Mexican food is delicious, and arguably one of my favourite cuisines. However I find authentic - TRULY authentic - Mexican restaurants hard to come by in the Northeast. Habanero is one of those rare gems of authenticity. Habanero's unique menu selection offers a variety of familiar items - like tacos and burritos - in addition to more uncommon things like Papusas, Gorditas and Tamales. Although these are probably common in Latin American cuisine, I had never heard of them and was eager to try something new. My boyfriend and I ordered two of the Papusas (1 bean and cheese, and 1 pork), the Steak Nachos (because the Yelp reviews raved about them) and 2 Adobada Tacos (because they were less than $2). The entire meal only cost us $16 and we enjoyed all of it immensely. In summary, here are the two reasons why you should go to Habanero: it's deliciously authentic and very cheap. The Steak Nachos are a must-get, because they are massive, and loaded with toppings. Also noteworthy are the Papusas, because they're very good, not found in any Americanized Mexican restaurant, and cost less than $2.
(5)
John S.
One of the reasons that I recommend this place is because of the spotty delivery service (yeah, you read that right). Understand the attitude when it comes to this place - sometimes, the guy doesn't show up. Either you get that, or you don't. They GRILL this shit at Habenero. These are those sweaty, dripping burritos you've heard about. For a mostly-take-out joint, Habenero tends to do things their way. You wanted it grilled? Well cool, ya came here, so we assumed that. Lactose intolerant? intolerant intolerant. You get it their way or the high way, champ. Astounding constancy, high quality of ingredients, and a general ya-get-it-when-ya-get-it attitude allow you to really set some expectations for this place that will always be met. If you like some nice, ricey, grilled South American standards, you can do no worse than this great spot.
(4)
Ami P.
My friend goes absolutely insane over their chicken burrito and because she's a regular they are super sweet and let her get extra EVERYTHING! For those who don't know my crazy obsession with sweet plantains, I went Bezerk! I ordered a small for $3 and believe me it was such a generous amount with this special sauce that came with it!!!
(4)
Samantha B.
Vibrant and fresh flavors at Habanero Mexican Grill in Allston. Juxtaposed on a row of many small restaurants on Brighton Avenue, serving the standard tacos and quesadillas but recommend one of the large plates. Daily plates are served quasi-cafeteria style. Order at the counter and select your choice of meat (ranging from different styles of chicken to goat), rice (yellow or white), beans (black or pinto), salad, and salsa. One of the chicken dishes of the day, served on the bone, is incredibly moist and tender with a rich and creamy sauce (hints of pepper), stewed with onions and potatoes. The montanero plate is a feast. Including two cuts of pork - a cutlet with melted cheese on top and a unique cut similar to crispy pork belly or chicharron. The plate also includes a fried egg, a wedge of white and crumbly cheese, yellow rice, pinto beans, salad, avocado, and incredible charred and sweet plantains. Served with two piping hot homemade tortillas. You will be full all day!
(4)
Anthony C.
These nacho's, gon' be death of me. Met up with bae after burritos had her feelin' as dry as a cactus. I let her pick the spot after taking the L the other night. Nachos, cheese, chicken, guac, sour cream, that shit was crackin. Had an orange soda too, all under a 10 spot. No beans though (don't fart in front of your girl, that's a bad look son). Got home, played bae some Yeezy and shit was like water country down there. 10/10 will take bae again.
(5)
Alleliah N.
Mmmmm pupusas -- the perfect snack. It took a while for them to make the two I ordered (loroco and chicharron), so I wished I'd ordered more.
(4)
Francis C.
yo, this place is really good and I can't believe I've been living in Brighton for like 4 years and it took me so long to try it. the food is SOLID, when I saw the price I thought it was a joke, and the employees are just so darling sweet. I got the carne asada tacos and the nachos with chicken and was satisfied with both. The portions for the nachos was quite astonishing.... I'm a super happy camper :) Will definitely be coming back. REGULARLY!!!
(5)
Jatin R.
Who puts rice in a taco? Average vegetarian tacos. Not bad, except for the rice. Torn tortillas are ok, just the regular cheap ones you find in a grocery store.
(3)
Astra G.
Really good and very nicely priced tacos! Choose from chicken, steak, al pastor and lengua, all are flavorful and juicy....Except for the veggie taco which sadly was pretty lame, it doesn't have vegetables in it but rice instead and watery beans. Each taco comes with a nice lime wedge, as all tacos should. A small fried yucca order is actually a generous portion, a lil on the salty side, but delish with a nice tangy slaw on the side. They also have rice plates and even breakfast which I have not tried yet. Drink options include bottled or canned Latin sodas and juices. Accepts cards.
(3)
Latino Foodies 1.
The first thing you have to try are the PUPUSAS! These things are so delicious that you will probably end up eating with your own hands. -Queso con loroco (loroco is a type herb/plant that gives it a delicious taste. Like basil or oregano.) pupusas are so tasty and vegetarian friendly :) Now, if you are a meat lover, the Chicharron (pork) pupusas are also amazing! -Carne Asada: Pork steak, with rice and beans are very delicious and filling. A good size portion. We always end up coming back with the intention of trying the rest of the food and end up getting the pupusas because they come out much faster and are simply amazing!
(4)
Andi S.
My only complaint about this place is that they are not located in Philadelphia, where I live. My meal was seriously delicious. I ordered the pupusas, and a chicken platter with yucca, rice, avocado, plantain, beans and fresh tomato. I enjoyed every bite and I also love the fact that they sell carrot-orange juice as well as Central American colas such as Inca Cola.
(5)
Nik A.
This is a great all around Mexican restaurant. Very small hole in the wall spot but it works. They put all of the options on the wall with pictures so you can see everything - looks nice too. They have some unique items on the menu (for really good prices) that I would definitely recommend trying out. I had the steak nachos, which were perfect, the pork tacos which were good and the papusas (basically corn tortilla pancakes). Total meal shared with my gf cost $16!!
(4)
Allison P.
Before discovering this joint, I was your typical Anna's Taqueria girl. Farewell Anna's, I've moved onto another Mexican mistress -- her name is Habanero (or is it more grammatically correct to say Habanera?) I got both the steak and adobado burrito. Meat was tender and the rest of the ingredients were very fresh. Chips were deep fried perfection and the salsa was surprisingly very good. Best part is chips and salsa are included with your order. No need to pay extra for 'em! If you're feeling particularly ravenous, order a small side of chicharones. It's essentially deep fried pieces of thick pork belly fat. Your arteries will probably weep in despair as you eat them, but it's worth trying at least once.
(5)
L T.
I hate Allston, it's pretty dirty. But I love all the cheap korean and hispanic food. I came here with my boyfriend and we ordered chicken, steak and pork tacos. The pork was the best-- it was spicy. The chicken lacked flavoring. The tacos have a lot of meat in them. We also ordered chicken nachos. These were enormous and a great price. Again, a ton of meat topping them. I wish there was more beans, salsa and sour cream on top. So......we sat at the counter in the window, right next to the front door. Inches away from our nachos was a cockroach that climbed up to the counter. My boyfriend squashed it in a napkin. I want to say it was just Allston being dirty. The food was good though.
(3)
Brian R.
This is a really good little Latin Amerian food joint in the heart of the Boston University strip of seemingly endless little restaurants eeking existence out of the college crowd. Habanero is legit, populated in large part more by local Latinos than college students because it's authentic. They're really more Latin American because they offer pupusas and soups that you more commonly see outside of Mexico in El Salvador, Guatamalan cusine, etc. So now on to the food: It was very tasty and overall an A-. The pupusa was fabulous flavor but overcooked so the cheese ran out and the inside was too hot. The cabbage slaw that it comes with was savory but lacked a little spice that makes it perfect. The quesadilla is made more gringo-style, with a lot of sour cream that I'd pass on in a future trip, but the salsa it came with was over the top good. The people running it are super nice, and the tiny restaurant is kept immaculately clean. The worn down stool covers should probably get replaced. That and the blown out pupusa cost it a star, but I'd be happy to come back there and give them five. It's better than any other food experience in the Latin realm on this strip that I've tried in four years.
(4)
Amy M.
Put simply, this tiny Mexican grill outshines any chain burrito joint for miles. Fresh, friendly, made-to-order, and dare I say, authentic. The menu wasn't very large, so we ordered a set of tacos in all three meats -- pork, chicken, and beef. (Just over a dollar each!) All three were delicious, filled with fresh veggies and sauce, and the thick outer tortilla was by far the highlight. As other Yelpers mentioned, the place itself isn't glamorous. But isn't that the point? Habanero is one of those hole-in-the-wall places who lets the food do the talking.
(4)
Chau B.
The papusas are always excellent here! Tacos are good too but has nothing on their papusas. It may be a little intimidating ordering with their Spanish speaking staff but they are always super friendly.
(5)
Leanne C.
Rice on my taco? C'mon now-- I deliberately didn't order a burrito for the sole reason of disliking rice (not to mention the amount of hot sauce I had to dump over it to make some sort of flavor pop out). Pretty good fried Yucca Root though the sauce could have been a little more acidic to cut the fried fattiness out (or least give me something similar to ketchup). The channel the television was amazing and amusing--- if you love low quality talk TV with loads of exclamations. Skip this taco joint and hop down to Lonestar-- they won't disappoint.
(2)
Alice W.
I suggest calling ahead and order for pick up. Since everything is made to order, it can take some time. The quesadillas are super filling. They pile it high with meats and fillings. Habanero is the only place I know of that has pupusas!! They are delicious because they grill them on the flat top and the cheese will ooze out of the pupusa and will create a crunchy layer of cheese. Soo good. The space inside is small There is seating, but during lunch time it gets filled up.
(5)
Delvin S.
The food is amazing, I had the carne asada and it was the shit. The business gets a little crowded because it is so small, and it would be great If they expanded. Shout out to the pupusas and the horchata that they serve.
(5)
Tyler P.
My absolute favorite place to get a burrito. Its amazingly big and equally delicious. My girlfriend had their nachos which are a great price and crazy good. This little hole in the wall should not be ignored.
(5)
Nanci C.
Extremely great price! The food is really tasty and the service is great. I just didn't like the taste of the wrappers for the tacos. Everything is fresh and its like a Chipotle that you order your food and find a place to sit.
(4)
Jon A.
AMAZING!!! Best burrito in Allston/Boston or quite possibly anywhere on the eastern seaboard. Great staff and the most consistent establishment I have ever had the pleasure of experiencing. Try the bean and cheese pupusa you will be hooked!!! Much love for this place, clean and the staff has an amazing work ethic. Respect.
(5)
Maggie K.
This place is incredible! It has such a cozy and authentic feel to it. The people that work there are also unbelievably nice! I have tried the nachos (get them with everything) and they are out of this world! I usually get both steak and chicken on them and that always works out great! I would also recommend the tacos with everything of course! I tried them today and they were so delicious. Make sure to ask for guac on them!
(5)
Katie M.
Tried Habanero for the first time last night and it was fantastic! I went in around 5:30 and the service was very quick and workers were super friendly and polite. I got a chicken burrito and a small order of platanos. When I received the order I was amazed that this was a small. They were delicious the perfectly sweet and not too greasy kind of platanos that you can't always find in the Boston area. The burrito was massive! I ate half there and took the rest home with me and just ate it for lunch. My co-worker couldn't believe that that was only half of my burrito! The burrito was also served with chips and salsa so for about $13 I got what I can safely say is more than enough food for 2 meals (I am a glutton) and it was all delicious! I work in Allston and can't wait to go back and try the other things on the menu. It's also a perfect quick and easy spot to stop between work and evening meetings which is exactly what I've been looking for!
(5)
Kevin O.
My favorite tacos in Boston! And at a great price.
(4)
Trey H.
The delivery driver had some trouble finding the place but was extremely nice and the FOOD! Oh, wow the food! We got the steak nachos, tamale, and the enchilada plate. Then to make it a splash of ridiculous we tried the guava juice and horchata which could have been the best part of the meal but honestly I was in far too much ecstasy over the meal I just had to accurately measure. Best, most authentic, and TASTY mexican we've had in boston. We will be back and so should you. Happy eating!
(5)
Daniel I.
Good Mexican food is very elusive in the Boston area and the last place I expected to find some tasty Mexican eats was in (much beloved) Allston Rat City. With food joints pooping up and closing all the time nothing great was expected stopping in for a sporadic lunch at Habanero (Lets face it, yes Allston has plenty of options but a lot are crap that keep the drunk folks happy). I WAS WRONG. I ordered the chicken enchilada plate and was very satisfied w the flavor and portion size. The rest itself has a very authentic feel.
(4)
Nicole B.
Best pupusas!
(5)
Kristy S.
I got the carne asada plate and it was good but not great. The service was good but the menu/buffet options were kind of confusing. Atmosphere was okay.
(3)
Chris R.
Went back again and it was just as great. I wish they were open even later! Awesome spot.
(5)
Kai T.
I love this place. This is great mexican food! and the people that work there are always so sweet. The main guy knows my order after only having been there twice! The taco salad is beyond imagination!
(5)
Brian P.
Ordered from habanero a couple of times now and each time it has been really delicious. (Delicious, NOT healthy) I've had the quesadillas and enchiladas and it's always a nice and easy meal. Good portions, tasty tastes. The staff are very friendly and helpful! The rice and beans are great - lots of flavor for simple side items. I would go here for that heavy mexican meal, especially if I crave chicken enchiladas with lots of cheese and fatness. who doesn't crave that?
(4)
M S.
