Mexico - home of sombreros, rubbish beer and immense Magnum P.I. moustaches. And, as it turns out, rather nice takeaway food. I know the whole 'Mexican thing' isn't new over here in Blighty, and I know fajitas have become a middle class dinner party staple for those who want to show off but lack the cooking expertise to do so, but so far I've never seen anyone attempt to take this cuisine into the fast food market. That is, until now.
Leaving behind these foreign stereotypes, Barburrito is, according to a friend of mine, quite a big chain. Manchester has two! They've got some in London as well apparently. News to me; I had never heard of it before this friend suggested we go for lunch there. Anyway, it was suggested and I can't exactly say I jumped at the idea; change, as they say, is not my friend. I am, however, rather partial to the odd fajita/burrito (if someone can tell me the difference between the two they get ten points and a merit badge) and so I trundled up to town with him, not expecting a lot if I'm to be brutally honest.
Stepping foot inside, I can't exactly say I was turned on by the lurid colour scheme, its remarkable resemblance to Subway or the plethora of donkeys dotted about the place. I also spent the best part of a tenner for what is, essentially, a hot sandwich. Excited I was not. Despite this, I really enjoyed it. In my eyes this place is 'wicked cool'. Honestly, no word of a lie.
Despite crippling me financially this place is pretty decent. Not only does it offer up a nice change to the other fast food joints that seem to dominate every single spare inch of our streets but the nosh is nice and at least you know its real food, unlike at some places where a piece of indiscriminate grey matter masquerades as something that was once alive. I did go a while ago though so my memory is a bit hazy but what I can remember is all good.
Like Subway there's a chain of command in place, each bit of the fajita/burrito broken down into manageable chunks and offering up a confusing selection of different fillings. Burritos, Burrito Bowls (Burritos without the bread. As if you didn't know), Tacos, Nachos - they do it all. If, that is, 'all' is four dishes.
As I've said, however, it is rather pricey. I don't want to sound tight but, y'know, ten quid is quite a lot for some meat and veg. It's a fiver before anything is added to it; 'Chips', aka plain Doritos, are a quid a bag, and that's without any salsa or guacamole on, which itself is one pound. Got fifty pence? Well then, my friend, you are in luck, for you can now purchase a few sorry looking mushrooms or peppers! Unbranded bottled water is about one pound thirty, and they also have the audacity to charge two pounds(!) for something they call, ' This Water'. Erm, what? Oh, and they also offer 'bottomless soda' in case the first vat of 'Sweet 'n' Fizzy' isn't enough for you. They do have beer and wine on sale though, so every cloud and all that.
Anyway, despite the financial ruin that will await you after leaving, I enjoyed my sole visit. It's nice for what it is. If there's one thing, however, that I can say about this place is that it is a bit soulless; rather like your Subways, McDonalds, Burger Kings etc, there's a glut of colours and fluorescent lights, plastic seats and fake smiles, hallmarks of a fast food chain. This, I suppose, is its main drawback - it's far too similar to every other fast food outfit that it simply will struggle to exert itself in an already overpopulated market. read more