Review of Burrito Beach Restaurant at 233 North Michigan in Chicago Illinois

The Illinois Center buildings located at 225 and 233 North Michigan consist of tall commercial office towers interconnected by the Chicago pedway system that continues on eastward throughout the Chicago loop. The pedway system is the ideal cool escape in the summer when walking the city in pursuit of quick eats. One of the popular quick dining spots located adjacent to the 233 North Michigan building is Burrito Beach. Just as the name implies, this restaurant specializes in Mexican food with carry out as well as dine in options. Since I have visited this taco joint numerous times, I felt a review was well overdue.

Food

Burritos are aplenty at Burrito Beach as this restaurant sells such choices as chicken, skirt steak, ground beef, grilled vegetable, and shrimp. The premium line of burritos also includes the option of whole wheat or spinach tortillas. The restaurant is also open for breakfast of which offerings include a very delicious chorizo and egg burrito that goes down extremely well with a side order of fried potatoes with onions. If burritos are not desired, this eatery also offers tacos and bowl salads. As expected of most Mexican fast food counters, the menu also includes popular sides as guacamole, beans, rice, salsa and chips.

Aside from tasting a few breakfast burritos here and there, I have sampled three items from the lunch menu and they all tasted very good. I have tried the barbacoa brisket burrito, baja chicken burrito, and the chicken tacos of which this last item is considered my weekly standby order. The brisket burrito is decent, but the grilled chicken used in the burritos and tacos has a char grilled roasted pepper flavor as if it just came off a Weber grill. The sauces and toppings always taste fresh with just the right kick. The only downside to this lunch menu was the absence of pork carnitas on the menu as I have seen offered at other competing taco restaurants.

Service

The lines can frequently run long as this place is definitely popular amongst the local workers. Fortunately the line moves very fast as Burrito beach runs their assembly line like clockwork and you will be paying for your food fairly quick after placing your order. The process begins with the first employee taking your order and asking your preference of taco shell or tortilla. The entr©e works its way down the assembly line as the next person asks the customer their preference of sauce and toppings. Before you know it, you are out the door or looking for a table. Overall, the process runs very fast despite the size of the line waiting for food. I always receive good service from this crew as my order is always accurate and the counter help always remembers to include that side order of chips and salsa.

Ambience

As this location sits at a pedway crossroad, the dining experience can be pretty loud. The open dining area is wide open to corridor traffic on the east and south sides though you may get the benefit or burden of watching people during lunch. The lunch time rush can occasionally fill up the small amount of tables and booths available thus making dining in impossible.

Price

The best deal offered at Burrito Beach is the current five dollar taco lunch special that includes two tacos with toppings, a side of chips and salsa, and a small fountain drink. I like this deal because it is easy on the wallet and diet. I imagine it would be fairly easy to consume more than two tacos, the side order of chips and salsa fills that hunger void. Aside from the taco special, most of the burritos cost about six bucks with tax, which is much cheaper than the larger size burrito at Chipotle than runs closer to seven bucks.

Overall I recommend a lunch or breakfast visit to the Burrito Beach restaurant located at 233 North Michigan. The food tastes good, the lines move fast enough, and the service is always superb.