Longstanding San Jose taqueria with a variety of mexican dishes available.
Reviewer: Jason
Total Reviews: 1040
Reviewed: 8/23/2005
Rating: 8
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Burrito Factory comes up to the plate to possibly dethrone our beloved Taqueria La Bamba. Ive heard many things about Burrito Factory and this is my 1st time trying. We visited the Blossom Hill location and hope its the same as the almaden expressway one. Looks like there's some history to Burrito Factory as their signs have coca cola advertiments on it. You dont see those anymore.
We hit Burrito Factory during lunch hour and they had a steady flow of customers through the joint. While waiting in line, I stood there staring at the menu wondering what to get. Crispy Taco and Soft Taco sounds like an ideal order but since they are called the Burrito Factory, it would make more sense if I ordered the carnitas burrito with guacamole. With each order you get a small basket of chips and salsa. Chips were excellent and out of the fryer, salsa was pleasing enough to make it to my burrito with every bite.
tortilla - I was hoping for the pancake taste or a little grilling. Tortilla was moist and I dont think they steamed it.
beans - whole pintos, average tasting
rice - spanish rice, san diego burrito fans will be happy to know it wasnt stuffed to the rim.
guacamole - Im going to ding them for this. Im wont complain about the taste because that was fine, its the frickin placement of it. What use is having all the green stuff at the bottom of the burrito?? I want to be able to have guacamole in every bite.
carnitas - Im more of a fan of crunchy carnitas thats either baked or deep fried. Im not sure how they cook it at Burrito Factory but it wasnt too bad. It was almost like a kaluha pig without the hawaiian seasonings. The good news is they stuff it to full capacity and most taqueria places wont give you this much meat.
Well...how does Burrito Factory do against my favorite taqueria places, it did ok. Its definitely not in my top 10 but very respectable. If I was in the area and wanting a burrito, I would come back. Prices were fairly cheap and portion size left me limping back to the car. Their chips and salsa is a favorite of mine and rate better than a lot of other places.
Reviewer: Terry
Total Reviews: 739
Reviewed: 8/23/2005
Rating: 7
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Hmm, maybe its all about the meat here at Burrito Factory.
We get there and its packed. Its always a good sign when Jatbar arrives at a place and its hopping. Burrito Factory was definitely hopping. Anyway, I scan the menu quickly (as if I really need to) and go with a super veggie burrito and a cheese quesodilla (I always like to sample the quesodilla at a new place if its cheap enough).
The food takes a little while to arrive, but its all good because the place is busy. Its worth it if its good.
The Veggie burrito looks promising. Big, rice filled, bean filled, and of course the veggies and guac, etc. The standard pretty much. I thought, though, they put in too much rice and beans. Some more veggies would have helped for me. This burrito actually almost reminded me of a Los Altos Taqueria veggie burrito, except the rice and beans don't taste as good.
The cheese quesodilla was a better match for me. The cheese here is top quality and the tortillas are as well. So I was happier with the cheese quesodilla that didn't have anything else to ruin it.
I doubt I will return here. It was a good filling burrito. If I was hungry and in the area then it would do the job. But Jatbar is about more than doing the job. I want something that will inspire me, excite me. Burrito Factory was purely by-the-numbers for me.
By accident I found Burrito Factory #3 on Alamden Expressway (between Cherry and Branham - in the big Safeway Shopping Center). I am familiar with location #2 on Blossom Hill. I figured 'what the heck! Lets give them another try.' I had stopped for frozen yogurt at Yogurt Delight a few doors down. (been craving it for a solid week). Last visit to the Blossom Hill Burrito Factory location proved to be a real dissappointment some years ago and my husband reminds me it was also a visit that didn't settle well with him. ( a.k.a - stomach turner). But anything for Jatbar and review no 5....
Walking into this location I see grand opening signs and see they've only been open for a few weeks. A new location deserved an open mind.. Place was bright and clean; a good sign. Yellow and blue walls were dorned with framed art work. I ordered 2 super Carnitas Burritos. That included, guac, sour cream, cheese, beans and rice. The cashier asked if I'd like cilantro and onions added - sure! Burritos were up quickly, 5 minutes or so. I looked for a salsa bar and there wasn't one so I asked for extra hot sauce. I got 1 green and 1 red little thimble sized containers. Geese, I know I'm white but this gringo-girl likes her hot sauce... scrooges! Strike one. And if you want a menu - they hide them under the counter... good advertising tactic.
I took the order and jumped back into my warm car.. literally 10 minutes later I was peeling away the foil and digging into a LUKEWARM burrito!!! Strike two! 10 minutes and the thing is barely warm. Lesson #1 Burrito Factory - keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold. You don't need to go to culinary school to know that. The tortilla was the standard supermarket variety and they didn't even steam or grill it...bah! My first couple of bites were mostly of shredded pork that tasted rather watery and was quite stringy plus cheddar cheese. Hmm, I was thinking good amount of meat, just wished it tasted better. The next few bites were nothing but hunks of mushy avocado (not guacamole), white onion and sour cream - terrible! Plus, I didn't recall one single pinto bean. It was 8:00 pm and I was hungry so I ate most of the rest except the last 6 bites. Nothing but mushy bland rice, yuck! I tossed the rest in the bag. Strike three. I brought the second burrito to my husband and the same deal - a poorly distributed burrito with watery tasting meat. I didn't say anything to him hoping for an unbiased opinion. Same deal. In fact he ate less than half and said 'You should have gone to Taqueria Caribe.'
I am now reminiscent of our visit a few years back.. all the meats were kept in watery greasy baths... Bad then, bad now.... WHY do they have awards on the walls?
Blah! I waste of $11 something... I should have gone to our favorite place close to home...Taqueria Caribe at 461 Blosson Hill Road. At the corner of Snell/Blossom Hill (next to Monsters of Rock and near another 'Blah' Burrito Factory). I would have more money left over and be happy with my dinner choice....
Rating 5.5 - I wouldn't even eat here again if someone were buying... Sorry, a big HUGE miss for this burrito fan...
“I've been going to the Almaden Burrito Factory since 1992. Back then if you ordered a Super Burrito, you would need to take your leftovers home. Lately I have been disappointed with the size of the burrito. They are no where near "Super". ”
