Freebirds is a great place to get a good burrito. You won't get any authentic Mexican food here, but you will get a tasty burrito, customized to your liking. I've tried a few different burrito concoctions here and my favorite is the grass fed steak. Yum! Add some roasted veggies (onions/bell peppers), salsa, re-fried beans and cheese... and voila! Your'e in Burrito City, USA! The employees here are always cheerful and helpful. They are experts at stuffing all that flavory goodness into a tortilla, even when I think there's no possible way it's going to stay in tact. The setting is fun, hip and cool, without being... too much. The only drawback to this location, is the location. There are way too many businesses crammed into this space -- with more on the way -- that it makes parking an absolute joke. Oh well... it's worth it.
(4)
Monica T.
Guys, these negative reviews of this Freebirds are making me sad. It's my bias talking, I know. See, as I may have mentioned in the review of another Freebirds location, this chain is kind of in my blood. It became popular in College Station, TX, home of Texas A&M University (aka my alma mater). It's basically an Aggie tradition to be hopelessly in love with Freebirds. And, as I mentioned in that review, I never thought Freebirds would come to Utah and now it has and it is THE BEST. (Well, the best would be if it was closer to my house, but you know.) Anyway, I went to this particular Freebirds for the first time last week so my husband and I could pick up food to take to his family in Utah county for lunch. (It's a Saturday tradition.) So we came in here and got a few monster burritos (no super monster on this menu? Whut?) and loaded them with delicious things and toted them down south and ate them. They were wonderful. I appreciate that this place is not too far off I-15, though this area of suburban build up seems to be not extremely well thought out, as it's difficult to get in and out of (but, oddly enough, it's not as bad as that part of Taylorsville where one of the other Freebirds locations is). All of you people talkin' noise about how you'd rather have Chipotle? Continue to enjoy your inferior burrito. I will have my Freebirds, and it will continue to be amazing.
(5)
Amanda D.
I can appreciate the different flavored tortillas but sorry. Chipotle still reigns supreme.
(3)
Leanne A.
I was really unimpressed with freebirds. I love burritos and this one was not good. The rice was mooshy and gross, and the chicken was tasteless and dry. Their hot sauces were good, and were the only thing that made the burrito edible. They accidentally charged us an extra two dollars, and took ten minutes giving us the money back. The place is brand new and all of the tables are super wobbly and annoying. I definitely won't be going back. Save yourself a dollar and go to Chipotle.
(2)
Kristy L.
Much better than Chipotle. The flavor so we're amped up and the food was fresh and very tasty! The service in the Sandy location was not so good however.
(4)
Tatiana G.
This restaurant is new, clean, and heavily decorated so there are lots of things to look at. Because this place is new, this place was packed! I decided to order a freebird burrito (medium sized) with chicken. I got the cayenne tortilla which has a kick but isn't too spicy. They only had a Spanish rice available but they had several types of beans. They also have lots and lots of additional add ons (salsas, lime juice, onions, peppers, grilled veggies, etc.) I got a corn salsa which is a little sweet with a little spice. The final combination was really good and I'd get it again. Due to them being so busy I felt like I was rushed through the line and I didn't even get offered some of the "freebies" that can be added on to the burrito. I asked what some of the items were and I was given a short answer as the employee turned his back to me. I'd like to come back when it is less busy so I can find out what everything is. This place is very similar to Chipotle or Barbacoa but with more options.
(4)
Bud H.
Don't really like the name, the signage (what's with the backward R's), or the Harley/Classic Rock theme. With that said, I thought the burrito was really tasty. This is basically a Chipotle/Barbacoa-type place, except they offer more of everything: burritos come in three different sizes, they have four types of tortillas (flour, wheat, spinach, cayenne), two types of rice and beans, a bunch of meat options, different salsas, cheeses, hot sauces, fresh veggies, etc. You get the idea. At Chiptole I almost always go with the chicken. It just looks good, while the steak is always tough and disappointing. However, at this place it seemed to be just the opposite. The chicken looked boring and the steak looked really good. I definitely made the right choice. The steak was super good; it was really tender and had a great flavor. The fixings were fresh and the diced jalapenos added a nice kick. The flavor and chewiness of the cayenne tortilla were spot on. I enjoyed the fact that you could make your burrito a "combo" - which meant adding a side of chips, your choice of salsa/queso/guacamole (or cookie) and a drink. The chips seemed to be homemade and I liked them a lot. A few might have been slightly underdone (and my wife even complained that some of hers seemed greasy) but I really liked them. All in all, a pretty tasty lunch and perhaps a little better than I expected.
(4)
Tanner E.
Barely above underwhelming with terrible service and at an outrageous price. Would never recommend.
(1)
Lacey J.
Ordered online. Walked in and was (not) greeted by a bunch of punk-a-- looking teenage girls visiting behind the counter - far too busy to help me. Finally one begrudgingly helped me and said my order from 20 minutes ago hadn't been started yet. Finally, my order was finished. I began to check that everything was there and she said, "it's all there!" Silly me, took her word for it and left to work. No. Two orders of chips and guac were missing and all four tacos were made wrong! I called and spoke with a friendly manager who was willing to make it right - which was great, don't get me wrong. BUT I had to drive 15 minutes back to the location to fix it. The food was good, but I doubt I'll be going back to the Sandy location anytime soon. Good food, horrible customer service. Nice manager though, hopefully she gets a better team sometime soon.
(2)
Kyler D.
My wife and I had to try this place as we have been seeing them pop up here and there. Needless to say we probably won't be back. For what is available there we would both much prefer chipotle. The service was pretty rough and the ordering process is far from streamlined and slows the whole process down substantially. The first person you talk to should generally be the friendliest. He wasn't and when I made a mistake when ordering he actually scoffed at it. The next person he passed our food onto replied to the customers in front of us with a curt and rude response of how busy they have been for two hours when they asked when there would be more rice. The food was pretty bland and even the hot sauce was very lacking in spices. As far as a steak burrito goes I would be much happier taking my business to either costa vida or chipotle. Flavors, spices and customer service are FAR better.
