The best burritos EVER!!! This hidden gem in downtown Salinas is worth the pit stop when driving through the 101. The thick, freshly made flour tortillas are soft, chewy, and doughy in the best way possible. They have so many authentic, homestyle meat options that you can spend 30 minutes trying to decide. Everything is chopped and prepared daily. They have a large crew of women staff that work quickly and swiftly, making the experience even sweeter. They have wall to wall fridges with every possible drink you can think of in addition to 3 aguas frescas. We went on a Saturday afternoon and didn't have to wait in line. I picked the agua fresca de pepino and it was so refreshing, it tasted almost like a cucumber mojito mock tail. I ordered the chicharon (pork rinds) in their salsa roja with rice and beans. I'm not a huge fan of Mexican rice and pinto beans, but my gosh these tasted like the kind made at a quinceanera or wedding in Mexico. Even my 17 month old was licking his fingers. DID I MENTION EACH BURRITO IS LESS THAN $6?! read more

Made a stop here during my pass thru 101 and saw how highly rated this place was so I had to check it out. Layout: The way how things are setup reminds me of Tacos El Gordo in Las Vegas except this one has 1 line but splits into 3 identical stations. Service: friendly staff and quick service, I was in and out in less than 10 minutes though that is with no line. Taste: I was a bit suspicious of the price for a burrito at first and turns out, I was correct since the burritos are small. 1 will satiate your hunger and 2 should be a good amount, as much as a commonly sized regular burrito but surprisingly, this was good! I order 1 chicken and 1 beef burrito, both with guac and hot sauce. I really really enjoyed the soft tortilla! The chicken one though was white meat, not my preference but it was still moist enough meanwhile the beef was just plain ok, nothing to write home about. Overall, I agree that it is better than your average spot but only worth a check out if in the area! read more

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The food is great but sometimes I makes my get sick gassy, and bloated. It wants clean a couple times but overall I would recommend it if you don't have sensitive stomach! The service was nice but they get REALLY busy but do a pickup!!!! read more

I'm in Heaven! Absolutely delicious! Flavorful meats, fresh toppings wrapped in warm tortillas. Ordered 2 burritos: carnitas & pollo. Big line (a good sign), and fast and friendly service. Wish I lived closer!! read more

Start with the tortilla, delicious and homemade. I got the chile Colorado and my husband got the pollo lunch. Mmmmm. We also ordered two beef and potato taquitos. We must stop here on the way to my sister's house every time we travel up to Santa Cruz. The only bummer was that I dripped some of the chile on my top. So what. Worth it. read more

Timing is everything. They pack them in. Inside is a line of customers in a disney land style S type que. They serve fast from multiple stations. It's all about humongus burritis at reasonable prices, along with good ingredients. If your not a big eater, this may not suit you. I watch a counter person trying to close a large flour tortilla and the edges wouldn't meet over the filling. There is no place to sit and eat and the parking could be challenging due to how many customers are there. The experience is worth a visit. If you order ahead there is a separate burrito station at the entrance for orders and pickups. read more

El Charrito - Multiple customers served at one time. - Mexican Near Me - Salinas, California

Burritos are small, but affordable and tasty! Right from when you walk in, this place is designed to move burritos! There were aisles roped off and it was a cafeteria style line where they asked you what you wanted. The burritos start at $5, but every topping including cheese, cabbage, etc is extra. They don't have a bathroom and this place isn't a sit down establishment although I saw there was a single bench style table outside. The tortillas are fresh and absolutely phenomenal. The best tortillas I have ever eaten. I had the Chile verde burrito which was flavorful but I was shocked when she just skimmed off the top of the chicken and gave me literally 2 tablespoons of the mixture. They really hold back with the portion sizes! But nonetheless it was tasty and I think reasonable for the price. Would definitely come back again if I am passing though! read more

I didn't take a photo b/c it was just a burrito you could not cut in half. I was trying to suss out the ordering before I got here and the menu online was confusing, Let me clear it up: It is a hot line of prepared stuff (like a chipotle). You chose your vehicle - Bowl, Buritto, torta, etc. Then you tell the nice ladies what you want in it. Now this is controversial, but I don't like a huge burrito (I also don't like rice in them) - I can never finish it, and day old burritos do not make for great leftovers - and I normally LOVE a leftover. I liked these burritos precisely because they were NOT huge. The handmade tortillas are the star here. Minor quibble is that b/c the tortillas are not huge it can be difficult to eat - keep these wrapped in the paper for as long as you can while eating them, the bottom does not have enough size or structural integrity to hold the contents. I opted for the chile verde and some beans. The beans were outstanding - I would be tempted to jut get a bean and cheese burrito next time - I have a friend who calls these "poop in a diaper" - which is funny. YUM and YUM, I get the hype. Also there is NO eat in area, exactly 2 picnic tables outside. Luckily they were empty when we were there. read more

