I've been a long time customer of Comal Next Door (CND). While I go there a lot, there are two glaring problems with this place that needs mentioning: 1. The consistency of the food. About 66% of the time, the food is good. It's tasty, it's packed with flavour, and its filling. The other 33% is really disappointing. In that case, I tend to notice the ingredients taste old, the meat is dry/tastes funky, or it's super greasy. The ingredients they use are high in quality, but that does not guarantee a good meal. Simply put, when the food is good, it's REALLY GOOD. And when it's bad, it's REALLY BAD. There is literally no in between. It's inconsistent. 2. The employees. Literally 95% of the employees I've encountered throughout the years lack courtesy. I always get super cold vibes from them. No "thank you", not even an ounce of politeness, and even when you leave, I feel like I'm always being rushed out. I get it, no one expects you to always be super nice and all, but the bottom line is I never feel welcome whenever I stop by. And this happens every visit. To make matters worse, they recently implement a service fee for every order. It's one thing to ensure workers get paid somewhat fairly, but if this measure is to excuse the rude, discourteous and unpleasant behaviour of their employees, then CND has officially hit an all-time-low. I have a feeling like this place got too comfortable with praise they received a while ago, which in turn made the staff and owners too comfortable to overlook any problems. I would only recommend this place for the food in the slim chance it's actually good. It's genuinely sad to see a restaurant I've loved so much fall so hard. read more

Came with my coworkers as a space to catch up. Walked in around noon on a Monday and all the tables were filled. Walked up to the cashier, picked up the small menus from the side tray box and passed them to my coworkers. I decided on the chips with guacamole and two salsas ($6) since I enjoyed it at the pricier Comal a month ago. I also ordered the pork carnitas bowl ($11) versus the burrito ($10). Before I was even seated, a waitress handed me the chips with guacamole and salsas. I ended up grabbing one of the stools by the front window and my pork carnitas bowl was put down as I sat down. So A+ for speed! The chips with guac and salsas was good. I enjoy their homemade chips and the guacamole was freshly made. Probably about the same portion of guac you'd get from chipotle but much better chips. I like the chipotle salsa but the yellow salsa lacked as much flavor versus the red salsa and the guac. The pork carnitas bowl looked like a salad when it arrived with the lettuce covering the contents of the bowl. I had to ask the waitress to make sure this was the carnitas bowl before I starting moving it around with a fork. Once she confirmed it, I realized just how much was underneath the lettuce: pork carnitas, refried beans, sauce and cheese. A nice portion but still pretty pricey at $11. Overall, a wonderful experience. Plan on sharing one of the two communal tables or grab one of the three window seats. Water is available in a dispenser up front and is serve yourself. Less pricey than Comal and more of a taqueria-esqe feel versus the more date-like atmosphere of the Comal restaurant. I'd come back every once in awhile if I'm in the area. read more

Comal Next Door - Pork Carnitas Bowl ($11, 12/10/18) - Mexican Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Used to be one of my favorite places but they started automatically adding gratuity. The tip screen flashes for about 1 second and then switches to the final total screen which shows that they added 15-20% tip. Disappointing and won't be coming back read more

If I could put less than 1 star I would. Staff is lousy and rude. I walked in and they were talking showing each other their phones and laughing, I did not get greeted or thanked for my service definitely not coming back. I honestly almost walked out but I was just hungry. Only good thing on the menu are the tacos, they were good but still won't come back I could find good tacos with good customer service anywhere just not at Comal Next Door in Downtown Berkeley. Do better read more

Welcome to the hood! So happy to have you here. We've not had a decent Mexican go to in walk too. Love the carnitas and they make a hefty burrito During Covid they are very clean and quick to get the food out. Sorry, I haven't tried any of the drinks You do need to go to their website to order and that is different then the yelp order process. Not better or worse, just different. These little guys need to use the platform that make them the most money. Please support them. read more

