Located in the heart of Salinas and a local staple to community. El Charrito brings flavors that come from tradition and years of experience. It's a must have and always part of the detours when I'm driving near the area. The first touch is everything of the burrito. Your fingertips meet the surface and pick up a whisper of the flour. fine, almost silky, clinging just enough to remind you this was made by hand, not machine. It dusts your skin like a memory and suddenly, you're not just standing in your kitchen anymore. You're back with your mama or your abula kitchen. 10/10 on of my favorite places in the area and always worth the detour read more

El Charrito - Mexican Near Me - Salinas, California

New spot here in Marina opened about a month ago. Hand made tortillas from scratch (you don't see this very often). Got the burrito with Chili Verde, meat was tasty and tender. Burrito is a basic meat, rice, beans and salsa...anything else is an add-on but all reasonably priced. Horchata was good but a little on the sweet side for my taste. Enjoyed the nice patio outdoor seating to enjoy the great weather. Staff was all very friendly. read more

I Am Speechless. A tortilla actually just changed my life. Yes you read that correctly. The meat melted in my mouth with each flavorful bite. My taste buds will never be the same because how can a tortilla actually be that angelic?? I'm sitting here on the brink of tears feeling like my forehead is being smooched by someone's loving Abuelita. Come here for a warm hug in the form of a burrito, bowl anything. Trust me when I say, a hands down perfect tortilla!! How is this real life?? I normally have a hard time choosing meat but you could see the quality and freshness. I wanted one of each to be honest!!! I ended up choosing carne asada and WOW. I'm at loss for words. The customer service is friendly and kind. They have an awesome set up to handle long lines. I can imagine it gets pretty long on busy days due to the quality of this food!! Plus the place was spotless! The ONLY negative I have is that I will have to drive 48 minutes to get here... Welp.. SEE YOU SOON EL CHARRITO I LOVE YOU !!!! read more

This place is a Salinas institution known for some really great food. My family has eaten a variety of flavorful burritos here throughout the years. It's our go to spot for breakfast burritos. The mister loves to get chile verde whenever we visit. The homemade tortillas are so good, which they also make into great packaged chips. Lines are common, but online ordering makes things much more efficient to just pick up. You can also order there & receive helpful service. Go down the counter line to see options to select from behind the glass & then enter the line to pay. Spice level can be customized with the salsa you choose. The shop is clean & bright. Large screens show the menu. They also have refrigerated beverages, fountain drinks, a variety of chips, & packaged sweets available to round out your meal. Parking is located around the back & side of the building, & can get pretty full. The only place to eat while there is at 2 outdoor picnic tables in a gated area on the side of the building with no overhead cover. read more

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Amazing burritos at an affordable price. If you saw my review from 2014, the burritos used to be about $3. Currently, burritos range from about $7 to $10, still very affordable for all homemade ingredients including the tortilla. You can watch the worker press each tortilla as you order. You can also buy fresh homemade tortillas to go, 4 in each pack! Burritos can be on the smaller side, so order 2 or 8. You can get other sides they sell in the store, like a mini mini-mart. Highly recommend the chili verde burrito and the carne asada burrito, although I've enjoyed every burrito I've tried at El Charrito. They forgot the hot sauce on my carne asada burrito last visit, but the burrito was still tasty. Order ahead if you don't want to wait and it'll be ready for pick-up! read more

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Food was great in the past but now the portion sizes are so small compared to the higher cost. I get the price increase but you would think they would still keep the same portion size in return. Nope. It used to be really great but the last time I went, it was pretty much all tortilla. read more

El Charrito is a must-visit spot in Salinas for authentic Mexican food! This place is clearly a local favorite--the line often wraps around the corner of the building, but it moves quickly thanks to their fast and friendly service. We tried the breakfast burrito, al pastor burrito, and taquitos--all were fresh, flavorful, and generously portioned. You order at the counter, and they put everything together for you right there. Super efficient. They also offer mobile/online ordering with easy pickup, which is great if you're in a hurry. There's a fairly large parking lot, but it tends to fill up fast, especially during peak hours. Street parking is usually available nearby. There's a small outdoor patio with two long tables, but many people enjoy their food in their cars--it's that kind of casual, no-frills vibe. Highly recommend if you're craving Mexican food done right. read more