Love it. They heat up the burrito after wrapping it so that everything is warm. Not like at other places where the sour cream and guacamole are still cold.
(5)
Emily R.
This place is so good!! It's small so I usually just get my food to go but they definitely have seating inside. I'm obsessed with their nachos and tacos! The nachos are massive and super filling- you get so many toppings which is awesome. The food is very inexpensive and the staff are always friendly. It's somewhat of a "hole in the wall". Delicious!!
(4)
David A.
My friends have said many good things about this place so I tried it out. Got a pork burrito and a tamale. To start, the chips were stale. The burrito tasted pretty good and was pretty big BUT I was pretty grossed out by the time I got halfway through it. There was very little meat in the burrito. It was mostly huge chunks of fat. Every few bites there would be a nickel sized piece of straight fat in my mouth that I had to spit out. My friend said he also had fat in his steak Torta. As for the tamale, It was not so great. Very soft and wet. Almost soupy. On top of that, there was a ton of bones in it! In my tamale there were 3 or 4 bites I had to spit out because of bones. The first one being almost an inch long chicken rib. Disappointment.
(1)
Frederick K.
Just AWESOME! delicious, fantastic, authentic, incredible burritos and other food My favorite is just a plain old beef burrito but it's made to order in San Salvidorian style and just plain great..
(5)
Mantis T.
Went to California about a month ago, and was treated to "real Mexican food." Apparently I didn't realize that meant Mexican comfort food, which is simply, yet well made quesadillas and plantains and stuff like that. They also do the cream sauce that I had out west coast way, which you don't seem to get at other Mexican "sit down" cuisine sort of places. This place is great, you get a lot of food for a decent price. Taste's great and worth the price. I also didn't feel like death after I ate the food, which is how I usually feel when I used to eat at other burrito joints in the area. This time I felt like I was going to bust an O Ring because I ate so much food, not because I had to run to the bathroom. Best place around, that's for sure. Only thing sucks is if it's busy on Brighton Ave, forget about finding parking. This place is in a line of restaurants, on a busy street. Its better to ride a bike, or just straight up walk there. Otherwise you'll be parking back where you started...
(4)
Dela B.
I had been to Habanero's a few years ago for their actual Mexican food and remembered it being quite tasty (got the beef stew) so when I saw steak nachos for 6.99, I didn't have to think twice. The shop is tiny and sports 4 tables or so and a small window seating area, but I've never really had issues getting a seat. I suppose the typical Allston clientele prefers taking out their food or getting it delivered rather than getting perfumed by Mexican food in an un-airconditioned space the size of a walk-in storage closet. The nachos were a pretty decent size for the price I paid. Lots of meat, guac, salsa, beans, drizzled sour cream, yadda yadda. In terms of taste and ingredient quality, Habaneros did an excellent job. The chips were most likely store-purchased, but they were crunchy, salty, and held up very well against the weight of the toppings. Guacamole was fresh, steak was well seasoned, and it was overall a very solid plate of nachos. For the price, they definitely give you what you pay for and more. I'd recommend their other food as well. If you want cheap, delicious Mexican food (a rarity in Boston), make the trip to Allston cause you won't regret it.
(4)
Jim G.
Fantastic food! Brought my kids and bride. We had 4 different meals and the were all wicked awesome! It is small and rhey had Spanish football on so it felt like you were in Madrid. Great service. I will be back to eat here
(5)
laura W.
I live right down the street from this place. I've had several things there- the nachos, the burritos.....then I stopped looking once I had the tacos. You can have: pork, chicken, beef, or beef tongue. Corn or flour. ANY toppings you want for no extra bling. Everything is fresh and delicious. Plus, they give you an entire lime wedge PER taco. That is pure bliss right there. Oh, did I mention their tacos are 1.75? Yeah. THAT just happened. CHEAP! I usually order take out and then have a taco love sesh in my apartment.
(4)
Rob C.
i can only speak for my experience with the burritos here. Why? The plates are, honestly, kind of intimidating, mostly because one seemed to have a whole intact fish on it. But for the burritos, they are very, very solid. It's a Salvadoran place, and the burritos are a little bit different in a good way than strictly Mexican ones. It's hard to say why, exactly, but they use decent meat and have good salsa and sauces and stuff inside. And perhaps most endearingly, they throw a decent pile of pretty good tortilla chips in the bottom of the bag. It's reasonably quick and reasonably cheap, and i will lament no longer working in this neighborhood when i cannot eat here quite so often.
(4)
Edwin C.
After living in L.A. for awhile and experiencing their culture and food, coming back to the east is just not the same. When I say food I specifically mean the Mexican. Other than Mexico, I think California is authentic as it gets, but Habanero comes close. When people think of burritos and tacos people think Chicken, Beef, or Pork. But for those who are daring and courageous, you would ask yourself what would locals eat in Mexico, so I asked (when I lived in California). Answer I got was Al Pastor (Pork on a rotating spit, like Sharwma), Lengua (Beef tongue), and Tripas (Intestine). Yes, I know I'm going outside of the norm of say Taco Bell. Trust me after a long night of drinking and huge appetite anything is good. Don't get me wrong I still order the spicy carnitas and carne asada once in awhile, but when it comes to Habanero, lengua taco's all day!! I typically order 3 lengua taco's then an Al Pastor Torta, which is like a Mexican Sub/Sanwhich that comes with chips and salsa and if that doesn't cut it, I order a taco or two more (yeah I can eat). Sadly, this place or anyplace around Boston that I know of don't have Tripas. This small restaurant has food that is just so authentic here and can satisfy my Mexican cravings. They offer more than just burritos, tacos, and quesadillas. They have authentic soups and rice plates that I see locals ordering all the time, sadly haven't had the chance to try, but it's on my to eat list. I'm giving it 4 stars because 5 is reserved for the taco truck!
(4)
Ryan V.
This is one of the best places to eat in Allston. Great tacos and nice staff. The tongue and pork tacos are my favorite and they are accompanied with ample lime wedges. This is the place to go for a filling meal under $6.
(5)
Nicole S.
I wish I knew more Spanish to figure out what to really get here. I struggled figuring out what to get because their menu is just in Spanish and they don't advertise a lot of what they have. There were quite a few things that were available not on the menu so I ended up pointing to each of them and asking what it was/what was inside (the tamales). Ordering aside the food was pretty good. I got 2 bean and cheese papusas, a tamale like thing made of just corn, and a sweet empanada, and a horchata. All of that for around $10! I was not a fan of the corn tamale, which googling revealed it to be a Tamale de Elote. It was dense, bland, and dry. It seems like they are supposed to be like that so I guess I just don't like it. The dessert empanada was good, but, again, I might like it more if I knew what it was. The empanada "dough" was actually made of plantains, which was really good. No idea what the filing was- white, thick, sweetish. Maybe I need to do some more googling. I would definitely go back for the papusas. The bean and cheese ones were so good as they were freshly fried up on the cook top. So the exterior had a bit of a crunch which gave way to a soft cheesy interior. This to-go order was served with a little baggy filled with hot sauce and a pickled, spicy slaw. The combination of everything went well together with a hot cheesy filling, cool tangy slaw, and spicy sauce.
(3)
Cwot W.
Damn I love this place they have pupusas just like I had in El Salvador 20 years ago nothing is better than cornmeal pancakes stuffed with hogs and cheese. I love greasy pupusas, I'll rub them all over my face and chest I love that shit. Good authentic Salvadoran chow at a good price
(5)
Kalua M.
Another Californian transplant in Boston nostalgically searching for good Mexican food. They have some decent dishes here. Try the breakfast burrito - you won't be disappointed.
(4)
Marie W.
Came here to get a snack while waiting in the long line for Totto Ramen across the street. Picked up a bean and cheese papusa and a veggie taco. Both were very yummy! I would totally go back to try some of their other menu items.
(4)
Duncan P.
I walked all the way home to Brighton from the Financial District last weekend at 2 in the morning, and as I stumbled through Allston I realized that I was starving, and Bravo Pizza was closed, but this place was right there next to it, and I got a steak burrito, and it was awesome. I was hammered but I think that I thought that I loved it! Definitely gonna return in a clearer state of mind ASAP.
(5)
Christopher M.
This place *is* hit or miss. But $7 for a solid burrito with everything (including a side of chips/salsa) is a great deal I can't pass up when the weekly burrito cravings come a callin'. Had it a few years back and wasn't impressed, but they've made some changes and it's great. I don't really bother with too many other things on the menu but the tacos are great for the price (under $2). I still don't understand why they have blue cheese and ranch dressing sitting on the tables all warm and what not, but whatever, steer clear of those and you'll be all right. Get a burrito, tip a little, and enjoy the usually-too-loud ethnic music.
(3)
Kevin Y.
So I've always passed this place but never really paid attention to it. Back in high school, I always loved Anna's and would do runs during lunch or after class. Even more recently, I went to Cali and had bomb ass burritos. Anyways, studying at Infusion's and got really hungry -_- Being my cheat day and all, I wanted to try something new so I yelped it. I walked in and the lady at the counter smiled and greeted me immediately. I'm a sucker for smiles =) Anyways after reading the reviews, I decided to try out their tacos (beef, chicekn, beef tongue) and I randomly ordered a gordita too. I think I received a wrong order for the gordita and I don't know what exactly I got, but it wasn't that good. But the tacos... Damn they were good. Presentation.... everything looked really fresh. They gave me a lime wedge for each taco. Chicken wasn't that great, but the beef and beef tongue?!?!? OMG. Orgasmic. No homo. Another good thing was they were like ~1.79 per taco. Pretty filling and everything went well together, especially with the lime. I would definitely hit this place up again to try their other stuff. Hey, maybe I can convice my Cali friends that we do have mexican food comparable to Cali. Who the hell am I kidding, but its pretty damn good.
(4)
Jon B.
Friendly staff, and the food is awesome. I've tried most of the things on the menu and I've never been disappointed. Do not sleep on the pupusas, they will change you. The only thing that puzzles me is when you get takeout instead of putting the sauce in a cup with a lid they put it in a plastic bag which they then tie. I recommend cutting a tiny slit and draining it into a bowl. So be ready for that.
(5)
Michael V.
You don't come across too many authentic Mexican/El Salvadorian food joints; and this place is a keeper. Although the location is nice in Brighton Ave, the building it self isn't too great. Its small, tight, with only a couple of mediocre tables/ chairs. But that's fine cause I never intend to eat there, i just get it for take out, as I suggest most people do. However the food there is so amazing, fresh, well cooked, authentic. Your not going to find any better Mexican/ Al Salvadorian food place in the area. Whether your getting the papusas, tacos, burritos, rice plate, anything, its all so amazing. A very great place for take out.
(4)
Fun Night S.
I love when I am surprised by food. This place was great. I ordered a beef quesadilla and was unsure if that was going to be enough. to my surprised, it was more than I could eat in one sitting (without being stoned). The veggies to meat to sauce ratio was spot on. The outside was crispy and all of the cheese was melted. go for it. the price is right.
(4)
Erica C.
My husband and I shared a beef gordita and a chicken quesadilla here. While the flavors were delicious, both were difficult to eat. It really was a delicious quesadilla though. Greasy, but tasty. I think the cilantro really made it great. Two big cons though: -Saw a roach on floor while eating -The tables we were sitting at had already opened, room-temperature blue cheese and ranch dressing sitting out on them... Those are def refrigerate after opening things. Also, we both had some bowel issues following the meal... But we also had a frozen yogurt right after, so I don't know who the culprit was. Maybe happened just because we were piggy and had both...
(3)
Jill G.
best mexican food around- it actually tastes like REAL mexican food, rather than awful mexican chain food. I love it here and the prices are very reasonable.
(5)
Kevin T.
Good mexican. I can't give it a 4 star rating because the pork was hard and dry. I also reaerve 4 & 5 stars for out of the park. However, I can say the food was about as authentic Mexico street food as you can get locally. Service was spot on as well. Went for the gusto and ordered the Habanero Platter. It had everything on it and was muy bueno. My favorite were their corn tortillas. Whether homemade or ordered by bulk... They were tasty. I say try it if you are close by and want decent mexican.
(3)
Jennifer C.
So this is a little hole in the wall place that is located in Allston. It's right across the street from a bar that I frequently go to and I wish it was open until 2am!! I have been to Habanero twice, and both times, I ate EVERYTHING that was on my plate. My friend and I have our normal spot that we sit in that is right by the window since you can only fit about 10 people in there anyway, definitely a place for take out food (we just found out that they deliver too!!!) The first time I went there, I got this beef stew special thing and it was just soooo delicious. They give you your meal with rice, beans, salad and so much of it. This time I got the carne asada and they make the steak right there in front of you. Ordering might be a little difficult, but I see that as a sign of authentic, delicious food. All of these hole in the wall places are places you definitely need to try when you're in the area!
(4)
David L.
Good but pricey
(4)
D C.
OMG the nachos.. I want to live in them. Also tried the pollo asado, which was pretty tasty too. But the nachos. OMG. Really affordable, though, for some reason, there are always creepers hovering near/in the restaurant when I go there. But hey, I'll deal with the creepers to get at the nachos! The empanadas con pollo are also extraordinary, with a creamy, tangy sauce and shredded white meat. I really appreciate the quality of the meat they use in their dishes; I've never had to waste a meal here picking through gristle/bone/cartilage, unlike a lot of affordable restaurants. Yay for quality!