Comal Next Door is the ever so delicious, but pricey Comal's cheaper, more casual little brother. They offer that of a local taqueria, but with a more gourmand twist: torta, taco, burritos and bowls. They do have fresh agua frescas, beers and even a frozen marg! I opted for the tofu Chile verde bowl for $10. it's everything you'd expect: fresh, light and delicious. Crispy tofu mixed with garbanzo beans, beans, rice, roasted chiles topped with fresh cilantro, crema and cheese. I would have loved to see a few slices of avocado for the price and portion. I devoured the bowl and could have eaten more, but didn't leave hungry. This isn't your Chipotle massive portion slinging spot. Portions are regular sized, so if you're looking for a spot that's 2 meals in 1, keep walking. Overall, Comal Next Door is a solid option if you're looking for a casual Mexican meal, but know you're still getting fresh, high quality and great tasting ingredients. read more

Comal Next Door - Burrito bowl - Mexican Near Me - Berkeley, California

Got the beef bowl at Comal. They seem to be similar to chipotle in concept, but really load you up on the meat. Overall the flavors and portions were good, but I don't think I would go again given the opportunity. read more

Be REALLY careful about going to this business. I ordered take out and was charged around 65% in up charges on TOP of my subtotal. I ordered their cheapest burrito. Then I ordered a drink. Total a bit over $10.00. THIS WAS TAKE OUT. HOWEVER, they added a sneaky 15% "service charge" to the bill. Adds another $2.00. Tax was nearly $2.00. Tip was forced at 25% which was based on the total. So that's around $4.00. They literally asked me to tip 20%, 25%, etc. IN MY FACE ASKING, no, FORCING ME TO TIP THEM ON TOP OF THE 20% SERVICE CHARGE. You're looking at $8.00 in added fees (including tax) on a little over $10.00 TAKE OUT order that I ordered myself. Not through Door Dash or Uber East. Literally walking in and ordering. Being slapped with approximately 65% more in greedy fees. That's insane. Comal is insane and greedy. That's highway robbery. Don't eat here unless you want to pay multiple sneaky hidden fees totaling nearly 70% of your order. Again, for TAKE OUT. No one asked me how my meal was. No one refilled my water. No one brought me ketchup. No one served me. Because again this was TAKE OUT. THIS PLACE IS THE LAND OF THE 65% HIDDEN UPCHARGE ON AS SIMPLE A THING AS TAKE OUT. Crooks. read more

The first time I went, I got three tacos. So expensive! And not street taco-ish enough. Meh. But my friend was like, the tortas are really good! So I decided to wait until I tried a torta before I wrote a review. The second time I went, I got the beef and pork albondigas torta. Meat and bread were pretty tough. Meh. But my other friend was like, the burritos are really good! So I decided to wait until I tried a burrito before I wrote a review. The third time I went, I got a burrito. Ok fine. The burritos are very good. Sort of oily, but in a good way. Cheesy, but melted cheesy not cold. Flavorful. More interesting than your typical burrito. Sidenote: I also do really like the guac here, since it's pretty pure avocado without much distraction. However, the chips don't come with many chips, and the guac cup is pretty small. Better to get chips and guac from the actual restaurant. read more

Comal Next Door - albondigas torta - Mexican Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Food: had one of the standard chicken burritos featured on the menu- nothing ordinary here! So delish! Served with pickled garnish. Chips and Guac a side order and those chips are just the way I like 'em- think, salty, crunchy ;) Service: easy no-fuss counter order; they brought plate to my table. I wish I tipped more bc the entire experience was just what we needed. Delish fresh food for a budget; served in timely way. We will be back- and next time May try their full-service resto read more

Looking for a quick stop for an affordable quick burrito, soft taco, or other delectable Mexican dish to satiate your appetite? Then Comal Next Door is the place for you! What is really a brilliant idea from the owners of Comal the high-end Mexican restaurant and bar located right next door on Shattuck Avenue in downtown Berkeley. Comal Next Door has all the great food that Comal is know for without all the pretentiousness, the budget busting or the long waiting around for a table. Don't get me wrong, I love a good Happy Hour cocktail at Comal and wouldn't even consider coming to Comal Next Door if it wasn't for the crowds and wait times that Comal tends to attract, so Comal next door is the perfect alternative for Mexican food lovers on the go. Coincidentally, I came with friends on a Friday evening when many other restaurants, including Comal were packed with people and a group of friends and I were looking for a quick bite and a place to sit down an eat something. So Comal Next Door was the best option available and we could not be more satisfied. They have a lot of intriguing options on their menu, from burritos to bowls to soft tacos to tortas, it's all here. Since I was here for the first time I like to try a traditional dish that even staff would consider their signature dish, so I decided to order a burrito, the Beef Barbacoa made with pinquito beans, red rice, cheese, crema, chipotle salsa, onion and cilantro was their only beef based burrito they serve at Comal Next Door and at 11 dollars was a reasonable price point. It's a simple order at the counter, they give you a number and bring it to your table once it's ready, and in mere minutes our order came out. I thought my burrito, although on the skinnier size that I am used to was still juicy and flavorful, the meat was well seasoned and all of the ingredients made for a nice combination. The burrito combined with a tasty horchata made for a quick and casual meal for a total of 15 dollars. Would I come to Comal Next Door in the future? When I'm in a jam type of mood and need to get something on the go, you better believe it. They seem to be bringing the fresh quality food they serve at next door at Comal without the fuss and a more reasonable price point, and for that I am personally thankful they exist in the buzzy downtown Berkeley. The perfect place for college students and local foodies alike. read more