El Charrito - Al Pastor Burrito - Mexican Near Me - Salinas, California

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Hands down really good burritos! Always has been my favorite quick grab and go morning breakfast burrito place, everything is freshly made, The tortillas made in house is what brings in regulars to comeback even to buy them in packs while they're available. The service is quick and friendly and the food selection is great! read more

On our way to Southern Cal we had to make a detour off I5 so that I could load up on the best chili verde burritos. Decided to venture outside of the norm and asked for added carnitas to be added to my Chile Verde and topped it off with pico de gallo. It was lick the wrapping paper clean good! The lady making my burrito was clearly not impressed, both the Hubbs and I thought it was delicious! It was my lucky day because the line was short and I scored a fresh hot package of tortillas to go! We could've easily eaten two but instead took one each to go because we were off to another favorite, Winchell's Donuts for dessert! If you're in the area, you have to stop by and get the chili for the burrito. There's also another restaurant location in Monterey. read more

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The tortillas are the best in town! The are efficient and kind and not to mention the Jaime's agua fresca is so so good. I always make sure to stop at El Charrito when I visit family in town. read more

Best tortillas in town. The burritos are good too. Don't let the line out the door scare you. It moves fast and the food is excellent. It's to go only No tables inside. read more

The wife found this place as we were passing through Salinas. It's an easy stop if you are headed toward Santa Cruz (on 183). Parking was straight forward with spaces in the back. Inside was nice and everything was pretty straight forward. There is a large chip selection and large screen menus with pricing where you wait in line. You order at the glass serving counter, which is nice because you can see everything, but I didnt notice any clear labels next to the options. There are multiple people behind the counter helping who's ever ready. It's an order first and pay at the counter as you go. The meat options are plentiful. I will say based on today's standard these burritos are "small" and not overstuffed. But that's okay, and you know why, because of those $&@-!?#% flour tortillas.... they're absolutely top tier. Carnitas Burrito - 4 STAR - the tortilla is soft, stretchy, and has a perfect texture with a clean subtle flavor. This came with rice and beans which melded into the meet and nothing jumped out flavor wise and I opted for hot salsa. The meat was slightly under seasoned for me, but tender and shredded nicely in each bite. Chile Colorado (beef) - 4 STAR - cubed beef cooked in a mild red sauce. We did the rice, bean, hot sauce, and this time we added cheese. The meat again shredded perfectly for each bite. That perfect tortilla held the liquid in and soaked up the rest so it was a nice pop of flavor over and over. Again slightly under seasoned for me. Chile Verde (pork) - 3 STAR - tender cubed pork inside a tomatillo based liquid. We did the rice, beans, and hot sauce. Once more the tortilla shines and held everything together so well. The liquid had the upfront citrus punch you'd expect. Meat pulled away nicely in each bite, but this one to me needed an additional layer of seasoning. I will note my wife disagreed on the lack of seasoning on the meat. But between us and the kids it was unanimous, the tortillas were 5 STAR! read more

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I may have had too high of an expectation. Some of my coworkers who grew up in the area love this place. I read about the place on AAA Via magazine. This was the second time eating the burrito and both times, I was underwhelmed. Admittedly the tortilla is very good. The rest of it was kind of bland and wet. I got the chile verde with rojo salsa. Everything was just bland, not much flavor, and not even spicy. This place was on our way to our final destination but I would not go out of my way to eat here. The staff was very nice and fast. The line was kind of long but it moved fast. The restaurant is very clean but no restroom for the customers, which I needed very badly at the time. read more

El Charrito isn't your typical taqueria. But trust me when they say they won't disappoint. We ordered carne asada burritos (next time I gotta get the chile verde) and four taquitos. The taquitos are more like small fried tacos, which they heat up as ordered so they'll be nice and crispy. They topped them with crema and pico de gallo for us, and will top with whatever else you'd like. The burritos are on the smaller side (prices reflect this too at around only $5/ea) but they're the perfect size for someone like me. My husband ate two. What really made the burrito for me was the tortilla. They make their tortillas fresh in house and my gosh, they're so delicious. My grandparents used to come here regularly just to try to buy a dozen tortillas to have on hand. You can also order meats by the pound, and items a-la-carte. The place is busy, but don't let the lines fool you. They have so many people working behind the counter that it goes by fast. Overall, I'd highly recommend stopping in if you're looking for a good burrito. They don't disappoint! read more