(4)
Peter N.
great mexican or salvadorian or whatever its supposed to be, its delicious. I'd avoid the burritos and get the tacos and pupusas you will not be disappointed. And if you are, well you're a fool! I think the nacho chips are homemade but then they just put shredded cheese and microwave it, doesn't sound that amazing but i have no complaints, they are terrific nachos. Don't expect to be able to sit most of the time though. Bottom line, get 3 tacos and a pupusas and you will be satisfied for not that much money.
(5)
Elizabeth M.
This tiny place is right near my apartment- one of many seemingly seedy or boring restaurants along this strip of Brighton Ave. Was walking home late one night a week ago and finally looked in the window. Everything on the menu is shown in pictures above the counter, and a lot of the dishes looked tasty. Interest was piqued. Went there for lunch with my boyfriend today. It was great! To clarify, the fact that they have sweet fried plantains is great! I first had sweet plantains at girl scout camp in elementary school and have craved them a couple times a year since, but they are kind of hard to find. Not a fan of those dry, salty ones that pop up more often. So I liked the plantains. Good. They came generously portioned. I also got a vegetarian burrito with guacamole and it was lovely. The tortilla was soft and bready and everything was melted and warm. Mmmm. Came with chips and a mushy-looking salsa that overcame its appearance and really provided in the taste department. Boyfriend got a pork burrito and said he prefers El Pelon's, but that he likes this place enough to make it a regular lunch destination. Won't speak to his opinion anymore as he is not the one writing this. I will definitely be going back soon (was tempted to return for dinner and get some pupusas.)
(5)
Sindy T.
This place is awesome! I have never been disappointed! There food is always fresh and the staff is friendly. Their steaks are always cooked right and their milk shakes are so creamy. The last time I ordered a banana milk shake the woman actually went next door to buy fresh bananas for me! What restaurant does that for you?! Like I said they never disappoint... keep up the good work amigos!
(5)
John L.
NOM NOM NOM! I came to Habanero for the first time today with Jen H. and Cory H. The burritos are very good and relatively decent on price-point. It doesn't have the girth of a Villa Mexico or a Picante, but it's definitely fine for what you're getting. On top of that, the guac is excellent, the meats and veggies are very good (broccoli!!!), and overall it's a good food experience. Couple that with a nice, small restaurant area, and you get a great Mexican burrito/food experience in Allston Village, and a good stop for a quick bite to eat.
(4)
Jonathan Q.
This place ties with Felipe's for my favorite Mexican food in Boston. At this place, just go with the flow. Its extremely small, but you can deal with it. Growing up, I used to be extremely picky about mexican food- I always ordered minus certain ingredients, etc. But this was the first place where I just got it how it came..you have to trust the place. Everytime I go here I begin to plan my next visit before I even leave. Plus, the staff is extremely nice.
(5)
Javier M.
The staff is AWESOME and the food is delicious and on the cheap side. It's straight up authentic Mexican/El Salvadorian and the food proves it. Servings are pretty large as well. Possibly my favorite spot to eat at in Allston
(5)
Jackie S.
I got the chicken quesadillas. They were good but just really soggy. And the place is alittle hole-in-the-wall-ish, but def real Mexican food not like a Qdoba or something. I like that they put peppers and other good stuff inside - make sure you specify no cilantro or they will toss it in!! Good reasonable prices too. I want to try the soup next time.
(3)
Amy L.
I had a classic version of burrito and quesadilla at this place.. I was on the way to Anna's but I accidentally got here but I think my mistake wasn't turn as a mistake....it was pretty good and the meat was very fresh too! I'll go back here to try some other mexican plates next time :)
(3)
Hector L.
I am the Mayor of Habaneros (on Foursquare). I probably go once every three days, and would highly recommend for fast, cheap, and delicious take-out food. Specifically, the fajitas and the burritos. Highlights: 1) It's a great, and can be healthy, substitution for when you're too busy to cook, but want something somewhat healthy, delicious, fast, and cheap. 2) They remember their regulars (and their orders) and treat them amazingly. Actually, they treat everyone very nicely. Just great, great service and a hospitable atmosphere. 3) Call-in your order ahead of time. It always takes 10 minutes. 4) Different cooks will offer their own imaginative twist on the regular offerings such as fajitas or burrito. 5) Pupusas are amazing 6) Fajitas plate is a ridiculous amount of food. I actually just ordered some for lunch today and have about half left over - it's a lot of food haha. 7) It's not very pretty inside (it's a hole-in-the-wall) and their AC doesn't work, but for a take-out place, you can't ask for much better in this price range. Some more info: I live just two blocks away from Habaneros and regularly go there. I often cook my food in bulk, but since I don't like to eat the same thing for every meal every day, I will substitute in meals from Habaneros and eat a salad in between my leftovers. Why Habaneros? It's fast, convenient, cheap, delicious, and healthy-ish if you want it to be. You want authentic? You pretty much have to order in Spanish if you want your food here. How's that for authentic? I would highly recommend for pick-up foods for busy people on the go who want fast, convenient, delicious and cheap food.
(4)
Adam B.
What can I say...authentic, delicious, and inexpensive. The ingredients all seem fresh too. You can see the people cooking in the large caldron like pots, so you know this stuff is not delivered by truck and then nuked. I was the only one who spoke English...now that's real. The place can be summed up with some rhyme's: Yummy in my tummy Delicious and nutritious Authentic and shmothentic (what? It's not easy to think of a rhyme for "authentic") Carne Asada is awesome, as are the burritos. Anyway, great food all around.
(5)
Rita K.
I am very enthusiastic about a good burrito or taco and have spent many years searching for the BEST TACO in Boston. I have tried, Anna's, chipotle and boloco and none come close to Habaneo. Habanero beats the competition hands down! Tasty, authentic and great priced chicken tacos with all the fixings. Great for a quick bite to eat on your way to the sil for darts and beer.
(5)
Natalie J.
Coming from Cambridge, where you can barely get a cookie at a coffee shop for under $3, the pork/cheese/bean pupusa for $1.79 seemed unreal. It was substantial, filling, and just plain tasty. You could pay for the bus fare AND the pupusa with the money you'd spend on one taco at Olecito.
(4)
Val N.
Habanero is a tiny little place with 5 (2-person) tables and a counter for seating. The staff is really nice and the menu isn't too big. The pupusas were awesome. I would definitely go back for them again. The beef tongue quesadilla was also really good. Their quesadillas are more than just cheese and meat, they put a whole bunch of other things in there too, which makes them way better than plain ones. I would also order that again. The Plato Habanero unfortunately was not a favorite. It comes with three types of meat, all of which were over cooked to the point that the plastic silverware was barely able to cut through it. I would not order this again. Over all, I would go back. I've heard good things about the nachos, I think I'll try that next time.
(3)
Katherine E.
Habanero has great pupusas and grilled plates. The flavors remind me of what I could find at food booths in Mexico City. The last time I called for delivery, I was told they no longer deliver. I asked twice, and the employee confirmed that they do not deliver.
(3)
Michelle G.
SO GOOD! I'm not a big fan of tacos but these were amazing. 2 tacos and some yuca were only about $6.
(5)
Eric L.
Tacos and burritos were amazing. Try beef tongue if you don't have an issue with eating animal parts. They are decently priced for their portions. However, the chips and salsa that came with it wasn't very good.
(4)
Romulo R.
I'm only here for the pupusas. The menu in this place looks great if you are from central america. I personally stick to the pupusas. They are good. You have to let them cool down a bit after you get them as they come right off the griddle. The drink selection is good with Jarritos and other nice drinks. The staff is friendly and efficient. It is small and crowed so you may have to clean your own table if they are busy, I do not mind. overall, I intend to go back often.
(4)
Ezra B.
This is not based on CA Mexican food, this is based off of the lack of any truly decent Mexican food on the eastern coast. This is a solid place. Go for the tacos, pork. Awesome. Burritos have some funky weird veggies in them that don't go well with the overall tasty and are more of a distraction. But tacos everything is write including the price and size. Go eat be happy drink beers and enjoy a Bostonian attempt to perfect Mexican food.
(4)
Rai A.
"in December, drinkin' Horchatas..." (Vampire Weekend, anyone? No? Ok. but the Horchatas here are gooood) it was my first time here and i had the burrito - it was a solid "meh." sorry, i'm Anna's loyal. i'll try something else next time. BUT i'm still a fan of the pupusas (and the fact that i can just get a side of plantains)! i tried the bean and cheese ones thanks to some reviews and they were delicious! so THANKS fellow yelpers! i had a bite of the pork and cheese one too, also good. i don't think you can go wrong with their pupusas. i didn't even know what a pupusa was until today. i think i just like saying the word, pupusa. pupusa. okay i'll stop. ALSO i didn't have trouble ordering, having zero spanish speaking skills. soooo, i'm not sure what all the fuss was about. maybe i just lucked out with the person taking my order? not sure. ANYWAY, you'll leave here full and wanting a nap after only spending around 10 bucks. so yay for another good hole-in-the-wall in Allston!
(3)
Eric H.
My wife and I went there for dinner tonight, and we liked it. We knew what we were in for - an inexpensive dive with good food and MTV playing Hip Hop on a large screen. That was all good for us. We had the Carne Asada, which was very good, of generous proportion (almost enough for dinner for two) and reasonably priced at $10. The Horchata (my favorite Mexican non-alcoholic drink - please try it) was excellent and $1.50. They served us a generous side of rice and Pico de Guillo (?) for $1.50. Zagat has a list of "Best Bang for the Buck", and Habanero (probably) belongs on that list. Stay tuned. We'll be back.
(4)
neph n.
$1.95 for a taco? Two Tacos were more than enough for me. I ate one and a half and finished the rest a few hours later, when it was cold, and the taste may have been even better cold. Boston restaurants do a lot of things very well, but I think the Mexican food in Boston is a bit lacking and I'd pretty much given up eating any in the area until an r/Boston post suggested this place. I would return because the staff is very nice, I love the sangria soda that I haven't found elsewhere, and the taste is good and the price is fantastic.
(4)
Liz M.
I usually follow this soft rule with respect to ethnic food: (1) If the cook + sous cook + waitstaff and everyone else who works for the establishment does not speak English, you're likely to get the real deal. And this is it. Salvadorian + Mexican. Habanero Special Plates -- good. Salvadorian Jarritos (soda) -- perfect pairing Nice hole in the wall in Allston. Portions big enough to take home. Sometimes. Worth trying again. The pork belly looks yummy.
(4)
Rebecca M.
Always amazing and a value to boot. My partner almost always gets the Habanero steak and I vary between their stews of the day, desayuno, nachos, and tacos. It's all good here. Spiced deliciously and generous helpings. Their horchata is delightfully sweet and just a little gritty, just the way I like it. I love the opportunity to practice my Spanish and you know the food is quality because at lunchtime you get the hordes of local construction workers, mechanics, and other manual laborers who come in to fuel up on amazing eats.
(5)
Karlis B.
I'm always on the lookout for a good burrito place. Right now, Anna's is at the top of my list; mostly due to convenience and price. (El Triunfo is better tasting in my opinion, though.) But when Habanero opened up literally a block from my place, I had to try it. Because I'm a burrito whore and there are many keys to my burrito-loving heart. Unfortunately, Habanero has been denied access to my heart and tastebuds. I visited around 11pm at night. The place was PACKED. The line was long and the wait for my food was literally 15 minutes because there was no chicken prepared. But I waited patiently in the tiny, sardine-packed dining room. When I finally got my burrito (with all the veggies and sauces they could fit in there--complimentary because of my wait) I was ecstatic. In three minutes, I'd be home. In 7 minutes, I'd be full of Mexican goodness. EXCEPT!! My burrito did not have any chicken, which I thought was the major qualifier of my burrito. The air in my heart balloon was slowly being let out with a little whistle. Somehow I managed to gather up my strength and walk back to the burrito closet to ask for a new one. They started right away, no questions asked, and I headed back home. Still, I was not impressed with the taste of the burrito considering it took two trips and cost over $7. Habanero adds a sauteed vegetable medley to all their burritos: carrots, broccoli and maybe onions. These veggies are pretty tasteless though. Same goes for the meat and beans. All in all, the flavor was just not there (and neither was the chicken). While the workers were polite and apologetic, I'll be hesitant to go again. That extra 5 minutes it takes to get to Anna's ain't all that bad.
(2)
Mikey M.
Great beef tacos, pretty authentic. Chips are good, salsa sucks. Overall not bad and cheap!
(3)
A D.
Forget looking for a good burrito place, i was on a hunt for a good pupusa place. Actually, I had always ignored this place until my doctor told me they sold pupusas, I thought it was just another burrito place. Delicious, pupusas are my burritos. I never write reviews but this was good. I only tried the revueltas which is chicharron with cheese and bean. I'll go back and try the bean and cheese and hopefully they have queso con loroco (cheese with this green plant). The curtido and tomato salsa were perfect. I have been spoiled by my aunt and grandma (so obviously I'm not going to say these are just as good...but pretty damn tasty enough). Oh yeah and they do have stuff that they do not have listed on the menu. It wasn't until I was about to leave that I noticed the tamales (I got one to go and I'll eat it tomorrow, hope it's good). I picked the Salvadorean/Guatemalan tamales (softer than the Mexican ones). I guess I should eat it first then write a review but w/e I only went in there for one reason. I'm pretty sure this place is going to make me fat but I'll just give up my candy.
(4)
Matthew D.
I tried this new place out the other day. I was impressed with how fresh the ingredients tasted. While I do love the crispy cheesy deliciousness of Anna's, it was refreshing to have a quesadilla that didn't taste like it was clogging my arteries. Good stuff. Quesadilla comes with chips and salsa too, which is always a plus. Welcome to the 'hood, Hab's.
