I really enjoyed the burrito I ordered. It was a special (barbecued tofu with cherry/pineapple salsa). It could have been really great or really awful. It was really great. The cherries in the salsa were huge pitted Bing cherries. The tofu was tender and tasty. The tortilla was amazingly fresh. A big thumbs up on the food. I was pleasantly surprised. However, I felt the decor was lacking. The chairs were super uncomfortable and it seemed as if they went out of their way to pare down the atmosphere to some type of surfer minimalist vibe. Next time I'll take the food take out. read more

Wow. I am a recent Lehigh Valley transplant from everywhere and this place makes me feel right at home. The "San Diego Fish Tacos with a dallop of smokey hot sauce makes me happy. The house made chips and fresh and ever changing salas keep me interested and the low prices make me stop in every week! Love it! Also their kids menu is wonderful value. As a mom with pre-school tots we arrive at 11:30, have the place to ourselves, and leave by noon when it is standing room only. read more

Makes no difference to me whether a California native scoffs at this place or not. Cali Burrito delivers the goods. Yeah, the decor is a surfy California stereotype - which is exactly what you'd envision for a place called "Cali Burrito." And anyway, they were all out of the earthquake/forest-fire/movie-star decor. (That review was keenly reminiscent of when Kate Hudson, after an extended visit to France, famously blathered on in interviews about how gauche Americans were for eating ketchup with french fries.) Cali Burrito's a charming place with a happy, airy, sunny vibe. I always get the Old Monterey w/a side of rice and beans to go. Their burritos are big and plump and hard to finish at one sitting. The staff is pleasant and seem to be a well-oiled machine. When one person at my workplace offers to pick something up from there, 4 or 5 others immediately jump on it. The trick is getting there before the line starts. It's a popular joint at lunch. read more

Awesome Mexican with many vegetarian options. Creative, freshly made cali-mex. Everything is tasty and flavorful. Serve-yourself salsa bar with mild, verde, hot and a special salsa. My only suggestion is to add sliced Jalapenos to the self-serve Salsa Bar. There were two Mexican food junkies and two who normally won't eat Mexican in our party -- and thumbs way up from everyone!! That's a winner! The interior is clean and casual. The atmoshpere is fun incorporating a California surf motiff and dishes named after towns throughout the coast -- Carmel, Monterey, Santa Cruz, etc. We were there for lunch, but the restaurant is BYOB for dinner. Prices very reasonable for the quality of food. This is a wonderful taste of West Coast mexican on the East Coast in an unlikely corner of Allentown. Whether you live locally or are passing through on one of the major nearby highways, you won't ve disappointed by a trip to Cali Burrito. The restaurant was started by a young couple and it feels great to patronize a restuarant that is focused on selling good quality food at family-friendly prices. read more

This place is definitely my favorite fast food joint in the Lehigh Valley. Having grown up in the Valley and watched many restaurants cycle through Cali Burrito's current location before Cali Burrito opened, I was convinced the location was unlucky or something. But Cali Burrito, with the lines sometimes out the door, has proved me wrong. And this is great because burritos are among my favorite foods. My go-to is definitely the Humbolt (their smoked tofu burrito). But the other burritos I've tried were also really good. For those of you who are vegetarian and don't like tofu, there are certainly plenty of options! The fresh salsas are also generally really awesome: a mild tomato salsa, a hot tomato salsa (which isn't all that spicy), salsa verde, and a "salsa of the week". Sometimes the salsa of the week is too strange for my tastes, particularly some of the fruit salsas that are a combination of sweet and savory. read more

It just doesn't get any better then this I've been here so many times and have never been disappointed, not in the least. Some of the most friendliest folks work there. It's always busy, the food is so top shelf and the owner is just a fantastic guy. Always has a smile on his face, you'll see him in the kitchen, bringing orders out, wiping down tables. Check out the photos it's as good as it looks! They close I believe between 2:30 to 3:30 so the kitchen staff gets a well deserved break. I don't know if they started taking phone orders again but it's okay, the orders (stay or go) come out in a timely manner. Just go! Just go! Just go! read more

