So I really really really wanted to love this place. I live in the area and appreciate great Mexican food. My husband and I went the first time and it was awesome. Chips/salsa the bomb. His carne asada burrito amazing. My potato tacos delicious. The second time we went my husband ordered the same exact burrito - carne asada. The meat was not the same. It was a ground meat? We asked about it and they said they had recently changed it. I went back today. For a business lunch order. 6 people. I ordered a little bit of everything, which included two orders of chips and salsa and five orders of guacamole. They did not send the chips/salsa or guac, or plates, silverware, napkins etc. Since the meeting was in the area, I called them and spoke with the manager and I explained that part of my order was missing. He said he'd deliver it within about 1/2 hour. About an hour and a half later nothing. I called again. The manager asked me if he could just give me a credit. I said no, I prefer the food to be delivered as promised. Then he asked me what time they close. That shouldn't matter considering the food should all have been there 2 hours ago. Then he begrudgingly agreed to deliver it. I don't know about you, but I understand it was a simple mistake, which would have normally been fine. The problem was the attitude and lack of follow through. Not to mention this was a pretty large-sized order. If this is the service they give to a customer who spends a lot, I can't imagine the service you'd get for 2. No thank you El Burro. I'll go eat my Mexican food at some of the other great places in the city like La Palapa, Casa Reyna or Las Velas, where they appreciate you.
(2)
M R.
Great tacos. Simple and very tasty. Its a smallish restaurant that has some soul. I would return when I'm back in town.
(4)
Justin D.
El Burro is a nice lunch option in the North Side. The menu reminded me of some of my favorite Tucson-based, super authentic taco shops. Nothing fancy, just the real deal on a menu board. I went with the shredded beef burrito and some medium salsa on the side. The burritos are huge! It was a brick of Mexican goodness, ready to destroy my hopes and dreams of making through an afternoon of training in Allegheny Center. The medium salsa had just the right amount of kick to it. The burrito itself was tasty, but something about it just didn't knock it out of the park for me. It was definitely a more authentic flavor, but still missing something. I'd like to go back and give the tacos a try. Corn tortillas always amp up the authenticity and flavor, and I want to see what this guac is all about.
(3)
Greg B.
Great north side stop after day exploring the Mexican war streets. Chips and guacamole were fabulous. Mahi Mahi tacos were perfect -- deep fried fillets on top of raw cabbage and onions, with a really nice sauce. Carne asada taco was spicy and we closed out with a nice pork taco. Absolutely fantastic and authentic. New fav in Pittsburgh.
(5)
Cherith C.
Had the California Burrito and found it to be a tasty, salty, and fry-filled fiesta! Loved the shop and the location is right near Allegheny Hospital, which is great for me. Great service and nice staff. Excited to try the rest of the menu.
(4)
mike c.
Awesome taquitos. Great salsa. I give it a fifth star for the native San Diego gringo owner and his "bro" accent. Wouldn't be surprised if he skateboarded to work on a long board.
(5)
Ryan P.
Not sure if the burro has gone downhill, or if I just hit it on an off night, but I wasn't nearly as impressed as before on my last visit. I had the shrimp diablo burrito, which I've had in the past, but this time it was just kind of meh. The carnitas tacos were still delicious however, and the guacamole is quite good. The chips are way too greasy in my opinion, but that's not super surprising since they're homemade. In the future, I think I'd stick to the tacos here, rather than the namesake burritos.
(4)
Darae C.
Stopped in here for a quick bite to eat before I headed over to the Elks for Banjo Night. Though the website says they're open until 9, we walked in at 7:45 and were told that they close in 15 minutes at 8pm. I'm usually not one for sticking it to restaurants with last minute orders anymore, but my friends were persistent and we ordered anyhow. My friends all got tacos and burritos. Everyone was satisfied, including me and my two yummy carnitas tacos. The lime I had was dried out to no end, but that's the price you pay when you go to a place 10 mins before closing. Not the best taco I had, but certainly not the worst. If I'm ever on this side of town again I'd give it another try.
(3)
Anthony F.
El burro is OK. Feel like they skimp on meat in burritos, give me too much rice, and dont even include sour cream or cheese. The fried "taquito" esque creations are OK as well. Prefer the strip or taco truck. This place seemed so great at first, but it lacks in flavor and bang for my buck. Taco truck might be pricey but at least their tacos have flavor, for example. And i pay about $10 for a burrito here when I could get a better tasting one with more meat at Chipotle. Sorry dudes. Im sad to say it too. Maybe you can switch up your flavor game and save the burro.
(3)
Shon T.
So I initially ate here and it was my favorite place to get some authentic Mexican burritos that reminded me of California and Arizona. However, I started noticing a decline in the quality of food they started turning out. The salsa was awesome in the beginning, but later it was watered down - and lacked spice. Were they trying to skimp out on ingredients and make their product last longer, or the salsa was not refrigerated and just went bad? Who knows...
(2)
Kaitlin P.
I just moved here from the southwest and the tacos at El Burro tasted like home, I had a street carne asada taco and a shredded beef taco. They were so good they made me home sick! I was hoping salsa would have more of a kick, But this place has a cool vibe and I would be stoked to eat here again
(4)
Adrienne D.
A few weeks ago, got two soft shredded chicken tacos that were awesome. Came back today...totally different. Got a carnitas burrito that was definitely subpar. It was--literally--80% rice and very little meat. Totally dry, hardly any pico, and the little meat that was there was not carnitas. Also had rolled tacos...which are actually taquitos. Fried to the point of very, very well done. Did not come with the avocado that was advertised. The regular $3 tacos are solid, but the other stuff is overpriced and barely mediocre. $25 for two meals, thought we might get chips or salsa as well, but nothin. Maybe kitchen was having an off night? So disappointed...was looking forward to some quality mexicali street food
(2)
Eric Z.
Awesome burrito and taco joint. Small, only counter against the walls seating, but great food and atmosphere. I've been here a few times and the food has always been great! Great for quick take out. The Hot Dog Taco is a fat guys dream come true.
(5)
Quay M.
I LOVE MEXICAN. Now that we've established that, let me tell you El Burro's tacos are delish. Makes sense as this is the sister site to Round Corner Cantina. I'll admit to having only tried the tacos ... and only two of the tacos ... but the carne asada is so good! I finally broke down and tried the shrimp tacos which were so, so, so, so good. The people who work there are really friendly, too. Probably helped that when they first opened I visited 3 days in a row. I don't know how much I can say in this review that hasn't already been said (small place, not much seating, mainly take-out). There's also the small problem of me ordering the same thing over and over again.
(4)
Joseph F.
When it comes to Pittsburgh, one thing we haven't really been able to perfect is the Tex Mex/Mex/South of the Border/Whatever you want to call it experience. I don't mean to knock Mad Mex, Emiliano's, Veracruz (RIP), Mi Ranchito, etc., etc.--sure, Las Palmas has a solid taco stand, and sure, Bea's in the South Side provides a nice experience, but something has always been missing...until now. El Burro caters to that deep longing that every burrito lover has yet doesn't know exists. El Burro makes Qdoba laughable, puts Chipotle to shame, and hits you smack in the face with what a real burrito should taste like. The guy who runs the place makes his own hot sauces, which are pretty dope. If you need hotter, he buys some pretty good hot sauces you can use, too. The carne asada French fries come loaded with everything you didn't know you wanted on French fries, and the chips are fresh and delicious. Now, it isn't the Mission or anything, but it's damn reminiscent. And if you don't want a pop with corn syrup, they also sell Mexican Coke (made with cane sugar for that real, rot-your-teeth-in-the-best-ways adventure).
(5)
Tom S.
Outstanding Chile Relleno Burrito. A hidden gem on the North Shore for quick, high quality Mexican.
(5)
Lauren K.
El Burro is one of the best Mexican street food places in the city. The carne asada fries are amazing as is the Tijuana dog. The tacos are hit or miss (sometimes can be underseasoned), but they are usually still pretty good. Great place for take out or eating at one of the little counters inside.
(4)
Lindsay B.
I'd like to make my deep love for El Burro known. I would write love letters to these incredible tacos if I wasn't fearful of spilling salsa on them. What a fantastic neighborhood find, thanks again to Yelp! Lots of vegetarian choices and variations of those choices. The potato tacos are mouth watering, with flaky flour tortillas, fresh veggies, and chunks of potatoes cooked in some magical spice that makes me crave them nightly. The rolled potato tacos are a surprisingly huge portion of 4 taquito type goodies with loads of cheese and fresh pico. There are tons of different burrito options, I think 11 in all, many vegetarian or having veggie friendly possibilities. Oh, and some have french fries, which makes my inner fat kid squeal with delight and feel naughty at the same time. I adore that they have vegan chorizo and the breakfast burrito is definitely worth tasting, even though those potato tacos are difficult to pass up! El Burro has the best salsa I've ever tasted. I guess this is controversial since other reviewers seem to find it too thin or even runny. I don't care about chunks, apparently, just flavor. And this stuff has it! Perfect amount of kick to compliment those homemade chips. The guacamole is good, although they don't give you much of it on the side. They carry Mexican Coke (sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup) and other south of the border bottled beverages which only adds to the El Burro vibe and experience. This is primarily a take out joint, although I suppose you could eat there if you wanted. There just isn't much seating, just a handful of stools at a couple counters. Order at the counter or call ahead. The staff is super friendly and knowledgable. And it's cheap! $2.95 per taco, $5-$6 for rolled tacos, $6.95 for burritos, $2.95 for chips and a huge container of salsa. I'm so delighted to have El Burro as my new neighbor. Definitely crave-worthy food has come to Federal Street, and I could not be happier!
(5)
Tai F.
El Burro was basically my last stop in Pittsburgh and I had an awesome time laughing with some friends and eating a mediocre burrito. I got a plain bean and cheese burrito. The cheese was good but the beans were sort of off. I think they had a spice in them that I'm not used to being in refried beans. It reminded me of the beans at Tito's Tacos in LA. Not bad just sort of funky. I was super excited that they had Jarritos. yum. My friend accidentally ordered a burrito with pico in it and when she realized she asked them, politely, if they could keep it off. Well it was already made and she was very apologetic but still asked if they could make another one. Obviously this sucks for them and they weren't rude about it but they did keep trying to get her to take the one with pico. I know it's a pain to have to remake something, I do get that, but it just started to get kind of weird. The kept saying, "Are you sure you don't like pico? when was the last time you had it? Don't want to try it again?" Yeah, she made a mistake and it's inconvenient and again, they weren't rude, but by the time he finally acquiesced he could have finished the burrito already. It's an okay burrito but there's room for improvement.
(3)
Jack L.
Thank God - actual street tacos here in Pittsburgh! A friend caught this place on Yelp and got me and an officemate here for lunch. What a great find. I have been longing for street tacos since a couple of trips to Cancun and then finding a taco stand in Michigan of all places that did an amazing job with them. Here, they are about $2.50 each and a choice of shredded beef, carne asada, shredded chicken, potato and chorizo. I think I may have missed an option or two but they are perfect. Just the right amount of meat, on two freshly made corn tortillas with a delicious pico de gallo and two hot sauces on the side with a slice of lime - you are set. I got 3 street tacos (shredded beef, carne asade and shredded chicken) and a fountain drink for a little under $10. Just the right amount of food and it was fast. There are just a handful of seats and a lunch counter that runs all along the wall. If you expect to eat in, get there before noon like we did. Otherwise, not sure how the tacos will make the trip back to your home or office. The others with me went with the burrito of shredded chicken and the extra $1 for guacamole. They enjoyed their selection but both were a little disappointed with the light spread of guac on their burrito. Other than that, this place was a crowdpleaser! Maybe I'll branch out and try some of the other offerings. But maybe not for a while until I get tired of their street tacos - this has been a long time coming to see a craving being satiated!