(4)
Beckie T.
I love this place so much. I always eat the chicken tacos and frijol y queso pupusas and am NEVER disappointed. This is a Mexican/Salvadoran restaurant, so I wouldn't even bother with a burrito, when the other stuff is so delicious. The pupusas are served with plenty of curtido and the tacos with plenty of lime. Today, I tried the fried yuca and that was tasty too. It is cheap, quick, authentic, and delicious.
(5)
Michael L.
It was closer to $8 per burrito, which to me seems a little silly. It was not as tasty as Anna's, although I would say the presentation was superior, as was the overall feeling in the restaurant. They also have little doo-dads (they have real names... I don't know them) available on the counter for about a dollar. Fried dumplings and mini tacos for a dollar is cute, but the burrito was so big you don't need extra! It's nice they give you chips and salsa!
(3)
Joey G.
I hate to say it but it was just ok. Always passed by this place but never stopped and the other day there was a parking spot out front so I figured I couldn't pass it up. Had a chicken burrito, extra hot sauce and watched them ladle it on, but there was just no flavor. Maybe burritos aren't their strong suit, people seem to like the other stuff.
(2)
Ken M.
The only negative: I don't speak Spanish and there is a bit of a language barrier. Also, they don't deliver all the time apparently, contrary to what the menu says. We've gotten food from here not once, but twice this week. Both times Andy got the pork burrito. I got it the first time too. It was delicious. It's a bit pricey, but you can add anything (including guacamole) for free, so whatever. Also, they are grilled and the pork is awesome. Tonight, Andy also got the enchilladas in beef. They were not as good as the burrito and weren't really enchilladas. I had the pork tacos. A bit messy, but a good deal and tasty. We also got a side of chips and guacamole, delicious! I will say if you speak Spanish you get better service and jump gringos in line, but whatever.
(4)
Matt S.
I'm almost certain this review will be updated with a higher star rating in the near future, but as of right now, I can't in good conscience give Habanero a better rating than two stars. This could be my fault, though. Instead of getting the Burritos which I've heard good things about, I decided to buck trend and get a Gordita. What I received was a bland, lackluster meal - couple that with tortilla chips that seemed stale and you can see why the review falls to two. I'm not holding a grudge, though. I've heard good things, and the aire of authenticity cannot be argued. Next time I swing by, I'm getting a burrito. Stand by for the likely upgrade.
(2)
Benjamin B.
Habenero's seemingly uses top-notch ingredients in their burrito preparation. However when I am eating a burrito I care not for broccoli & zucchini, I yearn for cheese slopped in a carnitas guacamole emulsion. Bottom line, I felt way too clean after eating my burrito from Habenaro's.
(3)
Sahil G.
I'm always excited at the mere thought of a new "Mexican" spot opening up anywhere in Boston, so this one caught my eye. Especially since it had Habanero in the name. I got a Burrito and a couple tacos here. It was all delicious. They take their time making everything, which is a huge departure from Anna's speedy service. The service is very polite, and they ask exactly how you want your food. Overall, it's good. I would go there again. The price is a little expensive, but it's worth it for the extra flavor that the fresh ingredients and love that they put into the food. Also, they grill their burritos after making them, which adds a great light crunch texture to a usually soft and chewy mess of beans and chicken and cheese.
(4)
Ap E.
Awesome!!!!!! The food here is amazing. The service is friendly and quick! I love this place
(5)
Cary C.
Habanero somewhat reminds me of tacos lupita and taco loco. I beleive this is an El Salvadorian establishment. They do a lot of nice little things here. They grill the burrito (not as much as villa mexico but still nice, they add vegetables to your burrito (broccoli, zucchini, peppers, onion), and chips come with your burrito. The meat here is ok, the Adobada (marinated pork) is all right, but nothing exceptional. The price is a little much at $7 a burrito. And the "salsa" they give you with the chips is very runny and almost useless to try to scoop with the chips. I would have given this place a higher rating, but Taco Loco and Lupita do everything better than Habanero for cheaper. Still due to it's proximity I will be sure to try out more of their menu and keep you updated. Burritos = 3 stars.
(3)
Annie I.
really good chanchito and pupusas!
(4)
Sergei B.
This place is like an offshoot of Taco Loco in Somerville... They don't have the variety of non taco/burrito/quesadilla foods like at TL, but they grill their burritos after they are done assembling and that makes it taste delicious.. The pico de gallo and guacamole were both fresh, they have hot sauce and jalapenos, the chicken was good, the only thing is the "fried" beans were more of a sauce than a bean.. They also don't use pre-sliced cheese like Anna's, but rather grated cheese which is a plus. Some previous review said they also put veggies in all the burritos, but apparently not if you order a chicken burrito.. Service was friendly, the place is a little cramped but there are a few tables there.. Parking really sucks.. The only bad thing is it's a little more expensive than other taquerias and the portions are small. I think in their cooler they had some Sangria type beverage, but I did not get a good look, maybe it was non-alcoholic. Overall I enjoyed it.
(4)
Jason B.
I rode by this place on the 66 bus and told myself I had to give it a try. Went the next day and new right off the bat that the food would be good. I got just a standard burrito with everything on it and EXTRA on the spicy hot sauce, from a pure flavor standpoint I would rank this place 5 stars. One pro of this place over Anna's is that they will make your burrito, taco, enchiladas etc. and put them back on the grill... melts everything on the inside. They have an assortment of sauces and a moderately spicy one (some think it's hot, I didn't think it was too bad). They also have some interesting looking dinners that I will have to try at some point. The service was really slow, they are going to have to work on that.
(4)
Kelly D.
I have to agree with many of the reviews I read here - the papusas are amazing. I once ordered 3, and it was really filling! Bean and cheese is my favorite. I also found the nachos to be amazing. It's so refreshing to have nachos with so much flavor! And the toppings are real! I'm so used to Taco Bell where I'm not sure what's food and what's not safe to ingest; Habanero puts my faith that food south of the border doesn't have to bring on Montezuma's Revenge. If you haven't gone there, I really recommend you stop in there and be amazed how well you can eat for so little.
(5)
Amelia L.
YES YES YES!!!! Hallelujah! Finally a place that knows how to make a Burrito! I am from Southern California and have been disappointed by nearly every burrito I could find (yeah Anna's and Purple Cactus are pretty good but the tortilla is rubbery and the inside is as dry as a bone and lacking in the hot sauce department). Then Habanero came into my life. Who ever put the menu and recipes together deserves a big hug because they did it right. I have gone maybe five times now each time trying a new burrito and no matter what combo I try it all tastes great. The ingredients are fresh, the beans and rice are what they should be, guacamole doesn't cost extra and if you up for the challenge they have some pretty good hot sauce. Also, they play music and have a muted TV in the upper corner that plays Spanish soap operas all day. So good.
(5)
John H.
Talk about culture shock. I walked in this place and attempted to place my order in English. That was my first mistake, since I don't think the cashier spoke fluent English after she gave me a blank look. Then it was time for my Spanish skills to kick in ( I spent some time living in Spain), and I was able to submit my order. I ordered pupusas, which is essentially flat bread stuffed with cheese. I think if you order 3-4, it's enough for a meal. When she gave me a list of 3 cheeses to chose from, I didn't really know what each one meant, so I just said "lo menos picante." For all those non-Spanish speakers, it means "the least spicy." Pretty creative, eh? However, the awkwardness was all worth it since the pupusas were incredible. I'd definitely go back to try other menu items or practice my Spanish language skills with the locals. This place is usually pretty packed, so it might take a while if you're looking to eat-in.
(4)
susu c.
I am actually pretty new to Burritos. Initially I must say, the chicken burrito was pretty effing bomb. The chicken is really tender and marinated, no tendons or gross stuff like that, resulting in flavorful awesomeness. I thought this would be my new favorite place to grab a quick bit to eat in Allston village . However, the aftermath of this burrito was not pleasant. It ravaged my stomach and made me feel ill just a couple hours later. i would say this was a coincidence, but it happened to me the next time as well, and to several friends. Because of that I will not go back to habanero's. Maybe it's just the chicken? I can only hope... The other stuff on the menu looks pretty tasty though and its pretty cool that you can have whatever you want on your burrito without paying extra.
(2)
Abby J.
Alright... first of all, to the past few negative reviewers I've read.... 1) It's mexican food... you have to be willing to risk indigestion for an "effing bomb" burrito 2) For all intensive purposes... it's a sort of hole-in-the-wall (although one of the nicer holes in walls I've been to) mostly takeout establishment... personally I think those are the places that make the best tasting food. if you don't like hanging out there while you wait for your food, order delivery next time (which they do, as well). 3) You can easily specify what you want on your burrito... i think the fact that they offer things like steamed broccoli and zucchini is pretty awesome (my vegetarian friend enthusiastically agrees) THAT BEING SAID, considering it is and should be all about the food.... I've only eaten there a couple times already, but I must say I'm so happy that there's a delicious, quick, and CHEAP mexican place within walking distance of my apt. So far I've had the bean & cheese papusas, beef tacos, and chicken burrito. The burrito didn't give me any indigestion, first off, nor for any of my friends that ate it as well.... the papusas were the best I've had this side of the border hands down... and the tacos are small, but for 1.75 each totally delicious and I feel completely guiltless going back for a fourth. As for the toppings, the guac and pico were amazing and from what I experienced the employees are perfectly friendly and don't get offended if you mispronounce something, haha. The only reason I give it less than 5 stars is because I haven't tried everything on the menu.... yet.... bottom line, the food is awesome and I can't wait to go back!
(4)
Jen H.
So, I went back... but I didn't try the Spinach burrito. I wimped out. I asked the difference and they said the Spinach one was a veggie one, and I wanted chicken... so no spinach burrito for me. However, my original burrito was just as good as the other day, and also had the added bonus of broccoli in it! yummmm
(4)
Deborah B.
Always on the hunt for decent tacos in Boston, I'm now a fan of this little joint. Their carne asada tacos are delicious, similar to tacos I grew up on in San Diego. I also tried a cheese pupusa which was pretty good. I will definitely be back to sample more of the menu.
(4)
Lena G.
Their steak burritos are heavenly. I've been going there since they opened and every time it hits the spot. I've tried the chicken before and I wasn't as pleased so I've stuck with the steak since. They never skimp on any of the sauces (i guess the more expensive price would explain it) and I also like the fact that the burrito comes with vegetable so I can cram in my daily filling. Unfortunately I don't share the same love for their quesadillas. The quesadilla is enough to feed a family of 5 and ironically this is the very reason I didn't really enjoy it. The immense amount of stuffing weighed down the quesadilla and fell apart while I was eating it. It also made it soggy on my short walk home. Despite this incident, I've gone back a ton of times. I highly recommend going here. It's not your typical burrito.
(4)
Lu W.
I live 5 seconds away from this place, so I've gone a couple times already. The pupusas are good, but not great- the tacos are pretty solid and a good, cheap snack at 1.75 with the works (try the steak). Yesterday I got a quesadilla that was impossible to eat because it was so floppy, and confirmed my suspicion of sub-par pork usage! I need to stop with the pork. I love it, but Habanero's pork is mostly chewy fat- yuck. The nice thing about this place is that they give you guacamole, sour cream, etc. free of charge. Next time I go I will try the chicken, maybe that will up my rating.
(3)
fraulein v.
Its like an addiction. This place is great. Its the closest iv experienced to SoCal Mexican food. They make everything to order, the ingredients are incredibly fresh. I was blown away. They are going to do really well.
(5)
Alex R.
I'm very excited to have this new arrival to the neighborhood. It's major downside is the challenge of finding parking near the corner of Brighton Avenue and Harvard Avenue. Service was also very slow and disorganized, though in their defense they had only been open for a few weeks when I ate there. With these two challenges overcome, my Anna's Taqueria loyalties would potentially be called into question, because the food was fresh and delicious. I kept it simple my first time around and went for the steak tacos with plantains on the side. If not for the parking issue, I'd have been back many times over since then...
(4)
Jason C.
Grand opening! First, the downside - the burritos are $7, which is definitely higher than just about every place in town. BUT, they're delicious. I had pork, and it was unlike any other burrito I've had in Boston/Cambridge. The pork was cooked to order in some sort of spicy red adobo sauce. All the burritos seem to come with a bit of sliced vegetables, too, in addition to rice and beans - zucchini, squash, onion, broccoli. This seemed odd at first, but it's really good. They have a bunch of stuff you can add, too - salsa, hot sauces, lettuce, diced onion, guacamole, cilantro, shredded cheese - and it seems that there's no extra charge for guac or anything else. The burritos come with a small side of chips and red salsa (not pico de gallo). Really the only downside was the cost. And the long-ish wait (for a taqueria) - about 10 minutes - but it was cooked to order, tasted fresher than any burrito I've had in a long time, and they just opened today. Check it out!
(5)
Jen F.
Burritos are great. You can get two veggie tacos for less than four bucks. And they always have on awesome Shakira videos or spanish soaps for entertainment while you wait. Lots of hot sauce options too.
(5)
Jane G.
I really wanted to like this place. Really. After all, I love Mexican food and I live right nearby. But, I watched as the orders were botched one by one. Our steak nachos were chicken, and that was just one mistake of many. The service was absolutely horrid and slow and disorganized. The food was okay. These guys have something that could be great going for them and they are ruining it.
(2)
salome m.
