was out the door and it took forever. I love mission style burritos, but this is not fresh, or gourmet. We order two taco meals. One steak which was not steak to was shredded beef, and pork, out of sour cream and tomatillo salsa. The tacos came with salsa and chips, the chips where killed with Iodized salt. Why are there 30 people working, 30 rude people, The food, well, the two bite taco was grainy mushy and bland. Pass pass pass.
(1)Morgan F.
Alright, I'll preface with: I've been spoiled my whole life and have eaten INSANE burritos since I'm from coastal California and there are literally hundreds if not thousands of AWESOME taquerias. They aren't chains, just mom and pop operations. Ok, that being said, I really got my hopes high. Freebird World Burrito, founded in California in the 80's, burritos rolled in foil, steamers for the tortillas, carne asada...but alas, SH**. This place makes Chipotle look like authentic Mexican food from a taco truck. I mean all the elements are there, but they can't quite seal the deal. All the burritos get the same size tortilla unless you order the super monster, then they use two. So if you order the hybrid (small) burrito, you're ass out and get a bunch of tortilla and not much filler. Secondly...IT'S ALL BLAND! From the rice to the meat to the "salsa". The chips should be the first indicator of what the whole place is about. According to the chips: MEDIOCRE. My first clue should have been the portion control spoons according to size of burrito you ordered and guacamole that doesn't taste like anything that gets squirted from a gun. The ordering process is crap, the line is absurd, and the kitschiness is so lame with the Harley thing and the bad food and the sensory overload of crappy vintage rock music etc. etc. I came, I ate and then realized the harsh reality of...I live in the middle of the continent and there is no demand for really awesome, authentic quality food. First clue should have been "queso". Anyway, three options for decent "fast" Mexican food: 1. Chipotle 2. The secret place you know of where there's actually Mexicans making the food from Mexican recipes 3. Make it yourself Go to a taqueria in San Francisco and this review will make perfect sense to you. I guess I'll go back to holding my breath and crossing my fingers to find a real taqueria out here. P.S. Freebirds, you steam the burrito AFTER you've rolled it in the foil! Bush League!!!
(2)Paul M.
The food tastes flat, the restaurant is awkward and uncomfortable, and the prices are just a little too high. There was little actual flavor in the food. Oh, the salsa has some "heat" to it, but "heat" does not necessarily equate to "flavor" as this place has proven. I got my order and looked for a place to pay. I saw a bar. I saw no other cash registers. I stood over by the bar while the bartender talked to another guy. Then the bartender left. I stood there a while. She didn't come back. I sat down to eat. Eventually I figured out that she is the only cashier and I was supposed to wait there before eating. Very difficult to navigate. The food itself wasn't repulsive. If I was hungry and it was free I'd eat it, but in terms of actual flavor there was a lot to be desired. On the plus side, it appeared clean and the food was edible. That always accounts for at least a star, doesn't it? If I was looking for a place to go drink beer, this would be okay. But a place for lunch or dinner? I'll skip it.
(2)Abbey L.
BORRRRRRRRRRRRRRING. Seriously. No flavor in anything. I piled stuff on my burrito. I was super excited that they had queso. I'm a huge Qdoba fan and love their queso burrito so I was sold on going to this place from the moment it opened. Unfortunately for the past month the line has been out the door so I waited until last night (We still stood in line for 30+minutes). I got the "Freebird" size which is basically a Chipotle sized burrito. Ok fine. Cilantro-lime rice... no flavor. It was sticky and clumped together in a mush. Black beans, they were fine. White meat chicken, it looked questionable and I should have known better. It had NO FLAVOR and looked like it came out of a package from the grocery store. I got regular jack cheese plus queso (extra charge for queso, fine) then there was an extra charge for SOUR CREAM. Uh, not cool guys, not cool. I went with it because I was super hungry and can't handle no sour cream on Mexican food. I 'completed' my meal with an order of chips and queso and a drink and it was $13+. The queso had a really smoky flavor which normally I like, but this was too much. Like, liquid smoke dumped in it smoky flavor. I ate it anyway due to my starvingness. I ate about 3/4 of my burrito and said to hell with it. The chicken was weird. The rice was sticky/clumpy/overpowering. The manager type person came by to throw away our stuff and asked if I wanted to take the burrito with me... I said no, he kept asking and I replied with an emphatic NO and kept walking. With the amount of buzz about this place and the HUGE line I always see there I expected more. It made me homesick for Chipotle and Qdoba (which I can only get when I go to Springfield) and at about double the price I doubt I'll be going back anytime soon. It's a good effort, just too short of the mark. Sorry, guys.
(2)Larissa S.
I am a huge Chipotle-lover, so it was really hard to convince me to even give FreeBird a try! I will say that they have lots of choices and options as far as a burrito goes. There are tortilla options, rice and it goes even as far as white or dark meat for chicken! They have lots of sizes of burritos and toppings to go with. The pricing is comparable to Chipotle and they move just as quick, if you aren't behind first time FreeBirders! That being said....if you are expecting it to be like Chipotle, you will be disappointed. It doesn't hold a candle to the flavors of Chipotle. The only thing I felt like they had going for them was the topping options and decor. However, perhaps you might go into the experience with more of an open mind!
(2)LeAnn A.
Yum Yummy is all I have to say. I really enjoy this burrito joint because you are given choices. from the type of tortilla to the many different sizes. If you know and have been to Chipotle this is similar, but I find Freebird to be much better. I like flavor and I feel that you can get that with all the different options you have for the fillings with Freebirds burrito. Some fillings include (lettuce, tomatoes, pico, bacon, cheese, cheese sauce, onions and much more) If you wanting dessert they have a pretty good Pot Brownie (not the best brownie ever in my opinion, but it did hit the spot.)
(4)Allyssa C.
Besides the long line, the food was awesome. You basically have the same employee from start to finish make your burrito, so there is no "assembly line". Also, an employee came around asking if anyone wanted refills and asked how the food was.. that was nice. Will return for options.
(4)Joel M.
Arrived at 950 pm Friday night and the doors were locked? ! There was a group of 6 -8 kids standing behind the counter *hanging out and eating* The hours said open until 10 on the door, 1030 on yelp regardless these punks closed shop early and we're milking the clock. Oh millenials....always so impressive. .
(1)Andrew M.
This place has a lot of potential to be a viable alternative to Chipotle, which I have grown tired of over the years. There are more than enough choices of burrito fixings here to make things interesting, but both times I have eaten at this particular location I have found it to be very chaotic. One employee will start taking your order then they will follow you down the line all the way, rather than the typical assembly line service like at Chipotle. I've just found it to be inefficient and confusing. If they can make ordering less hectic then I would probably bump my rating up. However, they'll remain at three stars for the time being.
(3)Nick D.
I prefer freebirds over chipotle. Many more options and better prices. They actually have ground beef at freebirds too.
(5)Matt K.
I'm a fan of Freebird...I've told countless people that they're far superior to Chipotle, and the food still is...but the online ordering experience? That's a whole other story. I had about 10 minutes to spare for lunch today, so I went online to place a carry out order. That process was perfect. Placed my order and hopped in my car, expecting to be in and out with no problems. When I got there, there appeared to be ONE guy working behind the counter, serving the one customer in the store before me. I went to the register area, right below the "pick up here" sign, and waited. Then, I waited. Also, I waited. Then, just for good measure, I waited. Finally someone comes over and asks if I was picking up an order, and brings it up on the register. At this moment, I realized that they hadn't even started on my order. Had I not already paid for it online, I would have walked out, but since I was already financially invested in this lunch, I opted to stay and wait. I watched people trickle in to place their lunch orders...it was now about 20 minutes since I had placed my online order. At the same time, another trickle of what I presume to be employees began entering the store from a side door, none of them in much of a hurry...except the one guy that was apparently taking a huge catering order out for delivery...even he wasn't moving with much urgency. A couple that had come in AFTER I had physically entered the store was being waited on, and had gotten their order up to the register...all while I still waited. I was assuming that placing an order ONLINE would give it priority to folks entering off the street that arrived AFTER that order...is that not reasonable? All in all, it was about 30 minutes from the time I placed my order online and walked out with my food in hand. I had to scramble to get back to work, then had to wolf down my lunch while I resumed my work. Didn't get to really enjoy my lunch. The only thing that saved this review from being one star is the fact that I still like the food. However, if service is going to be this bad from now on, I guess I'll have to find another go-to place when the mood for a giant burrito strikes me. And that's sad, because when this place opened, it was GREAT...great service, quick in-and-out ordering...but today, they did not hold up that standard. I hope it's not a sign of what this store has become, because complacency in convenience is not good for the long-term health of a lunch spot.
(2)Henry J.
Walked in yesterday at 8:40pm. Thought they were open until 10:00pm, hours on the door said 9:00pm. There was one customer getting a burrito. The guy making it was literally scraping the pans of the last bits of ingredients to make it. Gross. Close earlier if you're not going to have enough stuff to serve until your closing time. I turned around, walked out & went to Chipotle.
(1)Agraj J.
Similar to chipotle. loved their choices of tortillas.
(4)Stephen H.
I really like Matt E.'s characterization of Freebird as a disordered Chipotle. It's delicious, with more options that add up to more interesting flavor profiles, across your standard "bowl, burrito, taco" triad. They also offer dessert (how you would have room after eating one of these things). I've always said Qdoba was Chipotle with queso. Freebird is Chipotle with bacon. And garlic. And way more stuff.
(4)Ben W.
First time I went I wasn't all that impressed. I'm glad I didn't give up there! This place is FAR SUPERIOR to Chipotle menu wise, there is no question about that. They have ground beef and queso for crying out loud! For that reason alone I go to Freebirds before Chipotle every time unless someone else insists on buying Chipotle. I live very close to this location and have for almost 2 years. The staff has always been friendly, helpful, and out-going. I have never had to wait long for my food to be made and rang up. I have never used their online ordering but they do have that option as well. They have a good selection of drinks and their POT BROWNIES are a must have! I'm not sure if they are still called Pot Brownies, haha, but their brownies are a must get! Try this place out some time, I assure you that the food will not disappoint!!!
(5)Dawn R.
I really don't get what all the negative reviews are about. I was visiting my daughter, and we were out shopping and got hungry so she suggested we stop in. I'd never heard of this place, and always like to try new places, so why not? Yes, the setup is similar to Chipotle, but you have a lot more options. I was very pleased with the quality and quantity of the food (spinach/mushroom quesadilla), and the atmosphere was fun and funky. I mean, where else will you see a motorcycle riding statue of liberty suspended from the ceiling? I'd definitely go back the next time I'm in town, and would recommend it to anyone looking for something quick and casual.
(4)Alyssa R.
All I can say is Meh. I don't know if my family hyped this place up or what, but I was not impressed. First off, apparently there is one stereotype that is allowed in this joint....Hipster. I have nothing against the style but don't look at me funky as I am wearing athletic shorts and a comfy T. I was being judged like crazy. I am not sure if it was just the location or what, but I had to get out quickly. For the food.... ehhhh. It was different that they had spicy rice, refried beans, and assorted sizes & flavors of tortillas but the food wasn't all that good. I got the chicken freebird burrito and I ate it. That's pretty much it. I wasn't craving more nor have I craved it since but I will eat it if I have to.
(2)Tania M.
This place reminds me of a hippie version of Chipotle. I actually thought their burritos were better, as well as sauces and guacamole, which is saying a lot because I LOVE Chipotle's guacamole. I would definitely visit and check it out, compare it to Chipotle, and see which you like better. I would visit all the time if I could, but I love by a Chipotle, so I find myself going there more often, simply because well, it's down the street. If I had to pick between the two, I'd be at Freedbird's though...
(4)Beth P.
Freebirds seems to have really polarized the local Yelpers. I'm definitely on the side of the fans though. We used to have coworkers run to IV for Freebirds for the crew all the time when I worked in Santa Barbara, and was *really* excited when this one opened near me. I love the multiple tortilla types, the Spanish rice option (which goes great for the kid who reacts badly to too much cilantro too!), the queso, dark & light chicken options, and the tortilla chips! I can see where some would prefer Chipotle over Freebirds, but I've had better results here myself. Generally the meat has been fresher and less dry, there are more veggie options, and the line moves pretty quick. Plus, it still feels more like I'm supporting the "local guys" since they are from SB.
(4)Kerry P.
I really don't understand all the hype about this place. I gave this place twice too many chances, and each time I've been sadly disappointed by their food. To start off, the menu is confusing.. way too many options for a simple and practical consumer. I like options but this was just was too overwhelming. So the both times I've eaten here, I've ordered the bowl and have tried the pork carnitas and the steak. (on separate occasions) I was disappointed that they didn't serve brown rice here so opted out of getting rice entirely..bummer cuz I love my rice. After all, I'm Asian! The ordering process here is similar to Chipotle... cafeteria style and you tell the staff what add-ins you want. So we get to the add-ins and I panic as I'm slapped with way too many choices. They have way too many sauces and honestly, neither of them really all that great. But maybe it just didn't pair well with what I had? I dunno... Also, the meat was okay, each a little dry and too piecey for my preferences. (I prefer chipotle's meat) This place just wasn't doing it for me. If you like a place with a bunch of options, then you've came to the right place. But the food is very subpar. 2 stars because it's not terribly bad... but it's certainly not that great.
(2)Richard L.
The best way to describe The Freebirds vs. Chipotle debate is to compare them to Microsoft vs. Apple. Freebirds/Microsoft offer a large number of products which are functional but don't aspire to greatness. Chipotle/Apple offer a limited selection but executes them with the highest precision and consistency. My few Freebirds experiences have been mediocre at best. The staff were usually more interested in socializing with one another and showing off their fancy tattoos than actually serving customers in a quick and timely manner.
(2)Matt E.
So Imagine Guy Fieri were to eat a Chiptole. Not a chipotle BURRITO, mind you. An entire brick and mortar store. Then imagine he chugs a handle of Sammy Hagar's Cabo Wabo tequila, and then procceeds to vomit it all out, restructuring itself into a new burrito shop. What you'd get is Freebird World Burrito. This place is seriously obnoxious. So why four stars? Because as much as the atmosphere makes me want to stab my eyes and ears out, that was one tasty burrito! Like Chipotle, this is one of those burrito factory-line establishments, only with a just stupid umber of options. Four sizes of burritos (the largest looking like something off of Man vs Food), four types of tortillas, and that's all before you even decide what goes in it! Multiple proteins, two rice varieties, three cheese options, and then toppings out the wazoo. You can definitely customize a delicious meal for yourself, and that's not even considering the salad or bowl options. Plus, the burrito is incredibly structurally sound, which can be my complaint at other burrito shacks. The food here is tasty and legit. But here's the rub: you actually have to go inside the place to get the food. You have to subject yourself to ska covers of Van Morrison, awful imitations of tattoo art signage, and just a general celebration of all things low-brow. The staff is friendly, but looks like they'd be more comfortable working at Pac Sun or Hot Topic. So maybe I'm a snob, I'll take the label. But I'd rather hang out in the nice, crisp, minimalist Chipotle than this Disneyland version of someplace that belongs on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. If you're the kind of person that likes to call places "money", then you'd probably think Freebird is money. I think it's a delicious product that I'll take to go.
(4)Alice H.
People always have to choose... Chipotle or Free Birds? No hesitation I choose Chipotle because of the consistent quality... And fresh guacamole. I question the competition when Free Birds squeezes my guac out of a plastic tube. Nachos sounded good at the time but I think I would choose Taco Bell's over theirs and that is saying something.
(2)Kasi W.
I chose to ignore my friends advice and check out Freebird World Burrito because I was optimistic. However, my friends were right, and I was thoroughly unimpressed. Obviously, everyone is inclined to compare Freebird to Chipotle but rightfully so. The two chains are very similar, but Chipotle is the clear winner in my opinion. The only advantage Freebird has is the options it provides for different burrito sizes and add ins. However, the quality and flavor of the food left much to be desired. I ordered the vegetarian burrito and chose Spanish rice, fajita veggies, black beans, and guacamole as my add ins. The guacamole and rice had very little flavor, but what I was most disappointed in were the vegetables. The mix was 90% onions that were pretty much raw. I like to try things before I knock them, and I'm glad I tried Freebird World Burrito, so I can say from personal experience that it's not all that great.
(2)Claudia S.
This place is good enough, but not that exciting to me. Prices seem high and just not that special. This time I got nachos to go. She packaged the chips separately and I ate those nachos for about 3 days... it was a HUGE portion. It was pretty tasty, but something still just doesn't make me want to go back very often.
(3)Michael R.
I've eaten at Freebird several times, and I have enjoyed my food every time. Yes, it's similar to Chipotle, but with a few differences. First of all, there are a few more options--different kinds of tortillas, different sizes of burritos, and two different kinds of rice, cilantro lime and Spanish. It's also a slightly different flavor, with a lot more of a cilantro taste. For my friends who can't stand cilantro, this is a major negative, but personally I really like the flavor. The salsas I've had, the tomatillos and pico de gallo, are really good. They have a barbecue sauce, which to me sounds just...wrong, but more power to them for the variety. I also like that they have a soda machine both in the waiting line area and on the other side by the register, so you can get your beverage while you wait and then refill it on the other side. Which brings me to my big negative of Freebird's--the wait. As in "be prepared to." It's similar to Chipotle in that you go down a counter where they load your burrito (or salad or tacos or whatever) as you watch. Unfortunately, it is nowhere near as fast as Chipotle. I hope that this is just because they're fairly new and still working out the kinks. I would be interested in going to the location in Lawrence, which has been there awhile, to see if it is any better. The staff is nice, don't get me wrong, but it definitely isn't speedy.
(3)Jen D.
I appreciate what Freebird is trying to be, a hip, fun place to enjoy a quality burrito, but I am underwhelmed with their execution. As another reviewer mentioned, they have various size options for burritos, which is cool. The unfortunate factor is that regardless of choosing the smallest or largest size, you get the same size tortilla. So if you order a small burrito, you have excess tortilla. I do however, like the option of different flavors of tortillas, I believe they had spinach, sundried tomato, and regular white flour tortillas. The line was a cluster. Instead of waiting patiently for the person in front of you to complete their order, at Freebird, it's a free-for-all and you line jump. Meaning if the person in front of you is getting beans, and you just want salsa, you skip in front of them, and quite frankly, it's just a cluster. We took our food to go, and because the music was so blaringly loud this probably wouldn't be a place where I sat down to eat if I wanted to actually hold a conversation with my dining partner. Besides the organization and the overwhelming stimulus overload, the food was decent. Not sure I will convert over, BUT... They do have a rewards card... and apparently they have happy hour option, which I believe is an order of nachos and a margarita for 8$....
