On the Richmond Burrito Trail: Hilltop Mall’s El Burrito Loco
Nestled inside a gas station taqueria on Hilltop Mall’s Ring Road, El Burrito Loco delivered a culinary surprise: tender carnitas and a generous helping of guacamole that lent each bite a creamy embrace.
The Chevron Burrito defied expectations with every bite.
The Super Carnitas Burrito assembly invited reflection — each bite isolating textures and flavors before blending them into a spicy, harmonious sauce. Part of us couldn’t reconcile this culinary artistry with the setting: a Chevron uniform, chips, and a burrito too good for its humble wrapper.
You order at Register Number Two, where you can buy cigarettes, car washes, and burritos. Three friendly ladies operate the Burrito Station. Soon after imputing our order, we spotted the wrap artist slinging a large tortilla in the air before getting down to business. Register Two was getting most of the company in the convenience store, while Register One’s lone employee register seemed bored.
The stars are a heaping portion of shredded, braised pork and guacamole. Minimal Spanish rice keeps the focus on bold flavors, with pico de gallo adding crunchy freshness. There was not enough rice to contemplate on its own. Some people like that. Most of the creamy beans disappeared into the rest of the burrito. Just one more scoop of rice and one more scoop of beans would plump this tubular lunch into perfect territory.
Sour cream is something we can take or leave. Sometimes, it gathers in big, cold pockets, bringing down the whole tube. But sometimes, it mingles with other ingredients, making a creamy, spicy sauce that coats everything, which this burrito started to do. All this guac and sour cream had the downside of cooling the slab down and leaving stands of cheese unmelted. Oh well, you can't have everything.
At 577 grams, El Burrito Loco’s Super Carnitas Burrito was on the small side but still filling, and comes with chips and salsa for only $13.16. El Burrito Loco also sells Ready To Go Burritos for an even cheaper $8.99 plus tax which people were snatching up while we were waiting for the magic to happen in the kitchen.
Let us know where to eat next, and check back next week for another stop on the Richmond Burrito Trail.
The Grandview Independent has been embarking on a culinary adventure to explore every taqueria, food truck, and restaurant in Richmond. This initiative, dubbed the “Richmond Burrito Trail,” aims to showcase our city’s diverse and delectable burritos.
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