(5)
Tony D.
Despite being a mostly take-out type restaurant, El Burro is visually inviting--lots of colorful decorations and cute little donkeys, true to their namesake. Their menu is pretty straightforward, mostly in the way of burritos and tacos. When we came in they had $1 specials off the carnitas and chicken burritos. I am not sure if they have this kind of thing on rotation regularly, but it was enough motivation for us to get one of each. The burritos were definitely a decent size for the reasonable price. They were very photogenic too, nicely wrapped with cilantro sprinkled around a lightly grilled tortilla wrap. Lots of good filling, with cheese, beans, rice, and some veggies. They offer a number of sauces/fillings that you can add for no extra charge, so those were a nice bonus. I'd say that the flavor here is just slightly less than what you'd typically find for Mexican food, but that's fine if that's what you're after sometimes. In terms of burritos though, I'm pretty happy to say that I found my go-to place in Pittsburgh.
(4)
Margaret H.
Simple, delicious tacos. I had their tacos the first time I ate there, and they are so tasty that I haven't tried anything else. Mexican style, just the way they should be, with two soft corn tortillas, meat, onions, a little cilantro, and one of their tasty sauces (I'm partial to the verde). The chicken is flavorful and moist, which is sometimes hard to come by. The potato tacos are good, but a little spicy for my taste. The chorizo is perfectly spiced and that little bit of drippy grease to let you feel just the right amount of indulgent. One complaint: they seem to have changed the carne asada from hunks of meat to ground meet. THAT WAS THE BEST ONE WHY DID YOU MESS WITH IT? The ground meat is fine, but before it was SPECTACULAR.
(4)
Leanna C.
Food was great and the portions were perfect. Street tacos were great I would recommend the chicken. The nachos are a must for sharing or just for yourself. My husband said the burrito was really good too. It is a very small place so big groups are not going to fit. It only has bar stool sitting area.
(4)
Joy C.
El Burro has some of the best burritos in Pittsburgh. Also, their chips & salsa is awesome. Their chips taste homemade & their salsa is homemade & has just the right amount of spice (not too spicy). I love their breakfast burrito which comes with egg, cheese, fries & pico. I tried their potato taco & fish taco one time & I wasn't really impressed. The tacos were kind of dry & not a lot of flavor. I'll stick with their burritos. Highly recommend El Burro.
(4)
Ryan J.
I've been driving past this spot for years and only just decided to step in and check it out. Really glad I did. I might have to make this a regular spot of mine. Mexican food is the way to my heart and the rolled tacos I tried were amazing! Purchased an El Burro hat to help support the business a little more.
(5)
Karli M.
Legit comida mexicana finalmente. Although burritos are not a Mexican cuisine the rest of the menu was quite authentic. The chilaquiles were midrange spicy so don't let them fool you when they say it's not. I will return the next time I'm here to try out the tacos
(4)
Kevin C.
I decided to check this place out for lunch yesterday, since I was in the area. I've heard a few good things about this place and was looking forward to trying it out myself. I ended up going with the chorizo burrito with crumbly cheese and their habanero salsa. The burrito was underwhelming in my opinion. It's a tad pricey, has too much Spanish rice for filler, and minimal chorizo. Overall, it was a bit too bland and dry for me. Also, I'm not positive the cheese made it into my burrito. The habanero sauce was tasty though. It was not extremely hot and therefore manageable for anyone who likes some heat, but I only got enough on the side for half my burrito. I will try again at some point, but I'll be honest, I went to Chipotle for dinner to get the fix I was looking for later that day.
(3)
Barry R.
I got two words. "Tijuana. Hotdog." It is a delightful, gravity defying, awe inspiring, bacon wrapped pork stick, deep fried, and lovingly dressed with diced tomatoes, onions, and jalapenos. I shared one with my wife, thinking that it would be too heavy and greasy to have along with my meal. I deeply regret offering to do so. It was so good I wanted it all to myself! I expected to fall into a deep coma after eating it, but I felt energetic and lively. Could it have been the bacon induced hypertension kicking it? Quite possibly, but it tasted much lighter and less greasy than I would have expected. I also enjoyed a shrimp diablo burrito and my wife got fish tacos which were all excellent. Normally I associate Sriracha with asian food. My shrimp weren't as spicy as their name would suggest, so I gave their Sriracha a try and it complemented the Mexican food perfectly. They also have house made sauces which were good, but get a few as the containers are small. It's a bit of a hole, light on atmosphere, but generous with great freshly made, inventive Mexican food, low prices, friendly knowledgeable staff, and every reason to come again soon. Only a donkey would not love El Burro!
(4)
Molly D.
This is my favorite lunch spot, and sometimes I have to actively resist going here more than once a week. The burritos are huge and filling, especially the California, which is stuffed with fries among the other goods. Cons: -I think it's a little overpriced. The cheapest, most basic burrito (bean & cheese) starts at $5.49, and that's without frills like rice, guacamole, etc. Most of the items are over $7, with my favorites costing $8.49. A small side of guac is $1.49, and pretty standard sides (like sour cream) are also extra. I don't know where they get their ingredients from, but I could see this being justified if they're working with local providers. I know they're a small business and I'm not expecting chain restaurant prices, so I'm happy to support them regardless. I just can't eat here nearly as much as I'd like! -Call ahead during the lunch rush; it get's pretty busy during the week, and it's pretty much a standing-room-only venue anyway. -In my experience, they run out of carne asada on a regular basis--sometimes early in the lunch hours. But the giant PRO is that it's delicious. Check their Facebook page for daily specials.
(4)
Kate M.
I'll preface this with this: I'm relatively particular about any sort of food claiming to be Mexican. I tried the California burrito, a menu item I'm generally fond of. Mine was not freshly made, perhaps since I stopped in shortly after three, so I excuse that a little. That aside, I immediately took notice of the fake shredded cheese they use. The meat did have good flavor, the guac was fine, and I did like their salsa verde. For a mediocre burrito, I'm most taken aback by the price: nine bucks for a pretty small burrito! I noticed two tacos were the same price, which I thought there's no way two tacos would be that much. After what I received, I fear that might be exactly what you get. I've had much better for half the price! I'll come back if I'm desperate, but otherwise would get more bang for my buck elsewhere.
(2)
Dan L.
I've been coming here for the past 4-5 months and it's one of the better Cali-Mex spots outside of Southern California that I've had. If it's your first time, I recommend the carne asada fries. Parking could be better, but honestly it's not big deal to drop a few quarters to feed a meter. They also do large orders, which is great for parties. I recently called in for 80 tacos and that fed about 30-35 people. They hooked it up with bags of chips and three big tubs of salsa. It was a big hit and I plan on doing it again. It's been a little slow my past few visits. Hopefully I was just there on off days and we don't see any change in portion size or food quality.
(4)
Alex W.
El Burro is a welcomed addition to the North Side. I stopped in on Saturday and tried the Carne Asada burrito and loved it. Though they were a little heavy handed on the guacamole that was fine by me because the guacamole is fantastic. The burritos are smaller than what you would get at Chipotle and I personally like that, I don't need to eat a football full of rice and beans. I'm looking forward to becoming a regular here.
(4)
Aloma A.
I love this place! The staff is super friendly and the food is good. Yes, it's a little pricey...but if you want cheap/mediocre/quasi-Mexican, you should go to Taco Bell around the corner. My favorites: shredded beef hard shell tacos, shrimp diablo burrito, and the carne asada fries. I don't mind that there's only counter seating - Federal Street is not somewhere you want to sit and eat, anyway (not much in the way of a view and there's still some sketchy characters roaming about - the area is improving greatly and undergoing a renaissance of sorts). I always phone in my order and pick it up on my way home from work. I've never waited and never had a wrong/messed up order. It's consistently fresh and yummy :-) So glad El Burro is in my neighborhood!
(5)
Bill R.
Wow. Seriously authentic Mexican street food in Pittsburgh. They even have Mexican Coca-Cola (with sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup). An instant hit. Great for a bite when you're visiting the National Aviary or Children's Museum on the north side.
(5)
Brandon F.
Another excellent choice for Mexican. I've said it before and I'll say it again, but I think I could eat Mexican every day without getting tired of it... and I actually have had weeks that came pretty close to that being a reality. Oops. I will admit that I am a newbie when it comes to the North Side. I am rarely there, with exception to a few visits to 21+ events at the Children's Museum, and visits to the Mattress Factory and the Aviary. I know very little about the food scene. My friend recommended that we try this place before going to look at cats at the Humane Society. Burritos AND cats all in one afternoon--this was a great day! I had the chorizo burrito which included rice and pico, and I added sour cream. I also had the spicy salsa on the side. The burrito was huge! I was starving and did manage to finish it, but on a normal day I would definitely have had leftovers. The chorizo was spicy and packed with flavor. Everything tasted very fresh, even down to the sour cream. The salsa was very spicy (which I love), so I would recommend pico or the medium salsa if you're not a huge fan of spice. The space is small but bright and clean. I'm excited to make a return trip to try some tacos!
(4)
Victoria D.
This is one of those places where I have been dying to try but the random 1 & 2 star reviews people have deterred me from making it a point to make a trip to the North Side to do so. Now, after actually being a block away and starving after a long day at AGH, I want to kick myself for putting it off. This place is small, not air conditioned and with not a whole lot of seating. You order at the counter and then they call you up when food is ready - maybe not the best place for a sit down date, but the perfect place for my boyfriend and I to get amazing taco takeout and stuff our faces in the comfort of our own home. The menu is on a chalkboard behind the register. I opted for the mahi mahi street tacos, chips and salsa and a side of guac. My food was ready in about 5 minutes and I always say Las Palmas has my favorite tacos in Pgh (ok I said this about round corner cantinas tacos too) and I want to kick myself again for making that claim now that I've tried El Burro's fish taco. It was served on a white corn tortilla with cabbage, cilantro and a creamy white sauce with lime on the side. I added their salsa which I thought was a little bit smokey and their guac that was clearly fresh. It was perfect mix of flavors and texture. The man working the counter was very friendly. The prices aren't as cheap as Las Palmas, but from my first time here, I have no problem paying. I can't wait to go back this weekend. I'm Tori and I have a taco problem.
(5)
Ashley L.
I have to say that Pittsburgh has become pretty saturated with decent taco places. While I do wish that someone would come up with another food inspiration, I can't help but understand why the taco is the obvious choice. A good tortilla can hold an endless amount of imaginative food combinations and, if done right, can really satisfy any hunger your body may encounter. That being said, I have been hearing delicious things about El Burro for a really long time. Despite how often I'm in the Northside (read Parkhouse), I had yet to have gone until recently. Waiting this long was a huge mistake! All of these years I could have been feasting on delicious burritos and tacos instead of getting drinking ginger beers down the street! I had their special of the day which consisted of two chicken empanadas, rice and refried beans. The rice was ok. The beans were awesome and definitely fresh. But the empanadas were, by far, the best part. They were so simple and almost elegant. Chicken and cheese in a crispy corn meal shell, topped with lettuce and cilantro. There was also fresh (and very hot) salsa that made the meal perfect. Both myself and my guest devoured our meals in mere moments. I can't wait to go back and try more! This might become a problem. At least it's healthier than drugs.