(2)
Aaron T.
The food was good, but the ordering process was tricky. We felt rushed and confused. The order was mixed up from the start - an employee had begun making their lunch and walked away, so the person helping is kept asking us what else we wanted in it, and hey just couldn't comprehend that it wasn't our order. I'm sure it was an off day, we would go back for the food
(3)
Siew B.
Pros: Good meat, darn good meat - I had the dark meat chicken and husband had the carnitas. Spanish rice and cilantro lime rice were both ok. Girl who rang us up was friendly. Cons: Everything else. Beans - under seasoned, tasted like they were just boiled in water. "salsa" - crushed tomatoes. "Hot sauce" - 1/2 accurate. Peppers n onions - meh. Layout? Inefficient and slow. Walk a mile from rice to register. Difficult to sit away from the line. Options are only good if they're...good. Their grassfed steak has "wheat" listed as an allergen, so I skipped it...why does steak need wheat? For the same price, I'm going up the street to the old standby...Chipotle- where everything tastes wonderful and is wheat free except for the tortillas.
(3)
Jared F.
I ate here for the first time today, and was impressed despite the reviews. I don't fall for the "fads" in restaurants. No, In&Out isn't the best burger because people in Cali say so. As for Chipotle comparisons... This place doesn't even compare. Freebirds actually has a flavor to their food and a great variety of options to flavor it up however you want. Great place to eat, I will be back!
(5)
Derek W.
Slowest burrito service I've ever had. There were 3 employees working. Not entirely friendly. There was only one other couple in front. Decent food. Chipotle has better flavor.
(2)
Eric C.
Love the flavors available, and how I can create my own burrito the way I want it. Good change of pace from other Mexican joints in the area. They need to upgrade their wifi though, it's slow. :-)
(4)
Jessica D.
This place is delicious, came here three times this week and probably going tonight too! I love the options and the fact that the meat is grassfed. I also love that you can add variety to your burritos! Chipotle is cool but getting a little over rated now that I came here. The girls at this location are super sweet!
(4)
Jessica S.
All the employees were friendly, and helpful. Burritos or burrito bowls are available. I am always excited when there is a new burrito joint. Tried it the first day it opened and got the Freebird sized burrito vegetarian. There were only TWO things about this burrito that I couldn't have made any better in my own kitchen. The cheyenne tortilla and the habanero sauce. Thought I would give them another chance and went with the chicken. They offer dark and white meat. I went with the white meat. The first bite I was like, WTH? It was hard jerky textured chicken. Decided to keep going until finally at the halfway mark was tired of getting hard pieces of chicken. Had I not gotten it to go, I would have told the friendly staff. I am disappointed because I was hopeful. I won't be back.
(3)
John L.
I really liked freebirds. I have been there a few times already and havent had a bad experience yet. It feels a lot like chiptole but I thought it tasted better and with more options to choose from. Each time I went I always got the freebird size steak burrito combo (drink + chips/brownie/cookie). Its pretty darn tasty and it really fills me up. You HAVE to try their brownie, its AMAZING!! One bite and I knew that I will have to have one every time i go back. With regards to service, i found the staff there friendly and helpful. First time through I didnt know how everything works and they took the time and explained everything to me and walk me through it. Unlike some places where they just look at you and expect you to already know what to say and how it all works. Lunch time is pretty busy but I felt the line went pretty quickly. I didn't feel like i was waiting for a long time. Overall, I would recommend this place to everybody.
(4)
Michael M.
Wife and I decided to come try Freebirds instead of going to Habit. We were impressed and glad we tried it. We both feel that this was better than Chipotle. The choices were great the service was not great but nothing to complain about. It's owned by a vet who donates to the Utah Guard Charitable Trust which has the potential to help me or one of soldiers. So yeah. I'll be back.
(4)
Zac A.
Decent burritos. Friendly staff and clean establishment. Over priced in my opinion. Not much to say other than that. I'd rather go to cafe rio.
(3)
Tara G.
Not impressed. What place offers nachos on their menu and not a way of melting the cheese? Just a nasty queso cheese sauce. Yuck.
(2)
Chase B.
Best burrito place in town hands down. The steak is to die for and dang the queso worth every penny. Im telling ya you will not be dissapointed. freebirds is da bomb
(5)
William B.
Overall: great walk up "make your own burrito joint." Fresh food, real chicken breast and other meats, and friendly service. Cons: loud- very loud. Not a good spot for a table conversation or quick business lunch. Outdoor seating is available however.
(3)
Kerry H.
This was my first time here and I was really pleasantly surprised. The staff was funky and fun. You got a LOT of food for your money. I had the quesadilla which was a little odd but really really really tasty! Rice, beans, whatever I wanted. Went with family and we all agreed it was great and we'd be returning!
(4)
Amy J.
Not impressed I have seen them in a couple of locations and thought I would try them for dinner. They were out of corn tortilla so I had a chicken burrito bowl. Everything was really bland. There was a little bit of heat in the jalapeno salsa but not any flavor. I will take Cafe Rio or chipolte.
(2)
Andrea R.
Healthier than Cafe Rio, which is about all Freebirds has going for it. I had a salad with grilled chicken. Ingredients seemed fresh enough & I did like their corn salsa, but mostly it was nothing special & seemed like food I could make at home & have taste about the same. Whatever their green cilantro lime-type dressing is, it was pulpy instead of creamy and had a decent flavor but just not the consistency of salad dressing. I have no desire to try this place again.
(2)
Michael R.
Tried it once and will never need to go back. I do like that they offer 3 sizes of burritos, but what's the point if they taste terrible? I thought the rice was disgusting and the salsa was very very bland. The atmosphere is also just not for me. Barbacoa or Chipotle are so much better.