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I love this place! It is so close to my school, and quite possibly the only place I will be eating lunch for the next few years! It's delicious! I got the San Diego Tacos (fish taco) .... OMG.... mouth full of awesomeness. I am orginally from Texas, so finding good tasting Tacos is very slim. BUT this reminds me of home. No doubt about it. In Texas we have a place called Fuzzy Tacos. And their amazing. But this place, kind of blows it out of the water. The amount of fish in my tacos were hefty.... and the special sauce with the cabbage.... gosh, I wish I had one right now. mmmmm. read more

Cali Burrito is sort of like that one friend you hang out with that isn't quite all there. Don't get me wrong. You love hanging out with this friend; maybe it reminds you of the good ol' days. You have fun, but something's is just a little bit weird. Let me explain. Cali Burrito is located off a particularly desolate stretch of Hamilton Blvd., right across from a now-defunct Burger King (good riddance!). The parking lot is combination of cracked pavement and gravel, neither of which showcase particularly prominent lines. No matter what time of day you come--it could be 2:35 p.m. on a Tuesday--the parking lot will likely be packed. In short, it's a free-for-all. After you puzzle out the parking, step inside and you'll see all those people lined up ready to be run through what I like to call "The Burrito Mill." A speedy cashier will briskly take your order, spit out the receipt, and, in a matter of what seems like mere seconds, your order will emerge from the back kitchen. Seriously, I have no idea what's going on in their kitchen. Okay, I have two guesses. 1. They have a giant pile of pre-rolled burritos ready to be deployed as soon as a ticket comes through. 2. They have a cook with four arms, like Goro in Mortal Kombat. These burritos are decent-sized, they all taste just fine (I prefer the ground beef) and come with housemade chips. Sometimes I order chicken or fish tacos, both of which are pretty tasty. I like to eat my meal in the sunshine that pours through the front windows, looking out over the busted up Burger King. Okay, so now for the weird parts. *Without getting into a detailed description, Cali Burrito seems to enjoy employing staff of a certain "type." If you've been here, you'll know what I'm talking about. *I have never, ever been enticed by their "Burrito of the Week." I'm an adventurous eater. I like to order different stuff when I go out. But, guys, I'm sorry. A seitan burrito with vegannaise, crushed tortilla chips, pickled jalapenos, and bean sprouts just doesn't sound enticing. *To a similar effect, their "Salsa of the Week" routinely befuddles me. Asian pear, cinnamon, and mandarin oranges? Blueberry, peach, and habanero? I know you guys are probably smoking something back in that kitchen, but yikes. Do you create these recipes using a Wheel-of-Fortune wheel? *Lastly, after eating here I usually suffer from two harsh side effects. The first is "Cali Burrito Butt," which is basically intense gas. I'm not faulting the cooks for this. It is simply the nature of spicy burritos and tacos. What am I going to do: not order the free jalapenos? The second is extreme thirst. If you're going to knock back a burrito from Cali, be sure you budget enough time to recoup your hydration afterwards. Cali Burrito, my strange friend, are there things I'd love to know about you? Yes. But, really, I like you just the way you are. Stay weird. read more

This place is a great little find in the middle of Pennsylvania. They feature California style mexican food in a beach themed restaurant. I actually live in Southern California, not far from the ocean and the little eateries this place is trying to duplicate, and I was surprised to find it does an excellent job of recreating that So Cal taste. I've had their burritos and tacos, and I think I've had each type of meat they offer. Each ranged from decent to very good. My personal suggestion is to try the pork burrito- delicious and tastes most "like Cali". They also serve some tasty chips with their food, which goes well with the main course. I'm glad I found this place. Next time I'm in Allentown, I would definitely come here again! read more