(5)
Olivia D.
Please bring back the old shrimp tacos. The new tacos make no sense from a culinary standpoint, taste bitter, and are greasy. The older recipe nicely combined soft corn tortillas with fresh sweet corn, succulent shrimp, and cilantro. These new ones are apparently a "fajita style taco" (huh?) loaded with greasy fried onions, bitter peppers, and lime wedges. It's an assault to the taste buds, very unappealing, and nonsensical.
(1)
Ahmad S.
As a first time customer i asked the clerk about the menu. I was the only client and the clerk was extremely short. The burrito was bland at best and a basic side such as lettuce and tomato was extra expense. I do not recommend el burro, you might as well go to taco bell...its cheaper
(1)
JBaby S.
Your review helps others learn about great local businesses. Not satisfying at all Chiliquilllies were plain nasty. Soggy chips with green sauce. Waste of $8 Beans have no flavor. No salt, no garlic, pepper or onions. My cheese in the bean and cheese burrito wasn't melted. Nothing beats a Taco Bell bean burrito Shredded beef taco was the best. Carne asada burrito was full of onions from guacamole and the meat chunks were chewy, tasteless and too big The fresh salsa was made from un ripened tomatoes, had no heat or cilantro Too bad the $8 per burrito locks you into buying the whole thing. Casta rasa, round corner cantina and the taco stand in front of Reyna foods has way better casual tacos They charge for chips and salsa. Chips look double fried because they are very greasyy A waste of $35 and the food left a bad taste in our mouths
(1)
Iliana C.
If you're a vegan or vegetarian and tired of having a veggie taco as your only option then you should come here. It's great! The offered potato tacos and soyrizo was an option for your "meat" in either a burrito or taco. The ambiance is that of a typical taco place. No frills and hardly any seating. The food is good and they do deliver if you live around there. I'm pretty sure this will become my new go-to place if I'm ever in the area and hungry. I may even make a few trips out here JUST for a taco.
(4)
Rachel C.
Do you have a good taco in your life? If the answer is no, you should really find one. They're great to have around. Tasty, savory, delicious tacos. YUM.... And I have so many different tacos in my life. I don't care about the argument of what is authentic or not. Maybe it's that I've lived in Western PA my whole life, but you know what? I'm okay with that. Because my taste buds dance when they hit my lips! So El Burro. My latest love affair! It's easy to love considering I love their sister restaurant, Cantina in Lawrenceville. But something is different. Maybe it's that I can actually see my taco (considering it's so freakin' dark in Cantina!). Maybe it's that they seem a little bigger. Or a little more thought thrown into them. I don't know... but they may have been even better! I ordered the shrimp tacos in a pair for $8 and they were just fresh and grilled perfectly. With incredible corn tortillas. Drool. Best decision I made (along with my taco choice) was getting the chips, salsa and gauc. Oh man. It's a huge portion! I took everything home and ate it again the next day! Happy Birthday to me (note, it's not actually my birthday, but it felt that good!).
(5)
Larissa G.
Full disclosure, I have not actually been in the El Burro establishment - I've only had food delivered to my desk at work. I can't comment on the appearance or state of the actual building. I CAN say, though, that wooooow, these guys make big things! It's a silly line to type, I know, but for my most recent meal I just ordered one burrito that was about $6 or $7, and it was massive - as big as and maybe bigger than a Chipotle burrito. I didn't even eat dinner that day, I was still so full from lunch! I'd ordered the shredded beef burrito and I really liked it; the rice had been mixed in with vegetables that had been marinated in a mildly flavored sauce, so it had the teeniest of spicy kicks. I'm not a big spice person but I thought it was reasonable and mild enough that I still enjoyed it. My only complaint is that whoever made the burrito did not evenly distribute the meat. I bit into one corner and thought, "Wow, I have a ton of shredded beef on this thing!" And I was in heaven - that tangy beef mixing with the slightly spicy rice and veggies? Awesome! Alas, 3/4 to the end of the burrito, the meat trail ended, and I only found a few wisps of beef at the very end. It was still delicious eating the rice and veggies, but I would've loved to have a more even distribution of meat in that burrito since the beef was easily the best part of the whole ensemble. Still, good food = I'm not going to gripe too much! Since people at work order here frequently I'm sure I'll have the chance to try more on this menu soon - if it's as good as the burrito was, I'm sure I won't have many complaints. I definitely recommend El Burro!
(4)
Bri M.
Great tacos! Very vegetarian friendly. I really loved the cauliflower and sweet potato taco. Prices are reasonable for the quality. It's not really a sit-down type of place, but for a quick and delicious meal, it's a very good bet.
(4)
Doug R.
Yes! Finally great Mexican food in the burgh! Had the fish tacos they were good, my wife had the shredded chicken taco it was melt in your mouth good! I have to return to try the rest of the menu.
(5)
Meghan M.
Tacos are great! Ordered a special deal and got it for a reasonable price! Staff is polite. However, the atmosphere is small, and the salsa is not my favorite. Otherwise, I recommend!
(4)
Jaime J.
I was fooled by the burrito menu. When I ordered the Carne Asada burrito, the menu showed it had guacamole in it. It did not indicate that's all it would have in it. The beef chunks were cold, hard, and incredibly salty and it was basically like eating beef jerky in a sea of guacamole. The guacamole was full of onions and green bell peppers(?!) I couldn't finish it. The salsa was good but all I had to put it on was the burrito. It didn't help the burrito at all. I was disappointed. I had high hopes for this place given that I really enjoy the food at Round Corner Cantina and Mr. J's first visit here was followed by rave reviews. He was disappointed during this trip, as well. Make sure you ask questions about the menu, otherwise you may get zinged as I did!
(1)
Eric G.
As much as I wanted to like this place, I have to say I really thought the food was overrated and overpriced. First of all, I wish there were more places to sit inside. They could have really perked this place up with a sit-in area- however, obviously the space is small and carry-out is pretty much the only way to go here. I have to say the food was good, but as other people have said the quality is not much of a step-up compared to the Taco Bell down the road. I got a rice and beans burrito, which was almost 6 bucks. The fact that even lettuce and tomato are extra ad-ons is ridiculous. I don't think I've ever seen that in any comparable food chain/restaurant. As other people have said as well, the people behind the counter were not very friendly. There is a fine line between fast service with no bullshit attitude and rudeness, and the couple of people who took my order there were right on the line. I do have to recommend trying their home-made salsa that they offered me, although there is almost no spice to it. Bottom line, one should go to the Taco Bell a few blocks away for similar quality food at a cheaper price.
(3)
Z A.
I love their shrimp diablo burrito. Don't forget to add extras. I like it with lettuce, tomato, guacamole and cheese. Amazing! Not a ton of seating, but I usually get it to go since I'm within walking distance. A definite gem in the neighborhood!
(5)
Alan S.
Good Mexican-inspired Mexican-ish food. Not owned by actual Latin folks but rather, 2 guys from San Diego, apparently. The carne asada burrito to me, is the best burrito on the menu and the guacamole was executed very nicely (so hit or miss at most PGH area Mexican eateries - even the Mexican-run ones...) The chips were delicious , the salsas were not so good - very thin - obvious they are cutting corners on the salsa . No bueno ! Parking is tricky as it's right on Federal Street . watch your back, at night . friend of mine was held up / mugged near here awhile ago . I'll be back for more burritos ...
(4)
Sammy T.
Where is the real Mexican food in Pittsburgh? I came here because its in my neighborhood and someone posted a pic of the carne asada fries and I knew those had my name written all over them. I had the diablo shrimp burrito. Surprise! Tomatoes in your burrito! I'm not a fan of raw tomatoes and I could have done without that surprise. The shrimp was so so spicy but on a whole the burrito was bland. I also ordered the carne asada fries which are great in theory but lacked seasoning. Would I come back? Sure, you gotta support neighborhood businesses. But next time I'll try the tacos.
(3)
Jenny B.
My first trip to El Burro, my neighborhood's new burrito shop/taqueria, was this afternoon. I won't say much about the speed and service, which wasn't the greatest in the world, because it's really only their first day open to the public. They had a "soft opening" last night, and their full menu isn't even in production yet. But it's worth waiting for them to work the kinks out because the food is FANTASTIC. My husband ordered a carne asada burrito and loved it. It was gigantic. I got the rolled potato tacos (wanted street tacos, but they aren't yet available), and they ended up being AMAZING. I was surprised when I opened my take-out container and found four giant taquitos smothered in guacamole, pico de gallo, and cheese. We also shared an order of chips and salsa. Both are homemade. Seriously, is there anything better than fresh, homemade tortilla chips straight out of the fryer? I think not. Heaven. Their salsa is mild, with a cilantro-y kick. I liked it, but ended up adding hot sauce. Right now, this is pretty much take-out only, which is fine with me since it's a block from my house. However, the inside of the restaurant is lined with bar counters so I think they will probably add stools eventually for an eat-in option, but even now, you could stand and eat at the counter if you wanted. I am so, so excited to welcome El Burro to the neighborhood! If you're on the north side, give them a try!
(4)
Rosalind C.
Love this place. I don't often go to the north side, but when I do, I make a point of stopping over at El Burro (or Nicky's Thai, if that's what I'm in the mood for). Simple but excellent burritos that are better than the ones they serve at Round Corner Cantina (same owners). No frills, but delicious. I'm a big fan of the shrimp burritos, but really, you can't go wrong with any of them. And very reasonably priced! Definitely get the chips... they aren't necessarily freshly fried right there and then, but they are definitely fried on premises, and are addictive.
(5)
Amy R.
Got take out from here after recommendations from 2 different friends. I got 2 shredded beef tacos, carne asada fries and my hubbie got a carne asada burrito. We were very pleased, particularly with the fries. They were so good! Now, I don't know what authentic carne asada fries are supposed to be, having lived in PA my whole life, but my friend from Texas says these are close to the real deal. The guac was really good, and my husband raved about the burrito for nearly 10 minutes after it was gone. We will definitely be back.
(5)
Rona D.
I get the beef burrito and it has been consistently good. It's on the small, relative to say, chipotle, and much better. They're grilled to give a nice crunch. The chips and salsa are tasty and homemade. Overall, the price is a bit high but the food is good.
(4)
Beth C.
As a vegetarian, I'm always on the look out for new delicious options. Also, as a huge fan of Mexican food, I've been dying for a California-style meal that didn't disappoint. As a result, El Burro is one of my favorite places in Pittsburgh and the epic poems I would write in honor of their rice, bean, and cheese burrito would feature whole stanzas about how delicious their rice is or how the only thing that comes close to comparing is their nachos with soyrizo. It may end with a battle between the nachos and burritos where everyone wins and celebrates with delicious and fresh Mexican food. Also, El Burro needs to deliver to the East End so I can eat it all of the time and attain my wish of always having easy access to delicious burritos.
(4)
Lloyd O.
The place has good food, but WAY OVER PRICED for the quanity. If you feel like paying $8.00 for 3 baby finger sized tacos then be their guest. I can't remember the last time that I spent $50.00 for lunch for myself and a women sitting on a stool at a counter with NO alcohol involved. Way over priced for what you get. I'll stick to Las Palmas for my tacos.
(3)
Kavi D.