(1)
Er P.
I wrote a longer review but I'm opting out of any details that could potentially identify me to them. Serious question: is this a prison work release time participant? I was genuinely uncomfortable with the people serving me my food. The brownie I had was super tasty, and a single chunk of chicken I had was good too, so 2 stars. DO NOT RECOMMEND.
(2)
Zach H.
Never had Freebirds until this past Saturday, but let me just say I loved it! I consider myself a burrito junkie, now don't get me wrong I've had better and worse. The choices I had to customize this burrito were almost unending, and it's offered in a few different sizes, I went with the super monster and believe me it did not disappoint my burrito was the size of new born baby and probably weighed close to the same. The cayenne tortilla was fantastic nice spice to it without it being so overwhelming that your eyes watered and nose ran with every bite. Chicken was juicy and tender flavor was great. Cheese, pinto beans, and Spanish rice all thrown into the mix added to the flavor. I have to say the rice was over cooked making it mushy, also the salsa I chose to get wasn't my favorite, but that's the great part about this place there are so many things you can do to customize that I am positive I will reach burrito perfection and nirvana, and if you're have reached a level of starvation where you big guts are eating the little ones the super monster is the way to go! Give this place more than one chance, experiment and I'm sure much like me you will find that perfect burrito !
(4)
Adree W.
People had been telling us to try this place for a long time, we finally gave in and tried it. Im the type of person that will eat almost anything, I'm not that picky. Let me start of by saying that they way they warm up their tortillas... the guy had 3 bags open and he gave me the most dried up ones he could get, the rice was not even rice, it was a cold mush that had no flavor what so ever, the re fried beans were burn and also flavor less. The thing that got me was the portion of the chicken, i got the 2 taco meal plate ($7) , I got a table spoon of chicken... I was appealed when I saw the portion of it...they use the portion size spoons, not to say the chicken was cold and tasted like it was burnt. He asked me if i wanted grilled veggies, I was expecting bite size pieces, no! these were like inch thick green bell peppers that were still raw covered in oil. I sat down to eat and everything was cold, no salt, no pepper, no seasonings what so ever. The chicken was burnt that's all i could taste, I couldn't eat the second taco, I never do that but it was just so bad... maybe it was the day (we went on a Friday) or the location. But for burritos or tacos like that I will always got to Chipotle. Don't go chasing waterfalls.
(1)
Mike W.
I've heard of this place from friends in Texas so I was excited when they started opening up in Utah. I'm not excited anymore after my first experience. There were quite a few things I disliked and if just one of these had happened I'd probably go back. But put them all together and I'm staying away, forever. First, I've never seen a place be so anal about the amount of ingredients that go into a burrito. They would scoop and tap and wipe excess food off the spoons to make sure I wasn't getting more than my allotted portion. This resulted in my burrito being quite small even though I ordered the Freebird size. Next, whoever is cutting the steak needs a refresher course in bite size cutting because some pieces were as big as chicken nuggets, which means I only had 3 of them in my burrito because they can't have go over their portion limits. Lastly, I just wasn't that fond of the flavor of the burrito. It wasn't anything new or exciting. Needless to say, Chipotle and Cafe Rio will continue to be my go to's for quick Mexican dining.
(2)
Lin F.
Food and service are both awful. Spend your money somewhere else.
(1)
Angie L.
yuck yuck yuck! i was so excited to try this place after seeing it open a few months ago. i am a big chipotle fan and am always looking for other similar places to try. we came here on a rainy night around 10 PM and let the employees know that it was our first time here. there was literally no line in front or behind us, yet they rushed us the entire time. they weren't about to close (still had an hour), so i'm not sure what the hurry was. the three female employees (one adult and two teenagers/young adults) all were more interested in chatting with each other than helping us. i seriously felt like i was back in junior high school in the cafeteria line with the lunch lady not caring and just trying to move everyone along. that everyone, in this situation, being only 2 people. not impressed at all. not only was the service awful, but the food was not good at all. my burrito bowl looked like mush and tasted gross. i kept trying to eat it, but eventually gave up and threw it away. it didn't taste fresh and it wasn't warm either. it was just yucky. i will never be returning and chipotle clearly wins here.
(1)
Ginger P.
We went here tonight and I was so bugged that I wrote the review right away. As in we're-still-in-the-parking-lot-and-I'm-already-writing-the-review kind of bugged. The food wasn't good. It's not like it was even average; it was actually kind of gross. The lime cilantro rice looked (and tasted) like someome had pureed it or something. It was way too mushy. The black beans were weirdly crunchy, and the lettuce was basically wilted iceberg. Even the lime and cilantro they gave me looked old. My husband got a burrito and didn't even finish it because all of the vegetables were burnt and the meat was mostly fat. The staff was unbelievably rude. They were more interested in making inside jokes with one another than in taking customers' orders. One of the employees asked my husband if he wanted something on his burrito and, instead of listening for his response, listened to a joke one of the other employees was telling and then rudely asked for my husband's answer again; he answered the first time, but she wasn't paying attention -- which I'm sure happens sometimes, but for her to be rude to him after was really weird. Most of the employees were very unpersonable, rolled their eyes and swore a lot, and constantly made fun of customers they'd just helped. The employees' attitude kind of reflects itself in the vibe of the restaurant; everything is in-your-face loud (colors, noise, decorations). It's like this restaurant has no idea what it wants to be so it constantly juxtaposes different motifs in an attempt to attract a diverse crowd (which it doesn't end up doing).
(1)
James H.
A good alternative to the Cafe Rio and Costa Vida style burrito. The variety of hot sauces and salsas along with 4 flavors of tortillas make it easy to customize your meal. The Freebird sized (medium) burrito in a Cayenne tortilla was right for me and so were the death sauce and jalapeño salsa on top of "grass fed steak". So much better than "hay fed steak".