We stopped by to try the burritos at the original Charrito. We liked the Charrito Express in Monterey the last visit to the area and we visited the Steinbeck Center and decided to try the original Charrito since we were in Salinas. I didn't like the chile verde burrito here comparatively to the Monterey locale. The tortilla was cold and didn't seem cooked enough. The server used a ladle spoon which held maybe 1/4 -1/3 cup meat at the most. They only have refried or pinto beans, no Blk beans. The meat filling was good but pretty spicy if you get medium salsa with it. Hubby got the carne asada and thought it was good. But for $5 it's not going to be a great burrito. I still prefer the burritos in the SF Mish - el Farolito comes to mind. I asked for 2 tacquitos but she couldn't hear me and gave us 2 refried beans filled tacos. The one burrito and taco was enough food but a burrito alone, I'd still be hungryI thought the tacos were better than the burritos. read more

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When I first came here, there was definitely a line, and the line was growing. It moved by a lot faster than expected, which was great. My friend and I ordered the Chile verde burrito, carne asada burrito, four taquitos, and one horchata. It looks like an assembly line when you get to the front and order (similar to chipotle's structure). Everything was really good. Super solid Mexican food. The star of everything? The tortillas! I know you're probably thinking "how good can tortillas be?". The answer: REALLY GOOD. These are the best tortillas that I've ever eaten, and yes, you can tell a difference. Keep in mind that all the food was on the smaller side compared to other places. I normally can't finish a half of a burrito in a sitting, but I was able to finish a burrito and two taquitos here. The total for everything was about $27, including the gum we got, so prices are pretty on par with other places overall. read more

Everyone local to Salinas tells me that this is the best Mexican in town I've been here 3 times and have ordered different things, and I guess I don't understand why people say this place is the best. This place is good and I like the food and I'd come back here. But the best Mexican? I thought that Salinas would have amazing Mexican food given the demographic and the history, but that has yet to be my experience. I will say that my favorite thing here are the tortas. The staff here is very nice and the lines move quickly. The setup of this place is a convenience store with a focus on the hot food. Of the proteins I've had, the carnitas were not on the crispy side so not the way I prefer them. Also the chicharones are not crispy like you might get at a carniceria nor are they like pork rinds (not that I was expecting that). Instead they are kept in liquid so they are limp and rubbery. The carne asada was pretty good. Overall, this is a decent place that is worth visiting and it is a decent value. read more

I was in Salinas for the weekend and was craving some Mexican food for breakfast. After doing a bit of research I seen this place. I knew I had to check it out. The location is in a primes area with tons of parking around the sides and a big parking lot in the back if dust doesn't scare you off. Walking into the place the line seem big, but it went by pretty quick. I was looking at the menu the whole time and I didn't know what to get because everything looked so good. I opted for two burritos and got a side of tortilla chips with their beans and rice and guacamole. They also sell various Mexican desserts. I got some Corridos de Sinaloa. 10 minutes later I got back to the place I was staying at and the food was still very warm. I got a Carne asada burrito, Carnitas burrito, a bowl, taquitos, chips and guac. Man, those are some of the best burritos I've ever had here in California. The bowl was very good and everything tasted fresh. As others say go. Go now. Add it to your list of places to try. read more

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Delicious burritos! Great service and greetings! Take out orders are perfect when ordered ahead of time.

So delicious, come here instead of Chipotles!! This food is busting the meat is so tender and the flavor is legit.

Best carne asada burrito I've had, and what makes it so delicious is the fresh tortillas! Also tried the Al Pastor bowl, and it was a perfect size and so so good. Would recommend ordering online if you don't want to wait in line because this place gets crowded, but the service is fast. Will definitely be back! read more

Food is fantastic, tortillas are freshly made and prices are very reasonable. I found this place on our way home from road trip seeing that it was really a local favorite. That is validated by the flavors (i had the chicken chile verde burrito) as well as the service. Oh and those cookies they sell are surprisingly good that are packaged locally. Highly recommend! read more

Best burritos hands down. I have been coming here for 30 plus years. Its been a family tradition in my family and now its become tradition for me and my children. The best burritos are the Chile Verde it's what makes El Charrito the iconic legendary place that it is. I am here at least 10 times per month, so you know its amazing. read more