My boyfriend and i have been there twice since they opened. The food is delicious and made to order. Everything they make looks delicious and plentiful. At first glance it seems pricey, but once you see the portions, you will realize it is totally worth it. I hope this quality and quantity are kept up for years to come.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : No Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : No Caters : No
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.
Mika S.
Mexican food is delicious, and arguably one of my favourite cuisines. However I find authentic - TRULY authentic - Mexican restaurants hard to come by in the Northeast. Habanero is one of those rare gems of authenticity. Habanero's unique menu selection offers a variety of familiar items - like tacos and burritos - in addition to more uncommon things like Papusas, Gorditas and Tamales. Although these are probably common in Latin American cuisine, I had never heard of them and was eager to try something new. My boyfriend and I ordered two of the Papusas (1 bean and cheese, and 1 pork), the Steak Nachos (because the Yelp reviews raved about them) and 2 Adobada Tacos (because they were less than $2). The entire meal only cost us $16 and we enjoyed all of it immensely. In summary, here are the two reasons why you should go to Habanero: it's deliciously authentic and very cheap. The Steak Nachos are a must-get, because they are massive, and loaded with toppings. Also noteworthy are the Papusas, because they're very good, not found in any Americanized Mexican restaurant, and cost less than $2.
(5)John S.
One of the reasons that I recommend this place is because of the spotty delivery service (yeah, you read that right). Understand the attitude when it comes to this place - sometimes, the guy doesn't show up. Either you get that, or you don't. They GRILL this shit at Habenero. These are those sweaty, dripping burritos you've heard about. For a mostly-take-out joint, Habenero tends to do things their way. You wanted it grilled? Well cool, ya came here, so we assumed that. Lactose intolerant? intolerant intolerant. You get it their way or the high way, champ. Astounding constancy, high quality of ingredients, and a general ya-get-it-when-ya-get-it attitude allow you to really set some expectations for this place that will always be met. If you like some nice, ricey, grilled South American standards, you can do no worse than this great spot.
(4)Ami P.
My friend goes absolutely insane over their chicken burrito and because she's a regular they are super sweet and let her get extra EVERYTHING! For those who don't know my crazy obsession with sweet plantains, I went Bezerk! I ordered a small for $3 and believe me it was such a generous amount with this special sauce that came with it!!!
(4)Samantha B.
Vibrant and fresh flavors at Habanero Mexican Grill in Allston. Juxtaposed on a row of many small restaurants on Brighton Avenue, serving the standard tacos and quesadillas but recommend one of the large plates. Daily plates are served quasi-cafeteria style. Order at the counter and select your choice of meat (ranging from different styles of chicken to goat), rice (yellow or white), beans (black or pinto), salad, and salsa. One of the chicken dishes of the day, served on the bone, is incredibly moist and tender with a rich and creamy sauce (hints of pepper), stewed with onions and potatoes. The montanero plate is a feast. Including two cuts of pork - a cutlet with melted cheese on top and a unique cut similar to crispy pork belly or chicharron. The plate also includes a fried egg, a wedge of white and crumbly cheese, yellow rice, pinto beans, salad, avocado, and incredible charred and sweet plantains. Served with two piping hot homemade tortillas. You will be full all day!
(4)Anthony C.
These nacho's, gon' be death of me. Met up with bae after burritos had her feelin' as dry as a cactus. I let her pick the spot after taking the L the other night. Nachos, cheese, chicken, guac, sour cream, that shit was crackin. Had an orange soda too, all under a 10 spot. No beans though (don't fart in front of your girl, that's a bad look son). Got home, played bae some Yeezy and shit was like water country down there. 10/10 will take bae again.
(5)Alleliah N.
Mmmmm pupusas -- the perfect snack. It took a while for them to make the two I ordered (loroco and chicharron), so I wished I'd ordered more.
(4)Francis C.
yo, this place is really good and I can't believe I've been living in Brighton for like 4 years and it took me so long to try it. the food is SOLID, when I saw the price I thought it was a joke, and the employees are just so darling sweet. I got the carne asada tacos and the nachos with chicken and was satisfied with both. The portions for the nachos was quite astonishing.... I'm a super happy camper :) Will definitely be coming back. REGULARLY!!!
(5)Jatin R.
Who puts rice in a taco? Average vegetarian tacos. Not bad, except for the rice. Torn tortillas are ok, just the regular cheap ones you find in a grocery store.
(3)Astra G.
Really good and very nicely priced tacos! Choose from chicken, steak, al pastor and lengua, all are flavorful and juicy....Except for the veggie taco which sadly was pretty lame, it doesn't have vegetables in it but rice instead and watery beans. Each taco comes with a nice lime wedge, as all tacos should. A small fried yucca order is actually a generous portion, a lil on the salty side, but delish with a nice tangy slaw on the side. They also have rice plates and even breakfast which I have not tried yet. Drink options include bottled or canned Latin sodas and juices. Accepts cards.
(3)Latino Foodies 1.
The first thing you have to try are the PUPUSAS! These things are so delicious that you will probably end up eating with your own hands. -Queso con loroco (loroco is a type herb/plant that gives it a delicious taste. Like basil or oregano.) pupusas are so tasty and vegetarian friendly :) Now, if you are a meat lover, the Chicharron (pork) pupusas are also amazing! -Carne Asada: Pork steak, with rice and beans are very delicious and filling. A good size portion. We always end up coming back with the intention of trying the rest of the food and end up getting the pupusas because they come out much faster and are simply amazing!
(4)Andi S.
My only complaint about this place is that they are not located in Philadelphia, where I live. My meal was seriously delicious. I ordered the pupusas, and a chicken platter with yucca, rice, avocado, plantain, beans and fresh tomato. I enjoyed every bite and I also love the fact that they sell carrot-orange juice as well as Central American colas such as Inca Cola.
(5)Nik A.
This is a great all around Mexican restaurant. Very small hole in the wall spot but it works. They put all of the options on the wall with pictures so you can see everything - looks nice too. They have some unique items on the menu (for really good prices) that I would definitely recommend trying out. I had the steak nachos, which were perfect, the pork tacos which were good and the papusas (basically corn tortilla pancakes). Total meal shared with my gf cost $16!!
(4)Allison P.
Before discovering this joint, I was your typical Anna's Taqueria girl. Farewell Anna's, I've moved onto another Mexican mistress -- her name is Habanero (or is it more grammatically correct to say Habanera?) I got both the steak and adobado burrito. Meat was tender and the rest of the ingredients were very fresh. Chips were deep fried perfection and the salsa was surprisingly very good. Best part is chips and salsa are included with your order. No need to pay extra for 'em! If you're feeling particularly ravenous, order a small side of chicharones. It's essentially deep fried pieces of thick pork belly fat. Your arteries will probably weep in despair as you eat them, but it's worth trying at least once.
(5)L T.
I hate Allston, it's pretty dirty. But I love all the cheap korean and hispanic food. I came here with my boyfriend and we ordered chicken, steak and pork tacos. The pork was the best-- it was spicy. The chicken lacked flavoring. The tacos have a lot of meat in them. We also ordered chicken nachos. These were enormous and a great price. Again, a ton of meat topping them. I wish there was more beans, salsa and sour cream on top. So......we sat at the counter in the window, right next to the front door. Inches away from our nachos was a cockroach that climbed up to the counter. My boyfriend squashed it in a napkin. I want to say it was just Allston being dirty. The food was good though.
(3)Brian R.
This is a really good little Latin Amerian food joint in the heart of the Boston University strip of seemingly endless little restaurants eeking existence out of the college crowd. Habanero is legit, populated in large part more by local Latinos than college students because it's authentic. They're really more Latin American because they offer pupusas and soups that you more commonly see outside of Mexico in El Salvador, Guatamalan cusine, etc. So now on to the food: It was very tasty and overall an A-. The pupusa was fabulous flavor but overcooked so the cheese ran out and the inside was too hot. The cabbage slaw that it comes with was savory but lacked a little spice that makes it perfect. The quesadilla is made more gringo-style, with a lot of sour cream that I'd pass on in a future trip, but the salsa it came with was over the top good. The people running it are super nice, and the tiny restaurant is kept immaculately clean. The worn down stool covers should probably get replaced. That and the blown out pupusa cost it a star, but I'd be happy to come back there and give them five. It's better than any other food experience in the Latin realm on this strip that I've tried in four years.
(4)Amy M.
Put simply, this tiny Mexican grill outshines any chain burrito joint for miles. Fresh, friendly, made-to-order, and dare I say, authentic. The menu wasn't very large, so we ordered a set of tacos in all three meats -- pork, chicken, and beef. (Just over a dollar each!) All three were delicious, filled with fresh veggies and sauce, and the thick outer tortilla was by far the highlight. As other Yelpers mentioned, the place itself isn't glamorous. But isn't that the point? Habanero is one of those hole-in-the-wall places who lets the food do the talking.
(4)Chau B.
The papusas are always excellent here! Tacos are good too but has nothing on their papusas. It may be a little intimidating ordering with their Spanish speaking staff but they are always super friendly.
(5)Leanne C.
Rice on my taco? C'mon now-- I deliberately didn't order a burrito for the sole reason of disliking rice (not to mention the amount of hot sauce I had to dump over it to make some sort of flavor pop out). Pretty good fried Yucca Root though the sauce could have been a little more acidic to cut the fried fattiness out (or least give me something similar to ketchup). The channel the television was amazing and amusing--- if you love low quality talk TV with loads of exclamations. Skip this taco joint and hop down to Lonestar-- they won't disappoint.
(2)Alice W.
I suggest calling ahead and order for pick up. Since everything is made to order, it can take some time. The quesadillas are super filling. They pile it high with meats and fillings. Habanero is the only place I know of that has pupusas!! They are delicious because they grill them on the flat top and the cheese will ooze out of the pupusa and will create a crunchy layer of cheese. Soo good. The space inside is small There is seating, but during lunch time it gets filled up.
(5)Delvin S.
The food is amazing, I had the carne asada and it was the shit. The business gets a little crowded because it is so small, and it would be great If they expanded. Shout out to the pupusas and the horchata that they serve.
(5)Tyler P.
My absolute favorite place to get a burrito. Its amazingly big and equally delicious. My girlfriend had their nachos which are a great price and crazy good. This little hole in the wall should not be ignored.
(5)Nanci C.
Extremely great price! The food is really tasty and the service is great. I just didn't like the taste of the wrappers for the tacos. Everything is fresh and its like a Chipotle that you order your food and find a place to sit.
(4)Jon A.
AMAZING!!! Best burrito in Allston/Boston or quite possibly anywhere on the eastern seaboard. Great staff and the most consistent establishment I have ever had the pleasure of experiencing. Try the bean and cheese pupusa you will be hooked!!! Much love for this place, clean and the staff has an amazing work ethic. Respect.
(5)Maggie K.
This place is incredible! It has such a cozy and authentic feel to it. The people that work there are also unbelievably nice! I have tried the nachos (get them with everything) and they are out of this world! I usually get both steak and chicken on them and that always works out great! I would also recommend the tacos with everything of course! I tried them today and they were so delicious. Make sure to ask for guac on them!
(5)Katie M.
Tried Habanero for the first time last night and it was fantastic! I went in around 5:30 and the service was very quick and workers were super friendly and polite. I got a chicken burrito and a small order of platanos. When I received the order I was amazed that this was a small. They were delicious the perfectly sweet and not too greasy kind of platanos that you can't always find in the Boston area. The burrito was massive! I ate half there and took the rest home with me and just ate it for lunch. My co-worker couldn't believe that that was only half of my burrito! The burrito was also served with chips and salsa so for about $13 I got what I can safely say is more than enough food for 2 meals (I am a glutton) and it was all delicious! I work in Allston and can't wait to go back and try the other things on the menu. It's also a perfect quick and easy spot to stop between work and evening meetings which is exactly what I've been looking for!
(5)Kevin O.
My favorite tacos in Boston! And at a great price.
(4)Trey H.
The delivery driver had some trouble finding the place but was extremely nice and the FOOD! Oh, wow the food! We got the steak nachos, tamale, and the enchilada plate. Then to make it a splash of ridiculous we tried the guava juice and horchata which could have been the best part of the meal but honestly I was in far too much ecstasy over the meal I just had to accurately measure. Best, most authentic, and TASTY mexican we've had in boston. We will be back and so should you. Happy eating!
(5)Daniel I.
Good Mexican food is very elusive in the Boston area and the last place I expected to find some tasty Mexican eats was in (much beloved) Allston Rat City. With food joints pooping up and closing all the time nothing great was expected stopping in for a sporadic lunch at Habanero (Lets face it, yes Allston has plenty of options but a lot are crap that keep the drunk folks happy). I WAS WRONG. I ordered the chicken enchilada plate and was very satisfied w the flavor and portion size. The rest itself has a very authentic feel.
(4)Nicole B.
Best pupusas!
(5)Kristy S.
I got the carne asada plate and it was good but not great. The service was good but the menu/buffet options were kind of confusing. Atmosphere was okay.
(3)Chris R.
Went back again and it was just as great. I wish they were open even later! Awesome spot.
(5)Kai T.
I love this place. This is great mexican food! and the people that work there are always so sweet. The main guy knows my order after only having been there twice! The taco salad is beyond imagination!
(5)Brian P.
Ordered from habanero a couple of times now and each time it has been really delicious. (Delicious, NOT healthy) I've had the quesadillas and enchiladas and it's always a nice and easy meal. Good portions, tasty tastes. The staff are very friendly and helpful! The rice and beans are great - lots of flavor for simple side items. I would go here for that heavy mexican meal, especially if I crave chicken enchiladas with lots of cheese and fatness. who doesn't crave that?