(4)
Thomas N.
I thought the food here was just OK compared to Chipotle. The service was good but I felt rushed by all of the staff. It was our first time here and it wasn't even busy. It was around 10pm on the weekend and tables were at about 25% capacity. We were the only ones in line but they rushed us through even though we told them it was our first time eating here. Well, it will be our last time eating here.
(2)
Ty M.
Locally owned and operated, so you gotta give them points there. The burrito was a pleasant surprise- different enough to stand out, but not so crazy that it was too unfamiliar. Good meat, great sauces. Decor was interesting but cohesively themed which is better than most local joints can say. Support this restaurant! Freedom + peace = freebirds.
(4)
Isaac F.
I love Mexican cuisine, so I had to check this local burrito line joint. Confusing door set up on where to order but with a little bit of mind power I didn't feel like Ray Charles walking. The menu was straightforward and they had some spicy options. You can tell the owners put a lot of effort into going for a fun atmosphere. Maybe the staff is underpaid or its that working with food all day is down right no fun, but the employees were not as exciting as the ambience presented. Like other reviews I saw, being a first timer you'll have questions, they didn't like that. I went right before lunch rush too, so it wasn't busy. Kid rolled his eyes and stared at me like I was a juvenile correction officer telling him to stop being a delinquent. I laughed, he scoffed. Typical bad first date stuff. Good spread of choices. However the quality of the ingredients are essential to all cooking and especially Mexican. The rice is overcooked, the salsas were watery, cilantro leafs were chopped not sliced (dark color). Overall my spicy chicken burrito didn't look appetizing when they were assembling it. Shocker, it wasn't good. No flavor. I've had non Latinos cook better Mexican. 2 stars at best. I wanted to like a local stop, I really tried. I will not be going back.
(2)
Grant H.
This place is growing on me. They have a couple kinks to work out, but otherwise, it's a step up from Chipotle, etc. What I like most is the selection of ingredients. They have multiple wraps to choose from, excellent meats, fresh avocado, jalepenos, cilantro, plenty of salsa and sauce choices, and it's all executed very well. It might take a few visits to find your perfect combination, but it's worth the effort once you do. One the other hand, the rice is always overcooked and mushy. The service can be a little slow, and the employees don't do the best job of explaining the food options to the customer. If they can manage to smooth those things out, this would be a 5-star fast food burrito joint.
(4)
Tony L.
Let the comparison begin! Chipotle is better. No Cafe rio is. What about Bajio? Costa Vida is good. Preference guys... Preference. For my taste, I like Freebirds over Chipotle. However Cafe rios chips and queso rocks. Bajios pork chimichanga is one of my favorite. But the steak burrito here is just on top of my list. Not trying to convince anyone that this place is better than the other chains. But I like it here.
(4)
Lena A.
Think Chipotle, but with more variety & classic rock. Since I'm GF, I had to stick with corn tortilla soft tacos which didn't disappoint. Their steak was amazing, and much juicier and flavorful than Chipotle's. I tried their Spanish rice on my tacos and it was so good that I went back into line for a side of it, which they gave me for free! My only small complaint was that I wish they had less spicy salsa/hot sauce options. I'm a wimp with spiciness, but I'm sure I'm not the only one. I will definitely be going back.
(4)
Varun Y.
I wanted to make sure I came to Freebirds when it was not busy to try out all their options. I have been to a Freebirds in Taylorsville but haven't been to this new location. The entrance was a bit confusing as the door that faces the plaza is locked but the entrance is out back. When I entered it was bit confusing where I was supposed to go and I ended up in the corner of the restaurant. But, I could see how other yelpers came upon their conclusions about this place. It could get real busy and it could make the employees stressed out to not pay enough attention. They are very stringent on portion control (I expect a lot of guacamole if I am going to be charged extra for it and I should be told that I am going to be charged for it). But this experience was a smooth one because I came right before the rush hour and the employees were eager to help me choose my options. I chose the freebird (medium) burrito - it was quite expensive at $10 and meager looking when I got it. Since it was downtime I asked if I could get it quesarillato (quesadilla wrapping around a burrito) but the employee didn't know how it was done and was willing enough to learn. I was offered up all my ingredients that I wanted and in the end I was satisfied with my burrito. Now, it was a bit on the small side but it was tangy delicious. I am giving the positive review because of the service there but I am probably going back to chipotle.
(3)
Bonni N.
Okay, normally I do t write reviews but this place just pissed me off!!! I love the food! But seriously!!! I have come to this location every single day for the last week, NO corn tortillas... How can you offer a Mexican style food with out Corn tortillas. No offer of apology or anything from the manager!!! Just leaves it up to the employees to fend for themselves. Sorry management but you deserve this bad rating!!! PS ... The employees told me they go to Costco for their corn tortillas and Costco is literally right around the corner !!! You could literally walk there it would take five minutes!
(2)
Brittney N.
Kept driving past this place every time I got on the freeway and finally decided to give it a go. I was delighted to see that they had a tortilla free option and grass fed beef. The ordering process was.... Not well organized. It seemed like a grand opening where nobody is trained and nobody is in charged. Even they way the employees dressed was confusing. I don't think there was a uniform, but I could be wrong. When it came time to choose my meat I asked the gal behind the counter what they marinated their pork in. She looked at me and cocked her head like I had just asked her something about astro physics. She then turned to the girl next to her and asked the same question, to which the second girl gave the first girl the same perplexed look. I told them not to worry about it, and I chose the grass fed steak, which was awesome! Super super tender and great flavor. Whenever I get steak at any of the other places (yes even Chipotle) it is dried out and tough, but not here. I also very much appreciated that they had refried beans. Guacamole and sour cream extra!? Not cool. The guacamole I understand, not the sour cream. This place has so much unrealized potential. Hopefully they get it together, cuz I would love to make it a regular haunt.