Went here today at noon and place was packed! Every table was full and a line out the door. I ordered the Falafel Taco and actually got wet and moaned after my first bite! Wowww! Black beans, rice, crispy PERFECT falafel, tahini sauce and pickle! Burrito was so tantalizing. Seriously, so good. Had a funky California Theme, surfboards, tiki, etc. Very cool place. Clean, fresh funky and PACKED! Be ready to wait a bit... But so worth it ! The fish tacos looks phenommm! I will try those next. Also, homemade chips were OUT OF THISE WORLD. So crispie and tasty. HANDS DOWN the best homemade chips I've ever had! Check this place out... You will literally get wet and moan on your first bite. What a memorable, delicious meal. I will be back... Soon!!! Also... Its not a chain! #ohhellnotacobell #dontrunfortheborder #dontdoMOES #chipoltewho read more

I've been going to Cali Burrito for some time and I'm kind of surprised I haven't yet reviewed it. So here it is: Go eat there. If you like burritos. They have stuff beyond burritos, too, but obviously burritos are the main attraction. If you need more vegetarian/vegan options in the Lehigh Valley area: go there and smile. Not only do they specifically offer a vegetarian wrap selection (not just one or two; five or six), you can ask them to customize as needed to cut dairy (I recommend guacamole as the vegan's choice for fantastic fatty creamy food substance). It's as good as or better than that big chain burrito place over by the LV mall. In terms of variety, I'd say Cali Burrito wins the contest. Cost is about equal. Service is fast and friendly. There are lots of California themed stickers and stuff on the walls to look at if you're eating all by your lonesome. If you like smoked tofu, Cali Burrito should make you happy. I'm a fan. Today my mouth was made happy at Cali Burrito. read more

Came in at 2 for a late lunch. Tried the El Dorado (pork burrito) with fountain soda. $7.49 for the burrito, $1.75 for soda +tax =$9.79. Nice atmosphere with some really nice music playing. Burrito was bland but chips were fresh and salsa was good. Having lived all over the southwest & California, this place doesn't meet mark. Recommendation - try another Mexican restaurant out like Placitas or Santa Fe Taco Co. read more

This is a good local option for a burrito or a taco. It's not burrito nirvana, but it is quite tasty. (You burrito and taco experts out there may find fault with the food.) Overall though, this is a great spot for a quick lunch. You'll be pleased. The added bonus is that this place is locally owned, non-chain. That always makes up for minor complaints. Don't get me wrong - I like a good Chipotle burrito, but these guys close the gap by being good, local, and fresh. I usually go for the tacos, specifically the Sonoma (standard beef tacos) with the hot sauce. Not hot, but just the right kind of tingly. Tacos are hard shell wrapped with a soft shell, with some melted cheese to hold things together. The beef has a nice texture to it. I've had the fish tacos, which earn a "meh" in the overall rankings. Burritos are good as well, with a nice array of build-your-own options. Salsas are also fresh and tasty. The hot isn't melt your face off, but does have that same tingle to it. They also feature a different exotic salsa each week. Points go to them for having my favorite bottled iced tea, Honest Tea. I'm a sucker for that stuff - a cold bottle of green tea goes nicely with lunch. read more

FAVORITE PLACE TO EAT IN LEHIGH VALLEY. If you're ordering ahead give it some extra time, due to popularity it can take a bit longer on weekends and such! Amazing food and super nice staff. The inside is ultra hippie, and well decorated, super cute for eating out. I always recommend them to people at work! read more

Is Cali Burrito gourmet? No. Is it authentic? Of course not. Is it fantastic? I think we both know the answer to that. I always get a vegetable burrito the size of a hefty newborn baby, and there is just something about the way the perfectly cooked rice, salty beans, oozy cheese and big chunks of fresh roasted vegetables melt together that rests my weary soul. Also, the chips are made of black tar heroin, I'm sure of it. When you get a batch fresh from the fryer, all flaky and golden and accompanied by freshly made salsa... well, slap my tits and call me Shirley. That's what I call lunch. read more