The place was packed when we went around lunch time. We seemed to be the only tourists there. Great price, great service both fast and approachable staff. The food was delicious. Would definitely go again if we are back in the area. FYI there is no sitting area in the restaurant. read more

Very busy business and for good reason! A good variety on their menus and their prices are very fair!! The burritos are very tiny but the tortillas are handmade and complete the package :) read more

El Charrito - Mexican Near Me - Salinas, California

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Absolutely delicious pork verde burrito, it came with refried beans and rice on a homemade tortilla. Did not care for their tortillas but the filling tasted authentic, with plenty pork making it a great value. These days, every penny counts. Family run gems like these are a way to enjoy top notch cuisine at sensible prices. read more

Imagine being told outright that discrimination against people with non-visible disabilities is "okay." That's exactly what happened here -- even after the situation was explained to staff multiple times. Instead of making it right, they refused to refund. Absolutely unacceptable and discriminatory read more

Freshest Mexican food around!! I drove to Salinas just to see what the hype was and it didn't disappoint. The line is usually out the door but I'm surprised I caught them on a good day! The tortillas are fresh and every single option of meat looked delicious (and smelled delicious!). I had to get 2 burritos because I couldn't just choose one. The burritos are not very big so 2 was just enough for me. I paired it with a side of chips and guac. The chips were freshly made and the guac was so tasty! Everything reminded me of my grandma's food. I finished my meal with horchata. I'm not a huge sweets person but the horchata had just the right amount of sweetness. I definitely will be going back soon but in the meantime, I will patiently wait for the Monterey location to come. read more

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

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Went for lunch. A little bit of a line, but not a problem. It reminded me of Chipotle in the serving style. There is no seating inside, and 2 benches outside. Did not see a restroom and did not ask. Large variety of non-alcoholic drinks. I got the Pollo Guisado (chicken) burrito and a drink. The burrito was spectacular. The tortilla was fresh, it tasted like it was made 5 minutes prior. The chicken was tasty and full of flavor. The beans and rice were excellent. The burrito itself was just the right size. I think about the other chain burrito places and you get an overwhelming amount of food. The price for the burrito and the drink was $7.98. I had to ask three times because I thought the price was too low! I'm definitely coming back here to check out the other meats on the menu. read more

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Simply the best Mexican food in Salinas. Counter service only so be prepared to eat outside, in your car or at home. The meats are cooked to perfection. Everything is hot and fresh. I love the roast pork. Try everything! Service is fast and casual. read more

El Charrito - Patio to eat - Mexican Near Me - Salinas, California

Best burrito ever! I stop here off the 101 everytime I pass by. 10000/10! So fresh so flavorful good portions good price. I want to cry of happiness when eating here. If u don't eat here ur missing out! read more

It's decent. Order at the counter, build a burrito place; though they have more than burritos! Just look at the menu. Burrito is small and they don't warm the tortilla. I like warm tortillas. Meat is delicious though. Refried or pinto beans; didn't see black. Extra charge for most fixings: guac, cheese. Outdoor patio seating. read more

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No pictures because I inhaled my burrito in about 30 seconds. I don't know how we found out about this place but I'm glad we stopped by during our road-trip because YES it is as good as everyone says. I mean, it's really just a simple burrito... simple but well made. The burritos are smaller than what I'm used to, but do we always have to get a burrito the size of Arnold Schwarzenegger's bicep? My only regret is not ordering 10. For the chicharron lovers: I wish it was more crispy than it was but the flavor was still there. read more

El Charrito offers great food, but be aware there are no designated bathrooms nearby. The closest option is a liquor store, which might be inconvenient. read more

If you like Tortas, this is the place. Great prices. They have great meat options, Toasted bun, sliced avocado, tomatoes and more. The staff works fast, however the Torta takes three times longer than a burrito, so much work goes into making their Tortas. Very limited seating outside, better to take it home. This place is designed to get people serviced fast, several food preparation stations, so don't be surprised if the line is out the door. Be careful it is easy to be overwhelmed by all the burrito topping options. Your eyes and tastebuds will welcome all the meat and ingredients for your burrito creation. You may have to park on the next street by the restaurant supply store. If you don't want to wait, order online, total separate line and preparation area for those orderers. They also sell fresh made tortillas, but they sell out fast in the morning. The only item I don't recommend is their tortillas chips, not very flavorful, small amount for the price. Will need to try their burritos one day, including their breakfast ones. read more