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We get a burrito every week after piano lessons. The chicken in sauce is simply delicious. It doesn't need any extra flavors or help as it stands out on its own! Not to mention the tortillas are flipping amazing! The lines at this place do not lie. So good! read more

Love their burritos I used to come here every Saturdays before long, time ago when I was a little boy in the 2000's so I've been coming here for 23 years with my family the food, ambiance and service is really wonderful kind and friendly. I love coming here a lot their food is sooo delicious I love Charrito read more

This place reminds me of an upgraded Chipotle minus the indoor seating. That sucks that there wasn't any indoor dining but it was fine eating it in the truck. The lady making my burrito really took the time to separate my birria and make a beautiful burrito! The chile verde is pretty tasty but on the spicier side. This tortillas are pretty bomb! So fresh!!! read more

ANY TIME I'm in the area, I make it a point to eat at El Charrito. The quality, flavor profiles, and presentation of the food is on point. My favorite are the chile rellenos and the homemade tortillas. read more

Managers refused to unlock Outdoor Seating area for us. We asked twice, so four customers just ate standing up. I was traveling and walked from Amtrak Station. I picked up my order and went to outdoor seating area, but it was locked. I asked them twice to unlock it for us and they refused. read more

El Charrito - Myself and three customers had to stand outside to eat. - Mexican Near Me - Salinas, California

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If you want authentic burritos this is your spot. They aren't huge, just the right mix of beans, rice and choice of protein so you can easily enjoy two. The tortillas are home made, not rubbery at all. I think the chile colorado and the al pastor are my favorites but the chile relleno burrito is also amazing. Don't let the line scare you, they are well staffed and it moves. It's a no frills place. Just a small picnic area on the side. Most folks are takeout orders I can't wait I need to bite into the burrito ASAP. A mist stop in Salinas. read more

El Charrito - Mexican Near Me - Salinas, California

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El Charrito has their system down to a T. There are two lines inside. One for ordering and one for check out. There are limited drink options as well as grab and go chips that you can add on to your order on your way to check out. The ordering line moves quickly and the service is quick and efficient while also still maintaining cordiality. The ambiance itself isn't much to write home about. Things are clean and organized inside which is important. There aren't many great seating options if you are choosing to dine in. There are two large tables on the side of the building that face the parking lot. This is meant to be more of a grab and go / eat in your car situation. Prices are fair for what you're getting because the ingredients are fresh and fairly authentic. Their claim to fame are the fresh tortillas which they also sell on their own (but they often run out). Grab a couple of small burritos and enjoy! read more

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I always love El Charrito for a good burrito if I'm in Salinas or Monterey. But don't ask them to deliver catering. I placed a catering order via email and they called me and said they could not deliver even a couple blocks down the street to Salinas Valley women's health medical clinic. This was an order for 60 people... FYI, don't cater just grab us a tasty burrito here and there. Looks like they have all the business they can handle. read more

This place is a license to print money! Great food, the staff was friendly, and line at lunchtime moved quickly! We ordered 8 tacos plus chips and salsa for $100 - what a great deal for delicious food! read more

Stopped by this place before a roadtrip and we loved it. We didn't know you could order for pick up, so we had to wait in line for a bit. Although it was quite long, it moved pretty fast. There's several people at the counter taking orders, and a different line for pick ups. Before exiting, there's chips and drinks if you'd like some before stopping at the counter to pay. We tried their burritos de asada and pollo which were both delicious. The burritos come with rice, beans, and your choice of meat and salsa. They also have add ons available with all of the prices on the menu. The menu consists of tv screens which you can read while you wait in line. It is also available on their website. The burritos are the perfect size and the flour tortillas are freshly made. They were delicious! Their horchata was also very good. There is parking available, but it was almost full when we went. They also offer breakfast burritos, tortas, and bowls. Will definitely be going back! read more

El Charrito - Horchata - Mexican Near Me - Salinas, California

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At El Charrito Getting My BURRITO ON...!!! Also Got A 50/50 Agua Fresca Jamaica Y Limon...!!! BOMBIZZIE..!!! Quite A Bit Of People As Usual Got Here Before Lunch Rush Gets CRAZY Packed..!! read more