(4)M S.
Love it. They heat up the burrito after wrapping it so that everything is warm. Not like at other places where the sour cream and guacamole are still cold.
(5)Emily R.
This place is so good!! It's small so I usually just get my food to go but they definitely have seating inside. I'm obsessed with their nachos and tacos! The nachos are massive and super filling- you get so many toppings which is awesome. The food is very inexpensive and the staff are always friendly. It's somewhat of a "hole in the wall". Delicious!!
(4)David A.
My friends have said many good things about this place so I tried it out. Got a pork burrito and a tamale. To start, the chips were stale. The burrito tasted pretty good and was pretty big BUT I was pretty grossed out by the time I got halfway through it. There was very little meat in the burrito. It was mostly huge chunks of fat. Every few bites there would be a nickel sized piece of straight fat in my mouth that I had to spit out. My friend said he also had fat in his steak Torta. As for the tamale, It was not so great. Very soft and wet. Almost soupy. On top of that, there was a ton of bones in it! In my tamale there were 3 or 4 bites I had to spit out because of bones. The first one being almost an inch long chicken rib. Disappointment.
(1)Frederick K.
Just AWESOME! delicious, fantastic, authentic, incredible burritos and other food My favorite is just a plain old beef burrito but it's made to order in San Salvidorian style and just plain great..
(5)Mantis T.
Went to California about a month ago, and was treated to "real Mexican food." Apparently I didn't realize that meant Mexican comfort food, which is simply, yet well made quesadillas and plantains and stuff like that. They also do the cream sauce that I had out west coast way, which you don't seem to get at other Mexican "sit down" cuisine sort of places. This place is great, you get a lot of food for a decent price. Taste's great and worth the price. I also didn't feel like death after I ate the food, which is how I usually feel when I used to eat at other burrito joints in the area. This time I felt like I was going to bust an O Ring because I ate so much food, not because I had to run to the bathroom. Best place around, that's for sure. Only thing sucks is if it's busy on Brighton Ave, forget about finding parking. This place is in a line of restaurants, on a busy street. Its better to ride a bike, or just straight up walk there. Otherwise you'll be parking back where you started...
(4)Dela B.
I had been to Habanero's a few years ago for their actual Mexican food and remembered it being quite tasty (got the beef stew) so when I saw steak nachos for 6.99, I didn't have to think twice. The shop is tiny and sports 4 tables or so and a small window seating area, but I've never really had issues getting a seat. I suppose the typical Allston clientele prefers taking out their food or getting it delivered rather than getting perfumed by Mexican food in an un-airconditioned space the size of a walk-in storage closet. The nachos were a pretty decent size for the price I paid. Lots of meat, guac, salsa, beans, drizzled sour cream, yadda yadda. In terms of taste and ingredient quality, Habaneros did an excellent job. The chips were most likely store-purchased, but they were crunchy, salty, and held up very well against the weight of the toppings. Guacamole was fresh, steak was well seasoned, and it was overall a very solid plate of nachos. For the price, they definitely give you what you pay for and more. I'd recommend their other food as well. If you want cheap, delicious Mexican food (a rarity in Boston), make the trip to Allston cause you won't regret it.
(4)Jim G.
Fantastic food! Brought my kids and bride. We had 4 different meals and the were all wicked awesome! It is small and rhey had Spanish football on so it felt like you were in Madrid. Great service. I will be back to eat here
(5)laura W.
I live right down the street from this place. I've had several things there- the nachos, the burritos.....then I stopped looking once I had the tacos. You can have: pork, chicken, beef, or beef tongue. Corn or flour. ANY toppings you want for no extra bling. Everything is fresh and delicious. Plus, they give you an entire lime wedge PER taco. That is pure bliss right there. Oh, did I mention their tacos are 1.75? Yeah. THAT just happened. CHEAP! I usually order take out and then have a taco love sesh in my apartment.
(4)Rob C.
i can only speak for my experience with the burritos here. Why? The plates are, honestly, kind of intimidating, mostly because one seemed to have a whole intact fish on it. But for the burritos, they are very, very solid. It's a Salvadoran place, and the burritos are a little bit different in a good way than strictly Mexican ones. It's hard to say why, exactly, but they use decent meat and have good salsa and sauces and stuff inside. And perhaps most endearingly, they throw a decent pile of pretty good tortilla chips in the bottom of the bag. It's reasonably quick and reasonably cheap, and i will lament no longer working in this neighborhood when i cannot eat here quite so often.
(4)Edwin C.
After living in L.A. for awhile and experiencing their culture and food, coming back to the east is just not the same. When I say food I specifically mean the Mexican. Other than Mexico, I think California is authentic as it gets, but Habanero comes close. When people think of burritos and tacos people think Chicken, Beef, or Pork. But for those who are daring and courageous, you would ask yourself what would locals eat in Mexico, so I asked (when I lived in California). Answer I got was Al Pastor (Pork on a rotating spit, like Sharwma), Lengua (Beef tongue), and Tripas (Intestine). Yes, I know I'm going outside of the norm of say Taco Bell. Trust me after a long night of drinking and huge appetite anything is good. Don't get me wrong I still order the spicy carnitas and carne asada once in awhile, but when it comes to Habanero, lengua taco's all day!! I typically order 3 lengua taco's then an Al Pastor Torta, which is like a Mexican Sub/Sanwhich that comes with chips and salsa and if that doesn't cut it, I order a taco or two more (yeah I can eat). Sadly, this place or anyplace around Boston that I know of don't have Tripas. This small restaurant has food that is just so authentic here and can satisfy my Mexican cravings. They offer more than just burritos, tacos, and quesadillas. They have authentic soups and rice plates that I see locals ordering all the time, sadly haven't had the chance to try, but it's on my to eat list. I'm giving it 4 stars because 5 is reserved for the taco truck!
(4)Ryan V.
This is one of the best places to eat in Allston. Great tacos and nice staff. The tongue and pork tacos are my favorite and they are accompanied with ample lime wedges. This is the place to go for a filling meal under $6.
(5)Nicole S.
I wish I knew more Spanish to figure out what to really get here. I struggled figuring out what to get because their menu is just in Spanish and they don't advertise a lot of what they have. There were quite a few things that were available not on the menu so I ended up pointing to each of them and asking what it was/what was inside (the tamales). Ordering aside the food was pretty good. I got 2 bean and cheese papusas, a tamale like thing made of just corn, and a sweet empanada, and a horchata. All of that for around $10! I was not a fan of the corn tamale, which googling revealed it to be a Tamale de Elote. It was dense, bland, and dry. It seems like they are supposed to be like that so I guess I just don't like it. The dessert empanada was good, but, again, I might like it more if I knew what it was. The empanada "dough" was actually made of plantains, which was really good. No idea what the filing was- white, thick, sweetish. Maybe I need to do some more googling. I would definitely go back for the papusas. The bean and cheese ones were so good as they were freshly fried up on the cook top. So the exterior had a bit of a crunch which gave way to a soft cheesy interior. This to-go order was served with a little baggy filled with hot sauce and a pickled, spicy slaw. The combination of everything went well together with a hot cheesy filling, cool tangy slaw, and spicy sauce.
(3)Cwot W.
Damn I love this place they have pupusas just like I had in El Salvador 20 years ago nothing is better than cornmeal pancakes stuffed with hogs and cheese. I love greasy pupusas, I'll rub them all over my face and chest I love that shit. Good authentic Salvadoran chow at a good price
(5)Kalua M.
Another Californian transplant in Boston nostalgically searching for good Mexican food. They have some decent dishes here. Try the breakfast burrito - you won't be disappointed.
(4)Marie W.
Came here to get a snack while waiting in the long line for Totto Ramen across the street. Picked up a bean and cheese papusa and a veggie taco. Both were very yummy! I would totally go back to try some of their other menu items.
(4)Duncan P.
I walked all the way home to Brighton from the Financial District last weekend at 2 in the morning, and as I stumbled through Allston I realized that I was starving, and Bravo Pizza was closed, but this place was right there next to it, and I got a steak burrito, and it was awesome. I was hammered but I think that I thought that I loved it! Definitely gonna return in a clearer state of mind ASAP.
(5)Christopher M.
This place *is* hit or miss. But $7 for a solid burrito with everything (including a side of chips/salsa) is a great deal I can't pass up when the weekly burrito cravings come a callin'. Had it a few years back and wasn't impressed, but they've made some changes and it's great. I don't really bother with too many other things on the menu but the tacos are great for the price (under $2). I still don't understand why they have blue cheese and ranch dressing sitting on the tables all warm and what not, but whatever, steer clear of those and you'll be all right. Get a burrito, tip a little, and enjoy the usually-too-loud ethnic music.
(3)Kevin Y.
So I've always passed this place but never really paid attention to it. Back in high school, I always loved Anna's and would do runs during lunch or after class. Even more recently, I went to Cali and had bomb ass burritos. Anyways, studying at Infusion's and got really hungry -_- Being my cheat day and all, I wanted to try something new so I yelped it. I walked in and the lady at the counter smiled and greeted me immediately. I'm a sucker for smiles =) Anyways after reading the reviews, I decided to try out their tacos (beef, chicekn, beef tongue) and I randomly ordered a gordita too. I think I received a wrong order for the gordita and I don't know what exactly I got, but it wasn't that good. But the tacos... Damn they were good. Presentation.... everything looked really fresh. They gave me a lime wedge for each taco. Chicken wasn't that great, but the beef and beef tongue?!?!? OMG. Orgasmic. No homo. Another good thing was they were like ~1.79 per taco. Pretty filling and everything went well together, especially with the lime. I would definitely hit this place up again to try their other stuff. Hey, maybe I can convice my Cali friends that we do have mexican food comparable to Cali. Who the hell am I kidding, but its pretty damn good.
(4)Jon B.
Friendly staff, and the food is awesome. I've tried most of the things on the menu and I've never been disappointed. Do not sleep on the pupusas, they will change you. The only thing that puzzles me is when you get takeout instead of putting the sauce in a cup with a lid they put it in a plastic bag which they then tie. I recommend cutting a tiny slit and draining it into a bowl. So be ready for that.
(5)Michael V.
You don't come across too many authentic Mexican/El Salvadorian food joints; and this place is a keeper. Although the location is nice in Brighton Ave, the building it self isn't too great. Its small, tight, with only a couple of mediocre tables/ chairs. But that's fine cause I never intend to eat there, i just get it for take out, as I suggest most people do. However the food there is so amazing, fresh, well cooked, authentic. Your not going to find any better Mexican/ Al Salvadorian food place in the area. Whether your getting the papusas, tacos, burritos, rice plate, anything, its all so amazing. A very great place for take out.
(4)Fun Night S.
I love when I am surprised by food. This place was great. I ordered a beef quesadilla and was unsure if that was going to be enough. to my surprised, it was more than I could eat in one sitting (without being stoned). The veggies to meat to sauce ratio was spot on. The outside was crispy and all of the cheese was melted. go for it. the price is right.
(4)Erica C.
My husband and I shared a beef gordita and a chicken quesadilla here. While the flavors were delicious, both were difficult to eat. It really was a delicious quesadilla though. Greasy, but tasty. I think the cilantro really made it great. Two big cons though: -Saw a roach on floor while eating -The tables we were sitting at had already opened, room-temperature blue cheese and ranch dressing sitting out on them... Those are def refrigerate after opening things. Also, we both had some bowel issues following the meal... But we also had a frozen yogurt right after, so I don't know who the culprit was. Maybe happened just because we were piggy and had both...
(3)Jill G.
best mexican food around- it actually tastes like REAL mexican food, rather than awful mexican chain food. I love it here and the prices are very reasonable.
(5)Kevin T.
Good mexican. I can't give it a 4 star rating because the pork was hard and dry. I also reaerve 4 & 5 stars for out of the park. However, I can say the food was about as authentic Mexico street food as you can get locally. Service was spot on as well. Went for the gusto and ordered the Habanero Platter. It had everything on it and was muy bueno. My favorite were their corn tortillas. Whether homemade or ordered by bulk... They were tasty. I say try it if you are close by and want decent mexican.
(3)Jennifer C.
So this is a little hole in the wall place that is located in Allston. It's right across the street from a bar that I frequently go to and I wish it was open until 2am!! I have been to Habanero twice, and both times, I ate EVERYTHING that was on my plate. My friend and I have our normal spot that we sit in that is right by the window since you can only fit about 10 people in there anyway, definitely a place for take out food (we just found out that they deliver too!!!) The first time I went there, I got this beef stew special thing and it was just soooo delicious. They give you your meal with rice, beans, salad and so much of it. This time I got the carne asada and they make the steak right there in front of you. Ordering might be a little difficult, but I see that as a sign of authentic, delicious food. All of these hole in the wall places are places you definitely need to try when you're in the area!
(4)David L.
Good but pricey
(4)D C.
OMG the nachos.. I want to live in them. Also tried the pollo asado, which was pretty tasty too. But the nachos. OMG. Really affordable, though, for some reason, there are always creepers hovering near/in the restaurant when I go there. But hey, I'll deal with the creepers to get at the nachos! The empanadas con pollo are also extraordinary, with a creamy, tangy sauce and shredded white meat. I really appreciate the quality of the meat they use in their dishes; I've never had to waste a meal here picking through gristle/bone/cartilage, unlike a lot of affordable restaurants. Yay for quality!