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(I am reposting a review from 5/8/24 that I posted on Comal's yelp page that was flagged and removed for depicting an experience at the wrong location. My apologies to the main restaurant Comal, I didn't realize that Comal Next Door had a separate yelp page.) This is the first review I have ever left for yelp but my experience today at Comal Next Door pushed me over the edge. I work once a week down the street and sometimes have grabbed a quick bite at CND. My experiences have generally been mixed however my experience today was so bad that I felt the need to share some feedback. To start, after ordering my tacos at the counter I was given my total. I pulled out my wallet to pay. A cook then came from the back and up to the register and pushed the server out of the way and clocked out at the register while I was standing there with my wallet in hand. After clocking out, the server then had to find my order again so I could pay. I saw everything on the display as it was happening. This seems extremely unprofessional and disrespectful to the customer as well to the server. After paying for my order I sat down to wait for what I would think would be a quick meal since I was the only customer in the restaurant. The staff was goofing off and carrying on and I sat there waiting for my food for a lot longer than I had waited in the past. Then the server that took my order was leaving and realized she forgot about my order. From the door and on her way out she called out "tacos!" while pointing at me! Another server brought my carnitas tacos out and they were cold. The carnitas was not crispy and it was fatty and soupy like it was from the dregs of the pot, leaving a pool of liquid and grease and soggy tortillas. I was on a tight schedule so I just started eating these gross tacos, and then the fire alarm starts going off! No one seemed bothered and the staff just calmly kept going. I went outside, finished my food and left. After my experience today I will not be returning to CMD. The food was barely passable and for the price and the fact that there is an automatic 15% service charge for horrible (counter!) service it is definitely a place to avoid, even though the location is convenient. read more

Best red chipotle salsa, yum! Their grilled chicken is on point, in bowls, tacos or burritos. Fast delivery. Get it!

The better half and I are big fans of the quality and unique offerings of Comal so we thought we'd given Next Door a try. It delivers (figuratively and literally via third party services). Everything we ordered was on point: -Fried Chicken Torta, no slaw, add avocado ($12.50 + $1.50) - telera roll was fresh and buttery, savory chicken. -Al Pastor Burrito ($11.50) - beans and cheese melted together in perfect harmony -Hibiscus Lemonade ($4.00) - refreshing and sweet -Orange Pineapple Ginger ($4.00) - well-balanced, ginger was subtle -Chipotle Salsa 8oz ($4.00) - hot and fresh out the kitchen Highlights: friendly service, quality for the (higher) price, timely pickup, *and* Comal will soon be offering their menu items to to go as well. Lowlight: limited parking options in the downtown Berkeley area even during a pandemic but didn't stop many from tossing on the hazards and double parking in one of the lanes. Accessible enough so no one can keep us away! read more

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Simply awful food. I ordered the tofu verde bowl. There was no flavor from the Chile verde except a slight bitter edge to the tofu itself. The rest was just an uninspired heap of beans and rice with lettuce thrown on top. I have enjoyed Comal many times and am shocked they would put out such a poor product as it reflects poorly on the main restaurant as well. This was the worst meal Ive had in Berkeley from a restaurant. read more

Never again! The burrito is ok but an automatic $3.50 (a whopping 25%) for one take-out item is not! The notice says this is "in place of a tip", which I noticed too late. I'll maybe tip a dollar cash for take out, but this $3.50 is nuts. I won't go back. read more