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A ten year update. Nothing new, still a great burrito and even better tortillas. Service is good but if you call it in it's way better. The lines are almost always long and you'll probably wait at some point. Not much to look at inside but it's clean...please move up! Last words...always. read more

El Charrito - Some people watching or waiting. - Mexican Near Me - Salinas, California

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Quick and friendly service. So many fillings to choose from and fresh ingredients to customize your burritos. I wish there was a location near us but definitely coming back when we are in the area. 100/10! read more

Came and grabbed some breakfast burritos and made it in time before the line built up behind! Always great service behind the counter and amazing quality! read more

Stopped here on a roadtrip and enjoyed it! I wanted something quick and fresh. I got a burrito with pollo chipotle. It was great side with fresh ingredients and a homemade tortilla. I got the Jamaica aqua Fresca as well. Great flavor, a little too sweet for me (personally). They have plenty of parking and a couple picnic tables outside. One note: no public restrooms so keep that in mind, in you're on a road trip! read more

Went out on a limb and decided to stop in Salinas for some Mexican food. I'm now so sad this is so far from the bay! We got 2 beef and potato taquitos and a chile verde burrito. The taquitos (which I think of as a fried rolled taco but this one was a fried taco), were so perfectly crispy and flavorful. I added crema and guac which costed extra but so worth. Also their salsa verde was perfectly spicy and I wish I could've just purchased that on its own! My boyfriend got the burrito with pinto beans, rice, guac, pico de gallo, and chile verde. The handmade flour tortilla is some of the best I've ever had. It was extremely fresh and soft. The chile verde was also super tender and paired well with all of the other ingredients. There is only a couple of tables outside but it seemed like everyone was getting their orders to-go! There's a good amount of parking that has quick turnover. We were in and out in about 20 min on a Sunday afternoon! read more

El Charrito - Beef & Potato Taquito Beef & Potato Taquitos with Guacamole (2 Pieces) - Mexican Near Me - Salinas, California

We've been coming to this location for many year's. The food is consistently good. Although the burritos are on the smaller size. I like the updated menus and the patio outside. I miss the tortilla rack they had, where you could just grab and go. Also watching the ladies making burritos there are 2 different methods of rolling them up. I like the old school way. The other way you're filling falls out. read more

El Charrito - Mexican Near Me - Salinas, California

Wow! Run to this place! Had some burritos this morning and can't wait to go again! All of the ingredients are delicious & so fresh!

Long lines, great food. Just deal with it. It's worth it. And bring a package of tortillas home read more

Just passing through on a road trip. My friend found this place, it reminds me of a chipotle but way better lol. Truly a hidden gem and the service is fast, the burritos were fire. The salsas were so good, and the barbacoa was deliciousssss. Would def come back here again read more

El Charrito - Mexican Near Me - Salinas, California

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Such a clean, immaculate space with many friendly faces. The food is amazing! We got pollo chipotle burrito and an Al pastor bowl. Prices are reasonable! So glad we stopped here for a bite! read more

Food is good but the prices are very high and it's honestly not that expensive for beans and there very greedy on the portions they give.. I understand it is homemade but at least don't be so stingy... read more

Not much to say that hasn't already been said. Fresh, rich, soulful burritos. The chile verde and chile colorado are can't misses. The taquitos are sleeper hits. Very kind staff and patrons. Efficient operation, but if you're in a rush or just passing through order online for a quick pickup. Can't wait to return again and again. read more

The tortillas. THE TORILLAS. Anything you wrap in these amazing tortillas will just automatically be elevated. And not in the annoying bougie "elevated" way. Got a simple bean, rice, and cheese burrito, and BAM. Elevated. read more

There burritos and handmade flour tortillas are delicious!! If you're looking for a good burrito this is your spot!

Pre ordered 20 mins before arriving because I've heard that the line can be long around lunch time. When we arrived we still had to wait about 10 mins before our food was ready. The line was in fact a little long but the food is so worth the short wait. I ordered the Pollo Guisado (chicken burrito) and it was delicious. El Charrito has the best tortillas I've ever had in my life. This location has no indoor seating but works very efficiently with the assembly line to order. There is a large variety of soft drinks and agua frescas for sale. The cost here is hard to beat for the quality. I would certainly recommend this location to anyone and I can't wait to come back. read more

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