(3)Ryan M.
There's always the obvious comparison to Chipotle. The reason I go here over Chipotle is when I want nachos or a little more variety in my burrito. They also have kids-eat-free on Monday and Tuesday. Their service is spotty and the dining room is just small enough as well as being oddly configured that it can be tough to dine-in sometimes. I would definitely question some of the ways they provide service but that ship has sailed. I like it and we go there regularly.
(3)The M.
I used to be a Chipotle elitist until I reluctantly tried Freebirds. I haven't had Chipotle since. This place has many more options, many more flavors, and larger portions. Chipotle always has the same base of flavors and is extremely repetetive. On top of theat, the service is very friendly and helpful, as opposed to Chipotle where most employees don't even speak english. Ignore the Chipotle fanboys and try it for yourself.
(5)Michelle F.
Picked up two orders that had been placed online. The online ordering system was smooth and they called to confirm the order, there also 2 email confirmations. I walked right up to the counter to pick up, and other than a register snafu (solved quickly, the kind of thing that will come with experience I'm sure), it was all good. I arrived at work and both orders were 100% accurate. My coworker raved over his hybrid-size burrito and I was amazed and the size of my nachos. Generous toppings I tell ya. Everything tasted great. Freebirds, you've got another fan.
(4)Mike W.
Pretty solid burrito shop. Crazy amount of options to choose from but it is not in a good location. I was served by the on duty manager but all of the other "rollers" earned sneers from the people I went with.
(3)Jeremy N.
Meh, describes it just perfectly. Freebird is more disappointing than anything. I was surprised how long this place had long lines, but once I decided to go here I quickly found out why. Their queue area sucks, and needs some fixing. All the wait is because people can't decide what the hell they want on their burrito. As for the food, I like the fact that there are lots of options but that is where the greatness stops. The food presentation reminds me way too much of bad cafeteria food something along the lines of high school cafeteria. The food is just as bland as well. This must be one of those places where food comes in big clear bags and they just boil them in water to heat the contents and then place on the steam table. I might have to give this place a second chance but I'll keep going to Chipotle where I know I can get in and out and expect my food will have some taste. That said if you like cafeteria food and over whelming amounts of choices to pile on then this is the place for you.
(2)Hannie D.
First of all, I am a former resident of Austin, and a big FB fan. I was completely excited for FB to open in KC. I find Chipotle bland in comparison. But, this place needs to get it together. I understand that when a new place opens, there may be a period of time during which they are overwhelmed by business and customers will experience a wait. But it has been several weeks, and they are still slow, and the wait is still way too long. Both times I have been to this FB, they have run out of ingredients. The place is generally a mess, and there are always a couple or three employees standing around, looking sort of useless, but chipper. Meanwhile, you wait 20 minutes or more for beans to get slapped in a tortillas. Secondly, not sure if they adjusted their recipes for a milder Midwest or something, but BORING. Something is missing from those delicious burritos they served up in both of the Austin locations I frequented almost weekly for three years.
(2)Laura H.
This review is based almost entirely on my experience, not on the food, a circumstance necessitated by the fact that I was unable to get food I wanted. The one experience I did have with something ingestible was a soda - which was a little flat. The restaurant was busy yesterday, which I expected. I did not mind the 23-minute wait to get to the counter. I built the first part of my burrito bowl - and it looked quite tasty. But when it came time to add the toppings, we ran into trouble. I asked for roasted garlic - but they were out. The kid apologized and said they had been busy. I asked for corn salsa - but sorry, out of that, too. Again, the kid explained they'd been SOOO busy they couldn't keep up. I could wait, but it would be another ten minutes, if they actually had any more, which he was not sure of. I asked for Cilantro - they had it, and a few sparse leaves were sprinkled onto my naked-looking entree. I asked for grilled limes - but they were out. Oh, in case you were wondering - it's 'cause they'd been busy (this time that excuse was accompanied by a shrug). That was the third strike, and I saw no reason to get a meal that was missing almost everything I wanted it to include, so I told the kid thanks, politely, but that I was going to pass. He looked truly surprised and said "You don't want this?" I said "no," and he seemed to get mad. I made my way to the cashier, flat soda in hand, and waited in line. The girl asked me what I needed, and I explained I just needed to pay for my soda. She asked me where my food was, as if I was hiding it in my pocket, trying to get away with something. I explained that they were out of three things I wanted on my meal, and she asked which things. No apology - but she was at least curious as to what had been missing. I told her. Then she let me pay for my drink - a somewhat surprising $2.99 - and she, too, told me they'd been busy. Her partner, the other cashier, asked what had happened, and she told her, and the other cashier also nodded and said they'd been realllllly busy. I left with no intention of ever returning. When your big comparison to Chipotle (which is juts down the street) is the number of choices you offer, you kinda need to have those choices on-hand. So first, I would not make a customer who waited 23 minutes to find out they did not have the food he/she wanted to pay for a soda. In fact, I'd have offered a coupon for a discounted or free meal just to get them to come back - but that's just me. Except that it's NOT just me, based on the story's epilogue: I'd now spent 2/3 of my 1 hour lunch not actually getting lunch. I ran to the Sonic just down the way and ordered food and an iced tea. The tea was ready at the window, but I had to wait for less than two minutes for my food. After the first one minute of wait, the gal came to the window, apologized for the delay, and provided not an excuse, but a coupon for a free drink. Now, that may not seem like much, but it demonstrated respect for me as a customer, and a desire for me to come back in spite of not getting the service they clearly expected to be able to deliver. I was so pleased I asked for the manager and told her the story. She said "Yeah, we've been a little worried that we'd lose business to them." Not if Freebird keeps being too "busy" to stock food or train employees on good customer care. ADDENDUM 7/24/2012: Bryce Katz, Director of Operations for the group that operates FREEB!RDS (apparently I've been "spelling" it wrong), emailed me to apologize for the above experience. Turns out that on top of everything else I was overcharged for my soda - it should have been $1.89 instead of $2.99. The email was nice, though a bit excuse-heavy (why can't people just say "we screwed up"?), and he offered to send me a coupon for a free burrito (or I can use it for a bowl) so I can review the food as well (no mention of a refund for my soda, though). I'll take him up on it and post the result here.
(1)Keith H.
Bland. Apparently all their energy and creativity went into hip decor, save the planet stickers, and lip peircings because the food is as boring as the day is long. Costa Vida it ain't.
(1)Billie H.
Initially walking in I saw a sign in line that said there was a 15 minute wait and to get a margarita to enjoy while you wait. This worried me, but I didn't want to go get a margarita and then have to start over in line. The line actually moved a long quite quickly. Looking at the menu board while moving through the line I was a bit overwhelmed, there are a lot of choices! I couldn't help staring at the size of the monster burrito wondering who would possibly eat that thing! I can eat, but that would kill me! You start with 4 varieties of tortillas, 2 varieties of rice, 3 different bean options, and then too many to count options. I really like the options, but the fast moving and loud environment make it really hard to hear what is being said and trying to figure out what you want. Some labeling of the products would probably help out tremendously. Be careful of the additional costs, bacon, extra cheese, queso, sour cream, guac, and avocado. Personally I think most of these are ridiculous as they are standard on many people's choices for burritos. I got a carnitas burrito on a spinach tortilla. I can't tell you what all I got on it because it was so hard telling what everything was and hearing the lady helping me. I think I had some corn salsa, cilantro, cilantro rice, black beans, cheddar/jack cheese, some kind of hot sauce, lettuce, bacon, and queso. Whatever the final combination was, it was pretty good. I did get a chunk of pork that was way over cook and very hard and chewy, but other than that it was good. The set up of the restaurant is awful. I recommend getting your order to go because there is very limited seating unless you want to sit outdoors and with winter coming that isn't looking good. They have many multi person seating options, with a giant table that looked to seat 8 if not more, yet the place seemed to have mostly couples eating there. You can plan to sit with people you don't know, which is good for meeting people, but if out with your significant other grabbing a bite before a movie, not to cozy. There are few tables to even choose from if you do want to cozy up with someone. Most of the restaurant is set up for the serving area and drink, pay station. Whoever designed the restaurant should be fired. The cost is extremely high, I paid over $12 for a freebird sized burrito and a 16 oz draft beer with a terribly large head. Even though a little chilly, I sat outside, because there wasn't any other option and I didn't want to eat in my car. There was another young man sitting out there. The best part of the experience didn't come from the service, food, environment of the restaurant, but from the young man outside. As he was leaving he offered me a cookie saying he had ordered it, but decided he didn't want it. Such a thoughtful young man and a kind gesture and he really made my night. Overall, the variety is good and the food ok, the atmosphere and price sucks. If you watch for the nickel and dime of additional add ones and stick with a water you will be ok. Also, look online to get an idea of what you want before you go, trying to decide once there is a mess. The simplicity and deliciousness of Chipotle may just be a better option. (I marked this as not good for kids because of the poor and limited seating, there just isn't room for children to be running around.)
(3)Troy O.
Yes you will wait. Its a brand new restaurant and its WELL WORTH THE WAIT. Its so far above other burrito joints like Chipotle. You get far more options. From white or dark chicken, steak, pork and other proteins, several rice and bean options to all of the veggies you get to choose from makes this the most individual burrito restaurant ever. The 1st drink station is placed half way through the line so you can get a beverage and then refill it at the 2nd one just opposite of the register. So smart! They have a ton of folks working right now and as you go through the line and I think part of their style is to make a personal connection. Some of their employees are great at it, some aren't. The ones who aren't can come off awkward or even rude. Overall this place moves the huge line VERY fast and the food is as good as you can get in a quick service restaurant.
(5)Andrew C.
Went on a Week day around 530pm , there was no line ..infact there was only 2 people sitting in this place. NOT a good sign since this place just opened. When i got up to the counter i felt rushed and the guy kept moving, he didnt even offer anything else....Looks like they hired High School Kids..and some of them didnt look clean..so i feel thats important when seving food. i wouldnt want a tatooed, nose piereced teenager with painted black nails serving my food...its all about presentationa and appearance. the burrito was even bland..no flavor to anything actually. I'd rather go to subway a few doors down.
(2)Thomas A.
I've been to this location twice. It is located in a train wreck of a complex of fast food. Like the Fast Food god got sick and barfed out a big mess right on the edge of Mission and SPLAT, there was Chik-Fil-A, Freebird, Culvers, Panera, Subway and others. A big mess to get in and out of sometimes. Freebird can be kind of a trainwreck getting through it in a decent amount of time. Sometimes, the people making your order are disorganized and/or not paying attention to what they're doing, or in a huge rush when sometimes, you just have to be patient and take things as they come in order to establish some kind of consistency. Occasionally, a manager or lead will come out and bark some orders and everyone starts marching back into their assigned steps. It is an assembly line as others have said, like Chipotle except way better than Chipotle and their burrito chocks better used to keep cars with faulty brakes from rolling down a hill. These are actually tasty and the fillings are ample and delicious, not just bits and pieces of meat and other goodies decorating a big glob of rice and beans. I like to get the orange tortilla, I think it is a chile or pepper type tortilla and I prefer the beef fillings. I order the second largest which is quite enough for me but there are sizes that would please King Kong or Mama Cass (RIP). The price is decent. My only complaint is, if it's busy, it's slow and disorganized. Hopefully, experience will help the crew manage their operation more efficiently. I will definitely be back.
(3)Lance W.
I'm a huge mission-style burrito fan and I was hopeful that Freebird would resemble an authentic taqueria from San Francisco's Mission District. It does not... The ingredients are bland, my 9 year old son said the chicken on his quesadilla tasted like it came from a can. My burrito was equally bland, the steak tasted "Limey" but there was no spice detectable. The "Spanish rice" was bland and the salsas didn't have any kick at all. I should have known the meal was not going to be good when I saw the guacamole served from a caulk gun. Maybe my hopes were too high or I'm spoiled from the burritos i had on my trip to San Diego last week. All I know is that next time I want a burrito, I'll wait for my next flight out of KC instead of coming to Freebirds.
(2)Kam F.
I'm going to make the obvious comparison to its nearest competitor, Chipotle. First, I enjoyed all the varieties of options offered by Freebirds. Refried beans, Spanish rice, and queso as well as different sizes of burritos and different types of tortillas are a few of the differences I enjoyed over Chipotle. However, that is where the advantage ends for Freebirds. The ingredients tasted bland, I even got the medium salsa and was unimpressed with the heat and that is saying something since I think jalepenos are too spicy. Needless to say, I was excited by all the hype but I was disappointed by the execution.
(2)Beau E.
Wow! Wow! Wow! The food here kicks total ass. One hell of a belly buster burrito packed full with your custom concocted preferences. You even unwrap it like a roll of Life Savers as you work your way down to devouring it. No fuss, no muss. For being such a potentially messy disaster all over the table, your face, the floor, and everywhere else...the genius who came up with the foil wrap method deserves a medal. The pot brownie for dessert is just what the doctor ordered. If you are a choc-o-holic, it will not disappoint. HDTVs are strategically placed throughout the dining area with local sports galore all around as well as a jumbo table in the middle of the restaurant to accomodate big parties and after game team events. The margarita I got was average and the staff was a bit forlorn in appearance which are the reasons I didn't give it a 5-star rating. It's a pretty cool concept and will do just fine I am sure. FreeBirds is well worth the trip and well worth the money.
(4)Peter M.
15 min wait for a burrito. Only 2 people ahead of me. One person working. #chipotleforgiveme
(1)Jes S.
I've tried Freebird a few times now and I just can't get into it. I like the concept and the decor but the food is average at best. Yes they have a ton of options but the food is not as fresh nor tasty as Chipotle.
(2)Monica T.
Seriously most disgusting place. I got food poisoning after my first and only trip to this Chipotle wannabe restaurant. Even before I got sick the food wasn't great. Also very confusing layout as far as ordering goes. Not my fave! If you want a burrito- head to Chipotle.
(1)Dev V.
I had heard great things about Freebird before finally having a chance to stop in this afternoon for lunch. The previous day I was a Chipotle and the line was unusually short, so that prompted me even more to go try Freebird since it seemed to be the only logical explanation why Chipotle down the street seemed slow at 12:15. First impressions when I walked in was that there were a lot of menu options (bowls, salads, tacos, burritos, sides, toppings and varied sizes). Also that they are really trying to be hip by hiring hipsters (there were no shortage of lip and nose piercings here). We ordered bowls, sat down and chowed down. First thing I'd note is the lack of seasoning and flavor, I found it to be very bland. I dumped hot sauce all over my bowl and that helped a little bit. Maybe I'm just not used to the lack of seasoning in comparison to their competition. It may take some getting used to, but I'd give them a C- in flavor but a B+ for effort. I mean, when a girl is bussing tables and asks if you want a margarita, that is a bonus!
(3)G S.
Was just okay. When ordering the lady in front of me was taking forever to decide what she wanted so they had me skip ahead of her but then the other people I was with where behind her and it made for a mess when we got to the register to pay because she was with other people too so we all just had to stand there and wait for her to finish because they had already started to ring her group up. It's a small area and we were all just staning there holding our food waiting on her. Then we sat down and there was a table of workers (i assume mgrs by the sounds of their conversation) next to us. They had taken a chair from our table (before we got there) when there meeting was over the lady brought it over to our table and sat it by the table and said "this goes over there when you are done" Uhh you work here not me is what I wanted to tell her! I just thought it was rude, you got the chair you put it away! Food was alright, I didn't like that they charged extra for sour cream... guess i'm just used to chipolte where it is included. I think chipolte is WAY better then Freebird all around.
(3)Grant H.
My burrito consisted of: Cayenne tortilla, chicken, queso, cilantro rice, black beans, lime juice, red onions, corn, hot tomatillo sauce and guacamole. While I appreciated the abundance of choices, it seemed that everything was bland. Nothing was seasoned and the hot tomatillo was in Taco Bell hot range (aka not hot). I couldn't really detect any flavor difference between the ingredients, only thing that gave a hint of flavor was the cayenne tortilla. I plan on giving it another shot and trying the carnitas as I've heard about a few good experiences with people ordering that protein option. In my opinion, Chipotle is a far better options for fast-casual burrito options.
(2)Veronica H.
My fiance and I placed dinner our order online since we heard opening day was a madhouse. A couple hours before scheduled pick-up, I got a confirmation call which was awesome. The guy on the phone was friendly and attentive, even though it sounded chaotic on his end of the line. The food was pretty good overall. They have WAY more choices than Chipotle, which I like. Although the burrito size was smaller (for me, it was still a good size. Chipotle size is usually a bit big for me.) But they have four different sizes. So keep in mind the Freebird is slightly smaller than Chipotle. My fiance picked up the order and he said the girl at the check-out was very friendly. My fiance had ordered death sauce on the side, which was confirmed over the phone, but it was on the burrito at pick-up. They offered to remake it. However, since my fiance wanted it on the side not knowing how hot it would be, he decided that wasn't necessary when she told him it wasn't any hotter than tobasco. I enjoyed my burrito and I look forward to trying different combinations. (My fiance just told me to add that it was very satisfying walking past the 50+ people waiting in line. Place your order ahead of time! You even have the option to pay online or in-store.)
(4)Vanessa N.
Initial thought before I even walked in were that the décor was awesome. The door handles being motorcycle handlebars were pretty cool. I love the Lady Liberty on a motorbike, wearing ruby red slippers and a burrito in one hand. Very cool. I felt like I was in San Diego at a burrito shop by the beach. I liked that there was the homages to Kansas with the ruby red slippers and then, painted in the clouds, a flying-monkey and wicked witch on a broom. I was then blown away by the line! I wanted to try this place because I heard it was like Chipotle, but better; I think I may have to agree. Apparently 50+ other people thought so, as well. I went at 1:45 on a weekday thinking I had missed the lunch rush. I may have, but wow was the place still packed. I regretted not ordering online like I was going to initially, but I wanted to see everything in person before I ordered since it was my first time visiting. I proceeded to order and the employees were really outgoing, friendly, and upbeat. The place gets pretty loud with all those people in line and eating and it's a bit heard to hear the person filling your order and vice versa. Even so, they were patient and asked again until we understood each other. It slightly dampened the experience when I ordered a "little monster burrito" (I'm really small and have a really small appetite to match, ok!?), and I got a "hybrid burrito" combo instead. It was only a little bit larger, but I hate wasting food and the price was higher for the extra food I couldn't eat. It was a small mistake and it wouldn't stop me from visiting again. The food was very tasty. My rating may be more based on décor and service rather than food, but I hold a special (aka biased) place in my book for places that transport me out of Kansas City and make me feel like I'm back home in CA.
(4)Ryan G.