Volunteering at the Berkeley Humane Society's fundraiser at Fieldworks Brewing, I made tacos carnitas from the fixin's provided by Comal. The event started at 12:00 and the delivery arrived at 11:45. Plenty of time to set up. Everything comes in sealed containers. Meat, small white corn tortillas, Chilie Verde salsa, cilantro, and onions. We kept the meat in a hot box warmer and it stayed nice and most. Sampled my mistakes. Haha! The green salsa is the real deal and the carnitas were so flavorful. Delicious! read more

This has been our special occasion burrito place during Covid restrictions. Their burritos are perfectly flavored, the to-go margaritas are fun, and the salsas and guacamole are also tasty. The food and beverages are all wrapped up in a way that is not wasteful and yet ensures safe traveling to serve a great meal at home. One margarita order comes in a bottle, and one bottle has been enough for a generous serving for two adults who also have to fulfill functional parenting duties. For the quality of food, the prices are fair. This shelter-in-place time is hard, but getting excellent margaritas to-go is a plus. read more

Aside from the excellent mole taco, which I hardly recommend, the rest of the food we got was mediocre, especially the posole which was a special. The service was terrible and I do mean service even though it's just a counter because they automatically put 15% tip on your tab. I don't mind that except when the person behind the counter hasn't got a clue as to what the items on the menu actually are. In two cases we tried to find out what certain items were and not only did he have not a clue, but he made no effort whatsoever to go find out. read more

Comal does a great job of giving quality Latinx food! The pros for me was how easy it was to order. I appreciated that they keep the employees safe by limiting contact and allowing guests to order online ONLY. Additionally, I loved the barbacoa burrito. Tasted wonderful and filled me up! The chips were phenomenal, as was the adobo salsa. I have also tried the chicken burrito and likewise, loved it! Their watermelon lime drink was extremely refreshing and natural. Now the things to take into consideration: due to COVID, they are only accepting online orders. Unfortunately, the ordering system has a flaw in that customization is pretty difficult to maneuver. If you have any allergies or requests, there is NO comment section. Another thing to note: though Comal is delicious it adds up if you eat here. It cost $15+ for my meal (burrito, chips and salsa, and drink) which in these hard times, is a lot! Good to try if you haven't, but personally not sustainable $$$$$! read more

Comal Next Door - Chicken burrito + chips and red adobo salsa! - Mexican Near Me - Berkeley, California

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This review is for a delivery order* I'm actually pretty surprised, I've been putting off ordering from this spot for a while now. I've eaten at their flagship restaurant before and the food was pretty good so I figured it was about time to give the "ventanita" location a go. I have two go to spots for burritos when I'm ordering delivery. These are higher taco truck quality places because sometimes I don't want that high sodium content. I have absolutely no complaints on the quality of the burrito i ordered. The price and sodium ratio was in point. I ordered a carnitas and bean n cheese burrito with a side of chips and guac. Everything was great. This is now my second go to location for delivery. The first has unfortunately been replaced because their prices are a little too high now. Boooo I would give them a shot, it's definitely worth the price. read more

Wow! 2 cold mini corn torts (gotta be store bought, no one would do hand-made with so little improvement over packaged), 4 SMALL chunks of chicken with some sort of (spicy? yes, somewhat, but easy to do that, otherwise blah) sauce. 2 carrots, 2 jalapenos on the side. That was it - $6.50 out the door. Nothing at all like any of the photos shown on the website. Outrageous money-grab for a well-known main restaurant that is highly rated and that I have enjoyed (in retrospect, to a degree, and too pricey) a number of times in the past (from now on to stay in the past). WTF? Perhaps the lone counter jockey was pissed that I asked (nicely, albeit slightly snarkily) what the added cost over the shown price was - "15% service charge, something new" (which was kinda ridiculous, since I would have otherwise tipped a buck, except I may have tried to take it back after seeing the order). Owner/manager - was this a possible retaliation for my asking, or is this taco meant to be so pathetic? If the former, maybe ask your server on 7/19/23, noonish, if that's his m.o., since he cost you a one-star rating. If the latter, shame on you. read more