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Specialities
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Brunch Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Noise Level : Loud Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : 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.
Charles S.
Freebirds is a great place to get a good burrito. You won't get any authentic Mexican food here, but you will get a tasty burrito, customized to your liking. I've tried a few different burrito concoctions here and my favorite is the grass fed steak. Yum! Add some roasted veggies (onions/bell peppers), salsa, re-fried beans and cheese... and voila! Your'e in Burrito City, USA! The employees here are always cheerful and helpful. They are experts at stuffing all that flavory goodness into a tortilla, even when I think there's no possible way it's going to stay in tact. The setting is fun, hip and cool, without being... too much. The only drawback to this location, is the location. There are way too many businesses crammed into this space -- with more on the way -- that it makes parking an absolute joke. Oh well... it's worth it.
(4)Monica T.
Guys, these negative reviews of this Freebirds are making me sad. It's my bias talking, I know. See, as I may have mentioned in the review of another Freebirds location, this chain is kind of in my blood. It became popular in College Station, TX, home of Texas A&M University (aka my alma mater). It's basically an Aggie tradition to be hopelessly in love with Freebirds. And, as I mentioned in that review, I never thought Freebirds would come to Utah and now it has and it is THE BEST. (Well, the best would be if it was closer to my house, but you know.) Anyway, I went to this particular Freebirds for the first time last week so my husband and I could pick up food to take to his family in Utah county for lunch. (It's a Saturday tradition.) So we came in here and got a few monster burritos (no super monster on this menu? Whut?) and loaded them with delicious things and toted them down south and ate them. They were wonderful. I appreciate that this place is not too far off I-15, though this area of suburban build up seems to be not extremely well thought out, as it's difficult to get in and out of (but, oddly enough, it's not as bad as that part of Taylorsville where one of the other Freebirds locations is). All of you people talkin' noise about how you'd rather have Chipotle? Continue to enjoy your inferior burrito. I will have my Freebirds, and it will continue to be amazing.
(5)Amanda D.
I can appreciate the different flavored tortillas but sorry. Chipotle still reigns supreme.
(3)Leanne A.
I was really unimpressed with freebirds. I love burritos and this one was not good. The rice was mooshy and gross, and the chicken was tasteless and dry. Their hot sauces were good, and were the only thing that made the burrito edible. They accidentally charged us an extra two dollars, and took ten minutes giving us the money back. The place is brand new and all of the tables are super wobbly and annoying. I definitely won't be going back. Save yourself a dollar and go to Chipotle.
(2)Kristy L.
Much better than Chipotle. The flavor so we're amped up and the food was fresh and very tasty! The service in the Sandy location was not so good however.
(4)Tatiana G.
This restaurant is new, clean, and heavily decorated so there are lots of things to look at. Because this place is new, this place was packed! I decided to order a freebird burrito (medium sized) with chicken. I got the cayenne tortilla which has a kick but isn't too spicy. They only had a Spanish rice available but they had several types of beans. They also have lots and lots of additional add ons (salsas, lime juice, onions, peppers, grilled veggies, etc.) I got a corn salsa which is a little sweet with a little spice. The final combination was really good and I'd get it again. Due to them being so busy I felt like I was rushed through the line and I didn't even get offered some of the "freebies" that can be added on to the burrito. I asked what some of the items were and I was given a short answer as the employee turned his back to me. I'd like to come back when it is less busy so I can find out what everything is. This place is very similar to Chipotle or Barbacoa but with more options.
(4)Bud H.
Don't really like the name, the signage (what's with the backward R's), or the Harley/Classic Rock theme. With that said, I thought the burrito was really tasty. This is basically a Chipotle/Barbacoa-type place, except they offer more of everything: burritos come in three different sizes, they have four types of tortillas (flour, wheat, spinach, cayenne), two types of rice and beans, a bunch of meat options, different salsas, cheeses, hot sauces, fresh veggies, etc. You get the idea. At Chiptole I almost always go with the chicken. It just looks good, while the steak is always tough and disappointing. However, at this place it seemed to be just the opposite. The chicken looked boring and the steak looked really good. I definitely made the right choice. The steak was super good; it was really tender and had a great flavor. The fixings were fresh and the diced jalapenos added a nice kick. The flavor and chewiness of the cayenne tortilla were spot on. I enjoyed the fact that you could make your burrito a "combo" - which meant adding a side of chips, your choice of salsa/queso/guacamole (or cookie) and a drink. The chips seemed to be homemade and I liked them a lot. A few might have been slightly underdone (and my wife even complained that some of hers seemed greasy) but I really liked them. All in all, a pretty tasty lunch and perhaps a little better than I expected.
(4)Tanner E.
Barely above underwhelming with terrible service and at an outrageous price. Would never recommend.
(1)Lacey J.
Ordered online. Walked in and was (not) greeted by a bunch of punk-a-- looking teenage girls visiting behind the counter - far too busy to help me. Finally one begrudgingly helped me and said my order from 20 minutes ago hadn't been started yet. Finally, my order was finished. I began to check that everything was there and she said, "it's all there!" Silly me, took her word for it and left to work. No. Two orders of chips and guac were missing and all four tacos were made wrong! I called and spoke with a friendly manager who was willing to make it right - which was great, don't get me wrong. BUT I had to drive 15 minutes back to the location to fix it. The food was good, but I doubt I'll be going back to the Sandy location anytime soon. Good food, horrible customer service. Nice manager though, hopefully she gets a better team sometime soon.
(2)Kyler D.
My wife and I had to try this place as we have been seeing them pop up here and there. Needless to say we probably won't be back. For what is available there we would both much prefer chipotle. The service was pretty rough and the ordering process is far from streamlined and slows the whole process down substantially. The first person you talk to should generally be the friendliest. He wasn't and when I made a mistake when ordering he actually scoffed at it. The next person he passed our food onto replied to the customers in front of us with a curt and rude response of how busy they have been for two hours when they asked when there would be more rice. The food was pretty bland and even the hot sauce was very lacking in spices. As far as a steak burrito goes I would be much happier taking my business to either costa vida or chipotle. Flavors, spices and customer service are FAR better.