I wouldn't say this place is "A-OK." Just straight up "OK" seems accurate. Not bad, but also nothing special. Overall, there was a lack of flavor. I did like the atmosphere and everyone was extremely friendly. Had a brownie for dessert- was quite good. I'm willing to give this joint another try because, to be fair, I feel like I should order a few other things from the menu. The tacos, perhaps, would be more my speed. This would be a welcome discovery because I really want to like this place. It's worth giving a couple shots.
(2)Roshelle H.
I was excited to try this place after having a good experience in Austin, but was disappointed with the food. Even though they have so many different offerings to customize your meal (i.e. cayenne tortilla = yum!), I was really bummed my burrito was so bland. And I also thought it was expensive compared to the competition -- though they offer more size choices, the standard "Freebird" is definitely smaller than Chipotle's one-size burrito. The service was super friendly. My meal wasn't horrible, but there are other burritos out there I'd rather eat; I'd be open to giving this place one more try if I'm in the area, in hopes I just ordered the wrong combination of things.
(2)Paul M.
The food tastes flat, the restaurant is awkward and uncomfortable, and the prices are just a little too high. There was little actual flavor in the food. Oh, the salsa has some "heat" to it, but "heat" does not necessarily equate to "flavor" as this place has proven. I got my order and looked for a place to pay. I saw a bar. I saw no other cash registers. I stood over by the bar while the bartender talked to another guy. Then the bartender left. I stood there a while. She didn't come back. I sat down to eat. Eventually I figured out that she is the only cashier and I was supposed to wait there before eating. Very difficult to navigate. The food itself wasn't repulsive. If I was hungry and it was free I'd eat it, but in terms of actual flavor there was a lot to be desired. On the plus side, it appeared clean and the food was edible. That always accounts for at least a star, doesn't it? If I was looking for a place to go drink beer, this would be okay. But a place for lunch or dinner? I'll skip it.
(2)LeAnn A.
Yum Yummy is all I have to say. I really enjoy this burrito joint because you are given choices. from the type of tortilla to the many different sizes. If you know and have been to Chipotle this is similar, but I find Freebird to be much better. I like flavor and I feel that you can get that with all the different options you have for the fillings with Freebirds burrito. Some fillings include (lettuce, tomatoes, pico, bacon, cheese, cheese sauce, onions and much more) If you wanting dessert they have a pretty good Pot Brownie (not the best brownie ever in my opinion, but it did hit the spot.)
(4)Alice H.
People always have to choose... Chipotle or Free Birds? No hesitation I choose Chipotle because of the consistent quality... And fresh guacamole. I question the competition when Free Birds squeezes my guac out of a plastic tube. Nachos sounded good at the time but I think I would choose Taco Bell's over theirs and that is saying something.
(2)Allyssa C.
Besides the long line, the food was awesome. You basically have the same employee from start to finish make your burrito, so there is no "assembly line". Also, an employee came around asking if anyone wanted refills and asked how the food was.. that was nice. Will return for options.
(4)Joel M.
Arrived at 950 pm Friday night and the doors were locked? ! There was a group of 6 -8 kids standing behind the counter *hanging out and eating* The hours said open until 10 on the door, 1030 on yelp regardless these punks closed shop early and we're milking the clock. Oh millenials....always so impressive. .
(1)Matt K.
I'm a fan of Freebird...I've told countless people that they're far superior to Chipotle, and the food still is...but the online ordering experience? That's a whole other story. I had about 10 minutes to spare for lunch today, so I went online to place a carry out order. That process was perfect. Placed my order and hopped in my car, expecting to be in and out with no problems. When I got there, there appeared to be ONE guy working behind the counter, serving the one customer in the store before me. I went to the register area, right below the "pick up here" sign, and waited. Then, I waited. Also, I waited. Then, just for good measure, I waited. Finally someone comes over and asks if I was picking up an order, and brings it up on the register. At this moment, I realized that they hadn't even started on my order. Had I not already paid for it online, I would have walked out, but since I was already financially invested in this lunch, I opted to stay and wait. I watched people trickle in to place their lunch orders...it was now about 20 minutes since I had placed my online order. At the same time, another trickle of what I presume to be employees began entering the store from a side door, none of them in much of a hurry...except the one guy that was apparently taking a huge catering order out for delivery...even he wasn't moving with much urgency. A couple that had come in AFTER I had physically entered the store was being waited on, and had gotten their order up to the register...all while I still waited. I was assuming that placing an order ONLINE would give it priority to folks entering off the street that arrived AFTER that order...is that not reasonable? All in all, it was about 30 minutes from the time I placed my order online and walked out with my food in hand. I had to scramble to get back to work, then had to wolf down my lunch while I resumed my work. Didn't get to really enjoy my lunch. The only thing that saved this review from being one star is the fact that I still like the food. However, if service is going to be this bad from now on, I guess I'll have to find another go-to place when the mood for a giant burrito strikes me. And that's sad, because when this place opened, it was GREAT...great service, quick in-and-out ordering...but today, they did not hold up that standard. I hope it's not a sign of what this store has become, because complacency in convenience is not good for the long-term health of a lunch spot.
(2)Henry J.
Walked in yesterday at 8:40pm. Thought they were open until 10:00pm, hours on the door said 9:00pm. There was one customer getting a burrito. The guy making it was literally scraping the pans of the last bits of ingredients to make it. Gross. Close earlier if you're not going to have enough stuff to serve until your closing time. I turned around, walked out & went to Chipotle.
(1)Agraj J.
Similar to chipotle. loved their choices of tortillas.
(4)Stephen H.
I really like Matt E.'s characterization of Freebird as a disordered Chipotle. It's delicious, with more options that add up to more interesting flavor profiles, across your standard "bowl, burrito, taco" triad. They also offer dessert (how you would have room after eating one of these things). I've always said Qdoba was Chipotle with queso. Freebird is Chipotle with bacon. And garlic. And way more stuff.
(4)Ben W.
First time I went I wasn't all that impressed. I'm glad I didn't give up there! This place is FAR SUPERIOR to Chipotle menu wise, there is no question about that. They have ground beef and queso for crying out loud! For that reason alone I go to Freebirds before Chipotle every time unless someone else insists on buying Chipotle. I live very close to this location and have for almost 2 years. The staff has always been friendly, helpful, and out-going. I have never had to wait long for my food to be made and rang up. I have never used their online ordering but they do have that option as well. They have a good selection of drinks and their POT BROWNIES are a must have! I'm not sure if they are still called Pot Brownies, haha, but their brownies are a must get! Try this place out some time, I assure you that the food will not disappoint!!!
(5)Dawn R.
I really don't get what all the negative reviews are about. I was visiting my daughter, and we were out shopping and got hungry so she suggested we stop in. I'd never heard of this place, and always like to try new places, so why not? Yes, the setup is similar to Chipotle, but you have a lot more options. I was very pleased with the quality and quantity of the food (spinach/mushroom quesadilla), and the atmosphere was fun and funky. I mean, where else will you see a motorcycle riding statue of liberty suspended from the ceiling? I'd definitely go back the next time I'm in town, and would recommend it to anyone looking for something quick and casual.
(4)Alyssa R.
All I can say is Meh. I don't know if my family hyped this place up or what, but I was not impressed. First off, apparently there is one stereotype that is allowed in this joint....Hipster. I have nothing against the style but don't look at me funky as I am wearing athletic shorts and a comfy T. I was being judged like crazy. I am not sure if it was just the location or what, but I had to get out quickly. For the food.... ehhhh. It was different that they had spicy rice, refried beans, and assorted sizes & flavors of tortillas but the food wasn't all that good. I got the chicken freebird burrito and I ate it. That's pretty much it. I wasn't craving more nor have I craved it since but I will eat it if I have to.
(2)Tania M.
This place reminds me of a hippie version of Chipotle. I actually thought their burritos were better, as well as sauces and guacamole, which is saying a lot because I LOVE Chipotle's guacamole. I would definitely visit and check it out, compare it to Chipotle, and see which you like better. I would visit all the time if I could, but I love by a Chipotle, so I find myself going there more often, simply because well, it's down the street. If I had to pick between the two, I'd be at Freedbird's though...
(4)Beth P.
Freebirds seems to have really polarized the local Yelpers. I'm definitely on the side of the fans though. We used to have coworkers run to IV for Freebirds for the crew all the time when I worked in Santa Barbara, and was *really* excited when this one opened near me. I love the multiple tortilla types, the Spanish rice option (which goes great for the kid who reacts badly to too much cilantro too!), the queso, dark & light chicken options, and the tortilla chips! I can see where some would prefer Chipotle over Freebirds, but I've had better results here myself. Generally the meat has been fresher and less dry, there are more veggie options, and the line moves pretty quick. Plus, it still feels more like I'm supporting the "local guys" since they are from SB.
(4)Kerry P.
I really don't understand all the hype about this place. I gave this place twice too many chances, and each time I've been sadly disappointed by their food. To start off, the menu is confusing.. way too many options for a simple and practical consumer. I like options but this was just was too overwhelming. So the both times I've eaten here, I've ordered the bowl and have tried the pork carnitas and the steak. (on separate occasions) I was disappointed that they didn't serve brown rice here so opted out of getting rice entirely..bummer cuz I love my rice. After all, I'm Asian! The ordering process here is similar to Chipotle... cafeteria style and you tell the staff what add-ins you want. So we get to the add-ins and I panic as I'm slapped with way too many choices. They have way too many sauces and honestly, neither of them really all that great. But maybe it just didn't pair well with what I had? I dunno... Also, the meat was okay, each a little dry and too piecey for my preferences. (I prefer chipotle's meat) This place just wasn't doing it for me. If you like a place with a bunch of options, then you've came to the right place. But the food is very subpar. 2 stars because it's not terribly bad... but it's certainly not that great.
(2)Richard L.
The best way to describe The Freebirds vs. Chipotle debate is to compare them to Microsoft vs. Apple. Freebirds/Microsoft offer a large number of products which are functional but don't aspire to greatness. Chipotle/Apple offer a limited selection but executes them with the highest precision and consistency. My few Freebirds experiences have been mediocre at best. The staff were usually more interested in socializing with one another and showing off their fancy tattoos than actually serving customers in a quick and timely manner.
(2)Matt E.
So Imagine Guy Fieri were to eat a Chiptole. Not a chipotle BURRITO, mind you. An entire brick and mortar store. Then imagine he chugs a handle of Sammy Hagar's Cabo Wabo tequila, and then procceeds to vomit it all out, restructuring itself into a new burrito shop. What you'd get is Freebird World Burrito. This place is seriously obnoxious. So why four stars? Because as much as the atmosphere makes me want to stab my eyes and ears out, that was one tasty burrito! Like Chipotle, this is one of those burrito factory-line establishments, only with a just stupid umber of options. Four sizes of burritos (the largest looking like something off of Man vs Food), four types of tortillas, and that's all before you even decide what goes in it! Multiple proteins, two rice varieties, three cheese options, and then toppings out the wazoo. You can definitely customize a delicious meal for yourself, and that's not even considering the salad or bowl options. Plus, the burrito is incredibly structurally sound, which can be my complaint at other burrito shacks. The food here is tasty and legit. But here's the rub: you actually have to go inside the place to get the food. You have to subject yourself to ska covers of Van Morrison, awful imitations of tattoo art signage, and just a general celebration of all things low-brow. The staff is friendly, but looks like they'd be more comfortable working at Pac Sun or Hot Topic. So maybe I'm a snob, I'll take the label. But I'd rather hang out in the nice, crisp, minimalist Chipotle than this Disneyland version of someplace that belongs on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. If you're the kind of person that likes to call places "money", then you'd probably think Freebird is money. I think it's a delicious product that I'll take to go.
(4)Kasi W.
I chose to ignore my friends advice and check out Freebird World Burrito because I was optimistic. However, my friends were right, and I was thoroughly unimpressed. Obviously, everyone is inclined to compare Freebird to Chipotle but rightfully so. The two chains are very similar, but Chipotle is the clear winner in my opinion. The only advantage Freebird has is the options it provides for different burrito sizes and add ins. However, the quality and flavor of the food left much to be desired. I ordered the vegetarian burrito and chose Spanish rice, fajita veggies, black beans, and guacamole as my add ins. The guacamole and rice had very little flavor, but what I was most disappointed in were the vegetables. The mix was 90% onions that were pretty much raw. I like to try things before I knock them, and I'm glad I tried Freebird World Burrito, so I can say from personal experience that it's not all that great.
(2)Claudia S.
This place is good enough, but not that exciting to me. Prices seem high and just not that special. This time I got nachos to go. She packaged the chips separately and I ate those nachos for about 3 days... it was a HUGE portion. It was pretty tasty, but something still just doesn't make me want to go back very often.
(3)Michael R.
I've eaten at Freebird several times, and I have enjoyed my food every time. Yes, it's similar to Chipotle, but with a few differences. First of all, there are a few more options--different kinds of tortillas, different sizes of burritos, and two different kinds of rice, cilantro lime and Spanish. It's also a slightly different flavor, with a lot more of a cilantro taste. For my friends who can't stand cilantro, this is a major negative, but personally I really like the flavor. The salsas I've had, the tomatillos and pico de gallo, are really good. They have a barbecue sauce, which to me sounds just...wrong, but more power to them for the variety. I also like that they have a soda machine both in the waiting line area and on the other side by the register, so you can get your beverage while you wait and then refill it on the other side. Which brings me to my big negative of Freebird's--the wait. As in "be prepared to." It's similar to Chipotle in that you go down a counter where they load your burrito (or salad or tacos or whatever) as you watch. Unfortunately, it is nowhere near as fast as Chipotle. I hope that this is just because they're fairly new and still working out the kinks. I would be interested in going to the location in Lawrence, which has been there awhile, to see if it is any better. The staff is nice, don't get me wrong, but it definitely isn't speedy.
(3)Jen D.
I appreciate what Freebird is trying to be, a hip, fun place to enjoy a quality burrito, but I am underwhelmed with their execution. As another reviewer mentioned, they have various size options for burritos, which is cool. The unfortunate factor is that regardless of choosing the smallest or largest size, you get the same size tortilla. So if you order a small burrito, you have excess tortilla. I do however, like the option of different flavors of tortillas, I believe they had spinach, sundried tomato, and regular white flour tortillas. The line was a cluster. Instead of waiting patiently for the person in front of you to complete their order, at Freebird, it's a free-for-all and you line jump. Meaning if the person in front of you is getting beans, and you just want salsa, you skip in front of them, and quite frankly, it's just a cluster. We took our food to go, and because the music was so blaringly loud this probably wouldn't be a place where I sat down to eat if I wanted to actually hold a conversation with my dining partner. Besides the organization and the overwhelming stimulus overload, the food was decent. Not sure I will convert over, BUT... They do have a rewards card... and apparently they have happy hour option, which I believe is an order of nachos and a margarita for 8$....
(3)Ryan M.
There's always the obvious comparison to Chipotle. The reason I go here over Chipotle is when I want nachos or a little more variety in my burrito. They also have kids-eat-free on Monday and Tuesday. Their service is spotty and the dining room is just small enough as well as being oddly configured that it can be tough to dine-in sometimes. I would definitely question some of the ways they provide service but that ship has sailed. I like it and we go there regularly.
(3)Andrew M.
This place has a lot of potential to be a viable alternative to Chipotle, which I have grown tired of over the years. There are more than enough choices of burrito fixings here to make things interesting, but both times I have eaten at this particular location I have found it to be very chaotic. One employee will start taking your order then they will follow you down the line all the way, rather than the typical assembly line service like at Chipotle. I've just found it to be inefficient and confusing. If they can make ordering less hectic then I would probably bump my rating up. However, they'll remain at three stars for the time being.
(3)Vanessa N.
Initial thought before I even walked in were that the décor was awesome. The door handles being motorcycle handlebars were pretty cool. I love the Lady Liberty on a motorbike, wearing ruby red slippers and a burrito in one hand. Very cool. I felt like I was in San Diego at a burrito shop by the beach. I liked that there was the homages to Kansas with the ruby red slippers and then, painted in the clouds, a flying-monkey and wicked witch on a broom. I was then blown away by the line! I wanted to try this place because I heard it was like Chipotle, but better; I think I may have to agree. Apparently 50+ other people thought so, as well. I went at 1:45 on a weekday thinking I had missed the lunch rush. I may have, but wow was the place still packed. I regretted not ordering online like I was going to initially, but I wanted to see everything in person before I ordered since it was my first time visiting. I proceeded to order and the employees were really outgoing, friendly, and upbeat. The place gets pretty loud with all those people in line and eating and it's a bit heard to hear the person filling your order and vice versa. Even so, they were patient and asked again until we understood each other. It slightly dampened the experience when I ordered a "little monster burrito" (I'm really small and have a really small appetite to match, ok!?), and I got a "hybrid burrito" combo instead. It was only a little bit larger, but I hate wasting food and the price was higher for the extra food I couldn't eat. It was a small mistake and it wouldn't stop me from visiting again. The food was very tasty. My rating may be more based on décor and service rather than food, but I hold a special (aka biased) place in my book for places that transport me out of Kansas City and make me feel like I'm back home in CA.
(4)Ryan G.
I wouldn't say this place is "A-OK." Just straight up "OK" seems accurate. Not bad, but also nothing special. Overall, there was a lack of flavor. I did like the atmosphere and everyone was extremely friendly. Had a brownie for dessert- was quite good. I'm willing to give this joint another try because, to be fair, I feel like I should order a few other things from the menu. The tacos, perhaps, would be more my speed. This would be a welcome discovery because I really want to like this place. It's worth giving a couple shots.
(2)Roshelle H.
I was excited to try this place after having a good experience in Austin, but was disappointed with the food. Even though they have so many different offerings to customize your meal (i.e. cayenne tortilla = yum!), I was really bummed my burrito was so bland. And I also thought it was expensive compared to the competition -- though they offer more size choices, the standard "Freebird" is definitely smaller than Chipotle's one-size burrito. The service was super friendly. My meal wasn't horrible, but there are other burritos out there I'd rather eat; I'd be open to giving this place one more try if I'm in the area, in hopes I just ordered the wrong combination of things.
(2)Troy O.
Yes you will wait. Its a brand new restaurant and its WELL WORTH THE WAIT. Its so far above other burrito joints like Chipotle. You get far more options. From white or dark chicken, steak, pork and other proteins, several rice and bean options to all of the veggies you get to choose from makes this the most individual burrito restaurant ever. The 1st drink station is placed half way through the line so you can get a beverage and then refill it at the 2nd one just opposite of the register. So smart! They have a ton of folks working right now and as you go through the line and I think part of their style is to make a personal connection. Some of their employees are great at it, some aren't. The ones who aren't can come off awkward or even rude. Overall this place moves the huge line VERY fast and the food is as good as you can get in a quick service restaurant.