(4)Peter N.
great mexican or salvadorian or whatever its supposed to be, its delicious. I'd avoid the burritos and get the tacos and pupusas you will not be disappointed. And if you are, well you're a fool! I think the nacho chips are homemade but then they just put shredded cheese and microwave it, doesn't sound that amazing but i have no complaints, they are terrific nachos. Don't expect to be able to sit most of the time though. Bottom line, get 3 tacos and a pupusas and you will be satisfied for not that much money.
(5)Elizabeth M.
This tiny place is right near my apartment- one of many seemingly seedy or boring restaurants along this strip of Brighton Ave. Was walking home late one night a week ago and finally looked in the window. Everything on the menu is shown in pictures above the counter, and a lot of the dishes looked tasty. Interest was piqued. Went there for lunch with my boyfriend today. It was great! To clarify, the fact that they have sweet fried plantains is great! I first had sweet plantains at girl scout camp in elementary school and have craved them a couple times a year since, but they are kind of hard to find. Not a fan of those dry, salty ones that pop up more often. So I liked the plantains. Good. They came generously portioned. I also got a vegetarian burrito with guacamole and it was lovely. The tortilla was soft and bready and everything was melted and warm. Mmmm. Came with chips and a mushy-looking salsa that overcame its appearance and really provided in the taste department. Boyfriend got a pork burrito and said he prefers El Pelon's, but that he likes this place enough to make it a regular lunch destination. Won't speak to his opinion anymore as he is not the one writing this. I will definitely be going back soon (was tempted to return for dinner and get some pupusas.)
(5)Sindy T.
This place is awesome! I have never been disappointed! There food is always fresh and the staff is friendly. Their steaks are always cooked right and their milk shakes are so creamy. The last time I ordered a banana milk shake the woman actually went next door to buy fresh bananas for me! What restaurant does that for you?! Like I said they never disappoint... keep up the good work amigos!
(5)John L.
NOM NOM NOM! I came to Habanero for the first time today with Jen H. and Cory H. The burritos are very good and relatively decent on price-point. It doesn't have the girth of a Villa Mexico or a Picante, but it's definitely fine for what you're getting. On top of that, the guac is excellent, the meats and veggies are very good (broccoli!!!), and overall it's a good food experience. Couple that with a nice, small restaurant area, and you get a great Mexican burrito/food experience in Allston Village, and a good stop for a quick bite to eat.
(4)Jonathan Q.
This place ties with Felipe's for my favorite Mexican food in Boston. At this place, just go with the flow. Its extremely small, but you can deal with it. Growing up, I used to be extremely picky about mexican food- I always ordered minus certain ingredients, etc. But this was the first place where I just got it how it came..you have to trust the place. Everytime I go here I begin to plan my next visit before I even leave. Plus, the staff is extremely nice.
(5)Javier M.
The staff is AWESOME and the food is delicious and on the cheap side. It's straight up authentic Mexican/El Salvadorian and the food proves it. Servings are pretty large as well. Possibly my favorite spot to eat at in Allston
(5)Jackie S.
I got the chicken quesadillas. They were good but just really soggy. And the place is alittle hole-in-the-wall-ish, but def real Mexican food not like a Qdoba or something. I like that they put peppers and other good stuff inside - make sure you specify no cilantro or they will toss it in!! Good reasonable prices too. I want to try the soup next time.
(3)Amy L.
I had a classic version of burrito and quesadilla at this place.. I was on the way to Anna's but I accidentally got here but I think my mistake wasn't turn as a mistake....it was pretty good and the meat was very fresh too! I'll go back here to try some other mexican plates next time :)
(3)Hector L.
I am the Mayor of Habaneros (on Foursquare). I probably go once every three days, and would highly recommend for fast, cheap, and delicious take-out food. Specifically, the fajitas and the burritos. Highlights: 1) It's a great, and can be healthy, substitution for when you're too busy to cook, but want something somewhat healthy, delicious, fast, and cheap. 2) They remember their regulars (and their orders) and treat them amazingly. Actually, they treat everyone very nicely. Just great, great service and a hospitable atmosphere. 3) Call-in your order ahead of time. It always takes 10 minutes. 4) Different cooks will offer their own imaginative twist on the regular offerings such as fajitas or burrito. 5) Pupusas are amazing 6) Fajitas plate is a ridiculous amount of food. I actually just ordered some for lunch today and have about half left over - it's a lot of food haha. 7) It's not very pretty inside (it's a hole-in-the-wall) and their AC doesn't work, but for a take-out place, you can't ask for much better in this price range. Some more info: I live just two blocks away from Habaneros and regularly go there. I often cook my food in bulk, but since I don't like to eat the same thing for every meal every day, I will substitute in meals from Habaneros and eat a salad in between my leftovers. Why Habaneros? It's fast, convenient, cheap, delicious, and healthy-ish if you want it to be. You want authentic? You pretty much have to order in Spanish if you want your food here. How's that for authentic? I would highly recommend for pick-up foods for busy people on the go who want fast, convenient, delicious and cheap food.
(4)Adam B.
What can I say...authentic, delicious, and inexpensive. The ingredients all seem fresh too. You can see the people cooking in the large caldron like pots, so you know this stuff is not delivered by truck and then nuked. I was the only one who spoke English...now that's real. The place can be summed up with some rhyme's: Yummy in my tummy Delicious and nutritious Authentic and shmothentic (what? It's not easy to think of a rhyme for "authentic") Carne Asada is awesome, as are the burritos. Anyway, great food all around.
(5)Rita K.
I am very enthusiastic about a good burrito or taco and have spent many years searching for the BEST TACO in Boston. I have tried, Anna's, chipotle and boloco and none come close to Habaneo. Habanero beats the competition hands down! Tasty, authentic and great priced chicken tacos with all the fixings. Great for a quick bite to eat on your way to the sil for darts and beer.
(5)Natalie J.
Coming from Cambridge, where you can barely get a cookie at a coffee shop for under $3, the pork/cheese/bean pupusa for $1.79 seemed unreal. It was substantial, filling, and just plain tasty. You could pay for the bus fare AND the pupusa with the money you'd spend on one taco at Olecito.
(4)Val N.
Habanero is a tiny little place with 5 (2-person) tables and a counter for seating. The staff is really nice and the menu isn't too big. The pupusas were awesome. I would definitely go back for them again. The beef tongue quesadilla was also really good. Their quesadillas are more than just cheese and meat, they put a whole bunch of other things in there too, which makes them way better than plain ones. I would also order that again. The Plato Habanero unfortunately was not a favorite. It comes with three types of meat, all of which were over cooked to the point that the plastic silverware was barely able to cut through it. I would not order this again. Over all, I would go back. I've heard good things about the nachos, I think I'll try that next time.
(3)Katherine E.
Habanero has great pupusas and grilled plates. The flavors remind me of what I could find at food booths in Mexico City. The last time I called for delivery, I was told they no longer deliver. I asked twice, and the employee confirmed that they do not deliver.
(3)Michelle G.
SO GOOD! I'm not a big fan of tacos but these were amazing. 2 tacos and some yuca were only about $6.
(5)Eric L.
Tacos and burritos were amazing. Try beef tongue if you don't have an issue with eating animal parts. They are decently priced for their portions. However, the chips and salsa that came with it wasn't very good.
(4)Romulo R.
I'm only here for the pupusas. The menu in this place looks great if you are from central america. I personally stick to the pupusas. They are good. You have to let them cool down a bit after you get them as they come right off the griddle. The drink selection is good with Jarritos and other nice drinks. The staff is friendly and efficient. It is small and crowed so you may have to clean your own table if they are busy, I do not mind. overall, I intend to go back often.
(4)Ezra B.
This is not based on CA Mexican food, this is based off of the lack of any truly decent Mexican food on the eastern coast. This is a solid place. Go for the tacos, pork. Awesome. Burritos have some funky weird veggies in them that don't go well with the overall tasty and are more of a distraction. But tacos everything is write including the price and size. Go eat be happy drink beers and enjoy a Bostonian attempt to perfect Mexican food.
(4)Rai A.
"in December, drinkin' Horchatas..." (Vampire Weekend, anyone? No? Ok. but the Horchatas here are gooood) it was my first time here and i had the burrito - it was a solid "meh." sorry, i'm Anna's loyal. i'll try something else next time. BUT i'm still a fan of the pupusas (and the fact that i can just get a side of plantains)! i tried the bean and cheese ones thanks to some reviews and they were delicious! so THANKS fellow yelpers! i had a bite of the pork and cheese one too, also good. i don't think you can go wrong with their pupusas. i didn't even know what a pupusa was until today. i think i just like saying the word, pupusa. pupusa. okay i'll stop. ALSO i didn't have trouble ordering, having zero spanish speaking skills. soooo, i'm not sure what all the fuss was about. maybe i just lucked out with the person taking my order? not sure. ANYWAY, you'll leave here full and wanting a nap after only spending around 10 bucks. so yay for another good hole-in-the-wall in Allston!
(3)Eric H.
My wife and I went there for dinner tonight, and we liked it. We knew what we were in for - an inexpensive dive with good food and MTV playing Hip Hop on a large screen. That was all good for us. We had the Carne Asada, which was very good, of generous proportion (almost enough for dinner for two) and reasonably priced at $10. The Horchata (my favorite Mexican non-alcoholic drink - please try it) was excellent and $1.50. They served us a generous side of rice and Pico de Guillo (?) for $1.50. Zagat has a list of "Best Bang for the Buck", and Habanero (probably) belongs on that list. Stay tuned. We'll be back.
(4)neph n.
$1.95 for a taco? Two Tacos were more than enough for me. I ate one and a half and finished the rest a few hours later, when it was cold, and the taste may have been even better cold. Boston restaurants do a lot of things very well, but I think the Mexican food in Boston is a bit lacking and I'd pretty much given up eating any in the area until an r/Boston post suggested this place. I would return because the staff is very nice, I love the sangria soda that I haven't found elsewhere, and the taste is good and the price is fantastic.
(4)Liz M.
I usually follow this soft rule with respect to ethnic food: (1) If the cook + sous cook + waitstaff and everyone else who works for the establishment does not speak English, you're likely to get the real deal. And this is it. Salvadorian + Mexican. Habanero Special Plates -- good. Salvadorian Jarritos (soda) -- perfect pairing Nice hole in the wall in Allston. Portions big enough to take home. Sometimes. Worth trying again. The pork belly looks yummy.
(4)Rebecca M.
Always amazing and a value to boot. My partner almost always gets the Habanero steak and I vary between their stews of the day, desayuno, nachos, and tacos. It's all good here. Spiced deliciously and generous helpings. Their horchata is delightfully sweet and just a little gritty, just the way I like it. I love the opportunity to practice my Spanish and you know the food is quality because at lunchtime you get the hordes of local construction workers, mechanics, and other manual laborers who come in to fuel up on amazing eats.
(5)Karlis B.
I'm always on the lookout for a good burrito place. Right now, Anna's is at the top of my list; mostly due to convenience and price. (El Triunfo is better tasting in my opinion, though.) But when Habanero opened up literally a block from my place, I had to try it. Because I'm a burrito whore and there are many keys to my burrito-loving heart. Unfortunately, Habanero has been denied access to my heart and tastebuds. I visited around 11pm at night. The place was PACKED. The line was long and the wait for my food was literally 15 minutes because there was no chicken prepared. But I waited patiently in the tiny, sardine-packed dining room. When I finally got my burrito (with all the veggies and sauces they could fit in there--complimentary because of my wait) I was ecstatic. In three minutes, I'd be home. In 7 minutes, I'd be full of Mexican goodness. EXCEPT!! My burrito did not have any chicken, which I thought was the major qualifier of my burrito. The air in my heart balloon was slowly being let out with a little whistle. Somehow I managed to gather up my strength and walk back to the burrito closet to ask for a new one. They started right away, no questions asked, and I headed back home. Still, I was not impressed with the taste of the burrito considering it took two trips and cost over $7. Habanero adds a sauteed vegetable medley to all their burritos: carrots, broccoli and maybe onions. These veggies are pretty tasteless though. Same goes for the meat and beans. All in all, the flavor was just not there (and neither was the chicken). While the workers were polite and apologetic, I'll be hesitant to go again. That extra 5 minutes it takes to get to Anna's ain't all that bad.
(2)Mikey M.
Great beef tacos, pretty authentic. Chips are good, salsa sucks. Overall not bad and cheap!
(3)A D.
Forget looking for a good burrito place, i was on a hunt for a good pupusa place. Actually, I had always ignored this place until my doctor told me they sold pupusas, I thought it was just another burrito place. Delicious, pupusas are my burritos. I never write reviews but this was good. I only tried the revueltas which is chicharron with cheese and bean. I'll go back and try the bean and cheese and hopefully they have queso con loroco (cheese with this green plant). The curtido and tomato salsa were perfect. I have been spoiled by my aunt and grandma (so obviously I'm not going to say these are just as good...but pretty damn tasty enough). Oh yeah and they do have stuff that they do not have listed on the menu. It wasn't until I was about to leave that I noticed the tamales (I got one to go and I'll eat it tomorrow, hope it's good). I picked the Salvadorean/Guatemalan tamales (softer than the Mexican ones). I guess I should eat it first then write a review but w/e I only went in there for one reason. I'm pretty sure this place is going to make me fat but I'll just give up my candy.
(4)Matthew D.
I tried this new place out the other day. I was impressed with how fresh the ingredients tasted. While I do love the crispy cheesy deliciousness of Anna's, it was refreshing to have a quesadilla that didn't taste like it was clogging my arteries. Good stuff. Quesadilla comes with chips and salsa too, which is always a plus. Welcome to the 'hood, Hab's.
