Burrito del Rio

Yesterday was International Burrito Day. November 8th is a day where people around the world can eat a burrito and consider that someone somewhere else is probably eating one too. It is a celebration of a variety of fillings that can be put inside a flour tortilla. That’s reason enough for me to celebrate.

Yesterday I headed down to my favourite burrito place in Winnipeg. Burrito del Rio, which is known as “Burrito of the River”, has gained a reputation in Osborne Village as a place that offers quick service and quality burritos that are massive in size and a great value for the price. The mediano and grande are both so big that they need to be held with two hands.

Burrito del Rio is located on 433 River Avenue close to the Subway and Gas Station Theatre. Like Subway, Burrito del Rio offers a lot of options for customizing your burrito, making it a taste adventure every time. The ingredients are very fresh and they put it together in front of you, then grilled all together to perfection.

The menu

The place has a bright, sunny look with its orange stucco walls and Mexican decorations about the place. There is even a portrait of the famous Mexican artist, Frida Kahlao. Pictures are framed with bright blue wooden window shutters and Tissue streamers with  Day of the Dead style skull die cuts on them hang from the ceiling. It is a fairly small space but there is plenty of room to sit down and chow down. A patio seating area in front of the place is also open during the warmer months.

Painting of Frida Kahlo

For fillings you get to pick between rice, pinto or refried beans. They can choose to add lettuce, chili roasted corn, jalapeno, cilantro, green onions, shredded cheddar and mozzarella. The type of burrito you can get include pork, chicken, beef, shrimp and vegetarian (which includes guacamole or roasted vegetables) and fajitas which is adding roasted vegetables to any of the meat option. I recommend getting this option because the roasted vegetables are very tasty.  All of the meats are excellently spiced, juicy and generously portioned.

Making a burrito masterpiece

You can also customize the spiciness level of your burrito by the type of salsa you want on it. They have a mild pico de gallo salsa, a medium green pepper one and a fiery tomato chipotle salsa if you really want to kick it up a notch. You can also choose to add in any of their three homemade sauces. These include chipotle and my favourite, the lime infused sour cream. You can also add their fantastic guacamole to your order for an extra fee. Mexican hot sauce is also available. Organic hand-cut taco chips can also be added to any order for $1.50 or ordered by themselves for.

My glorious mediano fajitas pork burrito

The burritos are so big and often so loaded with goodness that I always eat them with a knife and fork. If you want to get rid of the wrap all together you can order a naked burrito which is any of the burrito options put together in a bowl or to-go container. Other menu options available are tacos and quesadilla which are also made with their well cooked meat options. You won’t find any Taco Bell style ground beef here. Drink options include pop, Mexican sodas, beer, wine, margaritas and sangria.

The goodness inside: pork, roasted veggies, rice, corn, lettuce, cheese, cilantro, jalapenos, medium salsa and lime sour cream

I stand by belief that Burrito del Rio has the best burrito in town and definitely the best way to celebrate International Burrito Day.