(5)Andrew C.
Went on a Week day around 530pm , there was no line ..infact there was only 2 people sitting in this place. NOT a good sign since this place just opened. When i got up to the counter i felt rushed and the guy kept moving, he didnt even offer anything else....Looks like they hired High School Kids..and some of them didnt look clean..so i feel thats important when seving food. i wouldnt want a tatooed, nose piereced teenager with painted black nails serving my food...its all about presentationa and appearance. the burrito was even bland..no flavor to anything actually. I'd rather go to subway a few doors down.
(2)The M.
I used to be a Chipotle elitist until I reluctantly tried Freebirds. I haven't had Chipotle since. This place has many more options, many more flavors, and larger portions. Chipotle always has the same base of flavors and is extremely repetetive. On top of theat, the service is very friendly and helpful, as opposed to Chipotle where most employees don't even speak english. Ignore the Chipotle fanboys and try it for yourself.
(5)Michelle F.
Picked up two orders that had been placed online. The online ordering system was smooth and they called to confirm the order, there also 2 email confirmations. I walked right up to the counter to pick up, and other than a register snafu (solved quickly, the kind of thing that will come with experience I'm sure), it was all good. I arrived at work and both orders were 100% accurate. My coworker raved over his hybrid-size burrito and I was amazed and the size of my nachos. Generous toppings I tell ya. Everything tasted great. Freebirds, you've got another fan.
(4)Billie H.
Initially walking in I saw a sign in line that said there was a 15 minute wait and to get a margarita to enjoy while you wait. This worried me, but I didn't want to go get a margarita and then have to start over in line. The line actually moved a long quite quickly. Looking at the menu board while moving through the line I was a bit overwhelmed, there are a lot of choices! I couldn't help staring at the size of the monster burrito wondering who would possibly eat that thing! I can eat, but that would kill me! You start with 4 varieties of tortillas, 2 varieties of rice, 3 different bean options, and then too many to count options. I really like the options, but the fast moving and loud environment make it really hard to hear what is being said and trying to figure out what you want. Some labeling of the products would probably help out tremendously. Be careful of the additional costs, bacon, extra cheese, queso, sour cream, guac, and avocado. Personally I think most of these are ridiculous as they are standard on many people's choices for burritos. I got a carnitas burrito on a spinach tortilla. I can't tell you what all I got on it because it was so hard telling what everything was and hearing the lady helping me. I think I had some corn salsa, cilantro, cilantro rice, black beans, cheddar/jack cheese, some kind of hot sauce, lettuce, bacon, and queso. Whatever the final combination was, it was pretty good. I did get a chunk of pork that was way over cook and very hard and chewy, but other than that it was good. The set up of the restaurant is awful. I recommend getting your order to go because there is very limited seating unless you want to sit outdoors and with winter coming that isn't looking good. They have many multi person seating options, with a giant table that looked to seat 8 if not more, yet the place seemed to have mostly couples eating there. You can plan to sit with people you don't know, which is good for meeting people, but if out with your significant other grabbing a bite before a movie, not to cozy. There are few tables to even choose from if you do want to cozy up with someone. Most of the restaurant is set up for the serving area and drink, pay station. Whoever designed the restaurant should be fired. The cost is extremely high, I paid over $12 for a freebird sized burrito and a 16 oz draft beer with a terribly large head. Even though a little chilly, I sat outside, because there wasn't any other option and I didn't want to eat in my car. There was another young man sitting out there. The best part of the experience didn't come from the service, food, environment of the restaurant, but from the young man outside. As he was leaving he offered me a cookie saying he had ordered it, but decided he didn't want it. Such a thoughtful young man and a kind gesture and he really made my night. Overall, the variety is good and the food ok, the atmosphere and price sucks. If you watch for the nickel and dime of additional add ones and stick with a water you will be ok. Also, look online to get an idea of what you want before you go, trying to decide once there is a mess. The simplicity and deliciousness of Chipotle may just be a better option. (I marked this as not good for kids because of the poor and limited seating, there just isn't room for children to be running around.)
(3)Thomas A.
I've been to this location twice. It is located in a train wreck of a complex of fast food. Like the Fast Food god got sick and barfed out a big mess right on the edge of Mission and SPLAT, there was Chik-Fil-A, Freebird, Culvers, Panera, Subway and others. A big mess to get in and out of sometimes. Freebird can be kind of a trainwreck getting through it in a decent amount of time. Sometimes, the people making your order are disorganized and/or not paying attention to what they're doing, or in a huge rush when sometimes, you just have to be patient and take things as they come in order to establish some kind of consistency. Occasionally, a manager or lead will come out and bark some orders and everyone starts marching back into their assigned steps. It is an assembly line as others have said, like Chipotle except way better than Chipotle and their burrito chocks better used to keep cars with faulty brakes from rolling down a hill. These are actually tasty and the fillings are ample and delicious, not just bits and pieces of meat and other goodies decorating a big glob of rice and beans. I like to get the orange tortilla, I think it is a chile or pepper type tortilla and I prefer the beef fillings. I order the second largest which is quite enough for me but there are sizes that would please King Kong or Mama Cass (RIP). The price is decent. My only complaint is, if it's busy, it's slow and disorganized. Hopefully, experience will help the crew manage their operation more efficiently. I will definitely be back.
(3)Longorious L.
Does anyone have taste buds that ACTUALLY work? I'm beginning to think that people in the Midwest are so deprived of good food that their palettes are conditioned to think mediocrity is a good thing. Freebirds isn't "trying" to be anything - it's an already well-established hipster, burrito joint in Texas and California with quite the following. It's not Freebirds fault they couldn't find the right type of employee in KC. All those things you find wrong w/ the place (moving ahead in line), people elsewhere understand that's what makes the place awesome. And for the record, you don't get the same size burrito regardless of what size tortilla you get. The only thing Mission location is lacking is speed and personality. That comes from the staff. With that being said, Cabo Bobs in Austin is even better than Freebirds. So go there if you're ever in ATX.
(5)T C.
Ok, so it wasn't bad, but I'm a die hard Chipotle fan....SORRY! I saw a lot of choices on the menu (a tad bit overwhelming), but as I got to the assembly counter, not all the choices where there. My only complaint is while I was was standing next to the kitchen window, I noticed the man cutting meat with no gloves. I also saw him, wipe down a cutting board with a very nasty looking rag and then toss it back in the dirty water. He put that board away and grabbed another funky looking cutting board and proceeded to cut meat on there. I hope on my next visit I see a change in that area. I won't rush back in, as it's 45 minutes away from me, but if I'm in the area, I would definitely stop in again. BTW, the staff was super friendly.
(3)Ken D.
Okay, I love burritos, so I had to check this place out. The pork was SALTY. I love salt. I eat too much salt, but this was over the top. We pointed this out to the manager and he said a lot of people think the pork is too salty but he cannot do anything about it as he gets his pork already seasoned. Everyone said the chicken was not so great, so I tried the pork. Yuck Noise level is high. The people working there were very nice.
(1)Jeremy N.
Meh, describes it just perfectly. Freebird is more disappointing than anything. I was surprised how long this place had long lines, but once I decided to go here I quickly found out why. Their queue area sucks, and needs some fixing. All the wait is because people can't decide what the hell they want on their burrito. As for the food, I like the fact that there are lots of options but that is where the greatness stops. The food presentation reminds me way too much of bad cafeteria food something along the lines of high school cafeteria. The food is just as bland as well. This must be one of those places where food comes in big clear bags and they just boil them in water to heat the contents and then place on the steam table. I might have to give this place a second chance but I'll keep going to Chipotle where I know I can get in and out and expect my food will have some taste. That said if you like cafeteria food and over whelming amounts of choices to pile on then this is the place for you.
(2)Hannie D.
First of all, I am a former resident of Austin, and a big FB fan. I was completely excited for FB to open in KC. I find Chipotle bland in comparison. But, this place needs to get it together. I understand that when a new place opens, there may be a period of time during which they are overwhelmed by business and customers will experience a wait. But it has been several weeks, and they are still slow, and the wait is still way too long. Both times I have been to this FB, they have run out of ingredients. The place is generally a mess, and there are always a couple or three employees standing around, looking sort of useless, but chipper. Meanwhile, you wait 20 minutes or more for beans to get slapped in a tortillas. Secondly, not sure if they adjusted their recipes for a milder Midwest or something, but BORING. Something is missing from those delicious burritos they served up in both of the Austin locations I frequented almost weekly for three years.
(2)Laura H.
This review is based almost entirely on my experience, not on the food, a circumstance necessitated by the fact that I was unable to get food I wanted. The one experience I did have with something ingestible was a soda - which was a little flat. The restaurant was busy yesterday, which I expected. I did not mind the 23-minute wait to get to the counter. I built the first part of my burrito bowl - and it looked quite tasty. But when it came time to add the toppings, we ran into trouble. I asked for roasted garlic - but they were out. The kid apologized and said they had been busy. I asked for corn salsa - but sorry, out of that, too. Again, the kid explained they'd been SOOO busy they couldn't keep up. I could wait, but it would be another ten minutes, if they actually had any more, which he was not sure of. I asked for Cilantro - they had it, and a few sparse leaves were sprinkled onto my naked-looking entree. I asked for grilled limes - but they were out. Oh, in case you were wondering - it's 'cause they'd been busy (this time that excuse was accompanied by a shrug). That was the third strike, and I saw no reason to get a meal that was missing almost everything I wanted it to include, so I told the kid thanks, politely, but that I was going to pass. He looked truly surprised and said "You don't want this?" I said "no," and he seemed to get mad. I made my way to the cashier, flat soda in hand, and waited in line. The girl asked me what I needed, and I explained I just needed to pay for my soda. She asked me where my food was, as if I was hiding it in my pocket, trying to get away with something. I explained that they were out of three things I wanted on my meal, and she asked which things. No apology - but she was at least curious as to what had been missing. I told her. Then she let me pay for my drink - a somewhat surprising $2.99 - and she, too, told me they'd been busy. Her partner, the other cashier, asked what had happened, and she told her, and the other cashier also nodded and said they'd been realllllly busy. I left with no intention of ever returning. When your big comparison to Chipotle (which is juts down the street) is the number of choices you offer, you kinda need to have those choices on-hand. So first, I would not make a customer who waited 23 minutes to find out they did not have the food he/she wanted to pay for a soda. In fact, I'd have offered a coupon for a discounted or free meal just to get them to come back - but that's just me. Except that it's NOT just me, based on the story's epilogue: I'd now spent 2/3 of my 1 hour lunch not actually getting lunch. I ran to the Sonic just down the way and ordered food and an iced tea. The tea was ready at the window, but I had to wait for less than two minutes for my food. After the first one minute of wait, the gal came to the window, apologized for the delay, and provided not an excuse, but a coupon for a free drink. Now, that may not seem like much, but it demonstrated respect for me as a customer, and a desire for me to come back in spite of not getting the service they clearly expected to be able to deliver. I was so pleased I asked for the manager and told her the story. She said "Yeah, we've been a little worried that we'd lose business to them." Not if Freebird keeps being too "busy" to stock food or train employees on good customer care. ADDENDUM 7/24/2012: Bryce Katz, Director of Operations for the group that operates FREEB!RDS (apparently I've been "spelling" it wrong), emailed me to apologize for the above experience. Turns out that on top of everything else I was overcharged for my soda - it should have been $1.89 instead of $2.99. The email was nice, though a bit excuse-heavy (why can't people just say "we screwed up"?), and he offered to send me a coupon for a free burrito (or I can use it for a bowl) so I can review the food as well (no mention of a refund for my soda, though). I'll take him up on it and post the result here.
(1)Lola S.
We stood in line for at least 15 minutes. There were a ton of ingredients to pick from so it looked like the wait would be worth it. When I got to the end of the line, I realized I had no sour cream or avocado in my burrito bowl. I asked for both, and was charged for each. Charged for sour cream!? With out it my bowl consisted of chicken, rice, cheese and beans. The meal was so gross I didn't even want to eat it. Whoever said the chicken tasted like it came from a can was spot on! It tasted like canned chicken. There was no flavor at all. I had to force myself to eat it bc it was so expensive, I felt bad not trying to finish it. Blandest meal I've ever had. Very disappointing, the deor is nice but that is the only thing saving this place. Will not return!
(1)Michelle M.
Really, 20 minute line for bowling alley food? And not good bowling alley food. Really LOUD inside. The line was out the door and it took forever. I love mission style burritos, but this is not fresh, or gourmet. We order two taco meals. One steak which was not steak to was shredded beef, and pork, out of sour cream and tomatillo salsa. The tacos came with salsa and chips, the chips where killed with Iodized salt. Why are there 30 people working, 30 rude people, The food, well, the two bite taco was grainy mushy and bland. Pass pass pass.
(1)Morgan F.
Alright, I'll preface with: I've been spoiled my whole life and have eaten INSANE burritos since I'm from coastal California and there are literally hundreds if not thousands of AWESOME taquerias. They aren't chains, just mom and pop operations. Ok, that being said, I really got my hopes high. Freebird World Burrito, founded in California in the 80's, burritos rolled in foil, steamers for the tortillas, carne asada...but alas, SH**. This place makes Chipotle look like authentic Mexican food from a taco truck. I mean all the elements are there, but they can't quite seal the deal. All the burritos get the same size tortilla unless you order the super monster, then they use two. So if you order the hybrid (small) burrito, you're ass out and get a bunch of tortilla and not much filler. Secondly...IT'S ALL BLAND! From the rice to the meat to the "salsa". The chips should be the first indicator of what the whole place is about. According to the chips: MEDIOCRE. My first clue should have been the portion control spoons according to size of burrito you ordered and guacamole that doesn't taste like anything that gets squirted from a gun. The ordering process is crap, the line is absurd, and the kitschiness is so lame with the Harley thing and the bad food and the sensory overload of crappy vintage rock music etc. etc. I came, I ate and then realized the harsh reality of...I live in the middle of the continent and there is no demand for really awesome, authentic quality food. First clue should have been "queso". Anyway, three options for decent "fast" Mexican food: 1. Chipotle 2. The secret place you know of where there's actually Mexicans making the food from Mexican recipes 3. Make it yourself Go to a taqueria in San Francisco and this review will make perfect sense to you. I guess I'll go back to holding my breath and crossing my fingers to find a real taqueria out here. P.S. Freebirds, you steam the burrito AFTER you've rolled it in the foil! Bush League!!!
(2)Tiffany S.
OVER-RATED crappy food is what this is!! I had so many people telling me I had to go there. I did and it stinks! My burrito bowl barely had any black beans or veggies and was mostly rice. In addition, I can buy better salsa in a jar at the grocery store than they make. It is horrid. There is only one Chipotle and everyone other wanna-be is a knock-off. I will continue to eat at Chipotle where I am never disappointed.
(1)Mark D.
I've reviewed Freebird before, but this time I tried their quesadilla, with a spinach wrap and carnitas. Honestly, it was one of the best I've ever had. And it was huge. I wouldn't go unless you're actually hungry.
(4)Dana D.
Not Impressed! I had the bowl. The cilantro lime rice was sticky with no flavor. I chose white meat chicken and it was bland. The sour cream come out like whip cream not smooth and creamy like at chipotle. There was nothing I liked about this bowl. Plus it was cold. Not even the rice was warm. I will not be returning to this place especially since Chipotle is right around the corner.
(1)Stephanie W.
Was out and about trying to figure out what to get for lunch, and happened to pass by Free Bird. I had heard a few things, and knew they were from Texas, so we gave it a shot. First off the layout is really weird, with a brick wall channeling people in and about. The menu was overwhelming as well as the colossal burrito models on the wall. Deciding that a Free Bird looked about right, we ordered. One Chicken Bacon Ranch Burritto, and One Steak with Tomatillo and grilled veggies on a red wrap of some sort. We love Chipotle, so figured with the menu and pricing this was probably pretty close or better. Wrong! I could use the rice to fix holes in my driveway. Sticky and lumpy with no flavor was not the cilantro lime flavor I had hoped for today. And the promise of bacon on a burritto was very disappointing as well. Weird textured microwave like bacon was a distraction. The steak and chicken had little flavor, and the veggies were done to a strange consistency, like they were cooked then frozen, then nuked. I am pretty sure that is what happened. Flow of the restaurant is cramped and uncomfortable. This bird never got off the ground in my book. Better off in the City Market to get Burrito Bros, or chain Chipotle.
(1)Kody W.
I tried Freebirds because of the excitement of friends. So I went in and I was not impressed. I went and walked right up to order. There were a lot of choices and the size/price of burritos were interesting. Being a Chipolte fan I looked for a similar size burrito. What kinda bummed me out is how I felt upsold on extra charged toppings. Queso? Sure. Bacon? Okay, and as soon as it was placed on my burrito I heard the words 'additional charge'. But I though it would be like 50 cents so okay. Sadly it was almost two bucks for those add ons. I should have known better that there was such a thing as free bacon. All told my burrito was $9.43. It was okay and not as filling as I hoped. When I went to pay the cashier told me the price and without skipping a beat saying tips gladly appreciated. Not today, one because I hate when people basically imply that I tip them and two your burrito was almost 10 dollars. For that I'd have a complete meal at Panera or even Applebee's. Perhaps if the staff did a better job interacting with customers I would feel different. Maybe I'm the wrong clientele or just not hip enough. This is my first post on Yelp and my disappointment caused me to sign up and post.
(2)Eddie C.
Heard a lot of hype of this new burrito place, so went to try it. We went by a couple of weeks ago, but the line was out the door and did want to wait ( it was 110 and I have a 4 yr old). So today we went on an off time (Sunday 3pm) no line. I like the decor and the way the place is set up. No big on you cannot see the kitchen where the food is being made. Ordered a beef burrito. Asked for grilled veggie (out) asked for sour cream (out) they had some to replace the out, but it took some time of waiting. I don't understand their operations, but they have 30 people working there all with no clue. The cold and hot prep table was a mess and not appetizing looking. The burrito was ok. Nothing over the top. I did like the different wraps to chose from and the Spanish style rice. I probably will go again, but not wait in line if there is one.
(2)Elizabeth P.
Seriously. The two-taco deal is insane. Two tacos, chips and salsa (though I'd suggest swapping for queso) and a soda for $5. Order it online and skip the wait.
(5)Steven G.