(2)Aaron T.
The food was good, but the ordering process was tricky. We felt rushed and confused. The order was mixed up from the start - an employee had begun making their lunch and walked away, so the person helping is kept asking us what else we wanted in it, and hey just couldn't comprehend that it wasn't our order. I'm sure it was an off day, we would go back for the food
(3)Siew B.
Pros: Good meat, darn good meat - I had the dark meat chicken and husband had the carnitas. Spanish rice and cilantro lime rice were both ok. Girl who rang us up was friendly. Cons: Everything else. Beans - under seasoned, tasted like they were just boiled in water. "salsa" - crushed tomatoes. "Hot sauce" - 1/2 accurate. Peppers n onions - meh. Layout? Inefficient and slow. Walk a mile from rice to register. Difficult to sit away from the line. Options are only good if they're...good. Their grassfed steak has "wheat" listed as an allergen, so I skipped it...why does steak need wheat? For the same price, I'm going up the street to the old standby...Chipotle- where everything tastes wonderful and is wheat free except for the tortillas.
(3)Jared F.
I ate here for the first time today, and was impressed despite the reviews. I don't fall for the "fads" in restaurants. No, In&Out isn't the best burger because people in Cali say so. As for Chipotle comparisons... This place doesn't even compare. Freebirds actually has a flavor to their food and a great variety of options to flavor it up however you want. Great place to eat, I will be back!
(5)Derek W.
Slowest burrito service I've ever had. There were 3 employees working. Not entirely friendly. There was only one other couple in front. Decent food. Chipotle has better flavor.
(2)Eric C.
Love the flavors available, and how I can create my own burrito the way I want it. Good change of pace from other Mexican joints in the area. They need to upgrade their wifi though, it's slow. :-)
(4)Jessica D.
This place is delicious, came here three times this week and probably going tonight too! I love the options and the fact that the meat is grassfed. I also love that you can add variety to your burritos! Chipotle is cool but getting a little over rated now that I came here. The girls at this location are super sweet!
(4)Jessica S.
All the employees were friendly, and helpful. Burritos or burrito bowls are available. I am always excited when there is a new burrito joint. Tried it the first day it opened and got the Freebird sized burrito vegetarian. There were only TWO things about this burrito that I couldn't have made any better in my own kitchen. The cheyenne tortilla and the habanero sauce. Thought I would give them another chance and went with the chicken. They offer dark and white meat. I went with the white meat. The first bite I was like, WTH? It was hard jerky textured chicken. Decided to keep going until finally at the halfway mark was tired of getting hard pieces of chicken. Had I not gotten it to go, I would have told the friendly staff. I am disappointed because I was hopeful. I won't be back.
(3)John L.
I really liked freebirds. I have been there a few times already and havent had a bad experience yet. It feels a lot like chiptole but I thought it tasted better and with more options to choose from. Each time I went I always got the freebird size steak burrito combo (drink + chips/brownie/cookie). Its pretty darn tasty and it really fills me up. You HAVE to try their brownie, its AMAZING!! One bite and I knew that I will have to have one every time i go back. With regards to service, i found the staff there friendly and helpful. First time through I didnt know how everything works and they took the time and explained everything to me and walk me through it. Unlike some places where they just look at you and expect you to already know what to say and how it all works. Lunch time is pretty busy but I felt the line went pretty quickly. I didn't feel like i was waiting for a long time. Overall, I would recommend this place to everybody.
(4)Michael M.
Wife and I decided to come try Freebirds instead of going to Habit. We were impressed and glad we tried it. We both feel that this was better than Chipotle. The choices were great the service was not great but nothing to complain about. It's owned by a vet who donates to the Utah Guard Charitable Trust which has the potential to help me or one of soldiers. So yeah. I'll be back.
(4)Zac A.
Decent burritos. Friendly staff and clean establishment. Over priced in my opinion. Not much to say other than that. I'd rather go to cafe rio.
(3)Tara G.
Not impressed. What place offers nachos on their menu and not a way of melting the cheese? Just a nasty queso cheese sauce. Yuck.
(2)Chase B.
Best burrito place in town hands down. The steak is to die for and dang the queso worth every penny. Im telling ya you will not be dissapointed. freebirds is da bomb
(5)William B.
Overall: great walk up "make your own burrito joint." Fresh food, real chicken breast and other meats, and friendly service. Cons: loud- very loud. Not a good spot for a table conversation or quick business lunch. Outdoor seating is available however.
(3)Kerry H.
This was my first time here and I was really pleasantly surprised. The staff was funky and fun. You got a LOT of food for your money. I had the quesadilla which was a little odd but really really really tasty! Rice, beans, whatever I wanted. Went with family and we all agreed it was great and we'd be returning!
(4)Amy J.
Not impressed I have seen them in a couple of locations and thought I would try them for dinner. They were out of corn tortilla so I had a chicken burrito bowl. Everything was really bland. There was a little bit of heat in the jalapeno salsa but not any flavor. I will take Cafe Rio or chipolte.
(2)Andrea R.
Healthier than Cafe Rio, which is about all Freebirds has going for it. I had a salad with grilled chicken. Ingredients seemed fresh enough & I did like their corn salsa, but mostly it was nothing special & seemed like food I could make at home & have taste about the same. Whatever their green cilantro lime-type dressing is, it was pulpy instead of creamy and had a decent flavor but just not the consistency of salad dressing. I have no desire to try this place again.
(2)Michael R.
Tried it once and will never need to go back. I do like that they offer 3 sizes of burritos, but what's the point if they taste terrible? I thought the rice was disgusting and the salsa was very very bland. The atmosphere is also just not for me. Barbacoa or Chipotle are so much better.