I wish I didn't have to write this review. Comal and Comal Next Door used to be faves of mine. But I had dinner at Next Door last night and had to write it up. My wife and I each had Achiote Grilled Chicken bowls. Both of us appreciated the volume of food provided and the apparent freshness of the ingredients. Both of us were wowed by the enormously high saltiness of the food. I'm not surprised by a certain level of salt in food with cheese and salsa. But these bowls were crazy salty. We were left wondering if the owners have recently tried the food there. We were badly disappointed, and we won't be back. read more

Quick pick up order through Caviar app. I enjoyed my carnitas burrito without beans. Although, it was smaller than the other order of al pastor burrito with beans. The carnitas was nicely seasoned. I was hoping there would be salsa cups in the to go bag, but it was solid and good nonetheless. read more

I've come here on a couple of occasions, and I have to say that I'm liking this place so far. So far I've tried two things: - Berkshire Pork Carnitas burrito - Berkshire Pork Al Pastor burrito The Carnitas burrito is made of contians pinquito beans, red rice, cheese, crema, salsa verde, onion, and cilantro. The meat was super tender and juicy, which I'm not accustomed to (usually, I have experienced more crispy carnitas), but the juiciness was definitely a plus in my books. The Al Pastor burrito is made of pinquito beans, red rice, pineapple, cheese, crema, chipotle salsa, onion, and cilantro. The pineapple really stood out along with the juiciness of the meat. One thing I'd like to make note of is that there was an orange hot sauce that was available. I didn't think that the sauce was that spicy, but it did add a nice flavor on top of the already delicious burritos. They also provide an array of carrots, jalapenos and onions, which all add a nice crunch to the burrito I do think that the price point here is a bit on the expensive side, for the amount of food that they give. Burritos could have been bigger, but that doesn't detract from the taste. Hopefully, I will get a chance to try more of their menu in the near future! read more

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Love their food but their hours are meaningless. Website and window sign say they're open till 8:30 but they won't take a to-go order at 8?

I ordered a carnitas burrito with guacamole/avocado. The filling was honesty quite good--well-seasoned and thoroughly mixed so you get all the ingredients in a single bite. However, the tortilla was... half-cooked? Underdone? I'm not sure what happened, but both myself and a friend had pale, dense, chewy tortillas that, to me, significantly detracted from everything else. As a result, you might want to avoid the burritos and go for something else on the menu. read more

Pricey but delicious tacos. There's a Comal restaurant as well, but this one is quick-service. You order at the register and sit down-there's a good amount of seating inside. This place is perfect for a quick lunch for yourself or with friends! I had the achiote grilled chicken and berkshire pork carnitas tacos ($3.25 each). Two was the perfect size to fill me up, along with some chips and guac. Thank goodness guac is not $10 here-it's $3-$5 and you get a good amount of chips. The tortillas were so soft, and the meat was very flavorful and tender (the pork was nice and juicy). I liked how they served pickled vegetables on the side. The toppings are simple (cilantro and onion) and I don't think that warrants a $3.25 price tag. Tip: turn your two tacos into four by undoing the double tortilla and splitting the meat between them. :) Service was friendly and quick. read more

Comal Next Door - Achiote grilled chicken and Berkshire pork carnitas (delish!) tacos - Mexican Near Me - Berkeley, California

Definitely one of my favorite spots in Berkeley! Al Pastor burrito is a fav for sure. They also have great veg options. Everything here is delicious, and they've got a nice sidewalk space for outdoor eating as well. read more

Comal Next Door - Al pastor burrito - Mexican Near Me - Berkeley, California

The food was tasty but they now add a 15 percent service fee and you get taxed 10.25% on that fee so it's actually like a 16.5 percent surcharge for take out. read more

This is my go-to spot for something quick and good in downtown Berkeley. I like their burritos and normally get the carnitas. I went with a friend recently and he got a Torta which looked really good - hard to find a good Torta. Service is quick and staff friendly. read more

Not a bad little spot, but nothing that I can say really stood out. I came here on a whim since apparently this smaller location (located next to the main restaurant) is higher rated and we were looking for a more kinda grab and go spot. It's very tiny, and it was packed for dinner time on a Saturday (around 6pmish) the staff was very friendly and we didn't have to wait long for our food. I ordered the chili verde in a salad bowl kind of configuration. It was quite tasty and the chips were good too. I will say it was just a bit too pricey for me (local Mexican spots aren't usually $30 bucks for two people I find). But hey we're in the college area, so I get it. Overall it wasn't bad but I just can't see myself getting hyped to return anytime soon. read more

