Mission Burrito-- Oxford, UK

When I arrived in Oxford, the college town has a burrito place called Mission Burrito. Yes, the place is named after my neighborhood. I saw it as a challenge. I had to order one.

Mission Burrito in Oxford (created by 2 Brits who lived in SF over a decade ago).

Hmm. There is a board in the window explaining Mexican ingredients: pinto beans, guacamole, tomatillo. For some ingredients, there is a pronunciation guide, chipotle or "chee-POT-leh."

When I entered Mission Burrito, I had a strange flashback. The walls contain large photographs of Mission District taquerias. Should I eat here even though the owners are advertising taquerias in SF?

 

Mission Burrito has great advertising. The comment cards are brightly-colored and humorous postcards.


They also give out a cardboard wrestling ring for thumb wars.


I decided to take the burrito challenge. The restaurant was busy, and there were few seats available. Like most taquerias, you order at the counter and tell the person what you want in your burrito. Ordering took FOREVER because the customers asked the workers about all the ingredients. "Which salsa is not spicy? What's in the chicken? Which beans are better?"

It was a little comical to hear the customers mispronounce words. When it was my turn, I was ready.

A regular chicken burrito with pinto beans and lettuce, sour cream, pico de gallo, and habanero salsa.

Of course, my American accent gave me away. I was a woman on a mission--a Mission burrito mission. Here is my burrito and my review.

MISSION BURRITO

8 St. Michaels Street (at Cornmarket), Oxford, OX1 2DU
http://missionburrito.co.uk/
PRICE: $8.29 total
Menu

Mission Burrito is located on a side street off of Cornmarket. There is indoor seating, either bar stools along the walls or two large communal tables. The interior is clean. The menu includes burritos, tacos, and burrito bowls.

I conducted this taste test on June 25, 2013.

 

OVERALL RATING: 4
(1= lowest, 10= highest)
 

CONTENTS

Quality of Meat: 4
I ordered chicken. It was spicy with chipotle flavor. A little too overwhelming. 

Quality of Beans: 3
The pinto beans had a strange taste. I realized that they are peppery. The chef flavors the beans with black pepper, lots of it.

Quality of Rice: 3
Mission Burrito uses Basmati rice which is great for Indian cuisine. California burritos use CA long-grain rice which doesn't separate as easily as Basmati and is softer.

Quality of Salsa: 6
The habanero salsa is spicy which surprised me. It had a good kick. The pico de gallo does have diced jalapeno in it.
 

EXTRAS
Free chips? No. 

Free salsa? No. There are bottles of Cholula hot sauce on the tables.

FINAL THOUGHTS  

Mission Burrito did surprise me. I thought the burrito would be awful. The owners really tried to duplicate burritos from the Mission District. However, the owners are not chefs. They do not know which ingredients to use. Also, some produce is not the same in the UK. The avocados, chiles, and tomatoes do not have time to mature. 

At first, I gave the Mission Burrito a higher rating, until the next day. Not to be disgusting, but I spent my morning on the toilet. After all the burrito taste testings I have conducted, this is the first time I got sick. 

Lesson: Never again.

Brits Heart Burritos...who knew?

I'm back in San Francisco for the summer having survived my first year as a PhD student. I must say that there is nothing like being back home. I take my walks to the mercado for fresh produce and veggies or to La Palma for homemade tortillas and chicharrón. And I can't stop picking up some pandulce in the morning.

But let's talk about burritos. British burritos.

I went to the UK in late June for a conference. I have a friend who lives in London so I spent time in London before traveling to the conference location at Oxford.

I was shocked that London has joined the burrito craze. And unlike San Francisco, burritos are not cheap eats.

 

Adobo "Healthy, Fresh Mexican" on Holborn. About $9.05 for regular size.

Burrito Cafe with 2 locations in London. About $8.36 for a regular size.

Chilango with 5 locations in London. Almost $9 for a regular burrito.

Chilango is slang for someone from Mexico City. One of the owners is American, from Chicago. 

 

Cafe Don Quixote. The owner must be confused because the menu lists paninis and other sandwiches. It's not even Spanish food.

 Freebird Burritos with 5 locations. Since 2007!

 Loco Mexicano near Victoria Station. More than $15 for a burrito!

Mi Casa Burritos with 3 locations. This one is inside Victoria Station.

Taquitos near Victoria Station. About $8.36 for rgular size.

 Tortilla with 11 locations! "Real California burritos?" The cheapest place I found with $7.60 for a regular size

When you visit London from the Mission District of San Francisco, you seek pub food or Indian curry not a burrito made from Londoners. But I was curious. How would it taste? Would the salsa be authentic or just spicy ketchup? Would the tortilla be edible?

I went to the local Sainsbury's for some groceries and noticed that there is a Mexican food aisle now. Brits have access to Old El Paso brand (which is owned by Betty Crocker) or the scarier Discovery brand with its salsa ketchup, or liquid guacamole, and flatbread-like tortillas.

A better bet might be saving for a trip to San Francisco with room for tortillas stashed in suitcases.