Richmond Burrito Trail: Point Richmond’s Maya Taqueria
Decisions decisions. We were in Point Richmond trying to choose between a Free Time Travel Consultation and a burrito.
OK, it wasn’t a hard decision. We ordered a Chicken Burrito from Maya Taqueria on Railroad Avenue. Maya is a small restaurant with counter service and tables and chairs in front. A gaggle of burly fellows in high-visibility work attire were already scarfing down burritos like they eat burritos for a living.
Point Richmond is a picturesque neighborhood that offers a unique window into the city’s past. Its history dates back to the late 19th century. Once the heart of Richmond proper, the neighborhood has evolved from a booming industrial hub to a historic district while retaining some of its early character.
Point Richmond was among the first areas to be developed in Richmond in the 1890s. The arrival of the San Francisco and San Joaquin Valley Railway, later acquired by Santa Fe Railroad, attracted early settlers, establishing Point Richmond as the city’s downtown area through the early 20th century. The Pacific Coast Oil Company, now Chevron, built an oil refinery, marking the beginning of the area’s industrial significance.
Unfortunately, Point Richmond sits in the shadow of the Natatorium, which may explain the increased prevalence of those with wrinkly toes.
Fierce battles have been waged in this little nook of the city. We stayed clear of the controversial parklet and headed down the tree-lined sidewalk to the cheery little restaurant. We’re very mindful while we’re on the Richmond Burrito Trail that we don’t get into skirmishes.
Maya serves a big roundeth, short stubby burrito for not much money. The Burrito Gods smiled at us, giving us more beans on our slab, which had been missing lately. But also, there were loads of rice, which started giving us those conflicted feelings. We like rice, and we like beans, and we like it when we eat them together in a meal called Beans and Rice. The beans were tasty and refried, and the rice was fluffy and Spanish, just how we like.
But when a Chicken Burrito is really a Rice and Bean Burrito, we get a little sad. We found some nicely cooked chicken chunks swimming amidst loads of sour cream, and we enjoyed the central flavor of the Pico de Gallo, but the proportions were just way off.
The burrito looked like it had been grilled on the seam after construction, which is OK but doesn’t make the whole tortilla flakey like we like. We finished the 674-gram burrito and were left a little hungry for $14.72.
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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