What else can I say that hasn't already been said about El Charrito. Homemade tortillas, fresh ingredients, great prices, and friendly, efficient service. I love this place! We literally time our drives between SF and SLO to coincide with their lunch or breakfast hours. I'll typically buy an extra 5-10 burritos, and freeze them for later. Not as good as a fresh burrito, but better than the average burrito in SF. Yes, El Charrito is that good! read more

Came in to grab something for dinner we got a carne adds torta carne asada burrito bowl and bean and rice burrito. We also got 2 horchatas and a Jamaica. As usual it was very good. service was amazing !! read more

We've been going to El Charrito since I was a child, and they were a small grocery store that offered fresh burritos to-go. So, I have a lot of nostalgia going here, and it's wonderful to see how they've grown. Their tortillas have remained the same and I love buying an extra pack to take home. We always crave their shredded chicken, and it has forever been a favorite, with just enough spice and always juicy. The carnitas, chile verde, and barbacoa are also delicious. I've not gone to their other locations, but we love coming here when in Salinas, needing a quick bite or grabbing take-out for dinner. read more

Food is great, but the customer service at the food line is awful. It's the burritos and taquitos that have me coming back. For sure it's not the service. The ladies serving the food always look pissed off and unhappy working there. No smiles, no "thank you." This type of service is pretty consistent. Not sure if some training would help. read more

Everything was perfect. Some of the best burritos I've ever had. Our new stop when we travel north.

Really fills you up even though the burrito is not super big. The flour tortilla is what everyone is talking about and I agree, very good consistency with every bite. It makes the burrito. The flavors were not incredible for me, but the price was like we went back in time to the 1980s. I arrived just before the lunch rush with super long line out the store. There are two picnic tables in the parking lot for seating. Many go to their cars because of privacy and it was nippy and windy out today. Feel like a drive thru 1950s style eatery for this reason. I really liked the chips and guacamole, which was spicy. A good amount of parking that wraps around the building including across the street. Feel like half the town comes here at lunch. It felt like an abandoned town with its empty streets until the mad lunch rush to this spot. Super popular. read more

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El Charrito is my go to spot every time I'm in Salinas for work. They are a simple shop that doesn't have any indoor dining. You order cafeteria style. They are always packed no matter when you go. I would try ordering online 20-30 min prior and just pick up if you don't want to wait. Otherwise, they've got a great selection of different meats and items to choose from. I typically always get their burritos. I've gotten the bowl once and didn't like it so I've just stuck with burritos. The tortillas are the softest and most fresh I've ever had. I love coming here just for the fresh tortillas. Burritos are small so you'd probably want to get 2 if you have a medium appetite and 3 if you have a large appetite Here are a few of burritos I've tried: Chile Verde - Shredded pork in tomatillo salsa. They make one of the best chile verdes. This is a go to for me everytime. I always get this one. It's juicy and very flavorful. Bistec Ranchero - Beef in tomato sauce and Anaheim chiles. This is medium/mild spicy and love the flavor of the sauce. Beef is deliciously stewed and soft with lots of flavor. Pollo Guisado - Shredded chicken with tomatoes, onion, jalapeno. The chicken is really soft and delicious. You'd need to add salsa to it though because it doesn't have enough flavor on its own. Chile Colorado - beef cooked in chile Californian salsa. This one is pretty spicy. I wasn't as much of a fan of this one since it didn't have much flavor but just a mouth full of spice. Huevos con Nopales - eggs, cactus, cilantro, tomato, onions, chile de arbol. Love this one, but they only have it for breakfast. I don't usually get Nopales and love getting this if I'm here early enough. read more

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Wow! What a gem! Fresh tortillas, meats, everything! The burritos are small so get 2-3 if you are hungry. I really liked the taquitos but they add up quickly as they are sold by the piece. No seats or tables to eat. You order at a long counter and bring your food to the cashier in the front to pay. Service is fast and efficient. read more

So clean and organized. I love this place. It's part of every trip to Salinas that I can carve out 15 min to visit. Try the 2 pounds of meat to go with homemade tortillas to share the love. read more

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Great Food! Clean and friendly! Easy ordering and check out. Super busy at Lunch! Tortillas sold out, so not able to take some home.

The food was good, but the customer service was disappointing! The workers spoke in an unprofessional way, giving icky vibes. (Like when someone you don't like shows up at a family function, and you just give them a stare.) My family and I passed by after church, and to be treated like they didn't want to serve us was not it. The fake smiles, tired-looking faces, and tone of voice were, in my opinion, unprofessional and rude. We stopped by Salinas from S.F. Will not come again! read more