I've been twice. Let me first say I'm impressed with the young people working there. In spite of insane lines this whole past week, they pretty much all seemed charming and enthusiastic. I don't know if they'll be able to keep that up forever, but it's worth noting. The food is different from Chipotle, way more choices, chunkier toppings, etc. I first had a taco meal made with white chicken, and though I was ready to be unhappy after the line and daunting ordering process, I thought they were pretty good. Chips and salsa, too. The second time I ordered a burrito bowl with steak, and I have to say that wasn't particularly good. The steak was salty and not stringy exactly, but a little off. The veggie and tomato toppings seemed pretty good, but overall I was thinking this is an incohesive, sodium-drenched mess. I'm not sure how many different variations I would have to try to actually figure out a mix of ingredients I'd like. Both times I've been they had run out of pot brownies, which I hear are pretty good. I did get a chocolate chip cookie one time. Completely bland and nothing special. I'll go back sometime for more white meat tacos and to try to finally snag a brownie. But I'll probably continue to frequent Chipotle.
(3)John G.
Been to this location 4 times. Every time the food was very good. The first two times the line moved fast and there were more than ample employees behind the counter that moved the line. Third visit different employees, very apathetic, and extremely slow line. Fourth visit only two people were working behind the counter preparing food and it took forever, and it was lunch time. Had I not been there with other people I would have left and gone across Jo Drive to Chipotle's and had same day service! Great food and concept, I think this location has management problems, bunch of teenagers doing their own thing. Last visit was late October 2012, won't be back because too slow. Who do they think they are, Oklahoma Joe's!
(2)Angela W.
I've eaten here 1-2 times a week since they've opened, normally take-out with my boyfriend (he loves hot stuff). Half of the time we order online and pick-up. I normally get a steak burrito or bowl with black and refried beans and about half of the veggie and salsa options. He normally gets a chicken burrito or bowl with various items on it. We like the chips and salsa, guac, queso, and the brownies. I had the ground beef once and I liked the steak better. It's not as good as every burrito joint in southern California, but is better than half of the local burritos I get in KC. I can buy it a few miles from home, go home, sit on my couch and enjoy. I can't do that at MiRanchito or Frida's so easily. I still go to Chipotle, but I prefer their carnitas and the beef at Freebirds. Also, I've noticed several comments about the staff and they've always been incredibly friendly to us from managers down to the lowest ranking person, they may hire hipsters, but everyone has always appeared to be clean that I have seen. If people with facial piercings is a problem for you, I would suggest not eating at half of the establishments in KC or the suburbs. Maybe you should even walk-in, look at the employees, and leave if you're not happy. Many of the Chipotle employees have half sleeve tattoos covering their arms if you look close enough. Also, I don't remember anytime they were out of items we wanted to buy, so maybe that was during the grand opening. Not sure.
(5)Christie M.
My experience was really disappointing. Line wasn't terrible, but wasn't exactly short either. Lots of employees that didn't seem to know what to do other than stare blankly as you asked for things. While they have lots more options than Chipotle, the tiny pinch I was given of each really didn't amount to much foodwise, especially given the price. I ended up with a carnitas bowl with the cilanto rice and various toppings and couldn't believe how greasy and flavorless everything was. Most disappointing was the pork, with a mushy consistency that wasn't at all appetizing. Next time I'm in the mood for the build-your-own Mexican chain experience, I'll be back at the Chipotle down the street. The choices may be far more limited, but at least they do everything reasonbly well.
(2)Chris C.
It's not often that I have such a disappointing experience with a restaurant that I feel the need to slam them online and tell all my coworkers to avoid the place, but Freebirds has unfortunately fit the bill this week. I didn't encounter lines at all (perhaps the initial boom is already over), but it nevertheless felt extraordinarily chaotic. The music was blaring as I tried to figure out the wall of menu options, and the hipster (read unshowered) staff was yelling playfully at each other. When I tried to place my order, I was assigned one person who hollered questions at me and reached around other staff members to assemble a chicken burrito bowl for me. I definitely didn't feel like I knew fully what the options were and what got communicated, and I felt that perhaps that's why my food was so terribly tasteless. I wondered if I didn't hear when my hipster hollered a seasoning option. Reading other reviews, I'm clearly not alone in finding the food incredibly bland. Grainy cubes of unseasoned chicken, globby rice.... nothing positive at all to report. And charging for sour cream is a sin. A SIN, sir. I took the food to go, because I was already developing a headache in there. At the register I paid a ridiculous price, received no thank you or even eye contact after I handed my money over. I could forgive some lapses (it seems the registers were confusing and/or slow for the staff), but I cannot justify returning to a place with such poor food. Bottom line: poor food, poor experience, and way overpriced.
(1)Lisa T.
I went a few weeks ago, about 8:00 on a week night, and waited about 25 minutes in line... starving. Got to the ordering point and ordered a veggie burrito bowl. As I progressed through the confusing mass of people, I couldn't see what the options even were and the chick was not helpful at all. Being VEGAN, I was most looking forward to a big scoop of guac on my VEGGIE burrito bowl (which ended up being rice, lettuce, some chunks of tomatoes, and some kernels of corn)... only to watch in horror as they squirted out a 2 inch turd looking amount of 'guac' onto my already pathetic 'burrito bowl'. Seriously, the bowl was like half empty, but she went ahead and wrapped it up anyway. When I got home, I tasted it and discovered that it was quite bland. So, not only was it only half there, but it was pretty tasteless. I ended up adding my OWN ingredients from my fridge/cupboards just so I would have enough food for a complete meal! Really disappointing and I don't plan on going back any time soon.
(2)Kipp K.
I'm really conflicted in writing this review--this place is great when they can get it right. Unfortunately, they're maddeningly inconsistent at doing so. I've been several times, but today was my last. On three separate occasions they've had issues with major ingredients. The first time was a few months back, and they had run out of their cilantro lime rice. They informed me it was going to be 20 minutes before they had more ready to go. At the time they hadn't been open for very long, and I was willing to overlook the issue. The manager also bent over backwards and comped me the meal, which was more than they needed to do and was something I really appreciated. The second time was last week. We went in on Saturday night. Though there was no line, my wife and I waited at least five minutes for anyone to acknowledge us, and several minutes more before anyone actually came to take our orders. As I started building my burrito, the guy rolling it pointed out that the cilantro lime rice wasn't very well cooked--it was wet and extremely clumpy. I'd been looking forward to having a burrito for dinner, and he assured me it didn't effect the taste, so I decided not to worry about it. As we worked further down the line I was informed they didn't have salsa (what sort of burrito place runs out of salsa?). At this point my burrito was 3/4 built, so I had them put on some extra death sauce and decided to continue on my way. I then told them I wanted guac to go with my chips--and you can probably guess what happened next. Yes--they were out of guac, too. The only option for my chips was queso--and I don't like queso--so I simply skipped the meal and only got the burrito. To add insult to this, after we sat down and started eating, other people going through the line were able to get salsa. Apparently more magically arrived after we'd been through the line. Also, despite their assurances to the contrary, the cilantro lime rice did not taste right--it was clumpy, wet, and bland--thus making the whole burrito less than delicious. Tonight was the last straw. When we walked in, there was again no line (which judging by how busy they used to be, I'm thinking is a clue that I'm not the only one having issues here). My wife ordered the taco meal and I ordered a Freebird. We hit the rice station (the first ingredient, mind you) and guess what? That's right--no cilantro lime rice. But they assured me they'd have some up in a couple of minutes. A couple minutes turned into five, and finally someone came out and informed us that it was actually going to be a lot longer than a couple minutes, as the batch of rice they were making was bad, and they'd have to start a whole new batch. My wife's tacos were already 3/4 complete at this point, so she decided to simply go without rice. I hadn't gotten past selecting my tortilla, so I told them I was opting to go elsewhere. My wife then told them twice she wanted both guac and salsa to go with her meal, and they bagged everything up and sent us to the cash register. At this point the manager came out and said he was going to take care of us because we'd waited for rice, then didn't get any. We got to the front of the line, and he disappeared into the back, never to be seen again. The cashier then helped someone with a large to-go order who arrived at the register after us and needed additional food wrapped up. Another employee then opened another cash register, and rang up an employee who was either on break or whose shift had ended--and who had been in line behind us. Tired of waiting after several minutes, once they rang up the to-go order, I simply paid for my wife's meal and left to get my own meal at Chipotle (who by the way, had all their ingredients and got me out the door in less than 5 minutes with my food). When we got home, my wife opened her to-go bag, only to discover that she didn't receive her guac. I've been able to get past the fact that this place is incredibly slow--for better or worse they want to get away from the assembly line style of their competitors in favor of providing you with your own "burrito consultant", and they seem to have major issues ringing people up after their food if finally ready--but there is clearly a more fundamental problem here than just the speed of service when they're unable to manage their staple ingredients. The food is great when they do it right, but I'm tired of gambling every time I come in on whether tonight is the night that all the stars align and I'm actually able to get the burrito built how I want it. As much as I don't want to do it, they've given me no choice but to go back to Chipotle.
(2)Carrie M.
I have been to Freebirds twice now. My first experience was by far better. My salad was tasty and different and I appreciated the vegetarian options. My second experience was horrible and now I won't go back. I went yesterday and it was about 3:30 on a Sunday and there was still a long line. No big deal I waited. I finally get up to order and I order a salad and the guy behind the counter made me awkwardly wait for 5 minutes while he and no joke, 3 other people, searched for bowls. I will make a note here, they had no less than 20 people working and they were all yelling and running around. You would think with that many people working things would be more efficient, not so. Instead all the extra people offered was more noise and occasionally interrupting your ordering process by barging in and refilling stuff on the line. Anyways, they finally find a bowl and I get lettuce and then the girl making my salad said they were just flat out of fajita veggies. I said well but there won't be anything to really put on my salad. And she just stared at me blankly. I finally decided I would lose the staring contest and just told her to put some stuff on the bed of lettuce aka cheese and salsa. Here is my problem, she never offered any other options or anything. I basically ate a salad that was boring and I could have gotten anywhere. It was annoying I paid for a pile of lettuce with salsa. As if it couldn't be a more annoying experience, I then waited another 10 minutes for her to package my salad up. I just felt like I spent thirty minutes in this whirlwind of a restaurant and got lettuce cheese and salsa for ten bucks. Definitely just going back to Chipotle.
(2)Mike J.
Good burrito with lots of choices. Get there early, line is long and slow.
(4)Abbey L.
BORRRRRRRRRRRRRRING. Seriously. No flavor in anything. I piled stuff on my burrito. I was super excited that they had queso. I'm a huge Qdoba fan and love their queso burrito so I was sold on going to this place from the moment it opened. Unfortunately for the past month the line has been out the door so I waited until last night (We still stood in line for 30+minutes). I got the "Freebird" size which is basically a Chipotle sized burrito. Ok fine. Cilantro-lime rice... no flavor. It was sticky and clumped together in a mush. Black beans, they were fine. White meat chicken, it looked questionable and I should have known better. It had NO FLAVOR and looked like it came out of a package from the grocery store. I got regular jack cheese plus queso (extra charge for queso, fine) then there was an extra charge for SOUR CREAM. Uh, not cool guys, not cool. I went with it because I was super hungry and can't handle no sour cream on Mexican food. I 'completed' my meal with an order of chips and queso and a drink and it was $13+. The queso had a really smoky flavor which normally I like, but this was too much. Like, liquid smoke dumped in it smoky flavor. I ate it anyway due to my starvingness. I ate about 3/4 of my burrito and said to hell with it. The chicken was weird. The rice was sticky/clumpy/overpowering. The manager type person came by to throw away our stuff and asked if I wanted to take the burrito with me... I said no, he kept asking and I replied with an emphatic NO and kept walking. With the amount of buzz about this place and the HUGE line I always see there I expected more. It made me homesick for Chipotle and Qdoba (which I can only get when I go to Springfield) and at about double the price I doubt I'll be going back anytime soon. It's a good effort, just too short of the mark. Sorry, guys.
(2)Dev V.
I had heard great things about Freebird before finally having a chance to stop in this afternoon for lunch. The previous day I was a Chipotle and the line was unusually short, so that prompted me even more to go try Freebird since it seemed to be the only logical explanation why Chipotle down the street seemed slow at 12:15. First impressions when I walked in was that there were a lot of menu options (bowls, salads, tacos, burritos, sides, toppings and varied sizes). Also that they are really trying to be hip by hiring hipsters (there were no shortage of lip and nose piercings here). We ordered bowls, sat down and chowed down. First thing I'd note is the lack of seasoning and flavor, I found it to be very bland. I dumped hot sauce all over my bowl and that helped a little bit. Maybe I'm just not used to the lack of seasoning in comparison to their competition. It may take some getting used to, but I'd give them a C- in flavor but a B+ for effort. I mean, when a girl is bussing tables and asks if you want a margarita, that is a bonus!
(3)Grant H.
My burrito consisted of: Cayenne tortilla, chicken, queso, cilantro rice, black beans, lime juice, red onions, corn, hot tomatillo sauce and guacamole. While I appreciated the abundance of choices, it seemed that everything was bland. Nothing was seasoned and the hot tomatillo was in Taco Bell hot range (aka not hot). I couldn't really detect any flavor difference between the ingredients, only thing that gave a hint of flavor was the cayenne tortilla. I plan on giving it another shot and trying the carnitas as I've heard about a few good experiences with people ordering that protein option. In my opinion, Chipotle is a far better options for fast-casual burrito options.
(2)Veronica H.
My fiance and I placed dinner our order online since we heard opening day was a madhouse. A couple hours before scheduled pick-up, I got a confirmation call which was awesome. The guy on the phone was friendly and attentive, even though it sounded chaotic on his end of the line. The food was pretty good overall. They have WAY more choices than Chipotle, which I like. Although the burrito size was smaller (for me, it was still a good size. Chipotle size is usually a bit big for me.) But they have four different sizes. So keep in mind the Freebird is slightly smaller than Chipotle. My fiance picked up the order and he said the girl at the check-out was very friendly. My fiance had ordered death sauce on the side, which was confirmed over the phone, but it was on the burrito at pick-up. They offered to remake it. However, since my fiance wanted it on the side not knowing how hot it would be, he decided that wasn't necessary when she told him it wasn't any hotter than tobasco. I enjoyed my burrito and I look forward to trying different combinations. (My fiance just told me to add that it was very satisfying walking past the 50+ people waiting in line. Place your order ahead of time! You even have the option to pay online or in-store.)
(4)Keith H.
Bland. Apparently all their energy and creativity went into hip decor, save the planet stickers, and lip peircings because the food is as boring as the day is long. Costa Vida it ain't.
(1)Mike W.
Pretty solid burrito shop. Crazy amount of options to choose from but it is not in a good location. I was served by the on duty manager but all of the other "rollers" earned sneers from the people I went with.
(3)G S.
Was just okay. When ordering the lady in front of me was taking forever to decide what she wanted so they had me skip ahead of her but then the other people I was with where behind her and it made for a mess when we got to the register to pay because she was with other people too so we all just had to stand there and wait for her to finish because they had already started to ring her group up. It's a small area and we were all just staning there holding our food waiting on her. Then we sat down and there was a table of workers (i assume mgrs by the sounds of their conversation) next to us. They had taken a chair from our table (before we got there) when there meeting was over the lady brought it over to our table and sat it by the table and said "this goes over there when you are done" Uhh you work here not me is what I wanted to tell her! I just thought it was rude, you got the chair you put it away! Food was alright, I didn't like that they charged extra for sour cream... guess i'm just used to chipolte where it is included. I think chipolte is WAY better then Freebird all around.
(3)Jared L.
Tried this for the first time today, around 1:30. Very, very slow process. Basically a clusterfu#k of a layout. We waited about 20 mins in line just to order. They need to put up a sign asking people not to take seating until they have their food. We watched people sitting in tables for 15-20 mins while others ordered their food. We stood around for about 5 mins, with our food, waiting for a table to open up. All in all, the decor and atmosphere could be pretty cool, especially once the patio opens up during warmer weather. I had a chicken bowl that was just ok, but in all fairness, I was pretty frustrated with the process of getting the food - I will probably try it again during a slow time to ensure I've given it a fair shot.
(3)Nick D.
I prefer freebirds over chipotle. Many more options and better prices. They actually have ground beef at freebirds too.
(5)Lance W.
I'm a huge mission-style burrito fan and I was hopeful that Freebird would resemble an authentic taqueria from San Francisco's Mission District. It does not... The ingredients are bland, my 9 year old son said the chicken on his quesadilla tasted like it came from a can. My burrito was equally bland, the steak tasted "Limey" but there was no spice detectable. The "Spanish rice" was bland and the salsas didn't have any kick at all. I should have known the meal was not going to be good when I saw the guacamole served from a caulk gun. Maybe my hopes were too high or I'm spoiled from the burritos i had on my trip to San Diego last week. All I know is that next time I want a burrito, I'll wait for my next flight out of KC instead of coming to Freebirds.
(2)Kam F.
I'm going to make the obvious comparison to its nearest competitor, Chipotle. First, I enjoyed all the varieties of options offered by Freebirds. Refried beans, Spanish rice, and queso as well as different sizes of burritos and different types of tortillas are a few of the differences I enjoyed over Chipotle. However, that is where the advantage ends for Freebirds. The ingredients tasted bland, I even got the medium salsa and was unimpressed with the heat and that is saying something since I think jalepenos are too spicy. Needless to say, I was excited by all the hype but I was disappointed by the execution.
(2)Beau E.
Wow! Wow! Wow! The food here kicks total ass. One hell of a belly buster burrito packed full with your custom concocted preferences. You even unwrap it like a roll of Life Savers as you work your way down to devouring it. No fuss, no muss. For being such a potentially messy disaster all over the table, your face, the floor, and everywhere else...the genius who came up with the foil wrap method deserves a medal. The pot brownie for dessert is just what the doctor ordered. If you are a choc-o-holic, it will not disappoint. HDTVs are strategically placed throughout the dining area with local sports galore all around as well as a jumbo table in the middle of the restaurant to accomodate big parties and after game team events. The margarita I got was average and the staff was a bit forlorn in appearance which are the reasons I didn't give it a 5-star rating. It's a pretty cool concept and will do just fine I am sure. FreeBirds is well worth the trip and well worth the money.
(4)Peter M.
15 min wait for a burrito. Only 2 people ahead of me. One person working. #chipotleforgiveme
(1)Jes S.
I've tried Freebird a few times now and I just can't get into it. I like the concept and the decor but the food is average at best. Yes they have a ton of options but the food is not as fresh nor tasty as Chipotle.
(2)Monica T.
Seriously most disgusting place. I got food poisoning after my first and only trip to this Chipotle wannabe restaurant. Even before I got sick the food wasn't great. Also very confusing layout as far as ordering goes. Not my fave! If you want a burrito- head to Chipotle.
(1)Larissa S.