Let me tell you, I really don't have a lot of motivation to write this review at this moment. Why? Because I just ate a big ol' burrito from El Burro and I'm about to pass out. Wow. Tasty. The rice, bean and cheese burrito hit the spot. I impulsively made the decision to drive over from the East End after work to check out this place. Glad I did. What you'll find when you get here is a small take-out establishment that's pretty bare bones both in terms of decor, space and menu options. You could chose to sit and eat here, though I wouldn't plan on it during peak hours as seating is limited. What it lacks in appearance and food variety is more than made up for in execution. I found my burrito to be 1.) gigantic 2.) fresh 3.) incredibly tasty and 4.) nicely appointed with hot-sauce that was actually hot. Woah. I'm docking one star because there is an extra charge for guacamole on your burrito. That's a bunch of BS. For what it's worth, the guac is indeed amazing. Some of the best I've had in the city. Nevertheless, it's a crime to charge extra for such a thing, especially with a burrito that's already priced at $7.
(4)
Louisa E.
We arrived 10 mins before closing and the woman at the counter was helpful and friendly and let us finish our meal while she cleaned up. The burritos were awesome. We got the spicy shrimp and the chili rellano (great idea for a burrito). Both were awesome. They also have a rotating vegan special daily and vegetarian beans. We were jut visiting Pittsburgh but will definitely make it a stop every time we come through. Friendly, fast and really good!
(5)
Brennan K.
Pretty much everything Lindsay B. said, with a couple of qualms. I started off with chips, salsa, and guacamole. The chips were a bit stale, but had a delicious flavor nonetheless. You could tell they were homemade. The default salsa was AMAZING, perfectly spicy, and you get a pretty big container of it. The guacamole kind of irked me. I don't know if it had too much lime and was sitting around for a few days, or not enough spice, or a combination of the three, but something was off about the flavor, and it tasted too limey. I'll have to give it another shot next time and hopefully I just got part of an off batch. I then moved onto refried beans and some rice. The refried beans with queso blanco were just right. The rice was really bothersome. It was bland and had a green bean in it. Green beans do not belong in Mexican rice, which makes me suspect that the rice came from a frozen rice mix or something. And now for the stars of the show... The potato taco (street style). Holy shizz, this thing was absolutely mouthwatering! I am pretty sure that I am going to start having dreams about this taco. I also got a vegan soyrizo street taco, which was perfectly spicy and smoky. And as if I didn't already have enough food, I also got a shredded chicken street taco. The meat was tender and moist, and tasted like good chicken should when it is minimally spiced and cooked properly. Oh, and they are very generous with cilantro on everything. That alone gives them like, 100 points. There isn't much to say about the restaurant itself, it's tidy and small with minimal seating. Overall, come here. Come eat lots of chips and salsa and then stuff yourself with some great tacos. I'm pretty excited for my next visit, where I plan on trying the flying saucer (whatever it is, I am intrigued), a Tijuana Street dog, burritos (even though i'm definitely more of a taco person), and a hardshell taco (shrimp, perhaps?). Good job El Burro, 8.5/10 in my book. Pretty damn good for Pittsburgh Mexican food.
(4)
Emily M.
LOVE. Seriously, this place is delish. We've been eating El Burro once a week for the last couple of months and we're not even close to being sick of it - if anything, we're becoming even more addicted. The breakfast burrito (with chorizo added) is the most insanely delicious thing I've eaten in a long time - eggs, a few fries (because why not?) salsa, spicy chorizo, all wrapped in a tasty tortilla. Rich and filling enough to share. The chicken soft tacos are consistently good, with slow-cooked white and dark meat and a thick green sauce. Topped with onions and cilantro, the only thing that makes them better is a squeeze from the lime wedge that comes alongside. Finally, the chips and salsa steal the show, in my opinion. Chips are actual deep-fried flour tortillas (presumably their leftovers) with just the right amount of salt. They're flakey and oily and oh so good. The salsa is thin (which I love) and bright and fresh tasting - a good counterpoint to the richness of the chip. Highly recommended. Local delivery service is a bonus for those of us living on the North Side.
(4)
Kathryn H.
The nachos are life changing. We live down the street and have started ordering here at least once a week because we just can't resist real food that is so delicious and fresh tasting. The California burrito (with guac & fries) is really memorable for its flavor and texture. The meat is savory and crunchy, the guac is generous and creamy, and the fries and fresh pico de gallo make it so fun. You won't regret grabbing dinner here - unless you want to avoid getting addicted to good Mexican food.
(5)
Renee Z.
I want to eat El Burro's chile relleno burrito everyday! So tasty, and it's already all chopped up in there, so you don't need a knife and fork like with most chile relleno dishes. Great guac, too.
(5)
Patricia F.
The best shredded beef tacos. The shells are excellent and the beef is tasty. Havent had tacos this good since the old Tacos Shop in Etna.
(5)
Dave C.
I've found the only place in Pittsburgh where you can get a California burrito. Delicious!
(5)
Munro R.
Stopped in with family during trip to Pittsburgh. Great menu, good prices. Had the potato rolled tacos. Homemade chips and freshly made salsa. Good place for vegetarians. Next time I definitely must try the vegan chorizo. Highly recommend.
(4)
Will K.
They used to have the best steak tacos in Pittsburgh until they swapped out the real chunks of steak to basically Taco Bell meat. I was extremely disappointed when I learned of this transition. I actually have not returned since... Dont get me wrong, the tacos are top notch. I love the soft greasy shells and the authentic Mexican feel this place has. They also give you lime for the tacos which gives it that extra zesty taste! I also have had the pittsburgh burrito which has french fries mixed in with the burrito, it was ok but when I go to a place like this I am looking for as authentic as I can get. Still good food besides substituting the best tacos they had. I have to give it 3 stars because that was the only thing I really kept me coming back. Disappointed :-/
(3)
Grace L.
The first thing we did when we came to Pittsburgh was look for a good Mexican place. We're not talking about texmex, but California burritos, carne asada fries, etc.. and el burro is the place. Not only do we come here to get our SoCal Mexican food fix, but we've ordered 80 tacos for a party before and they did a great job with them. Delicious!
(5)
C F.
I must say I gave el burro another chance today ( my daughter talked me in to it ) and I was soo happy ! The food was its usual awesome and the place smelt and looked appetizing! Thank you El Burro for stepping up ! Raising my rating to 5 stars and I will be back :)
(5)
Jennifer D.
Easily the best, most authentic Mexican street food in the city. Since moving home from the West Coast in 2009, I've been praying for a place like this to sprout up somewhere in the city. Finally!!! Authentic street tacos and only a few blocks from my house. If you're used to "enjoying" Americanized Mexican food like Chipotle or El Patron then you'll be in for a surprise here. El Burro is every bit a taco stand!!! You can't miss: the Chorizo Street Style Tacos, the TJ Dog, the Carnitas Gringo Style Tacos and the housemade chips, mild salsa and guacamole. They don't currently offer horchata but I was assured its coming in the future. Delighted!!! I can't say enough for this spot. Delicious!
(5)
Joe S.
Not fresh, heavy food. Love Mexican
(2)
Carl F.
Great Carne Asada burritos here. That's all I need with any mexican spot. Doesn't hurt that they have great customer service and I think the best salsa in town.
(4)
Michael P.
Stopped in again the other day for a quick lunch after a trip to the Mattress Factory. My original sentiments about this place were completely restored. Good food and good service. Nice job Wes!
(3)
Nichole N.
Meh. That's my description based on my first visit. I have been wanting to try El Burro for quite a while since the place is literally just a few blocks away. I love LOVE Mexican food. Usually you can find me salivating over the menus of Casa Renya, El Campesino, Chipotle, etc. You get the point. I finally tried it out this afternoon for lunch and decided on the Carnitas Burrito. My significant other ordered the chile relleno burrito. Upon holding the burrito, I was impressed - it felt like a significant portion. When I took it out of the foil it looked good, lightly grilled even, and smelled nice. Then I cut it in half, and rice spilled out everywhere. I looked - where's the meat? Upon further inspection and subsequent eating I found the meat, but not very much. And to boot - it tasted like it wasn't seasoned at all. Very bland. All that weight of the burrito? Pretty much all white rice with a couple of corn kernels and peas and TWO cilantro leaves.... And it all tasted like... well, nothing! I had to drown it in my hot sauce here at home. At other establishments I can barely eat an entire burrito. Here, I ate the whole thing and was very disappointed, especially after reading all these rave reviews and the price point. Now, I did have a bite of my husband's Chile Relleno burrito, and it was more flavorful than mine, but of course a pepper like that is going to have more flavor than what I had. He said it was just ok, and that for the price he expected a bit more inside the burrito other than the mass quantity of rice. I don't see myself being a regular here. Too pricy for too much rice and very little flavor.
(3)
Jessica C.
Every time I eat here I wonder why I don't do it more. The food is fantastic! It's simple, delicious and best of all, close to home! Oh, and don't forget to try to the Carne Asada Fries, Fries never tasted so good!
(4)
Dennis M.
We just went to the new El Burro. The carnitas and shredded chicken burritos were tasty. But, I don't want to pay $9 for a burrito and not have a place to sit. They will have 8 stools soon. Then we can relax and enjoy. Remember the old Toula's...or trying to forget? Thank you developer Bill Baron and CNNC development cmt. A step in the right direction.
(4)
Samantha C.
So far best mexican in pittsburgh. recently moved to the area from chicago where you can get quality mexican food down the street. The rolled tacos keep me coming back for more! They have a delicious green sauce over top of them and are nice and crispy. The nice thing about this place is the staff are friendly and the prices are good. Their fish tacos, also amazing.
(5)
Laura M.
I stopped by with CM this past Sat. around 5pm after a visit to the Mattress Factory for a quick snack. We were a bit hungry, but weren't necessarily up for a full dinner. I whipped out my trusty Yelp app and saw that El Burro was an establishment nearby that I'd bookmarked, and CM said he was up for Mexican. Thus, we decided to brave the quasi-sketchiness of this end of Federal St. to check it out. The first thing that immediately became apparent upon walking in was that there were no tables--only a handful of counter seats on either side. Between that and observing other customers, it's pretty clear that most of El Burro's business is take out. Undaunted, we decided to get a few tacos and settle in to eat them at the counter. CM and I both ordered two chicken tacos in hard shells ($3.75 each), and I also got a bottle of Tamarind El Jarritos soda ($2.29). The tacos were served about 5 min. after ordering. Unfortunately, though they had appropriate textural variation, I found them bland in flavor. The skimpy portion of red salsa served on the side, while hot, added little flavor to them. No guac or sour cream was included, which was disappointing--apparently, you have to pay extra for it. Unfortunately, I feel that El Burro epitomizes what's wrong with the Mexican food scene in PGH--Mexican food is supposed to be bold and flavorful, not bland! Between the blandness of the tacos and the price that we paid (over $16), it just wasn't worth it. In retrospect, after looking at the photos, we would have been better off ordering two flying saucers instead of the tacos. If you're looking for delicious, inexpensive tacos, I recommend Edgar's in the Strip or Las Palmas in Oakland. TBH, I probably wouldn't return unless someone insisted on it--or unless I was stuck in the North Side without cash, as was the case on Sat.
(3)
Jason S.
The burritos are ok. We had a chorizo burrito, a shredded beef burrito, and a carne asada burrito. Mine (shredded beef) was loaded with too much rice. The others were a little more balanced. For $9 a burrito i was expecting a more. I brought some Mexican friends with me and we all thought the restaurant was so-so. The place has seating but it's better suited for takeout.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : No Attire : Casual Ambience : Hipster Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : No Caters : Yes
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.