(4)Beckie T.
I love this place so much. I always eat the chicken tacos and frijol y queso pupusas and am NEVER disappointed. This is a Mexican/Salvadoran restaurant, so I wouldn't even bother with a burrito, when the other stuff is so delicious. The pupusas are served with plenty of curtido and the tacos with plenty of lime. Today, I tried the fried yuca and that was tasty too. It is cheap, quick, authentic, and delicious.
(5)Michael L.
It was closer to $8 per burrito, which to me seems a little silly. It was not as tasty as Anna's, although I would say the presentation was superior, as was the overall feeling in the restaurant. They also have little doo-dads (they have real names... I don't know them) available on the counter for about a dollar. Fried dumplings and mini tacos for a dollar is cute, but the burrito was so big you don't need extra! It's nice they give you chips and salsa!
(3)Joey G.
I hate to say it but it was just ok. Always passed by this place but never stopped and the other day there was a parking spot out front so I figured I couldn't pass it up. Had a chicken burrito, extra hot sauce and watched them ladle it on, but there was just no flavor. Maybe burritos aren't their strong suit, people seem to like the other stuff.
(2)Ken M.
The only negative: I don't speak Spanish and there is a bit of a language barrier. Also, they don't deliver all the time apparently, contrary to what the menu says. We've gotten food from here not once, but twice this week. Both times Andy got the pork burrito. I got it the first time too. It was delicious. It's a bit pricey, but you can add anything (including guacamole) for free, so whatever. Also, they are grilled and the pork is awesome. Tonight, Andy also got the enchilladas in beef. They were not as good as the burrito and weren't really enchilladas. I had the pork tacos. A bit messy, but a good deal and tasty. We also got a side of chips and guacamole, delicious! I will say if you speak Spanish you get better service and jump gringos in line, but whatever.
(4)Matt S.
I'm almost certain this review will be updated with a higher star rating in the near future, but as of right now, I can't in good conscience give Habanero a better rating than two stars. This could be my fault, though. Instead of getting the Burritos which I've heard good things about, I decided to buck trend and get a Gordita. What I received was a bland, lackluster meal - couple that with tortilla chips that seemed stale and you can see why the review falls to two. I'm not holding a grudge, though. I've heard good things, and the aire of authenticity cannot be argued. Next time I swing by, I'm getting a burrito. Stand by for the likely upgrade.
(2)Benjamin B.
Habenero's seemingly uses top-notch ingredients in their burrito preparation. However when I am eating a burrito I care not for broccoli & zucchini, I yearn for cheese slopped in a carnitas guacamole emulsion. Bottom line, I felt way too clean after eating my burrito from Habenaro's.
(3)Sahil G.
I'm always excited at the mere thought of a new "Mexican" spot opening up anywhere in Boston, so this one caught my eye. Especially since it had Habanero in the name. I got a Burrito and a couple tacos here. It was all delicious. They take their time making everything, which is a huge departure from Anna's speedy service. The service is very polite, and they ask exactly how you want your food. Overall, it's good. I would go there again. The price is a little expensive, but it's worth it for the extra flavor that the fresh ingredients and love that they put into the food. Also, they grill their burritos after making them, which adds a great light crunch texture to a usually soft and chewy mess of beans and chicken and cheese.
(4)Ap E.
Awesome!!!!!! The food here is amazing. The service is friendly and quick! I love this place
(5)Cary C.
Habanero somewhat reminds me of tacos lupita and taco loco. I beleive this is an El Salvadorian establishment. They do a lot of nice little things here. They grill the burrito (not as much as villa mexico but still nice, they add vegetables to your burrito (broccoli, zucchini, peppers, onion), and chips come with your burrito. The meat here is ok, the Adobada (marinated pork) is all right, but nothing exceptional. The price is a little much at $7 a burrito. And the "salsa" they give you with the chips is very runny and almost useless to try to scoop with the chips. I would have given this place a higher rating, but Taco Loco and Lupita do everything better than Habanero for cheaper. Still due to it's proximity I will be sure to try out more of their menu and keep you updated. Burritos = 3 stars.
(3)Annie I.
really good chanchito and pupusas!
(4)Sergei B.
This place is like an offshoot of Taco Loco in Somerville... They don't have the variety of non taco/burrito/quesadilla foods like at TL, but they grill their burritos after they are done assembling and that makes it taste delicious.. The pico de gallo and guacamole were both fresh, they have hot sauce and jalapenos, the chicken was good, the only thing is the "fried" beans were more of a sauce than a bean.. They also don't use pre-sliced cheese like Anna's, but rather grated cheese which is a plus. Some previous review said they also put veggies in all the burritos, but apparently not if you order a chicken burrito.. Service was friendly, the place is a little cramped but there are a few tables there.. Parking really sucks.. The only bad thing is it's a little more expensive than other taquerias and the portions are small. I think in their cooler they had some Sangria type beverage, but I did not get a good look, maybe it was non-alcoholic. Overall I enjoyed it.
(4)Jason B.
I rode by this place on the 66 bus and told myself I had to give it a try. Went the next day and new right off the bat that the food would be good. I got just a standard burrito with everything on it and EXTRA on the spicy hot sauce, from a pure flavor standpoint I would rank this place 5 stars. One pro of this place over Anna's is that they will make your burrito, taco, enchiladas etc. and put them back on the grill... melts everything on the inside. They have an assortment of sauces and a moderately spicy one (some think it's hot, I didn't think it was too bad). They also have some interesting looking dinners that I will have to try at some point. The service was really slow, they are going to have to work on that.
(4)Kelly D.
I have to agree with many of the reviews I read here - the papusas are amazing. I once ordered 3, and it was really filling! Bean and cheese is my favorite. I also found the nachos to be amazing. It's so refreshing to have nachos with so much flavor! And the toppings are real! I'm so used to Taco Bell where I'm not sure what's food and what's not safe to ingest; Habanero puts my faith that food south of the border doesn't have to bring on Montezuma's Revenge. If you haven't gone there, I really recommend you stop in there and be amazed how well you can eat for so little.
(5)Amelia L.
YES YES YES!!!! Hallelujah! Finally a place that knows how to make a Burrito! I am from Southern California and have been disappointed by nearly every burrito I could find (yeah Anna's and Purple Cactus are pretty good but the tortilla is rubbery and the inside is as dry as a bone and lacking in the hot sauce department). Then Habanero came into my life. Who ever put the menu and recipes together deserves a big hug because they did it right. I have gone maybe five times now each time trying a new burrito and no matter what combo I try it all tastes great. The ingredients are fresh, the beans and rice are what they should be, guacamole doesn't cost extra and if you up for the challenge they have some pretty good hot sauce. Also, they play music and have a muted TV in the upper corner that plays Spanish soap operas all day. So good.
(5)John H.
Talk about culture shock. I walked in this place and attempted to place my order in English. That was my first mistake, since I don't think the cashier spoke fluent English after she gave me a blank look. Then it was time for my Spanish skills to kick in ( I spent some time living in Spain), and I was able to submit my order. I ordered pupusas, which is essentially flat bread stuffed with cheese. I think if you order 3-4, it's enough for a meal. When she gave me a list of 3 cheeses to chose from, I didn't really know what each one meant, so I just said "lo menos picante." For all those non-Spanish speakers, it means "the least spicy." Pretty creative, eh? However, the awkwardness was all worth it since the pupusas were incredible. I'd definitely go back to try other menu items or practice my Spanish language skills with the locals. This place is usually pretty packed, so it might take a while if you're looking to eat-in.
(4)susu c.
I am actually pretty new to Burritos. Initially I must say, the chicken burrito was pretty effing bomb. The chicken is really tender and marinated, no tendons or gross stuff like that, resulting in flavorful awesomeness. I thought this would be my new favorite place to grab a quick bit to eat in Allston village . However, the aftermath of this burrito was not pleasant. It ravaged my stomach and made me feel ill just a couple hours later. i would say this was a coincidence, but it happened to me the next time as well, and to several friends. Because of that I will not go back to habanero's. Maybe it's just the chicken? I can only hope... The other stuff on the menu looks pretty tasty though and its pretty cool that you can have whatever you want on your burrito without paying extra.
(2)Abby J.
Alright... first of all, to the past few negative reviewers I've read.... 1) It's mexican food... you have to be willing to risk indigestion for an "effing bomb" burrito 2) For all intensive purposes... it's a sort of hole-in-the-wall (although one of the nicer holes in walls I've been to) mostly takeout establishment... personally I think those are the places that make the best tasting food. if you don't like hanging out there while you wait for your food, order delivery next time (which they do, as well). 3) You can easily specify what you want on your burrito... i think the fact that they offer things like steamed broccoli and zucchini is pretty awesome (my vegetarian friend enthusiastically agrees) THAT BEING SAID, considering it is and should be all about the food.... I've only eaten there a couple times already, but I must say I'm so happy that there's a delicious, quick, and CHEAP mexican place within walking distance of my apt. So far I've had the bean & cheese papusas, beef tacos, and chicken burrito. The burrito didn't give me any indigestion, first off, nor for any of my friends that ate it as well.... the papusas were the best I've had this side of the border hands down... and the tacos are small, but for 1.75 each totally delicious and I feel completely guiltless going back for a fourth. As for the toppings, the guac and pico were amazing and from what I experienced the employees are perfectly friendly and don't get offended if you mispronounce something, haha. The only reason I give it less than 5 stars is because I haven't tried everything on the menu.... yet.... bottom line, the food is awesome and I can't wait to go back!
(4)Jen H.
So, I went back... but I didn't try the Spinach burrito. I wimped out. I asked the difference and they said the Spinach one was a veggie one, and I wanted chicken... so no spinach burrito for me. However, my original burrito was just as good as the other day, and also had the added bonus of broccoli in it! yummmm
(4)Deborah B.
Always on the hunt for decent tacos in Boston, I'm now a fan of this little joint. Their carne asada tacos are delicious, similar to tacos I grew up on in San Diego. I also tried a cheese pupusa which was pretty good. I will definitely be back to sample more of the menu.
(4)Lena G.
Their steak burritos are heavenly. I've been going there since they opened and every time it hits the spot. I've tried the chicken before and I wasn't as pleased so I've stuck with the steak since. They never skimp on any of the sauces (i guess the more expensive price would explain it) and I also like the fact that the burrito comes with vegetable so I can cram in my daily filling. Unfortunately I don't share the same love for their quesadillas. The quesadilla is enough to feed a family of 5 and ironically this is the very reason I didn't really enjoy it. The immense amount of stuffing weighed down the quesadilla and fell apart while I was eating it. It also made it soggy on my short walk home. Despite this incident, I've gone back a ton of times. I highly recommend going here. It's not your typical burrito.
(4)Lu W.
I live 5 seconds away from this place, so I've gone a couple times already. The pupusas are good, but not great- the tacos are pretty solid and a good, cheap snack at 1.75 with the works (try the steak). Yesterday I got a quesadilla that was impossible to eat because it was so floppy, and confirmed my suspicion of sub-par pork usage! I need to stop with the pork. I love it, but Habanero's pork is mostly chewy fat- yuck. The nice thing about this place is that they give you guacamole, sour cream, etc. free of charge. Next time I go I will try the chicken, maybe that will up my rating.
(3)fraulein v.
Its like an addiction. This place is great. Its the closest iv experienced to SoCal Mexican food. They make everything to order, the ingredients are incredibly fresh. I was blown away. They are going to do really well.
(5)Alex R.
I'm very excited to have this new arrival to the neighborhood. It's major downside is the challenge of finding parking near the corner of Brighton Avenue and Harvard Avenue. Service was also very slow and disorganized, though in their defense they had only been open for a few weeks when I ate there. With these two challenges overcome, my Anna's Taqueria loyalties would potentially be called into question, because the food was fresh and delicious. I kept it simple my first time around and went for the steak tacos with plantains on the side. If not for the parking issue, I'd have been back many times over since then...
(4)Jason C.
Grand opening! First, the downside - the burritos are $7, which is definitely higher than just about every place in town. BUT, they're delicious. I had pork, and it was unlike any other burrito I've had in Boston/Cambridge. The pork was cooked to order in some sort of spicy red adobo sauce. All the burritos seem to come with a bit of sliced vegetables, too, in addition to rice and beans - zucchini, squash, onion, broccoli. This seemed odd at first, but it's really good. They have a bunch of stuff you can add, too - salsa, hot sauces, lettuce, diced onion, guacamole, cilantro, shredded cheese - and it seems that there's no extra charge for guac or anything else. The burritos come with a small side of chips and red salsa (not pico de gallo). Really the only downside was the cost. And the long-ish wait (for a taqueria) - about 10 minutes - but it was cooked to order, tasted fresher than any burrito I've had in a long time, and they just opened today. Check it out!
(5)Jen F.
Burritos are great. You can get two veggie tacos for less than four bucks. And they always have on awesome Shakira videos or spanish soaps for entertainment while you wait. Lots of hot sauce options too.
(5)Jane G.
I really wanted to like this place. Really. After all, I love Mexican food and I live right nearby. But, I watched as the orders were botched one by one. Our steak nachos were chicken, and that was just one mistake of many. The service was absolutely horrid and slow and disorganized. The food was okay. These guys have something that could be great going for them and they are ruining it.
(2)salome m.
My boyfriend and i have been there twice since they opened. The food is delicious and made to order. Everything they make looks delicious and plentiful. At first glance it seems pricey, but once you see the portions, you will realize it is totally worth it. I hope this quality and quantity are kept up for years to come.
(5)