I am a huge Chipotle-lover, so it was really hard to convince me to even give FreeBird a try! I will say that they have lots of choices and options as far as a burrito goes. There are tortilla options, rice and it goes even as far as white or dark meat for chicken! They have lots of sizes of burritos and toppings to go with. The pricing is comparable to Chipotle and they move just as quick, if you aren't behind first time FreeBirders! That being said....if you are expecting it to be like Chipotle, you will be disappointed. It doesn't hold a candle to the flavors of Chipotle. The only thing I felt like they had going for them was the topping options and decor. However, perhaps you might go into the experience with more of an open mind!
(2)Nick D.
I prefer freebirds over chipotle. Many more options and better prices. They actually have ground beef at freebirds too.
(5)Lance W.
I'm a huge mission-style burrito fan and I was hopeful that Freebird would resemble an authentic taqueria from San Francisco's Mission District. It does not... The ingredients are bland, my 9 year old son said the chicken on his quesadilla tasted like it came from a can. My burrito was equally bland, the steak tasted "Limey" but there was no spice detectable. The "Spanish rice" was bland and the salsas didn't have any kick at all. I should have known the meal was not going to be good when I saw the guacamole served from a caulk gun. Maybe my hopes were too high or I'm spoiled from the burritos i had on my trip to San Diego last week. All I know is that next time I want a burrito, I'll wait for my next flight out of KC instead of coming to Freebirds.
(2)Kam F.
I'm going to make the obvious comparison to its nearest competitor, Chipotle. First, I enjoyed all the varieties of options offered by Freebirds. Refried beans, Spanish rice, and queso as well as different sizes of burritos and different types of tortillas are a few of the differences I enjoyed over Chipotle. However, that is where the advantage ends for Freebirds. The ingredients tasted bland, I even got the medium salsa and was unimpressed with the heat and that is saying something since I think jalepenos are too spicy. Needless to say, I was excited by all the hype but I was disappointed by the execution.
(2)Beau E.
Wow! Wow! Wow! The food here kicks total ass. One hell of a belly buster burrito packed full with your custom concocted preferences. You even unwrap it like a roll of Life Savers as you work your way down to devouring it. No fuss, no muss. For being such a potentially messy disaster all over the table, your face, the floor, and everywhere else...the genius who came up with the foil wrap method deserves a medal. The pot brownie for dessert is just what the doctor ordered. If you are a choc-o-holic, it will not disappoint. HDTVs are strategically placed throughout the dining area with local sports galore all around as well as a jumbo table in the middle of the restaurant to accomodate big parties and after game team events. The margarita I got was average and the staff was a bit forlorn in appearance which are the reasons I didn't give it a 5-star rating. It's a pretty cool concept and will do just fine I am sure. FreeBirds is well worth the trip and well worth the money.
(4)Peter M.
15 min wait for a burrito. Only 2 people ahead of me. One person working. #chipotleforgiveme
(1)Jes S.
I've tried Freebird a few times now and I just can't get into it. I like the concept and the decor but the food is average at best. Yes they have a ton of options but the food is not as fresh nor tasty as Chipotle.
(2)Monica T.
Seriously most disgusting place. I got food poisoning after my first and only trip to this Chipotle wannabe restaurant. Even before I got sick the food wasn't great. Also very confusing layout as far as ordering goes. Not my fave! If you want a burrito- head to Chipotle.
(1)Paul M.
The food tastes flat, the restaurant is awkward and uncomfortable, and the prices are just a little too high. There was little actual flavor in the food. Oh, the salsa has some "heat" to it, but "heat" does not necessarily equate to "flavor" as this place has proven. I got my order and looked for a place to pay. I saw a bar. I saw no other cash registers. I stood over by the bar while the bartender talked to another guy. Then the bartender left. I stood there a while. She didn't come back. I sat down to eat. Eventually I figured out that she is the only cashier and I was supposed to wait there before eating. Very difficult to navigate. The food itself wasn't repulsive. If I was hungry and it was free I'd eat it, but in terms of actual flavor there was a lot to be desired. On the plus side, it appeared clean and the food was edible. That always accounts for at least a star, doesn't it? If I was looking for a place to go drink beer, this would be okay. But a place for lunch or dinner? I'll skip it.
(2)Abbey L.
BORRRRRRRRRRRRRRING. Seriously. No flavor in anything. I piled stuff on my burrito. I was super excited that they had queso. I'm a huge Qdoba fan and love their queso burrito so I was sold on going to this place from the moment it opened. Unfortunately for the past month the line has been out the door so I waited until last night (We still stood in line for 30+minutes). I got the "Freebird" size which is basically a Chipotle sized burrito. Ok fine. Cilantro-lime rice... no flavor. It was sticky and clumped together in a mush. Black beans, they were fine. White meat chicken, it looked questionable and I should have known better. It had NO FLAVOR and looked like it came out of a package from the grocery store. I got regular jack cheese plus queso (extra charge for queso, fine) then there was an extra charge for SOUR CREAM. Uh, not cool guys, not cool. I went with it because I was super hungry and can't handle no sour cream on Mexican food. I 'completed' my meal with an order of chips and queso and a drink and it was $13+. The queso had a really smoky flavor which normally I like, but this was too much. Like, liquid smoke dumped in it smoky flavor. I ate it anyway due to my starvingness. I ate about 3/4 of my burrito and said to hell with it. The chicken was weird. The rice was sticky/clumpy/overpowering. The manager type person came by to throw away our stuff and asked if I wanted to take the burrito with me... I said no, he kept asking and I replied with an emphatic NO and kept walking. With the amount of buzz about this place and the HUGE line I always see there I expected more. It made me homesick for Chipotle and Qdoba (which I can only get when I go to Springfield) and at about double the price I doubt I'll be going back anytime soon. It's a good effort, just too short of the mark. Sorry, guys.
(2)Larissa S.
I am a huge Chipotle-lover, so it was really hard to convince me to even give FreeBird a try! I will say that they have lots of choices and options as far as a burrito goes. There are tortilla options, rice and it goes even as far as white or dark meat for chicken! They have lots of sizes of burritos and toppings to go with. The pricing is comparable to Chipotle and they move just as quick, if you aren't behind first time FreeBirders! That being said....if you are expecting it to be like Chipotle, you will be disappointed. It doesn't hold a candle to the flavors of Chipotle. The only thing I felt like they had going for them was the topping options and decor. However, perhaps you might go into the experience with more of an open mind!
(2)Dev V.
I had heard great things about Freebird before finally having a chance to stop in this afternoon for lunch. The previous day I was a Chipotle and the line was unusually short, so that prompted me even more to go try Freebird since it seemed to be the only logical explanation why Chipotle down the street seemed slow at 12:15. First impressions when I walked in was that there were a lot of menu options (bowls, salads, tacos, burritos, sides, toppings and varied sizes). Also that they are really trying to be hip by hiring hipsters (there were no shortage of lip and nose piercings here). We ordered bowls, sat down and chowed down. First thing I'd note is the lack of seasoning and flavor, I found it to be very bland. I dumped hot sauce all over my bowl and that helped a little bit. Maybe I'm just not used to the lack of seasoning in comparison to their competition. It may take some getting used to, but I'd give them a C- in flavor but a B+ for effort. I mean, when a girl is bussing tables and asks if you want a margarita, that is a bonus!
(3)G S.
Was just okay. When ordering the lady in front of me was taking forever to decide what she wanted so they had me skip ahead of her but then the other people I was with where behind her and it made for a mess when we got to the register to pay because she was with other people too so we all just had to stand there and wait for her to finish because they had already started to ring her group up. It's a small area and we were all just staning there holding our food waiting on her. Then we sat down and there was a table of workers (i assume mgrs by the sounds of their conversation) next to us. They had taken a chair from our table (before we got there) when there meeting was over the lady brought it over to our table and sat it by the table and said "this goes over there when you are done" Uhh you work here not me is what I wanted to tell her! I just thought it was rude, you got the chair you put it away! Food was alright, I didn't like that they charged extra for sour cream... guess i'm just used to chipolte where it is included. I think chipolte is WAY better then Freebird all around.
(3)Grant H.
My burrito consisted of: Cayenne tortilla, chicken, queso, cilantro rice, black beans, lime juice, red onions, corn, hot tomatillo sauce and guacamole. While I appreciated the abundance of choices, it seemed that everything was bland. Nothing was seasoned and the hot tomatillo was in Taco Bell hot range (aka not hot). I couldn't really detect any flavor difference between the ingredients, only thing that gave a hint of flavor was the cayenne tortilla. I plan on giving it another shot and trying the carnitas as I've heard about a few good experiences with people ordering that protein option. In my opinion, Chipotle is a far better options for fast-casual burrito options.
(2)Veronica H.
My fiance and I placed dinner our order online since we heard opening day was a madhouse. A couple hours before scheduled pick-up, I got a confirmation call which was awesome. The guy on the phone was friendly and attentive, even though it sounded chaotic on his end of the line. The food was pretty good overall. They have WAY more choices than Chipotle, which I like. Although the burrito size was smaller (for me, it was still a good size. Chipotle size is usually a bit big for me.) But they have four different sizes. So keep in mind the Freebird is slightly smaller than Chipotle. My fiance picked up the order and he said the girl at the check-out was very friendly. My fiance had ordered death sauce on the side, which was confirmed over the phone, but it was on the burrito at pick-up. They offered to remake it. However, since my fiance wanted it on the side not knowing how hot it would be, he decided that wasn't necessary when she told him it wasn't any hotter than tobasco. I enjoyed my burrito and I look forward to trying different combinations. (My fiance just told me to add that it was very satisfying walking past the 50+ people waiting in line. Place your order ahead of time! You even have the option to pay online or in-store.)
(4)Keith H.
Bland. Apparently all their energy and creativity went into hip decor, save the planet stickers, and lip peircings because the food is as boring as the day is long. Costa Vida it ain't.
(1)Mike W.
Pretty solid burrito shop. Crazy amount of options to choose from but it is not in a good location. I was served by the on duty manager but all of the other "rollers" earned sneers from the people I went with.
(3)Jared L.
Tried this for the first time today, around 1:30. Very, very slow process. Basically a clusterfu#k of a layout. We waited about 20 mins in line just to order. They need to put up a sign asking people not to take seating until they have their food. We watched people sitting in tables for 15-20 mins while others ordered their food. We stood around for about 5 mins, with our food, waiting for a table to open up. All in all, the decor and atmosphere could be pretty cool, especially once the patio opens up during warmer weather. I had a chicken bowl that was just ok, but in all fairness, I was pretty frustrated with the process of getting the food - I will probably try it again during a slow time to ensure I've given it a fair shot.
(3)Vanessa N.
Initial thought before I even walked in were that the décor was awesome. The door handles being motorcycle handlebars were pretty cool. I love the Lady Liberty on a motorbike, wearing ruby red slippers and a burrito in one hand. Very cool. I felt like I was in San Diego at a burrito shop by the beach. I liked that there was the homages to Kansas with the ruby red slippers and then, painted in the clouds, a flying-monkey and wicked witch on a broom. I was then blown away by the line! I wanted to try this place because I heard it was like Chipotle, but better; I think I may have to agree. Apparently 50+ other people thought so, as well. I went at 1:45 on a weekday thinking I had missed the lunch rush. I may have, but wow was the place still packed. I regretted not ordering online like I was going to initially, but I wanted to see everything in person before I ordered since it was my first time visiting. I proceeded to order and the employees were really outgoing, friendly, and upbeat. The place gets pretty loud with all those people in line and eating and it's a bit heard to hear the person filling your order and vice versa. Even so, they were patient and asked again until we understood each other. It slightly dampened the experience when I ordered a "little monster burrito" (I'm really small and have a really small appetite to match, ok!?), and I got a "hybrid burrito" combo instead. It was only a little bit larger, but I hate wasting food and the price was higher for the extra food I couldn't eat. It was a small mistake and it wouldn't stop me from visiting again. The food was very tasty. My rating may be more based on décor and service rather than food, but I hold a special (aka biased) place in my book for places that transport me out of Kansas City and make me feel like I'm back home in CA.
(4)Ryan G.
I wouldn't say this place is "A-OK." Just straight up "OK" seems accurate. Not bad, but also nothing special. Overall, there was a lack of flavor. I did like the atmosphere and everyone was extremely friendly. Had a brownie for dessert- was quite good. I'm willing to give this joint another try because, to be fair, I feel like I should order a few other things from the menu. The tacos, perhaps, would be more my speed. This would be a welcome discovery because I really want to like this place. It's worth giving a couple shots.
(2)Roshelle H.
I was excited to try this place after having a good experience in Austin, but was disappointed with the food. Even though they have so many different offerings to customize your meal (i.e. cayenne tortilla = yum!), I was really bummed my burrito was so bland. And I also thought it was expensive compared to the competition -- though they offer more size choices, the standard "Freebird" is definitely smaller than Chipotle's one-size burrito. The service was super friendly. My meal wasn't horrible, but there are other burritos out there I'd rather eat; I'd be open to giving this place one more try if I'm in the area, in hopes I just ordered the wrong combination of things.
(2)Troy O.
Yes you will wait. Its a brand new restaurant and its WELL WORTH THE WAIT. Its so far above other burrito joints like Chipotle. You get far more options. From white or dark chicken, steak, pork and other proteins, several rice and bean options to all of the veggies you get to choose from makes this the most individual burrito restaurant ever. The 1st drink station is placed half way through the line so you can get a beverage and then refill it at the 2nd one just opposite of the register. So smart! They have a ton of folks working right now and as you go through the line and I think part of their style is to make a personal connection. Some of their employees are great at it, some aren't. The ones who aren't can come off awkward or even rude. Overall this place moves the huge line VERY fast and the food is as good as you can get in a quick service restaurant.
(5)Andrew C.
Went on a Week day around 530pm , there was no line ..infact there was only 2 people sitting in this place. NOT a good sign since this place just opened. When i got up to the counter i felt rushed and the guy kept moving, he didnt even offer anything else....Looks like they hired High School Kids..and some of them didnt look clean..so i feel thats important when seving food. i wouldnt want a tatooed, nose piereced teenager with painted black nails serving my food...its all about presentationa and appearance. the burrito was even bland..no flavor to anything actually. I'd rather go to subway a few doors down.
(2)The M.
I used to be a Chipotle elitist until I reluctantly tried Freebirds. I haven't had Chipotle since. This place has many more options, many more flavors, and larger portions. Chipotle always has the same base of flavors and is extremely repetetive. On top of theat, the service is very friendly and helpful, as opposed to Chipotle where most employees don't even speak english. Ignore the Chipotle fanboys and try it for yourself.
(5)Michelle F.
Picked up two orders that had been placed online. The online ordering system was smooth and they called to confirm the order, there also 2 email confirmations. I walked right up to the counter to pick up, and other than a register snafu (solved quickly, the kind of thing that will come with experience I'm sure), it was all good. I arrived at work and both orders were 100% accurate. My coworker raved over his hybrid-size burrito and I was amazed and the size of my nachos. Generous toppings I tell ya. Everything tasted great. Freebirds, you've got another fan.
(4)Billie H.
Initially walking in I saw a sign in line that said there was a 15 minute wait and to get a margarita to enjoy while you wait. This worried me, but I didn't want to go get a margarita and then have to start over in line. The line actually moved a long quite quickly. Looking at the menu board while moving through the line I was a bit overwhelmed, there are a lot of choices! I couldn't help staring at the size of the monster burrito wondering who would possibly eat that thing! I can eat, but that would kill me! You start with 4 varieties of tortillas, 2 varieties of rice, 3 different bean options, and then too many to count options. I really like the options, but the fast moving and loud environment make it really hard to hear what is being said and trying to figure out what you want. Some labeling of the products would probably help out tremendously. Be careful of the additional costs, bacon, extra cheese, queso, sour cream, guac, and avocado. Personally I think most of these are ridiculous as they are standard on many people's choices for burritos. I got a carnitas burrito on a spinach tortilla. I can't tell you what all I got on it because it was so hard telling what everything was and hearing the lady helping me. I think I had some corn salsa, cilantro, cilantro rice, black beans, cheddar/jack cheese, some kind of hot sauce, lettuce, bacon, and queso. Whatever the final combination was, it was pretty good. I did get a chunk of pork that was way over cook and very hard and chewy, but other than that it was good. The set up of the restaurant is awful. I recommend getting your order to go because there is very limited seating unless you want to sit outdoors and with winter coming that isn't looking good. They have many multi person seating options, with a giant table that looked to seat 8 if not more, yet the place seemed to have mostly couples eating there. You can plan to sit with people you don't know, which is good for meeting people, but if out with your significant other grabbing a bite before a movie, not to cozy. There are few tables to even choose from if you do want to cozy up with someone. Most of the restaurant is set up for the serving area and drink, pay station. Whoever designed the restaurant should be fired. The cost is extremely high, I paid over $12 for a freebird sized burrito and a 16 oz draft beer with a terribly large head. Even though a little chilly, I sat outside, because there wasn't any other option and I didn't want to eat in my car. There was another young man sitting out there. The best part of the experience didn't come from the service, food, environment of the restaurant, but from the young man outside. As he was leaving he offered me a cookie saying he had ordered it, but decided he didn't want it. Such a thoughtful young man and a kind gesture and he really made my night. Overall, the variety is good and the food ok, the atmosphere and price sucks. If you watch for the nickel and dime of additional add ones and stick with a water you will be ok. Also, look online to get an idea of what you want before you go, trying to decide once there is a mess. The simplicity and deliciousness of Chipotle may just be a better option. (I marked this as not good for kids because of the poor and limited seating, there just isn't room for children to be running around.)
(3)Thomas A.
I've been to this location twice. It is located in a train wreck of a complex of fast food. Like the Fast Food god got sick and barfed out a big mess right on the edge of Mission and SPLAT, there was Chik-Fil-A, Freebird, Culvers, Panera, Subway and others. A big mess to get in and out of sometimes. Freebird can be kind of a trainwreck getting through it in a decent amount of time. Sometimes, the people making your order are disorganized and/or not paying attention to what they're doing, or in a huge rush when sometimes, you just have to be patient and take things as they come in order to establish some kind of consistency. Occasionally, a manager or lead will come out and bark some orders and everyone starts marching back into their assigned steps. It is an assembly line as others have said, like Chipotle except way better than Chipotle and their burrito chocks better used to keep cars with faulty brakes from rolling down a hill. These are actually tasty and the fillings are ample and delicious, not just bits and pieces of meat and other goodies decorating a big glob of rice and beans. I like to get the orange tortilla, I think it is a chile or pepper type tortilla and I prefer the beef fillings. I order the second largest which is quite enough for me but there are sizes that would please King Kong or Mama Cass (RIP). The price is decent. My only complaint is, if it's busy, it's slow and disorganized. Hopefully, experience will help the crew manage their operation more efficiently. I will definitely be back.