Liz G.
So I really really really wanted to love this place. I live in the area and appreciate great Mexican food. My husband and I went the first time and it was awesome. Chips/salsa the bomb. His carne asada burrito amazing. My potato tacos delicious. The second time we went my husband ordered the same exact burrito - carne asada. The meat was not the same. It was a ground meat? We asked about it and they said they had recently changed it. I went back today. For a business lunch order. 6 people. I ordered a little bit of everything, which included two orders of chips and salsa and five orders of guacamole. They did not send the chips/salsa or guac, or plates, silverware, napkins etc. Since the meeting was in the area, I called them and spoke with the manager and I explained that part of my order was missing. He said he'd deliver it within about 1/2 hour. About an hour and a half later nothing. I called again. The manager asked me if he could just give me a credit. I said no, I prefer the food to be delivered as promised. Then he asked me what time they close. That shouldn't matter considering the food should all have been there 2 hours ago. Then he begrudgingly agreed to deliver it. I don't know about you, but I understand it was a simple mistake, which would have normally been fine. The problem was the attitude and lack of follow through. Not to mention this was a pretty large-sized order. If this is the service they give to a customer who spends a lot, I can't imagine the service you'd get for 2. No thank you El Burro. I'll go eat my Mexican food at some of the other great places in the city like La Palapa, Casa Reyna or Las Velas, where they appreciate you.
(2)M R.
Great tacos. Simple and very tasty. Its a smallish restaurant that has some soul. I would return when I'm back in town.
(4)Justin D.
El Burro is a nice lunch option in the North Side. The menu reminded me of some of my favorite Tucson-based, super authentic taco shops. Nothing fancy, just the real deal on a menu board. I went with the shredded beef burrito and some medium salsa on the side. The burritos are huge! It was a brick of Mexican goodness, ready to destroy my hopes and dreams of making through an afternoon of training in Allegheny Center. The medium salsa had just the right amount of kick to it. The burrito itself was tasty, but something about it just didn't knock it out of the park for me. It was definitely a more authentic flavor, but still missing something. I'd like to go back and give the tacos a try. Corn tortillas always amp up the authenticity and flavor, and I want to see what this guac is all about.
(3)Greg B.
Great north side stop after day exploring the Mexican war streets. Chips and guacamole were fabulous. Mahi Mahi tacos were perfect -- deep fried fillets on top of raw cabbage and onions, with a really nice sauce. Carne asada taco was spicy and we closed out with a nice pork taco. Absolutely fantastic and authentic. New fav in Pittsburgh.
(5)Cherith C.
Had the California Burrito and found it to be a tasty, salty, and fry-filled fiesta! Loved the shop and the location is right near Allegheny Hospital, which is great for me. Great service and nice staff. Excited to try the rest of the menu.
(4)mike c.
Awesome taquitos. Great salsa. I give it a fifth star for the native San Diego gringo owner and his "bro" accent. Wouldn't be surprised if he skateboarded to work on a long board.
(5)Ryan P.
Not sure if the burro has gone downhill, or if I just hit it on an off night, but I wasn't nearly as impressed as before on my last visit. I had the shrimp diablo burrito, which I've had in the past, but this time it was just kind of meh. The carnitas tacos were still delicious however, and the guacamole is quite good. The chips are way too greasy in my opinion, but that's not super surprising since they're homemade. In the future, I think I'd stick to the tacos here, rather than the namesake burritos.
(4)Darae C.
Stopped in here for a quick bite to eat before I headed over to the Elks for Banjo Night. Though the website says they're open until 9, we walked in at 7:45 and were told that they close in 15 minutes at 8pm. I'm usually not one for sticking it to restaurants with last minute orders anymore, but my friends were persistent and we ordered anyhow. My friends all got tacos and burritos. Everyone was satisfied, including me and my two yummy carnitas tacos. The lime I had was dried out to no end, but that's the price you pay when you go to a place 10 mins before closing. Not the best taco I had, but certainly not the worst. If I'm ever on this side of town again I'd give it another try.
(3)Anthony F.
El burro is OK. Feel like they skimp on meat in burritos, give me too much rice, and dont even include sour cream or cheese. The fried "taquito" esque creations are OK as well. Prefer the strip or taco truck. This place seemed so great at first, but it lacks in flavor and bang for my buck. Taco truck might be pricey but at least their tacos have flavor, for example. And i pay about $10 for a burrito here when I could get a better tasting one with more meat at Chipotle. Sorry dudes. Im sad to say it too. Maybe you can switch up your flavor game and save the burro.
(3)Shon T.
So I initially ate here and it was my favorite place to get some authentic Mexican burritos that reminded me of California and Arizona. However, I started noticing a decline in the quality of food they started turning out. The salsa was awesome in the beginning, but later it was watered down - and lacked spice. Were they trying to skimp out on ingredients and make their product last longer, or the salsa was not refrigerated and just went bad? Who knows...
(2)Kaitlin P.
I just moved here from the southwest and the tacos at El Burro tasted like home, I had a street carne asada taco and a shredded beef taco. They were so good they made me home sick! I was hoping salsa would have more of a kick, But this place has a cool vibe and I would be stoked to eat here again
(4)Adrienne D.
A few weeks ago, got two soft shredded chicken tacos that were awesome. Came back today...totally different. Got a carnitas burrito that was definitely subpar. It was--literally--80% rice and very little meat. Totally dry, hardly any pico, and the little meat that was there was not carnitas. Also had rolled tacos...which are actually taquitos. Fried to the point of very, very well done. Did not come with the avocado that was advertised. The regular $3 tacos are solid, but the other stuff is overpriced and barely mediocre. $25 for two meals, thought we might get chips or salsa as well, but nothin. Maybe kitchen was having an off night? So disappointed...was looking forward to some quality mexicali street food
(2)Eric Z.
Awesome burrito and taco joint. Small, only counter against the walls seating, but great food and atmosphere. I've been here a few times and the food has always been great! Great for quick take out. The Hot Dog Taco is a fat guys dream come true.
(5)Quay M.
I LOVE MEXICAN. Now that we've established that, let me tell you El Burro's tacos are delish. Makes sense as this is the sister site to Round Corner Cantina. I'll admit to having only tried the tacos ... and only two of the tacos ... but the carne asada is so good! I finally broke down and tried the shrimp tacos which were so, so, so, so good. The people who work there are really friendly, too. Probably helped that when they first opened I visited 3 days in a row. I don't know how much I can say in this review that hasn't already been said (small place, not much seating, mainly take-out). There's also the small problem of me ordering the same thing over and over again.
(4)Joseph F.
When it comes to Pittsburgh, one thing we haven't really been able to perfect is the Tex Mex/Mex/South of the Border/Whatever you want to call it experience. I don't mean to knock Mad Mex, Emiliano's, Veracruz (RIP), Mi Ranchito, etc., etc.--sure, Las Palmas has a solid taco stand, and sure, Bea's in the South Side provides a nice experience, but something has always been missing...until now. El Burro caters to that deep longing that every burrito lover has yet doesn't know exists. El Burro makes Qdoba laughable, puts Chipotle to shame, and hits you smack in the face with what a real burrito should taste like. The guy who runs the place makes his own hot sauces, which are pretty dope. If you need hotter, he buys some pretty good hot sauces you can use, too. The carne asada French fries come loaded with everything you didn't know you wanted on French fries, and the chips are fresh and delicious. Now, it isn't the Mission or anything, but it's damn reminiscent. And if you don't want a pop with corn syrup, they also sell Mexican Coke (made with cane sugar for that real, rot-your-teeth-in-the-best-ways adventure).
(5)Tom S.
Outstanding Chile Relleno Burrito. A hidden gem on the North Shore for quick, high quality Mexican.
(5)Lauren K.
El Burro is one of the best Mexican street food places in the city. The carne asada fries are amazing as is the Tijuana dog. The tacos are hit or miss (sometimes can be underseasoned), but they are usually still pretty good. Great place for take out or eating at one of the little counters inside.
(4)Lindsay B.
I'd like to make my deep love for El Burro known. I would write love letters to these incredible tacos if I wasn't fearful of spilling salsa on them. What a fantastic neighborhood find, thanks again to Yelp! Lots of vegetarian choices and variations of those choices. The potato tacos are mouth watering, with flaky flour tortillas, fresh veggies, and chunks of potatoes cooked in some magical spice that makes me crave them nightly. The rolled potato tacos are a surprisingly huge portion of 4 taquito type goodies with loads of cheese and fresh pico. There are tons of different burrito options, I think 11 in all, many vegetarian or having veggie friendly possibilities. Oh, and some have french fries, which makes my inner fat kid squeal with delight and feel naughty at the same time. I adore that they have vegan chorizo and the breakfast burrito is definitely worth tasting, even though those potato tacos are difficult to pass up! El Burro has the best salsa I've ever tasted. I guess this is controversial since other reviewers seem to find it too thin or even runny. I don't care about chunks, apparently, just flavor. And this stuff has it! Perfect amount of kick to compliment those homemade chips. The guacamole is good, although they don't give you much of it on the side. They carry Mexican Coke (sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup) and other south of the border bottled beverages which only adds to the El Burro vibe and experience. This is primarily a take out joint, although I suppose you could eat there if you wanted. There just isn't much seating, just a handful of stools at a couple counters. Order at the counter or call ahead. The staff is super friendly and knowledgable. And it's cheap! $2.95 per taco, $5-$6 for rolled tacos, $6.95 for burritos, $2.95 for chips and a huge container of salsa. I'm so delighted to have El Burro as my new neighbor. Definitely crave-worthy food has come to Federal Street, and I could not be happier!
(5)Tai F.
El Burro was basically my last stop in Pittsburgh and I had an awesome time laughing with some friends and eating a mediocre burrito. I got a plain bean and cheese burrito. The cheese was good but the beans were sort of off. I think they had a spice in them that I'm not used to being in refried beans. It reminded me of the beans at Tito's Tacos in LA. Not bad just sort of funky. I was super excited that they had Jarritos. yum. My friend accidentally ordered a burrito with pico in it and when she realized she asked them, politely, if they could keep it off. Well it was already made and she was very apologetic but still asked if they could make another one. Obviously this sucks for them and they weren't rude about it but they did keep trying to get her to take the one with pico. I know it's a pain to have to remake something, I do get that, but it just started to get kind of weird. The kept saying, "Are you sure you don't like pico? when was the last time you had it? Don't want to try it again?" Yeah, she made a mistake and it's inconvenient and again, they weren't rude, but by the time he finally acquiesced he could have finished the burrito already. It's an okay burrito but there's room for improvement.
(3)Jack L.
Thank God - actual street tacos here in Pittsburgh! A friend caught this place on Yelp and got me and an officemate here for lunch. What a great find. I have been longing for street tacos since a couple of trips to Cancun and then finding a taco stand in Michigan of all places that did an amazing job with them. Here, they are about $2.50 each and a choice of shredded beef, carne asada, shredded chicken, potato and chorizo. I think I may have missed an option or two but they are perfect. Just the right amount of meat, on two freshly made corn tortillas with a delicious pico de gallo and two hot sauces on the side with a slice of lime - you are set. I got 3 street tacos (shredded beef, carne asade and shredded chicken) and a fountain drink for a little under $10. Just the right amount of food and it was fast. There are just a handful of seats and a lunch counter that runs all along the wall. If you expect to eat in, get there before noon like we did. Otherwise, not sure how the tacos will make the trip back to your home or office. The others with me went with the burrito of shredded chicken and the extra $1 for guacamole. They enjoyed their selection but both were a little disappointed with the light spread of guac on their burrito. Other than that, this place was a crowdpleaser! Maybe I'll branch out and try some of the other offerings. But maybe not for a while until I get tired of their street tacos - this has been a long time coming to see a craving being satiated!
