Think there’s no such thing as a free lunch? Think again. There were queues out of the door of Mission Burrito on Park Street on Friday during their day of giving away free burritos, pulling in the punters from midday to closing time. The marketing ploy certainly worked and they closed before the advertised time of 9pm, presumably completely cleaned out of burritos.
Mission Burrito, next to the Elbow Rooms in what used to be Christopher Wrays lighting shop, is Park Street’s newest eatery.
Situated somewhere between a takeaway and a restaurant, it offers a simple choice of a food that originated in Mexico and then found a home in the Mission District of San Francisco.
Mission Burrito has arrived in Bristol after first opening in Oxford and Reading. The idea is to offer food on the go that, like Shreddies, will keep hunger locked up.
Burritos (shown being prepared in the photograph to the right) are served in tin foil to take away, but there is plenty of space to eat them inside, surrounded by wooden furnishings like the inside of a log cabin, and black and white and red photographs of the Mission District.
The selection process for a burrito is straightforward: one, choose your dish; two, choose your fillings like beans; three, choose any extras like cheese; and four, choose your salsa, mild, medium or hot.
As choices are made, the burrito is passed down a production line of workers, each with a specific job to do. One job was to line up the burritos in order so the man at the far end could put the final touches to them, a prod with his finger at each end to seal the dish and prevent the contents from escaping.
Preventing the contents escaping was something I was sadly unable to do, despite my best efforts. I had chosen a carnitas burrito: slow roast pork seasoned with thyme, bay leaves and orange zest. Also jammed into the flour tortilla were beans, rice, salsa, sour cream, cheese and guacamole. Morgan Spurlock-style, if they asked me if I wanted it, I said yes.
It was certainly a satisfying meal, which definitely took me longer to eat than the record of 50 seconds set by James and Ben from Wadham College in Oxford during a speed eating competition.
Although my burrito was packed with different flavours, the tortilla itself was soggy and tasteless. The website may have promised it, but the food wasn’t served with a smile either, rather by a ridiculously hard-working team of staff who were being rushed off their feet during free burrito day.
This is fast and fresh food in a restaurant bringing something different to Bristol. The only other place where I’ve eaten a burrito in the city is Blue Juice on Cotham Hill.
Mission Burrito have a well-tested formula that has worked well for them in their two venues in Oxford and one in Reading. With the university students now back for the Easter term, I can see it being a success, serving authentic food to those in a hurry.
Mission Burrito, 62 Park Street, Bristol. 0117 927 3339.
Bristol Culture 
Sounds horrible. And why wrap it in silver paper? Haven’t they heard of plates and cutlery?
Sounds like Macdonalds. I went to one once, some years ago, which offered a spectacularly cheap breakfast.
They handed the food to me in a paper bag! Seems they hadn’t heard of Knives, Forks or china either.
I made my excuses and left.
Seriously Martin, why try something new and fast food if you’re so highly offended by it? Best to stay at your local afternoon high tea
I’m on my way Mission Burrito!! I’ve been waiting a long time!!
Martin – have you never eaten a burrito before? You wrap it up so it’s rolled tight together, then rip the foil off bit-by-bit as you eat it with your hands. Burritos are not meant to be eaten with a knife and fork.
Mini-review: good, but not quite as good as Chipotle Mexican Grill, whose first non-US branch opened last year in Charing Cross Road. I know it’s a little petty to compare, but Mission Burrito brought it on themselves by copying Chipotle right down to the exact font and colour scheme of their branding!
Saying all that, I’m now glad parking in the area sucks. I’ve been known to make two-hour detours through London to stop off at Chipotle.
I’ve eaten a takeaway from here. Very tasty Burrito indeed. Tasted the pork and steak burritos.
Martin’s comments show a distinct degree of naivety on the subject of Burritos and obviously judges food without eating it. Cringeworthy.
Oh! Its FOOD! I thought it was some kind of Donkey Charity
Looks totally revolting. Simple food for simple people.
Has to be a relationship brewing for Martin Freye and JD as they both have a passionate hatred of this place.
Martin, It seems you are unfamiliar with the concept of a burrito, or fast food. It is generally eaten with the hands, and the reason it is wrapped in paper foil is to keep it warm. I suggest you go down to your local old people’s home for a tea and a scone this Sunday, as that seems more your thing. Im afraid Mission Burrito is very good, however you seem like too much of a snob to enjoy the delights of fast food from somewhere like Park Street. I guess Clifton Village is more your thing…
[…] to the mouth-threatening Habanero). The tortilla encasing it wasn’t a soggy specimen such as Bristol Culture encountered on a previous free burrito day. And – bonus – I felt like I’d actually eaten something decent and solid, and was still full […]
[…] on Park Street to review it for Itchy Bristol. I’ve been wanting to go there since I read on Bristol Culture about the free burritos they gave out on the first day, which I was sad to miss, still being at […]