(3)Longorious L.
Does anyone have taste buds that ACTUALLY work? I'm beginning to think that people in the Midwest are so deprived of good food that their palettes are conditioned to think mediocrity is a good thing. Freebirds isn't "trying" to be anything - it's an already well-established hipster, burrito joint in Texas and California with quite the following. It's not Freebirds fault they couldn't find the right type of employee in KC. All those things you find wrong w/ the place (moving ahead in line), people elsewhere understand that's what makes the place awesome. And for the record, you don't get the same size burrito regardless of what size tortilla you get. The only thing Mission location is lacking is speed and personality. That comes from the staff. With that being said, Cabo Bobs in Austin is even better than Freebirds. So go there if you're ever in ATX.
(5)T C.
Ok, so it wasn't bad, but I'm a die hard Chipotle fan....SORRY! I saw a lot of choices on the menu (a tad bit overwhelming), but as I got to the assembly counter, not all the choices where there. My only complaint is while I was was standing next to the kitchen window, I noticed the man cutting meat with no gloves. I also saw him, wipe down a cutting board with a very nasty looking rag and then toss it back in the dirty water. He put that board away and grabbed another funky looking cutting board and proceeded to cut meat on there. I hope on my next visit I see a change in that area. I won't rush back in, as it's 45 minutes away from me, but if I'm in the area, I would definitely stop in again. BTW, the staff was super friendly.
(3)Ken D.
Okay, I love burritos, so I had to check this place out. The pork was SALTY. I love salt. I eat too much salt, but this was over the top. We pointed this out to the manager and he said a lot of people think the pork is too salty but he cannot do anything about it as he gets his pork already seasoned. Everyone said the chicken was not so great, so I tried the pork. Yuck Noise level is high. The people working there were very nice.
(1)Jeremy N.
Meh, describes it just perfectly. Freebird is more disappointing than anything. I was surprised how long this place had long lines, but once I decided to go here I quickly found out why. Their queue area sucks, and needs some fixing. All the wait is because people can't decide what the hell they want on their burrito. As for the food, I like the fact that there are lots of options but that is where the greatness stops. The food presentation reminds me way too much of bad cafeteria food something along the lines of high school cafeteria. The food is just as bland as well. This must be one of those places where food comes in big clear bags and they just boil them in water to heat the contents and then place on the steam table. I might have to give this place a second chance but I'll keep going to Chipotle where I know I can get in and out and expect my food will have some taste. That said if you like cafeteria food and over whelming amounts of choices to pile on then this is the place for you.
(2)Hannie D.
First of all, I am a former resident of Austin, and a big FB fan. I was completely excited for FB to open in KC. I find Chipotle bland in comparison. But, this place needs to get it together. I understand that when a new place opens, there may be a period of time during which they are overwhelmed by business and customers will experience a wait. But it has been several weeks, and they are still slow, and the wait is still way too long. Both times I have been to this FB, they have run out of ingredients. The place is generally a mess, and there are always a couple or three employees standing around, looking sort of useless, but chipper. Meanwhile, you wait 20 minutes or more for beans to get slapped in a tortillas. Secondly, not sure if they adjusted their recipes for a milder Midwest or something, but BORING. Something is missing from those delicious burritos they served up in both of the Austin locations I frequented almost weekly for three years.
(2)Laura H.
This review is based almost entirely on my experience, not on the food, a circumstance necessitated by the fact that I was unable to get food I wanted. The one experience I did have with something ingestible was a soda - which was a little flat. The restaurant was busy yesterday, which I expected. I did not mind the 23-minute wait to get to the counter. I built the first part of my burrito bowl - and it looked quite tasty. But when it came time to add the toppings, we ran into trouble. I asked for roasted garlic - but they were out. The kid apologized and said they had been busy. I asked for corn salsa - but sorry, out of that, too. Again, the kid explained they'd been SOOO busy they couldn't keep up. I could wait, but it would be another ten minutes, if they actually had any more, which he was not sure of. I asked for Cilantro - they had it, and a few sparse leaves were sprinkled onto my naked-looking entree. I asked for grilled limes - but they were out. Oh, in case you were wondering - it's 'cause they'd been busy (this time that excuse was accompanied by a shrug). That was the third strike, and I saw no reason to get a meal that was missing almost everything I wanted it to include, so I told the kid thanks, politely, but that I was going to pass. He looked truly surprised and said "You don't want this?" I said "no," and he seemed to get mad. I made my way to the cashier, flat soda in hand, and waited in line. The girl asked me what I needed, and I explained I just needed to pay for my soda. She asked me where my food was, as if I was hiding it in my pocket, trying to get away with something. I explained that they were out of three things I wanted on my meal, and she asked which things. No apology - but she was at least curious as to what had been missing. I told her. Then she let me pay for my drink - a somewhat surprising $2.99 - and she, too, told me they'd been busy. Her partner, the other cashier, asked what had happened, and she told her, and the other cashier also nodded and said they'd been realllllly busy. I left with no intention of ever returning. When your big comparison to Chipotle (which is juts down the street) is the number of choices you offer, you kinda need to have those choices on-hand. So first, I would not make a customer who waited 23 minutes to find out they did not have the food he/she wanted to pay for a soda. In fact, I'd have offered a coupon for a discounted or free meal just to get them to come back - but that's just me. Except that it's NOT just me, based on the story's epilogue: I'd now spent 2/3 of my 1 hour lunch not actually getting lunch. I ran to the Sonic just down the way and ordered food and an iced tea. The tea was ready at the window, but I had to wait for less than two minutes for my food. After the first one minute of wait, the gal came to the window, apologized for the delay, and provided not an excuse, but a coupon for a free drink. Now, that may not seem like much, but it demonstrated respect for me as a customer, and a desire for me to come back in spite of not getting the service they clearly expected to be able to deliver. I was so pleased I asked for the manager and told her the story. She said "Yeah, we've been a little worried that we'd lose business to them." Not if Freebird keeps being too "busy" to stock food or train employees on good customer care. ADDENDUM 7/24/2012: Bryce Katz, Director of Operations for the group that operates FREEB!RDS (apparently I've been "spelling" it wrong), emailed me to apologize for the above experience. Turns out that on top of everything else I was overcharged for my soda - it should have been $1.89 instead of $2.99. The email was nice, though a bit excuse-heavy (why can't people just say "we screwed up"?), and he offered to send me a coupon for a free burrito (or I can use it for a bowl) so I can review the food as well (no mention of a refund for my soda, though). I'll take him up on it and post the result here.
(1)Lola S.
We stood in line for at least 15 minutes. There were a ton of ingredients to pick from so it looked like the wait would be worth it. When I got to the end of the line, I realized I had no sour cream or avocado in my burrito bowl. I asked for both, and was charged for each. Charged for sour cream!? With out it my bowl consisted of chicken, rice, cheese and beans. The meal was so gross I didn't even want to eat it. Whoever said the chicken tasted like it came from a can was spot on! It tasted like canned chicken. There was no flavor at all. I had to force myself to eat it bc it was so expensive, I felt bad not trying to finish it. Blandest meal I've ever had. Very disappointing, the deor is nice but that is the only thing saving this place. Will not return!
(1)Michelle M.
Really, 20 minute line for bowling alley food? And not good bowling alley food. Really LOUD inside. The line was out the door and it took forever. I love mission style burritos, but this is not fresh, or gourmet. We order two taco meals. One steak which was not steak to was shredded beef, and pork, out of sour cream and tomatillo salsa. The tacos came with salsa and chips, the chips where killed with Iodized salt. Why are there 30 people working, 30 rude people, The food, well, the two bite taco was grainy mushy and bland. Pass pass pass.
(1)Morgan F.
Alright, I'll preface with: I've been spoiled my whole life and have eaten INSANE burritos since I'm from coastal California and there are literally hundreds if not thousands of AWESOME taquerias. They aren't chains, just mom and pop operations. Ok, that being said, I really got my hopes high. Freebird World Burrito, founded in California in the 80's, burritos rolled in foil, steamers for the tortillas, carne asada...but alas, SH**. This place makes Chipotle look like authentic Mexican food from a taco truck. I mean all the elements are there, but they can't quite seal the deal. All the burritos get the same size tortilla unless you order the super monster, then they use two. So if you order the hybrid (small) burrito, you're ass out and get a bunch of tortilla and not much filler. Secondly...IT'S ALL BLAND! From the rice to the meat to the "salsa". The chips should be the first indicator of what the whole place is about. According to the chips: MEDIOCRE. My first clue should have been the portion control spoons according to size of burrito you ordered and guacamole that doesn't taste like anything that gets squirted from a gun. The ordering process is crap, the line is absurd, and the kitschiness is so lame with the Harley thing and the bad food and the sensory overload of crappy vintage rock music etc. etc. I came, I ate and then realized the harsh reality of...I live in the middle of the continent and there is no demand for really awesome, authentic quality food. First clue should have been "queso". Anyway, three options for decent "fast" Mexican food: 1. Chipotle 2. The secret place you know of where there's actually Mexicans making the food from Mexican recipes 3. Make it yourself Go to a taqueria in San Francisco and this review will make perfect sense to you. I guess I'll go back to holding my breath and crossing my fingers to find a real taqueria out here. P.S. Freebirds, you steam the burrito AFTER you've rolled it in the foil! Bush League!!!
(2)Tiffany S.
OVER-RATED crappy food is what this is!! I had so many people telling me I had to go there. I did and it stinks! My burrito bowl barely had any black beans or veggies and was mostly rice. In addition, I can buy better salsa in a jar at the grocery store than they make. It is horrid. There is only one Chipotle and everyone other wanna-be is a knock-off. I will continue to eat at Chipotle where I am never disappointed.
(1)Mark D.
I've reviewed Freebird before, but this time I tried their quesadilla, with a spinach wrap and carnitas. Honestly, it was one of the best I've ever had. And it was huge. I wouldn't go unless you're actually hungry.
(4)Dana D.
Not Impressed! I had the bowl. The cilantro lime rice was sticky with no flavor. I chose white meat chicken and it was bland. The sour cream come out like whip cream not smooth and creamy like at chipotle. There was nothing I liked about this bowl. Plus it was cold. Not even the rice was warm. I will not be returning to this place especially since Chipotle is right around the corner.
(1)Stephanie W.
Was out and about trying to figure out what to get for lunch, and happened to pass by Free Bird. I had heard a few things, and knew they were from Texas, so we gave it a shot. First off the layout is really weird, with a brick wall channeling people in and about. The menu was overwhelming as well as the colossal burrito models on the wall. Deciding that a Free Bird looked about right, we ordered. One Chicken Bacon Ranch Burritto, and One Steak with Tomatillo and grilled veggies on a red wrap of some sort. We love Chipotle, so figured with the menu and pricing this was probably pretty close or better. Wrong! I could use the rice to fix holes in my driveway. Sticky and lumpy with no flavor was not the cilantro lime flavor I had hoped for today. And the promise of bacon on a burritto was very disappointing as well. Weird textured microwave like bacon was a distraction. The steak and chicken had little flavor, and the veggies were done to a strange consistency, like they were cooked then frozen, then nuked. I am pretty sure that is what happened. Flow of the restaurant is cramped and uncomfortable. This bird never got off the ground in my book. Better off in the City Market to get Burrito Bros, or chain Chipotle.
(1)Kody W.
I tried Freebirds because of the excitement of friends. So I went in and I was not impressed. I went and walked right up to order. There were a lot of choices and the size/price of burritos were interesting. Being a Chipolte fan I looked for a similar size burrito. What kinda bummed me out is how I felt upsold on extra charged toppings. Queso? Sure. Bacon? Okay, and as soon as it was placed on my burrito I heard the words 'additional charge'. But I though it would be like 50 cents so okay. Sadly it was almost two bucks for those add ons. I should have known better that there was such a thing as free bacon. All told my burrito was $9.43. It was okay and not as filling as I hoped. When I went to pay the cashier told me the price and without skipping a beat saying tips gladly appreciated. Not today, one because I hate when people basically imply that I tip them and two your burrito was almost 10 dollars. For that I'd have a complete meal at Panera or even Applebee's. Perhaps if the staff did a better job interacting with customers I would feel different. Maybe I'm the wrong clientele or just not hip enough. This is my first post on Yelp and my disappointment caused me to sign up and post.
(2)Eddie C.
Heard a lot of hype of this new burrito place, so went to try it. We went by a couple of weeks ago, but the line was out the door and did want to wait ( it was 110 and I have a 4 yr old). So today we went on an off time (Sunday 3pm) no line. I like the decor and the way the place is set up. No big on you cannot see the kitchen where the food is being made. Ordered a beef burrito. Asked for grilled veggie (out) asked for sour cream (out) they had some to replace the out, but it took some time of waiting. I don't understand their operations, but they have 30 people working there all with no clue. The cold and hot prep table was a mess and not appetizing looking. The burrito was ok. Nothing over the top. I did like the different wraps to chose from and the Spanish style rice. I probably will go again, but not wait in line if there is one.
(2)Elizabeth P.
Seriously. The two-taco deal is insane. Two tacos, chips and salsa (though I'd suggest swapping for queso) and a soda for $5. Order it online and skip the wait.
(5)Steven G.
I've been twice. Let me first say I'm impressed with the young people working there. In spite of insane lines this whole past week, they pretty much all seemed charming and enthusiastic. I don't know if they'll be able to keep that up forever, but it's worth noting. The food is different from Chipotle, way more choices, chunkier toppings, etc. I first had a taco meal made with white chicken, and though I was ready to be unhappy after the line and daunting ordering process, I thought they were pretty good. Chips and salsa, too. The second time I ordered a burrito bowl with steak, and I have to say that wasn't particularly good. The steak was salty and not stringy exactly, but a little off. The veggie and tomato toppings seemed pretty good, but overall I was thinking this is an incohesive, sodium-drenched mess. I'm not sure how many different variations I would have to try to actually figure out a mix of ingredients I'd like. Both times I've been they had run out of pot brownies, which I hear are pretty good. I did get a chocolate chip cookie one time. Completely bland and nothing special. I'll go back sometime for more white meat tacos and to try to finally snag a brownie. But I'll probably continue to frequent Chipotle.
(3)John G.
Been to this location 4 times. Every time the food was very good. The first two times the line moved fast and there were more than ample employees behind the counter that moved the line. Third visit different employees, very apathetic, and extremely slow line. Fourth visit only two people were working behind the counter preparing food and it took forever, and it was lunch time. Had I not been there with other people I would have left and gone across Jo Drive to Chipotle's and had same day service! Great food and concept, I think this location has management problems, bunch of teenagers doing their own thing. Last visit was late October 2012, won't be back because too slow. Who do they think they are, Oklahoma Joe's!
(2)Angela W.
I've eaten here 1-2 times a week since they've opened, normally take-out with my boyfriend (he loves hot stuff). Half of the time we order online and pick-up. I normally get a steak burrito or bowl with black and refried beans and about half of the veggie and salsa options. He normally gets a chicken burrito or bowl with various items on it. We like the chips and salsa, guac, queso, and the brownies. I had the ground beef once and I liked the steak better. It's not as good as every burrito joint in southern California, but is better than half of the local burritos I get in KC. I can buy it a few miles from home, go home, sit on my couch and enjoy. I can't do that at MiRanchito or Frida's so easily. I still go to Chipotle, but I prefer their carnitas and the beef at Freebirds. Also, I've noticed several comments about the staff and they've always been incredibly friendly to us from managers down to the lowest ranking person, they may hire hipsters, but everyone has always appeared to be clean that I have seen. If people with facial piercings is a problem for you, I would suggest not eating at half of the establishments in KC or the suburbs. Maybe you should even walk-in, look at the employees, and leave if you're not happy. Many of the Chipotle employees have half sleeve tattoos covering their arms if you look close enough. Also, I don't remember anytime they were out of items we wanted to buy, so maybe that was during the grand opening. Not sure.
(5)Christie M.
My experience was really disappointing. Line wasn't terrible, but wasn't exactly short either. Lots of employees that didn't seem to know what to do other than stare blankly as you asked for things. While they have lots more options than Chipotle, the tiny pinch I was given of each really didn't amount to much foodwise, especially given the price. I ended up with a carnitas bowl with the cilanto rice and various toppings and couldn't believe how greasy and flavorless everything was. Most disappointing was the pork, with a mushy consistency that wasn't at all appetizing. Next time I'm in the mood for the build-your-own Mexican chain experience, I'll be back at the Chipotle down the street. The choices may be far more limited, but at least they do everything reasonbly well.
(2)Chris C.
It's not often that I have such a disappointing experience with a restaurant that I feel the need to slam them online and tell all my coworkers to avoid the place, but Freebirds has unfortunately fit the bill this week. I didn't encounter lines at all (perhaps the initial boom is already over), but it nevertheless felt extraordinarily chaotic. The music was blaring as I tried to figure out the wall of menu options, and the hipster (read unshowered) staff was yelling playfully at each other. When I tried to place my order, I was assigned one person who hollered questions at me and reached around other staff members to assemble a chicken burrito bowl for me. I definitely didn't feel like I knew fully what the options were and what got communicated, and I felt that perhaps that's why my food was so terribly tasteless. I wondered if I didn't hear when my hipster hollered a seasoning option. Reading other reviews, I'm clearly not alone in finding the food incredibly bland. Grainy cubes of unseasoned chicken, globby rice.... nothing positive at all to report. And charging for sour cream is a sin. A SIN, sir. I took the food to go, because I was already developing a headache in there. At the register I paid a ridiculous price, received no thank you or even eye contact after I handed my money over. I could forgive some lapses (it seems the registers were confusing and/or slow for the staff), but I cannot justify returning to a place with such poor food. Bottom line: poor food, poor experience, and way overpriced.
(1)Lisa T.
I went a few weeks ago, about 8:00 on a week night, and waited about 25 minutes in line... starving. Got to the ordering point and ordered a veggie burrito bowl. As I progressed through the confusing mass of people, I couldn't see what the options even were and the chick was not helpful at all. Being VEGAN, I was most looking forward to a big scoop of guac on my VEGGIE burrito bowl (which ended up being rice, lettuce, some chunks of tomatoes, and some kernels of corn)... only to watch in horror as they squirted out a 2 inch turd looking amount of 'guac' onto my already pathetic 'burrito bowl'. Seriously, the bowl was like half empty, but she went ahead and wrapped it up anyway. When I got home, I tasted it and discovered that it was quite bland. So, not only was it only half there, but it was pretty tasteless. I ended up adding my OWN ingredients from my fridge/cupboards just so I would have enough food for a complete meal! Really disappointing and I don't plan on going back any time soon.
(2)Kipp K.