(5)Tony D.
Despite being a mostly take-out type restaurant, El Burro is visually inviting--lots of colorful decorations and cute little donkeys, true to their namesake. Their menu is pretty straightforward, mostly in the way of burritos and tacos. When we came in they had $1 specials off the carnitas and chicken burritos. I am not sure if they have this kind of thing on rotation regularly, but it was enough motivation for us to get one of each. The burritos were definitely a decent size for the reasonable price. They were very photogenic too, nicely wrapped with cilantro sprinkled around a lightly grilled tortilla wrap. Lots of good filling, with cheese, beans, rice, and some veggies. They offer a number of sauces/fillings that you can add for no extra charge, so those were a nice bonus. I'd say that the flavor here is just slightly less than what you'd typically find for Mexican food, but that's fine if that's what you're after sometimes. In terms of burritos though, I'm pretty happy to say that I found my go-to place in Pittsburgh.
(4)Margaret H.
Simple, delicious tacos. I had their tacos the first time I ate there, and they are so tasty that I haven't tried anything else. Mexican style, just the way they should be, with two soft corn tortillas, meat, onions, a little cilantro, and one of their tasty sauces (I'm partial to the verde). The chicken is flavorful and moist, which is sometimes hard to come by. The potato tacos are good, but a little spicy for my taste. The chorizo is perfectly spiced and that little bit of drippy grease to let you feel just the right amount of indulgent. One complaint: they seem to have changed the carne asada from hunks of meat to ground meet. THAT WAS THE BEST ONE WHY DID YOU MESS WITH IT? The ground meat is fine, but before it was SPECTACULAR.
(4)Leanna C.
Food was great and the portions were perfect. Street tacos were great I would recommend the chicken. The nachos are a must for sharing or just for yourself. My husband said the burrito was really good too. It is a very small place so big groups are not going to fit. It only has bar stool sitting area.
(4)Joy C.
El Burro has some of the best burritos in Pittsburgh. Also, their chips & salsa is awesome. Their chips taste homemade & their salsa is homemade & has just the right amount of spice (not too spicy). I love their breakfast burrito which comes with egg, cheese, fries & pico. I tried their potato taco & fish taco one time & I wasn't really impressed. The tacos were kind of dry & not a lot of flavor. I'll stick with their burritos. Highly recommend El Burro.
(4)Ryan J.
I've been driving past this spot for years and only just decided to step in and check it out. Really glad I did. I might have to make this a regular spot of mine. Mexican food is the way to my heart and the rolled tacos I tried were amazing! Purchased an El Burro hat to help support the business a little more.
(5)Karli M.
Legit comida mexicana finalmente. Although burritos are not a Mexican cuisine the rest of the menu was quite authentic. The chilaquiles were midrange spicy so don't let them fool you when they say it's not. I will return the next time I'm here to try out the tacos
(4)Kevin C.
I decided to check this place out for lunch yesterday, since I was in the area. I've heard a few good things about this place and was looking forward to trying it out myself. I ended up going with the chorizo burrito with crumbly cheese and their habanero salsa. The burrito was underwhelming in my opinion. It's a tad pricey, has too much Spanish rice for filler, and minimal chorizo. Overall, it was a bit too bland and dry for me. Also, I'm not positive the cheese made it into my burrito. The habanero sauce was tasty though. It was not extremely hot and therefore manageable for anyone who likes some heat, but I only got enough on the side for half my burrito. I will try again at some point, but I'll be honest, I went to Chipotle for dinner to get the fix I was looking for later that day.
(3)Barry R.
I got two words. "Tijuana. Hotdog." It is a delightful, gravity defying, awe inspiring, bacon wrapped pork stick, deep fried, and lovingly dressed with diced tomatoes, onions, and jalapenos. I shared one with my wife, thinking that it would be too heavy and greasy to have along with my meal. I deeply regret offering to do so. It was so good I wanted it all to myself! I expected to fall into a deep coma after eating it, but I felt energetic and lively. Could it have been the bacon induced hypertension kicking it? Quite possibly, but it tasted much lighter and less greasy than I would have expected. I also enjoyed a shrimp diablo burrito and my wife got fish tacos which were all excellent. Normally I associate Sriracha with asian food. My shrimp weren't as spicy as their name would suggest, so I gave their Sriracha a try and it complemented the Mexican food perfectly. They also have house made sauces which were good, but get a few as the containers are small. It's a bit of a hole, light on atmosphere, but generous with great freshly made, inventive Mexican food, low prices, friendly knowledgeable staff, and every reason to come again soon. Only a donkey would not love El Burro!
(4)Molly D.
This is my favorite lunch spot, and sometimes I have to actively resist going here more than once a week. The burritos are huge and filling, especially the California, which is stuffed with fries among the other goods. Cons: -I think it's a little overpriced. The cheapest, most basic burrito (bean & cheese) starts at $5.49, and that's without frills like rice, guacamole, etc. Most of the items are over $7, with my favorites costing $8.49. A small side of guac is $1.49, and pretty standard sides (like sour cream) are also extra. I don't know where they get their ingredients from, but I could see this being justified if they're working with local providers. I know they're a small business and I'm not expecting chain restaurant prices, so I'm happy to support them regardless. I just can't eat here nearly as much as I'd like! -Call ahead during the lunch rush; it get's pretty busy during the week, and it's pretty much a standing-room-only venue anyway. -In my experience, they run out of carne asada on a regular basis--sometimes early in the lunch hours. But the giant PRO is that it's delicious. Check their Facebook page for daily specials.
(4)Kate M.
I'll preface this with this: I'm relatively particular about any sort of food claiming to be Mexican. I tried the California burrito, a menu item I'm generally fond of. Mine was not freshly made, perhaps since I stopped in shortly after three, so I excuse that a little. That aside, I immediately took notice of the fake shredded cheese they use. The meat did have good flavor, the guac was fine, and I did like their salsa verde. For a mediocre burrito, I'm most taken aback by the price: nine bucks for a pretty small burrito! I noticed two tacos were the same price, which I thought there's no way two tacos would be that much. After what I received, I fear that might be exactly what you get. I've had much better for half the price! I'll come back if I'm desperate, but otherwise would get more bang for my buck elsewhere.
(2)Dan L.
I've been coming here for the past 4-5 months and it's one of the better Cali-Mex spots outside of Southern California that I've had. If it's your first time, I recommend the carne asada fries. Parking could be better, but honestly it's not big deal to drop a few quarters to feed a meter. They also do large orders, which is great for parties. I recently called in for 80 tacos and that fed about 30-35 people. They hooked it up with bags of chips and three big tubs of salsa. It was a big hit and I plan on doing it again. It's been a little slow my past few visits. Hopefully I was just there on off days and we don't see any change in portion size or food quality.
(4)Alex W.
El Burro is a welcomed addition to the North Side. I stopped in on Saturday and tried the Carne Asada burrito and loved it. Though they were a little heavy handed on the guacamole that was fine by me because the guacamole is fantastic. The burritos are smaller than what you would get at Chipotle and I personally like that, I don't need to eat a football full of rice and beans. I'm looking forward to becoming a regular here.
(4)Aloma A.
I love this place! The staff is super friendly and the food is good. Yes, it's a little pricey...but if you want cheap/mediocre/quasi-Mexican, you should go to Taco Bell around the corner. My favorites: shredded beef hard shell tacos, shrimp diablo burrito, and the carne asada fries. I don't mind that there's only counter seating - Federal Street is not somewhere you want to sit and eat, anyway (not much in the way of a view and there's still some sketchy characters roaming about - the area is improving greatly and undergoing a renaissance of sorts). I always phone in my order and pick it up on my way home from work. I've never waited and never had a wrong/messed up order. It's consistently fresh and yummy :-) So glad El Burro is in my neighborhood!
(5)Bill R.
Wow. Seriously authentic Mexican street food in Pittsburgh. They even have Mexican Coca-Cola (with sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup). An instant hit. Great for a bite when you're visiting the National Aviary or Children's Museum on the north side.
(5)Brandon F.
Another excellent choice for Mexican. I've said it before and I'll say it again, but I think I could eat Mexican every day without getting tired of it... and I actually have had weeks that came pretty close to that being a reality. Oops. I will admit that I am a newbie when it comes to the North Side. I am rarely there, with exception to a few visits to 21+ events at the Children's Museum, and visits to the Mattress Factory and the Aviary. I know very little about the food scene. My friend recommended that we try this place before going to look at cats at the Humane Society. Burritos AND cats all in one afternoon--this was a great day! I had the chorizo burrito which included rice and pico, and I added sour cream. I also had the spicy salsa on the side. The burrito was huge! I was starving and did manage to finish it, but on a normal day I would definitely have had leftovers. The chorizo was spicy and packed with flavor. Everything tasted very fresh, even down to the sour cream. The salsa was very spicy (which I love), so I would recommend pico or the medium salsa if you're not a huge fan of spice. The space is small but bright and clean. I'm excited to make a return trip to try some tacos!
(4)Victoria D.
This is one of those places where I have been dying to try but the random 1 & 2 star reviews people have deterred me from making it a point to make a trip to the North Side to do so. Now, after actually being a block away and starving after a long day at AGH, I want to kick myself for putting it off. This place is small, not air conditioned and with not a whole lot of seating. You order at the counter and then they call you up when food is ready - maybe not the best place for a sit down date, but the perfect place for my boyfriend and I to get amazing taco takeout and stuff our faces in the comfort of our own home. The menu is on a chalkboard behind the register. I opted for the mahi mahi street tacos, chips and salsa and a side of guac. My food was ready in about 5 minutes and I always say Las Palmas has my favorite tacos in Pgh (ok I said this about round corner cantinas tacos too) and I want to kick myself again for making that claim now that I've tried El Burro's fish taco. It was served on a white corn tortilla with cabbage, cilantro and a creamy white sauce with lime on the side. I added their salsa which I thought was a little bit smokey and their guac that was clearly fresh. It was perfect mix of flavors and texture. The man working the counter was very friendly. The prices aren't as cheap as Las Palmas, but from my first time here, I have no problem paying. I can't wait to go back this weekend. I'm Tori and I have a taco problem.
(5)Ashley L.
I have to say that Pittsburgh has become pretty saturated with decent taco places. While I do wish that someone would come up with another food inspiration, I can't help but understand why the taco is the obvious choice. A good tortilla can hold an endless amount of imaginative food combinations and, if done right, can really satisfy any hunger your body may encounter. That being said, I have been hearing delicious things about El Burro for a really long time. Despite how often I'm in the Northside (read Parkhouse), I had yet to have gone until recently. Waiting this long was a huge mistake! All of these years I could have been feasting on delicious burritos and tacos instead of getting drinking ginger beers down the street! I had their special of the day which consisted of two chicken empanadas, rice and refried beans. The rice was ok. The beans were awesome and definitely fresh. But the empanadas were, by far, the best part. They were so simple and almost elegant. Chicken and cheese in a crispy corn meal shell, topped with lettuce and cilantro. There was also fresh (and very hot) salsa that made the meal perfect. Both myself and my guest devoured our meals in mere moments. I can't wait to go back and try more! This might become a problem. At least it's healthier than drugs.