(1)Er P.
I wrote a longer review but I'm opting out of any details that could potentially identify me to them. Serious question: is this a prison work release time participant? I was genuinely uncomfortable with the people serving me my food. The brownie I had was super tasty, and a single chunk of chicken I had was good too, so 2 stars. DO NOT RECOMMEND.
(2)Zach H.
Never had Freebirds until this past Saturday, but let me just say I loved it! I consider myself a burrito junkie, now don't get me wrong I've had better and worse. The choices I had to customize this burrito were almost unending, and it's offered in a few different sizes, I went with the super monster and believe me it did not disappoint my burrito was the size of new born baby and probably weighed close to the same. The cayenne tortilla was fantastic nice spice to it without it being so overwhelming that your eyes watered and nose ran with every bite. Chicken was juicy and tender flavor was great. Cheese, pinto beans, and Spanish rice all thrown into the mix added to the flavor. I have to say the rice was over cooked making it mushy, also the salsa I chose to get wasn't my favorite, but that's the great part about this place there are so many things you can do to customize that I am positive I will reach burrito perfection and nirvana, and if you're have reached a level of starvation where you big guts are eating the little ones the super monster is the way to go! Give this place more than one chance, experiment and I'm sure much like me you will find that perfect burrito !
(4)Adree W.
People had been telling us to try this place for a long time, we finally gave in and tried it. Im the type of person that will eat almost anything, I'm not that picky. Let me start of by saying that they way they warm up their tortillas... the guy had 3 bags open and he gave me the most dried up ones he could get, the rice was not even rice, it was a cold mush that had no flavor what so ever, the re fried beans were burn and also flavor less. The thing that got me was the portion of the chicken, i got the 2 taco meal plate ($7) , I got a table spoon of chicken... I was appealed when I saw the portion of it...they use the portion size spoons, not to say the chicken was cold and tasted like it was burnt. He asked me if i wanted grilled veggies, I was expecting bite size pieces, no! these were like inch thick green bell peppers that were still raw covered in oil. I sat down to eat and everything was cold, no salt, no pepper, no seasonings what so ever. The chicken was burnt that's all i could taste, I couldn't eat the second taco, I never do that but it was just so bad... maybe it was the day (we went on a Friday) or the location. But for burritos or tacos like that I will always got to Chipotle. Don't go chasing waterfalls.
(1)Mike W.
I've heard of this place from friends in Texas so I was excited when they started opening up in Utah. I'm not excited anymore after my first experience. There were quite a few things I disliked and if just one of these had happened I'd probably go back. But put them all together and I'm staying away, forever. First, I've never seen a place be so anal about the amount of ingredients that go into a burrito. They would scoop and tap and wipe excess food off the spoons to make sure I wasn't getting more than my allotted portion. This resulted in my burrito being quite small even though I ordered the Freebird size. Next, whoever is cutting the steak needs a refresher course in bite size cutting because some pieces were as big as chicken nuggets, which means I only had 3 of them in my burrito because they can't have go over their portion limits. Lastly, I just wasn't that fond of the flavor of the burrito. It wasn't anything new or exciting. Needless to say, Chipotle and Cafe Rio will continue to be my go to's for quick Mexican dining.
(2)Lin F.
Food and service are both awful. Spend your money somewhere else.
(1)Angie L.
yuck yuck yuck! i was so excited to try this place after seeing it open a few months ago. i am a big chipotle fan and am always looking for other similar places to try. we came here on a rainy night around 10 PM and let the employees know that it was our first time here. there was literally no line in front or behind us, yet they rushed us the entire time. they weren't about to close (still had an hour), so i'm not sure what the hurry was. the three female employees (one adult and two teenagers/young adults) all were more interested in chatting with each other than helping us. i seriously felt like i was back in junior high school in the cafeteria line with the lunch lady not caring and just trying to move everyone along. that everyone, in this situation, being only 2 people. not impressed at all. not only was the service awful, but the food was not good at all. my burrito bowl looked like mush and tasted gross. i kept trying to eat it, but eventually gave up and threw it away. it didn't taste fresh and it wasn't warm either. it was just yucky. i will never be returning and chipotle clearly wins here.
(1)Ginger P.
We went here tonight and I was so bugged that I wrote the review right away. As in we're-still-in-the-parking-lot-and-I'm-already-writing-the-review kind of bugged. The food wasn't good. It's not like it was even average; it was actually kind of gross. The lime cilantro rice looked (and tasted) like someome had pureed it or something. It was way too mushy. The black beans were weirdly crunchy, and the lettuce was basically wilted iceberg. Even the lime and cilantro they gave me looked old. My husband got a burrito and didn't even finish it because all of the vegetables were burnt and the meat was mostly fat. The staff was unbelievably rude. They were more interested in making inside jokes with one another than in taking customers' orders. One of the employees asked my husband if he wanted something on his burrito and, instead of listening for his response, listened to a joke one of the other employees was telling and then rudely asked for my husband's answer again; he answered the first time, but she wasn't paying attention -- which I'm sure happens sometimes, but for her to be rude to him after was really weird. Most of the employees were very unpersonable, rolled their eyes and swore a lot, and constantly made fun of customers they'd just helped. The employees' attitude kind of reflects itself in the vibe of the restaurant; everything is in-your-face loud (colors, noise, decorations). It's like this restaurant has no idea what it wants to be so it constantly juxtaposes different motifs in an attempt to attract a diverse crowd (which it doesn't end up doing).
(1)James H.
A good alternative to the Cafe Rio and Costa Vida style burrito. The variety of hot sauces and salsas along with 4 flavors of tortillas make it easy to customize your meal. The Freebird sized (medium) burrito in a Cayenne tortilla was right for me and so were the death sauce and jalapeño salsa on top of "grass fed steak". So much better than "hay fed steak".