I'm really conflicted in writing this review--this place is great when they can get it right. Unfortunately, they're maddeningly inconsistent at doing so. I've been several times, but today was my last. On three separate occasions they've had issues with major ingredients. The first time was a few months back, and they had run out of their cilantro lime rice. They informed me it was going to be 20 minutes before they had more ready to go. At the time they hadn't been open for very long, and I was willing to overlook the issue. The manager also bent over backwards and comped me the meal, which was more than they needed to do and was something I really appreciated. The second time was last week. We went in on Saturday night. Though there was no line, my wife and I waited at least five minutes for anyone to acknowledge us, and several minutes more before anyone actually came to take our orders. As I started building my burrito, the guy rolling it pointed out that the cilantro lime rice wasn't very well cooked--it was wet and extremely clumpy. I'd been looking forward to having a burrito for dinner, and he assured me it didn't effect the taste, so I decided not to worry about it. As we worked further down the line I was informed they didn't have salsa (what sort of burrito place runs out of salsa?). At this point my burrito was 3/4 built, so I had them put on some extra death sauce and decided to continue on my way. I then told them I wanted guac to go with my chips--and you can probably guess what happened next. Yes--they were out of guac, too. The only option for my chips was queso--and I don't like queso--so I simply skipped the meal and only got the burrito. To add insult to this, after we sat down and started eating, other people going through the line were able to get salsa. Apparently more magically arrived after we'd been through the line. Also, despite their assurances to the contrary, the cilantro lime rice did not taste right--it was clumpy, wet, and bland--thus making the whole burrito less than delicious. Tonight was the last straw. When we walked in, there was again no line (which judging by how busy they used to be, I'm thinking is a clue that I'm not the only one having issues here). My wife ordered the taco meal and I ordered a Freebird. We hit the rice station (the first ingredient, mind you) and guess what? That's right--no cilantro lime rice. But they assured me they'd have some up in a couple of minutes. A couple minutes turned into five, and finally someone came out and informed us that it was actually going to be a lot longer than a couple minutes, as the batch of rice they were making was bad, and they'd have to start a whole new batch. My wife's tacos were already 3/4 complete at this point, so she decided to simply go without rice. I hadn't gotten past selecting my tortilla, so I told them I was opting to go elsewhere. My wife then told them twice she wanted both guac and salsa to go with her meal, and they bagged everything up and sent us to the cash register. At this point the manager came out and said he was going to take care of us because we'd waited for rice, then didn't get any. We got to the front of the line, and he disappeared into the back, never to be seen again. The cashier then helped someone with a large to-go order who arrived at the register after us and needed additional food wrapped up. Another employee then opened another cash register, and rang up an employee who was either on break or whose shift had ended--and who had been in line behind us. Tired of waiting after several minutes, once they rang up the to-go order, I simply paid for my wife's meal and left to get my own meal at Chipotle (who by the way, had all their ingredients and got me out the door in less than 5 minutes with my food). When we got home, my wife opened her to-go bag, only to discover that she didn't receive her guac. I've been able to get past the fact that this place is incredibly slow--for better or worse they want to get away from the assembly line style of their competitors in favor of providing you with your own "burrito consultant", and they seem to have major issues ringing people up after their food if finally ready--but there is clearly a more fundamental problem here than just the speed of service when they're unable to manage their staple ingredients. The food is great when they do it right, but I'm tired of gambling every time I come in on whether tonight is the night that all the stars align and I'm actually able to get the burrito built how I want it. As much as I don't want to do it, they've given me no choice but to go back to Chipotle.
(2)Carrie M.
I have been to Freebirds twice now. My first experience was by far better. My salad was tasty and different and I appreciated the vegetarian options. My second experience was horrible and now I won't go back. I went yesterday and it was about 3:30 on a Sunday and there was still a long line. No big deal I waited. I finally get up to order and I order a salad and the guy behind the counter made me awkwardly wait for 5 minutes while he and no joke, 3 other people, searched for bowls. I will make a note here, they had no less than 20 people working and they were all yelling and running around. You would think with that many people working things would be more efficient, not so. Instead all the extra people offered was more noise and occasionally interrupting your ordering process by barging in and refilling stuff on the line. Anyways, they finally find a bowl and I get lettuce and then the girl making my salad said they were just flat out of fajita veggies. I said well but there won't be anything to really put on my salad. And she just stared at me blankly. I finally decided I would lose the staring contest and just told her to put some stuff on the bed of lettuce aka cheese and salsa. Here is my problem, she never offered any other options or anything. I basically ate a salad that was boring and I could have gotten anywhere. It was annoying I paid for a pile of lettuce with salsa. As if it couldn't be a more annoying experience, I then waited another 10 minutes for her to package my salad up. I just felt like I spent thirty minutes in this whirlwind of a restaurant and got lettuce cheese and salsa for ten bucks. Definitely just going back to Chipotle.
(2)Mike J.
Good burrito with lots of choices. Get there early, line is long and slow.
(4)Allyssa C.
Besides the long line, the food was awesome. You basically have the same employee from start to finish make your burrito, so there is no "assembly line". Also, an employee came around asking if anyone wanted refills and asked how the food was.. that was nice. Will return for options.
(4)Joel M.
Arrived at 950 pm Friday night and the doors were locked? ! There was a group of 6 -8 kids standing behind the counter *hanging out and eating* The hours said open until 10 on the door, 1030 on yelp regardless these punks closed shop early and we're milking the clock. Oh millenials....always so impressive. .
(1)Andrew M.
This place has a lot of potential to be a viable alternative to Chipotle, which I have grown tired of over the years. There are more than enough choices of burrito fixings here to make things interesting, but both times I have eaten at this particular location I have found it to be very chaotic. One employee will start taking your order then they will follow you down the line all the way, rather than the typical assembly line service like at Chipotle. I've just found it to be inefficient and confusing. If they can make ordering less hectic then I would probably bump my rating up. However, they'll remain at three stars for the time being.
(3)Matt K.
I'm a fan of Freebird...I've told countless people that they're far superior to Chipotle, and the food still is...but the online ordering experience? That's a whole other story. I had about 10 minutes to spare for lunch today, so I went online to place a carry out order. That process was perfect. Placed my order and hopped in my car, expecting to be in and out with no problems. When I got there, there appeared to be ONE guy working behind the counter, serving the one customer in the store before me. I went to the register area, right below the "pick up here" sign, and waited. Then, I waited. Also, I waited. Then, just for good measure, I waited. Finally someone comes over and asks if I was picking up an order, and brings it up on the register. At this moment, I realized that they hadn't even started on my order. Had I not already paid for it online, I would have walked out, but since I was already financially invested in this lunch, I opted to stay and wait. I watched people trickle in to place their lunch orders...it was now about 20 minutes since I had placed my online order. At the same time, another trickle of what I presume to be employees began entering the store from a side door, none of them in much of a hurry...except the one guy that was apparently taking a huge catering order out for delivery...even he wasn't moving with much urgency. A couple that had come in AFTER I had physically entered the store was being waited on, and had gotten their order up to the register...all while I still waited. I was assuming that placing an order ONLINE would give it priority to folks entering off the street that arrived AFTER that order...is that not reasonable? All in all, it was about 30 minutes from the time I placed my order online and walked out with my food in hand. I had to scramble to get back to work, then had to wolf down my lunch while I resumed my work. Didn't get to really enjoy my lunch. The only thing that saved this review from being one star is the fact that I still like the food. However, if service is going to be this bad from now on, I guess I'll have to find another go-to place when the mood for a giant burrito strikes me. And that's sad, because when this place opened, it was GREAT...great service, quick in-and-out ordering...but today, they did not hold up that standard. I hope it's not a sign of what this store has become, because complacency in convenience is not good for the long-term health of a lunch spot.
(2)Henry J.
Walked in yesterday at 8:40pm. Thought they were open until 10:00pm, hours on the door said 9:00pm. There was one customer getting a burrito. The guy making it was literally scraping the pans of the last bits of ingredients to make it. Gross. Close earlier if you're not going to have enough stuff to serve until your closing time. I turned around, walked out & went to Chipotle.
(1)Agraj J.
Similar to chipotle. loved their choices of tortillas.
(4)Stephen H.
I really like Matt E.'s characterization of Freebird as a disordered Chipotle. It's delicious, with more options that add up to more interesting flavor profiles, across your standard "bowl, burrito, taco" triad. They also offer dessert (how you would have room after eating one of these things). I've always said Qdoba was Chipotle with queso. Freebird is Chipotle with bacon. And garlic. And way more stuff.
(4)Ben W.
First time I went I wasn't all that impressed. I'm glad I didn't give up there! This place is FAR SUPERIOR to Chipotle menu wise, there is no question about that. They have ground beef and queso for crying out loud! For that reason alone I go to Freebirds before Chipotle every time unless someone else insists on buying Chipotle. I live very close to this location and have for almost 2 years. The staff has always been friendly, helpful, and out-going. I have never had to wait long for my food to be made and rang up. I have never used their online ordering but they do have that option as well. They have a good selection of drinks and their POT BROWNIES are a must have! I'm not sure if they are still called Pot Brownies, haha, but their brownies are a must get! Try this place out some time, I assure you that the food will not disappoint!!!
(5)Dawn R.
I really don't get what all the negative reviews are about. I was visiting my daughter, and we were out shopping and got hungry so she suggested we stop in. I'd never heard of this place, and always like to try new places, so why not? Yes, the setup is similar to Chipotle, but you have a lot more options. I was very pleased with the quality and quantity of the food (spinach/mushroom quesadilla), and the atmosphere was fun and funky. I mean, where else will you see a motorcycle riding statue of liberty suspended from the ceiling? I'd definitely go back the next time I'm in town, and would recommend it to anyone looking for something quick and casual.
(4)Alyssa R.
All I can say is Meh. I don't know if my family hyped this place up or what, but I was not impressed. First off, apparently there is one stereotype that is allowed in this joint....Hipster. I have nothing against the style but don't look at me funky as I am wearing athletic shorts and a comfy T. I was being judged like crazy. I am not sure if it was just the location or what, but I had to get out quickly. For the food.... ehhhh. It was different that they had spicy rice, refried beans, and assorted sizes & flavors of tortillas but the food wasn't all that good. I got the chicken freebird burrito and I ate it. That's pretty much it. I wasn't craving more nor have I craved it since but I will eat it if I have to.
(2)Tania M.
This place reminds me of a hippie version of Chipotle. I actually thought their burritos were better, as well as sauces and guacamole, which is saying a lot because I LOVE Chipotle's guacamole. I would definitely visit and check it out, compare it to Chipotle, and see which you like better. I would visit all the time if I could, but I love by a Chipotle, so I find myself going there more often, simply because well, it's down the street. If I had to pick between the two, I'd be at Freedbird's though...
(4)Beth P.
Freebirds seems to have really polarized the local Yelpers. I'm definitely on the side of the fans though. We used to have coworkers run to IV for Freebirds for the crew all the time when I worked in Santa Barbara, and was *really* excited when this one opened near me. I love the multiple tortilla types, the Spanish rice option (which goes great for the kid who reacts badly to too much cilantro too!), the queso, dark & light chicken options, and the tortilla chips! I can see where some would prefer Chipotle over Freebirds, but I've had better results here myself. Generally the meat has been fresher and less dry, there are more veggie options, and the line moves pretty quick. Plus, it still feels more like I'm supporting the "local guys" since they are from SB.
(4)Kerry P.
I really don't understand all the hype about this place. I gave this place twice too many chances, and each time I've been sadly disappointed by their food. To start off, the menu is confusing.. way too many options for a simple and practical consumer. I like options but this was just was too overwhelming. So the both times I've eaten here, I've ordered the bowl and have tried the pork carnitas and the steak. (on separate occasions) I was disappointed that they didn't serve brown rice here so opted out of getting rice entirely..bummer cuz I love my rice. After all, I'm Asian! The ordering process here is similar to Chipotle... cafeteria style and you tell the staff what add-ins you want. So we get to the add-ins and I panic as I'm slapped with way too many choices. They have way too many sauces and honestly, neither of them really all that great. But maybe it just didn't pair well with what I had? I dunno... Also, the meat was okay, each a little dry and too piecey for my preferences. (I prefer chipotle's meat) This place just wasn't doing it for me. If you like a place with a bunch of options, then you've came to the right place. But the food is very subpar. 2 stars because it's not terribly bad... but it's certainly not that great.
(2)Richard L.
The best way to describe The Freebirds vs. Chipotle debate is to compare them to Microsoft vs. Apple. Freebirds/Microsoft offer a large number of products which are functional but don't aspire to greatness. Chipotle/Apple offer a limited selection but executes them with the highest precision and consistency. My few Freebirds experiences have been mediocre at best. The staff were usually more interested in socializing with one another and showing off their fancy tattoos than actually serving customers in a quick and timely manner.
(2)LeAnn A.
Yum Yummy is all I have to say. I really enjoy this burrito joint because you are given choices. from the type of tortilla to the many different sizes. If you know and have been to Chipotle this is similar, but I find Freebird to be much better. I like flavor and I feel that you can get that with all the different options you have for the fillings with Freebirds burrito. Some fillings include (lettuce, tomatoes, pico, bacon, cheese, cheese sauce, onions and much more) If you wanting dessert they have a pretty good Pot Brownie (not the best brownie ever in my opinion, but it did hit the spot.)
(4)Matt E.
So Imagine Guy Fieri were to eat a Chiptole. Not a chipotle BURRITO, mind you. An entire brick and mortar store. Then imagine he chugs a handle of Sammy Hagar's Cabo Wabo tequila, and then procceeds to vomit it all out, restructuring itself into a new burrito shop. What you'd get is Freebird World Burrito. This place is seriously obnoxious. So why four stars? Because as much as the atmosphere makes me want to stab my eyes and ears out, that was one tasty burrito! Like Chipotle, this is one of those burrito factory-line establishments, only with a just stupid umber of options. Four sizes of burritos (the largest looking like something off of Man vs Food), four types of tortillas, and that's all before you even decide what goes in it! Multiple proteins, two rice varieties, three cheese options, and then toppings out the wazoo. You can definitely customize a delicious meal for yourself, and that's not even considering the salad or bowl options. Plus, the burrito is incredibly structurally sound, which can be my complaint at other burrito shacks. The food here is tasty and legit. But here's the rub: you actually have to go inside the place to get the food. You have to subject yourself to ska covers of Van Morrison, awful imitations of tattoo art signage, and just a general celebration of all things low-brow. The staff is friendly, but looks like they'd be more comfortable working at Pac Sun or Hot Topic. So maybe I'm a snob, I'll take the label. But I'd rather hang out in the nice, crisp, minimalist Chipotle than this Disneyland version of someplace that belongs on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. If you're the kind of person that likes to call places "money", then you'd probably think Freebird is money. I think it's a delicious product that I'll take to go.
(4)Alice H.
People always have to choose... Chipotle or Free Birds? No hesitation I choose Chipotle because of the consistent quality... And fresh guacamole. I question the competition when Free Birds squeezes my guac out of a plastic tube. Nachos sounded good at the time but I think I would choose Taco Bell's over theirs and that is saying something.
(2)Kasi W.
I chose to ignore my friends advice and check out Freebird World Burrito because I was optimistic. However, my friends were right, and I was thoroughly unimpressed. Obviously, everyone is inclined to compare Freebird to Chipotle but rightfully so. The two chains are very similar, but Chipotle is the clear winner in my opinion. The only advantage Freebird has is the options it provides for different burrito sizes and add ins. However, the quality and flavor of the food left much to be desired. I ordered the vegetarian burrito and chose Spanish rice, fajita veggies, black beans, and guacamole as my add ins. The guacamole and rice had very little flavor, but what I was most disappointed in were the vegetables. The mix was 90% onions that were pretty much raw. I like to try things before I knock them, and I'm glad I tried Freebird World Burrito, so I can say from personal experience that it's not all that great.
(2)Claudia S.
This place is good enough, but not that exciting to me. Prices seem high and just not that special. This time I got nachos to go. She packaged the chips separately and I ate those nachos for about 3 days... it was a HUGE portion. It was pretty tasty, but something still just doesn't make me want to go back very often.
(3)Michael R.
I've eaten at Freebird several times, and I have enjoyed my food every time. Yes, it's similar to Chipotle, but with a few differences. First of all, there are a few more options--different kinds of tortillas, different sizes of burritos, and two different kinds of rice, cilantro lime and Spanish. It's also a slightly different flavor, with a lot more of a cilantro taste. For my friends who can't stand cilantro, this is a major negative, but personally I really like the flavor. The salsas I've had, the tomatillos and pico de gallo, are really good. They have a barbecue sauce, which to me sounds just...wrong, but more power to them for the variety. I also like that they have a soda machine both in the waiting line area and on the other side by the register, so you can get your beverage while you wait and then refill it on the other side. Which brings me to my big negative of Freebird's--the wait. As in "be prepared to." It's similar to Chipotle in that you go down a counter where they load your burrito (or salad or tacos or whatever) as you watch. Unfortunately, it is nowhere near as fast as Chipotle. I hope that this is just because they're fairly new and still working out the kinks. I would be interested in going to the location in Lawrence, which has been there awhile, to see if it is any better. The staff is nice, don't get me wrong, but it definitely isn't speedy.
(3)Jen D.
I appreciate what Freebird is trying to be, a hip, fun place to enjoy a quality burrito, but I am underwhelmed with their execution. As another reviewer mentioned, they have various size options for burritos, which is cool. The unfortunate factor is that regardless of choosing the smallest or largest size, you get the same size tortilla. So if you order a small burrito, you have excess tortilla. I do however, like the option of different flavors of tortillas, I believe they had spinach, sundried tomato, and regular white flour tortillas. The line was a cluster. Instead of waiting patiently for the person in front of you to complete their order, at Freebird, it's a free-for-all and you line jump. Meaning if the person in front of you is getting beans, and you just want salsa, you skip in front of them, and quite frankly, it's just a cluster. We took our food to go, and because the music was so blaringly loud this probably wouldn't be a place where I sat down to eat if I wanted to actually hold a conversation with my dining partner. Besides the organization and the overwhelming stimulus overload, the food was decent. Not sure I will convert over, BUT... They do have a rewards card... and apparently they have happy hour option, which I believe is an order of nachos and a margarita for 8$....
(3)Ryan M.
There's always the obvious comparison to Chipotle. The reason I go here over Chipotle is when I want nachos or a little more variety in my burrito. They also have kids-eat-free on Monday and Tuesday. Their service is spotty and the dining room is just small enough as well as being oddly configured that it can be tough to dine-in sometimes. I would definitely question some of the ways they provide service but that ship has sailed. I like it and we go there regularly.
(3)