(5)Olivia D.
Please bring back the old shrimp tacos. The new tacos make no sense from a culinary standpoint, taste bitter, and are greasy. The older recipe nicely combined soft corn tortillas with fresh sweet corn, succulent shrimp, and cilantro. These new ones are apparently a "fajita style taco" (huh?) loaded with greasy fried onions, bitter peppers, and lime wedges. It's an assault to the taste buds, very unappealing, and nonsensical.
(1)Ahmad S.
As a first time customer i asked the clerk about the menu. I was the only client and the clerk was extremely short. The burrito was bland at best and a basic side such as lettuce and tomato was extra expense. I do not recommend el burro, you might as well go to taco bell...its cheaper
(1)JBaby S.
Your review helps others learn about great local businesses. Not satisfying at all Chiliquilllies were plain nasty. Soggy chips with green sauce. Waste of $8 Beans have no flavor. No salt, no garlic, pepper or onions. My cheese in the bean and cheese burrito wasn't melted. Nothing beats a Taco Bell bean burrito Shredded beef taco was the best. Carne asada burrito was full of onions from guacamole and the meat chunks were chewy, tasteless and too big The fresh salsa was made from un ripened tomatoes, had no heat or cilantro Too bad the $8 per burrito locks you into buying the whole thing. Casta rasa, round corner cantina and the taco stand in front of Reyna foods has way better casual tacos They charge for chips and salsa. Chips look double fried because they are very greasyy A waste of $35 and the food left a bad taste in our mouths
(1)Iliana C.
If you're a vegan or vegetarian and tired of having a veggie taco as your only option then you should come here. It's great! The offered potato tacos and soyrizo was an option for your "meat" in either a burrito or taco. The ambiance is that of a typical taco place. No frills and hardly any seating. The food is good and they do deliver if you live around there. I'm pretty sure this will become my new go-to place if I'm ever in the area and hungry. I may even make a few trips out here JUST for a taco.
(4)Rachel C.
Do you have a good taco in your life? If the answer is no, you should really find one. They're great to have around. Tasty, savory, delicious tacos. YUM.... And I have so many different tacos in my life. I don't care about the argument of what is authentic or not. Maybe it's that I've lived in Western PA my whole life, but you know what? I'm okay with that. Because my taste buds dance when they hit my lips! So El Burro. My latest love affair! It's easy to love considering I love their sister restaurant, Cantina in Lawrenceville. But something is different. Maybe it's that I can actually see my taco (considering it's so freakin' dark in Cantina!). Maybe it's that they seem a little bigger. Or a little more thought thrown into them. I don't know... but they may have been even better! I ordered the shrimp tacos in a pair for $8 and they were just fresh and grilled perfectly. With incredible corn tortillas. Drool. Best decision I made (along with my taco choice) was getting the chips, salsa and gauc. Oh man. It's a huge portion! I took everything home and ate it again the next day! Happy Birthday to me (note, it's not actually my birthday, but it felt that good!).
(5)Larissa G.
Full disclosure, I have not actually been in the El Burro establishment - I've only had food delivered to my desk at work. I can't comment on the appearance or state of the actual building. I CAN say, though, that wooooow, these guys make big things! It's a silly line to type, I know, but for my most recent meal I just ordered one burrito that was about $6 or $7, and it was massive - as big as and maybe bigger than a Chipotle burrito. I didn't even eat dinner that day, I was still so full from lunch! I'd ordered the shredded beef burrito and I really liked it; the rice had been mixed in with vegetables that had been marinated in a mildly flavored sauce, so it had the teeniest of spicy kicks. I'm not a big spice person but I thought it was reasonable and mild enough that I still enjoyed it. My only complaint is that whoever made the burrito did not evenly distribute the meat. I bit into one corner and thought, "Wow, I have a ton of shredded beef on this thing!" And I was in heaven - that tangy beef mixing with the slightly spicy rice and veggies? Awesome! Alas, 3/4 to the end of the burrito, the meat trail ended, and I only found a few wisps of beef at the very end. It was still delicious eating the rice and veggies, but I would've loved to have a more even distribution of meat in that burrito since the beef was easily the best part of the whole ensemble. Still, good food = I'm not going to gripe too much! Since people at work order here frequently I'm sure I'll have the chance to try more on this menu soon - if it's as good as the burrito was, I'm sure I won't have many complaints. I definitely recommend El Burro!
(4)Bri M.
Great tacos! Very vegetarian friendly. I really loved the cauliflower and sweet potato taco. Prices are reasonable for the quality. It's not really a sit-down type of place, but for a quick and delicious meal, it's a very good bet.
(4)Doug R.
Yes! Finally great Mexican food in the burgh! Had the fish tacos they were good, my wife had the shredded chicken taco it was melt in your mouth good! I have to return to try the rest of the menu.
(5)Meghan M.
Tacos are great! Ordered a special deal and got it for a reasonable price! Staff is polite. However, the atmosphere is small, and the salsa is not my favorite. Otherwise, I recommend!
(4)Jaime J.
I was fooled by the burrito menu. When I ordered the Carne Asada burrito, the menu showed it had guacamole in it. It did not indicate that's all it would have in it. The beef chunks were cold, hard, and incredibly salty and it was basically like eating beef jerky in a sea of guacamole. The guacamole was full of onions and green bell peppers(?!) I couldn't finish it. The salsa was good but all I had to put it on was the burrito. It didn't help the burrito at all. I was disappointed. I had high hopes for this place given that I really enjoy the food at Round Corner Cantina and Mr. J's first visit here was followed by rave reviews. He was disappointed during this trip, as well. Make sure you ask questions about the menu, otherwise you may get zinged as I did!
(1)Eric G.
As much as I wanted to like this place, I have to say I really thought the food was overrated and overpriced. First of all, I wish there were more places to sit inside. They could have really perked this place up with a sit-in area- however, obviously the space is small and carry-out is pretty much the only way to go here. I have to say the food was good, but as other people have said the quality is not much of a step-up compared to the Taco Bell down the road. I got a rice and beans burrito, which was almost 6 bucks. The fact that even lettuce and tomato are extra ad-ons is ridiculous. I don't think I've ever seen that in any comparable food chain/restaurant. As other people have said as well, the people behind the counter were not very friendly. There is a fine line between fast service with no bullshit attitude and rudeness, and the couple of people who took my order there were right on the line. I do have to recommend trying their home-made salsa that they offered me, although there is almost no spice to it. Bottom line, one should go to the Taco Bell a few blocks away for similar quality food at a cheaper price.
(3)Z A.
I love their shrimp diablo burrito. Don't forget to add extras. I like it with lettuce, tomato, guacamole and cheese. Amazing! Not a ton of seating, but I usually get it to go since I'm within walking distance. A definite gem in the neighborhood!
(5)Alan S.
Good Mexican-inspired Mexican-ish food. Not owned by actual Latin folks but rather, 2 guys from San Diego, apparently. The carne asada burrito to me, is the best burrito on the menu and the guacamole was executed very nicely (so hit or miss at most PGH area Mexican eateries - even the Mexican-run ones...) The chips were delicious , the salsas were not so good - very thin - obvious they are cutting corners on the salsa . No bueno ! Parking is tricky as it's right on Federal Street . watch your back, at night . friend of mine was held up / mugged near here awhile ago . I'll be back for more burritos ...
(4)Sammy T.
Where is the real Mexican food in Pittsburgh? I came here because its in my neighborhood and someone posted a pic of the carne asada fries and I knew those had my name written all over them. I had the diablo shrimp burrito. Surprise! Tomatoes in your burrito! I'm not a fan of raw tomatoes and I could have done without that surprise. The shrimp was so so spicy but on a whole the burrito was bland. I also ordered the carne asada fries which are great in theory but lacked seasoning. Would I come back? Sure, you gotta support neighborhood businesses. But next time I'll try the tacos.
(3)Jenny B.
My first trip to El Burro, my neighborhood's new burrito shop/taqueria, was this afternoon. I won't say much about the speed and service, which wasn't the greatest in the world, because it's really only their first day open to the public. They had a "soft opening" last night, and their full menu isn't even in production yet. But it's worth waiting for them to work the kinks out because the food is FANTASTIC. My husband ordered a carne asada burrito and loved it. It was gigantic. I got the rolled potato tacos (wanted street tacos, but they aren't yet available), and they ended up being AMAZING. I was surprised when I opened my take-out container and found four giant taquitos smothered in guacamole, pico de gallo, and cheese. We also shared an order of chips and salsa. Both are homemade. Seriously, is there anything better than fresh, homemade tortilla chips straight out of the fryer? I think not. Heaven. Their salsa is mild, with a cilantro-y kick. I liked it, but ended up adding hot sauce. Right now, this is pretty much take-out only, which is fine with me since it's a block from my house. However, the inside of the restaurant is lined with bar counters so I think they will probably add stools eventually for an eat-in option, but even now, you could stand and eat at the counter if you wanted. I am so, so excited to welcome El Burro to the neighborhood! If you're on the north side, give them a try!
(4)Rosalind C.
Love this place. I don't often go to the north side, but when I do, I make a point of stopping over at El Burro (or Nicky's Thai, if that's what I'm in the mood for). Simple but excellent burritos that are better than the ones they serve at Round Corner Cantina (same owners). No frills, but delicious. I'm a big fan of the shrimp burritos, but really, you can't go wrong with any of them. And very reasonably priced! Definitely get the chips... they aren't necessarily freshly fried right there and then, but they are definitely fried on premises, and are addictive.
(5)Amy R.
Got take out from here after recommendations from 2 different friends. I got 2 shredded beef tacos, carne asada fries and my hubbie got a carne asada burrito. We were very pleased, particularly with the fries. They were so good! Now, I don't know what authentic carne asada fries are supposed to be, having lived in PA my whole life, but my friend from Texas says these are close to the real deal. The guac was really good, and my husband raved about the burrito for nearly 10 minutes after it was gone. We will definitely be back.
(5)Rona D.
I get the beef burrito and it has been consistently good. It's on the small, relative to say, chipotle, and much better. They're grilled to give a nice crunch. The chips and salsa are tasty and homemade. Overall, the price is a bit high but the food is good.
(4)Beth C.
As a vegetarian, I'm always on the look out for new delicious options. Also, as a huge fan of Mexican food, I've been dying for a California-style meal that didn't disappoint. As a result, El Burro is one of my favorite places in Pittsburgh and the epic poems I would write in honor of their rice, bean, and cheese burrito would feature whole stanzas about how delicious their rice is or how the only thing that comes close to comparing is their nachos with soyrizo. It may end with a battle between the nachos and burritos where everyone wins and celebrates with delicious and fresh Mexican food. Also, El Burro needs to deliver to the East End so I can eat it all of the time and attain my wish of always having easy access to delicious burritos.
(4)Lloyd O.
The place has good food, but WAY OVER PRICED for the quanity. If you feel like paying $8.00 for 3 baby finger sized tacos then be their guest. I can't remember the last time that I spent $50.00 for lunch for myself and a women sitting on a stool at a counter with NO alcohol involved. Way over priced for what you get. I'll stick to Las Palmas for my tacos.
(3)Kavi D.