(4)Thomas N.
I thought the food here was just OK compared to Chipotle. The service was good but I felt rushed by all of the staff. It was our first time here and it wasn't even busy. It was around 10pm on the weekend and tables were at about 25% capacity. We were the only ones in line but they rushed us through even though we told them it was our first time eating here. Well, it will be our last time eating here.
(2)Ty M.
Locally owned and operated, so you gotta give them points there. The burrito was a pleasant surprise- different enough to stand out, but not so crazy that it was too unfamiliar. Good meat, great sauces. Decor was interesting but cohesively themed which is better than most local joints can say. Support this restaurant! Freedom + peace = freebirds.
(4)Isaac F.
I love Mexican cuisine, so I had to check this local burrito line joint. Confusing door set up on where to order but with a little bit of mind power I didn't feel like Ray Charles walking. The menu was straightforward and they had some spicy options. You can tell the owners put a lot of effort into going for a fun atmosphere. Maybe the staff is underpaid or its that working with food all day is down right no fun, but the employees were not as exciting as the ambience presented. Like other reviews I saw, being a first timer you'll have questions, they didn't like that. I went right before lunch rush too, so it wasn't busy. Kid rolled his eyes and stared at me like I was a juvenile correction officer telling him to stop being a delinquent. I laughed, he scoffed. Typical bad first date stuff. Good spread of choices. However the quality of the ingredients are essential to all cooking and especially Mexican. The rice is overcooked, the salsas were watery, cilantro leafs were chopped not sliced (dark color). Overall my spicy chicken burrito didn't look appetizing when they were assembling it. Shocker, it wasn't good. No flavor. I've had non Latinos cook better Mexican. 2 stars at best. I wanted to like a local stop, I really tried. I will not be going back.
(2)Grant H.
This place is growing on me. They have a couple kinks to work out, but otherwise, it's a step up from Chipotle, etc. What I like most is the selection of ingredients. They have multiple wraps to choose from, excellent meats, fresh avocado, jalepenos, cilantro, plenty of salsa and sauce choices, and it's all executed very well. It might take a few visits to find your perfect combination, but it's worth the effort once you do. One the other hand, the rice is always overcooked and mushy. The service can be a little slow, and the employees don't do the best job of explaining the food options to the customer. If they can manage to smooth those things out, this would be a 5-star fast food burrito joint.
(4)Tony L.
Let the comparison begin! Chipotle is better. No Cafe rio is. What about Bajio? Costa Vida is good. Preference guys... Preference. For my taste, I like Freebirds over Chipotle. However Cafe rios chips and queso rocks. Bajios pork chimichanga is one of my favorite. But the steak burrito here is just on top of my list. Not trying to convince anyone that this place is better than the other chains. But I like it here.
(4)Lena A.
Think Chipotle, but with more variety & classic rock. Since I'm GF, I had to stick with corn tortilla soft tacos which didn't disappoint. Their steak was amazing, and much juicier and flavorful than Chipotle's. I tried their Spanish rice on my tacos and it was so good that I went back into line for a side of it, which they gave me for free! My only small complaint was that I wish they had less spicy salsa/hot sauce options. I'm a wimp with spiciness, but I'm sure I'm not the only one. I will definitely be going back.
(4)Varun Y.
I wanted to make sure I came to Freebirds when it was not busy to try out all their options. I have been to a Freebirds in Taylorsville but haven't been to this new location. The entrance was a bit confusing as the door that faces the plaza is locked but the entrance is out back. When I entered it was bit confusing where I was supposed to go and I ended up in the corner of the restaurant. But, I could see how other yelpers came upon their conclusions about this place. It could get real busy and it could make the employees stressed out to not pay enough attention. They are very stringent on portion control (I expect a lot of guacamole if I am going to be charged extra for it and I should be told that I am going to be charged for it). But this experience was a smooth one because I came right before the rush hour and the employees were eager to help me choose my options. I chose the freebird (medium) burrito - it was quite expensive at $10 and meager looking when I got it. Since it was downtime I asked if I could get it quesarillato (quesadilla wrapping around a burrito) but the employee didn't know how it was done and was willing enough to learn. I was offered up all my ingredients that I wanted and in the end I was satisfied with my burrito. Now, it was a bit on the small side but it was tangy delicious. I am giving the positive review because of the service there but I am probably going back to chipotle.
(3)Bonni N.
Okay, normally I do t write reviews but this place just pissed me off!!! I love the food! But seriously!!! I have come to this location every single day for the last week, NO corn tortillas... How can you offer a Mexican style food with out Corn tortillas. No offer of apology or anything from the manager!!! Just leaves it up to the employees to fend for themselves. Sorry management but you deserve this bad rating!!! PS ... The employees told me they go to Costco for their corn tortillas and Costco is literally right around the corner !!! You could literally walk there it would take five minutes!
(2)Brittney N.
Kept driving past this place every time I got on the freeway and finally decided to give it a go. I was delighted to see that they had a tortilla free option and grass fed beef. The ordering process was.... Not well organized. It seemed like a grand opening where nobody is trained and nobody is in charged. Even they way the employees dressed was confusing. I don't think there was a uniform, but I could be wrong. When it came time to choose my meat I asked the gal behind the counter what they marinated their pork in. She looked at me and cocked her head like I had just asked her something about astro physics. She then turned to the girl next to her and asked the same question, to which the second girl gave the first girl the same perplexed look. I told them not to worry about it, and I chose the grass fed steak, which was awesome! Super super tender and great flavor. Whenever I get steak at any of the other places (yes even Chipotle) it is dried out and tough, but not here. I also very much appreciated that they had refried beans. Guacamole and sour cream extra!? Not cool. The guacamole I understand, not the sour cream. This place has so much unrealized potential. Hopefully they get it together, cuz I would love to make it a regular haunt.
(3)