Comal Next Door - Chile Verde Salad Bowl. Not bad, but nothing to brag about. - Mexican Near Me - Berkeley, California

My go-to spot for tacos, but the thing I'm craving lately is the al pastor burrito -- love that pineapple in there! It's the more upscale type of Mexican place, which means that it's (a) very good for vegetarians -- they have multiple options for veggie tacos which are delicious and flavorful (b) it's not overrun with BHS or Cal students, even during the lunch hour when downtown is kinda nuts. These days they have a small eating area on the sidewalk with 5ish tables, and usually it's not too hard to get one midday. read more

This place is unsafe to eat at. I found a metal staple in my burrito. I'm not sure how that can even happen, other than intentional tampering with the food. Luckily, I noticed while chewing and spit it out. read more

Comal Next Door - Metal object from inside burrito - Mexican Near Me - Berkeley, California

My boyfriend and I decided to try this casual spot after encountering a long wait for a table at its next-door-neighbor namesake, Comal. We left satisfied. Service was friendly and quick, and the food was tasty. Chips and Salsa: Chips were thick and filling and came with a side of two salsas. The dark red salsa was thicker in consistency and slightly sweet -- to me, it was reminiscent of barbecue sauce, though my boyfriend is on the fence about this label. The green sauce, however, provided a refreshing kick to balance out a heavy chip. Barbacoa bowl: I expected more food overall (the table next to us also got a bowl, and her food was over the bowl's rim -- perhaps she ordered a different meat option), but the meal was filling enough. The barbacoa was in larger, tougher chunks that I had to cut through... not bad at all, but I was expecting a consistency more like a fall-apart beef brisket. The flavors were enjoyable. Overall, a nice place for a casual, quick bite. read more

Comal Next Door - Mexican Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Delish! Tasty burritos that can be made kid friendly. Fresh ingredients and prompt service. Hardest part is just finding parking!

I was a little disappointed in this place, compared to Comal itself. My wife is vegetarian and got the zucchini/garbanzo tacos, and the tofu chile verde. They were good, but nothing spectacular- especially compared to other places that have had vegetarian tacos. I had the chicken and al pastor, which were fine, but a little dry. The tortillas weren't anything really to write home about either. If I needed Mexican and I was in a rush in downtown Berkeley, I guess I would go here again. But if I'm mobile, I'm driving to East Oakland and getting tacos. read more

Comal Next Door - Chicken L, Al pastor R - Mexican Near Me - Berkeley, California

housemates said they have the best burrito in the area. i trusted their words and ordered myself one. AND IT WAS VERY DELICIOUS!! every part of the whole was flavorful - from the beans, to the rice, and the meat of course. the tortilla was soft and stretchy, wrapping the toppings super well i'll for sure come & order again read more

Pretty decent place right in the heart of Downtown Berkeley. Comal Next Door is located, you guessed it, right next to Comal Restaurant. It is the cheaper and faster version of its big brother. Atmosphere: Tiny little shop with some indoor and outdoor sitting. Great if you want a quick bite or sit down with a few friends. The food: Burritos, salads, and sandwiches for the most part. They also have some alcohol, included frozen margaritas (score). I had a chicken burrito and the flavors were good, as well as good portions. I also tried the chips with guac/salsa. The price of that is kinda steep in my opinion for what you get. The price of the burritos is fine. Keep in mind the burritos here are for when you are craving something nicer, but not ideal for when you are craving some drunk food. read more

The burritos here definitely are not cheap, but there are times when I really want it. I think they slightly grill the burrito after wrapping it so the tortilla is nice and warm and slightly crispy (barely) which adds to the texture. All the ingredients in the vegetarian burrito also blend together so nicely. I know there are cheaper burritos at places like chipotle, but there will always be a time when I want Comal next door. As for the staff, they're really nice and let you know of anything in the burrito if you have allergies. There isn't much to say since you order first and then sit down, but they all seem friendly. Interior is just ok. The bench like seating means that you'll be sharing the table but the interior is small so I wouldn't expect anything else. read more