Let me tell you, I really don't have a lot of motivation to write this review at this moment. Why? Because I just ate a big ol' burrito from El Burro and I'm about to pass out. Wow. Tasty. The rice, bean and cheese burrito hit the spot. I impulsively made the decision to drive over from the East End after work to check out this place. Glad I did. What you'll find when you get here is a small take-out establishment that's pretty bare bones both in terms of decor, space and menu options. You could chose to sit and eat here, though I wouldn't plan on it during peak hours as seating is limited. What it lacks in appearance and food variety is more than made up for in execution. I found my burrito to be 1.) gigantic 2.) fresh 3.) incredibly tasty and 4.) nicely appointed with hot-sauce that was actually hot. Woah. I'm docking one star because there is an extra charge for guacamole on your burrito. That's a bunch of BS. For what it's worth, the guac is indeed amazing. Some of the best I've had in the city. Nevertheless, it's a crime to charge extra for such a thing, especially with a burrito that's already priced at $7.
(4)Louisa E.
We arrived 10 mins before closing and the woman at the counter was helpful and friendly and let us finish our meal while she cleaned up. The burritos were awesome. We got the spicy shrimp and the chili rellano (great idea for a burrito). Both were awesome. They also have a rotating vegan special daily and vegetarian beans. We were jut visiting Pittsburgh but will definitely make it a stop every time we come through. Friendly, fast and really good!
(5)Brennan K.
Pretty much everything Lindsay B. said, with a couple of qualms. I started off with chips, salsa, and guacamole. The chips were a bit stale, but had a delicious flavor nonetheless. You could tell they were homemade. The default salsa was AMAZING, perfectly spicy, and you get a pretty big container of it. The guacamole kind of irked me. I don't know if it had too much lime and was sitting around for a few days, or not enough spice, or a combination of the three, but something was off about the flavor, and it tasted too limey. I'll have to give it another shot next time and hopefully I just got part of an off batch. I then moved onto refried beans and some rice. The refried beans with queso blanco were just right. The rice was really bothersome. It was bland and had a green bean in it. Green beans do not belong in Mexican rice, which makes me suspect that the rice came from a frozen rice mix or something. And now for the stars of the show... The potato taco (street style). Holy shizz, this thing was absolutely mouthwatering! I am pretty sure that I am going to start having dreams about this taco. I also got a vegan soyrizo street taco, which was perfectly spicy and smoky. And as if I didn't already have enough food, I also got a shredded chicken street taco. The meat was tender and moist, and tasted like good chicken should when it is minimally spiced and cooked properly. Oh, and they are very generous with cilantro on everything. That alone gives them like, 100 points. There isn't much to say about the restaurant itself, it's tidy and small with minimal seating. Overall, come here. Come eat lots of chips and salsa and then stuff yourself with some great tacos. I'm pretty excited for my next visit, where I plan on trying the flying saucer (whatever it is, I am intrigued), a Tijuana Street dog, burritos (even though i'm definitely more of a taco person), and a hardshell taco (shrimp, perhaps?). Good job El Burro, 8.5/10 in my book. Pretty damn good for Pittsburgh Mexican food.
(4)Emily M.
LOVE. Seriously, this place is delish. We've been eating El Burro once a week for the last couple of months and we're not even close to being sick of it - if anything, we're becoming even more addicted. The breakfast burrito (with chorizo added) is the most insanely delicious thing I've eaten in a long time - eggs, a few fries (because why not?) salsa, spicy chorizo, all wrapped in a tasty tortilla. Rich and filling enough to share. The chicken soft tacos are consistently good, with slow-cooked white and dark meat and a thick green sauce. Topped with onions and cilantro, the only thing that makes them better is a squeeze from the lime wedge that comes alongside. Finally, the chips and salsa steal the show, in my opinion. Chips are actual deep-fried flour tortillas (presumably their leftovers) with just the right amount of salt. They're flakey and oily and oh so good. The salsa is thin (which I love) and bright and fresh tasting - a good counterpoint to the richness of the chip. Highly recommended. Local delivery service is a bonus for those of us living on the North Side.
(4)Kathryn H.
The nachos are life changing. We live down the street and have started ordering here at least once a week because we just can't resist real food that is so delicious and fresh tasting. The California burrito (with guac & fries) is really memorable for its flavor and texture. The meat is savory and crunchy, the guac is generous and creamy, and the fries and fresh pico de gallo make it so fun. You won't regret grabbing dinner here - unless you want to avoid getting addicted to good Mexican food.
(5)Renee Z.
I want to eat El Burro's chile relleno burrito everyday! So tasty, and it's already all chopped up in there, so you don't need a knife and fork like with most chile relleno dishes. Great guac, too.
(5)Patricia F.
The best shredded beef tacos. The shells are excellent and the beef is tasty. Havent had tacos this good since the old Tacos Shop in Etna.
(5)Dave C.
I've found the only place in Pittsburgh where you can get a California burrito. Delicious!
(5)Munro R.
Stopped in with family during trip to Pittsburgh. Great menu, good prices. Had the potato rolled tacos. Homemade chips and freshly made salsa. Good place for vegetarians. Next time I definitely must try the vegan chorizo. Highly recommend.
(4)Will K.
They used to have the best steak tacos in Pittsburgh until they swapped out the real chunks of steak to basically Taco Bell meat. I was extremely disappointed when I learned of this transition. I actually have not returned since... Dont get me wrong, the tacos are top notch. I love the soft greasy shells and the authentic Mexican feel this place has. They also give you lime for the tacos which gives it that extra zesty taste! I also have had the pittsburgh burrito which has french fries mixed in with the burrito, it was ok but when I go to a place like this I am looking for as authentic as I can get. Still good food besides substituting the best tacos they had. I have to give it 3 stars because that was the only thing I really kept me coming back. Disappointed :-/
(3)Grace L.
The first thing we did when we came to Pittsburgh was look for a good Mexican place. We're not talking about texmex, but California burritos, carne asada fries, etc.. and el burro is the place. Not only do we come here to get our SoCal Mexican food fix, but we've ordered 80 tacos for a party before and they did a great job with them. Delicious!
(5)C F.
I must say I gave el burro another chance today ( my daughter talked me in to it ) and I was soo happy ! The food was its usual awesome and the place smelt and looked appetizing! Thank you El Burro for stepping up ! Raising my rating to 5 stars and I will be back :)
(5)Jennifer D.
Easily the best, most authentic Mexican street food in the city. Since moving home from the West Coast in 2009, I've been praying for a place like this to sprout up somewhere in the city. Finally!!! Authentic street tacos and only a few blocks from my house. If you're used to "enjoying" Americanized Mexican food like Chipotle or El Patron then you'll be in for a surprise here. El Burro is every bit a taco stand!!! You can't miss: the Chorizo Street Style Tacos, the TJ Dog, the Carnitas Gringo Style Tacos and the housemade chips, mild salsa and guacamole. They don't currently offer horchata but I was assured its coming in the future. Delighted!!! I can't say enough for this spot. Delicious!
(5)Joe S.
Not fresh, heavy food. Love Mexican
(2)Carl F.
Great Carne Asada burritos here. That's all I need with any mexican spot. Doesn't hurt that they have great customer service and I think the best salsa in town.
(4)Michael P.
Stopped in again the other day for a quick lunch after a trip to the Mattress Factory. My original sentiments about this place were completely restored. Good food and good service. Nice job Wes!
(3)Nichole N.
Meh. That's my description based on my first visit. I have been wanting to try El Burro for quite a while since the place is literally just a few blocks away. I love LOVE Mexican food. Usually you can find me salivating over the menus of Casa Renya, El Campesino, Chipotle, etc. You get the point. I finally tried it out this afternoon for lunch and decided on the Carnitas Burrito. My significant other ordered the chile relleno burrito. Upon holding the burrito, I was impressed - it felt like a significant portion. When I took it out of the foil it looked good, lightly grilled even, and smelled nice. Then I cut it in half, and rice spilled out everywhere. I looked - where's the meat? Upon further inspection and subsequent eating I found the meat, but not very much. And to boot - it tasted like it wasn't seasoned at all. Very bland. All that weight of the burrito? Pretty much all white rice with a couple of corn kernels and peas and TWO cilantro leaves.... And it all tasted like... well, nothing! I had to drown it in my hot sauce here at home. At other establishments I can barely eat an entire burrito. Here, I ate the whole thing and was very disappointed, especially after reading all these rave reviews and the price point. Now, I did have a bite of my husband's Chile Relleno burrito, and it was more flavorful than mine, but of course a pepper like that is going to have more flavor than what I had. He said it was just ok, and that for the price he expected a bit more inside the burrito other than the mass quantity of rice. I don't see myself being a regular here. Too pricy for too much rice and very little flavor.
(3)Jessica C.
Every time I eat here I wonder why I don't do it more. The food is fantastic! It's simple, delicious and best of all, close to home! Oh, and don't forget to try to the Carne Asada Fries, Fries never tasted so good!
(4)Dennis M.
We just went to the new El Burro. The carnitas and shredded chicken burritos were tasty. But, I don't want to pay $9 for a burrito and not have a place to sit. They will have 8 stools soon. Then we can relax and enjoy. Remember the old Toula's...or trying to forget? Thank you developer Bill Baron and CNNC development cmt. A step in the right direction.
(4)Samantha C.
So far best mexican in pittsburgh. recently moved to the area from chicago where you can get quality mexican food down the street. The rolled tacos keep me coming back for more! They have a delicious green sauce over top of them and are nice and crispy. The nice thing about this place is the staff are friendly and the prices are good. Their fish tacos, also amazing.
(5)Laura M.
I stopped by with CM this past Sat. around 5pm after a visit to the Mattress Factory for a quick snack. We were a bit hungry, but weren't necessarily up for a full dinner. I whipped out my trusty Yelp app and saw that El Burro was an establishment nearby that I'd bookmarked, and CM said he was up for Mexican. Thus, we decided to brave the quasi-sketchiness of this end of Federal St. to check it out. The first thing that immediately became apparent upon walking in was that there were no tables--only a handful of counter seats on either side. Between that and observing other customers, it's pretty clear that most of El Burro's business is take out. Undaunted, we decided to get a few tacos and settle in to eat them at the counter. CM and I both ordered two chicken tacos in hard shells ($3.75 each), and I also got a bottle of Tamarind El Jarritos soda ($2.29). The tacos were served about 5 min. after ordering. Unfortunately, though they had appropriate textural variation, I found them bland in flavor. The skimpy portion of red salsa served on the side, while hot, added little flavor to them. No guac or sour cream was included, which was disappointing--apparently, you have to pay extra for it. Unfortunately, I feel that El Burro epitomizes what's wrong with the Mexican food scene in PGH--Mexican food is supposed to be bold and flavorful, not bland! Between the blandness of the tacos and the price that we paid (over $16), it just wasn't worth it. In retrospect, after looking at the photos, we would have been better off ordering two flying saucers instead of the tacos. If you're looking for delicious, inexpensive tacos, I recommend Edgar's in the Strip or Las Palmas in Oakland. TBH, I probably wouldn't return unless someone insisted on it--or unless I was stuck in the North Side without cash, as was the case on Sat.
(3)Jason S.
The burritos are ok. We had a chorizo burrito, a shredded beef burrito, and a carne asada burrito. Mine (shredded beef) was loaded with too much rice. The others were a little more balanced. For $9 a burrito i was expecting a more. I brought some Mexican friends with me and we all thought the restaurant was so-so. The place has seating but it's better suited for takeout.
(2)