My family's favorite restaurant. Cool vibe, lots of choices for vegetarians, fresh salsas, good times. Haven't found a burrito place anywhere else that compares to Cali. It's a must do on anyone's bucket list. read more

The restaurant is unassuming when you drive up but the vibe is amazing and the food is phenomenal. I recommend the Capitola quesadilla as a safe starter but nothing you get will be bad. Even the chips are incredible, definitely check it out if you haven't. read more

One word - YUM! Glad I made it over here after hearing many wonderful things. I went here with the work crowd during the day and the place was packed. Got the Chicken Tacos (santa barbara) as it was one of the few things on the menu without beans. Not a fan of beans - I'm weird I know. The tacos were totally delish, with the crunchy taco wrapped in a flour tortilla with guac. Not nearly as messy as the regular only-crunchy version. Chips that came with were yummy too. I will definitely be back! read more

Well I have to say that things are back to five star quality for me here. They must've just had an off couple years. Love this place and come there as often as I can!! read more

This place is weird. The building itself and decor are really cool. The staff is rude and you can tell they are all having a miserable time. The menu has potential but you can tell the cook is sloppy and half a$$es it. The food lacks seasoning and everything in your burrito is in HUGE chunks. You can't order an extra taco, they make you order a whole 2nd meal. The way they have no flexibility on the menu like that is a dealbreaker for me... that and the awkward staff. Last time I was there the one worker was cleaning and throwing the chairs around while we eat, it seemed like he was purposely trying to make us uncomfortable. It was so loud and aggressive. It was a little before closing time but there were plenty of people still in there and we were gone quickly, it was completely unnecessary and very aggressive. Could've asked us to leave if that was the problem. read more

BUYER BEWARE!!!!! Everyone talks about how great this food is but if you still feel the same after reading this then you are a better person that I am..... I am cutting and pasting the exact letter I sent to the owners of this business via "Contact Us" on the website page. It approx. 3 weeks later and I have never heard one word back from them. Read and see what you think!.."I respectfully request that this letter be given to the owners of your establishment, Cali Burrito and ask that someone reply via email with feedback .I am writing to you today to tell you of a major issue that occurred in your establishment on Wed., June 27 at approximately 5:00-5:15PM. First let me say that I have enjoyed your food for years and order frequently -- In all these years, I have had only two reasons to challenge my order and both involve the same error. Yesterday, after ordering a burrito and a rice bowl with all the fixings on top - to go; verifying the order with the girl; again asking her to repeat the order I received my order incorrectly. The order came out with 2 burritos. I mentioned it to the girls at the counter about the error, they asked for me to give them the incorrect burrito and went into the back, returning momentarily with a "To-GO" box containing the scrapped out inners of the burrito I had just given her! I peeked into the container, seeing something that looked like a regurgitated mess of food and asked why I didn't see the "fixing items on top, as I have seen hundreds of times before" and they told me "oh we just scrapped out what was in the burrito and they are in there, they just got mixed together" I told them that this was not acceptable and politely asked for them to make me a new rice bowl. In both occurrences - The staff looked at me like I had 6 heads and they seemed stunned and resistant to having the order remade!! Both occurrences of this scenario played out exactly the same - The first time ( 2 years ago) I was told that is what they do and they would not change it. I was in a hurry then and had neither the time nor patience to challenge this comment at the time and clearly, with the reoccurrence of this same issue the other day, I realize that this conduct seems to be more than just one girl's bad customer service and is likely a business protocol that is consistently repeated and supported. Yesterday, when this happened, I asked for it to be remade, the girl curtly asked what my order was exactly and then snapped for me to just give her my receipt. She went back into the kitchen and came back with my rice bowl. I peeked in and saw what appeared to be new rice bowl with exactly what I asked for with the cabbage and such, layered on top. I thanked her and left. This is where it gets deplorable, despicable and dangerous. I went home to have dinner with my family, cracked open my rice bowl, took a big scoop of food and immediately choked on a whole fork full of jalapeño peppers - I was shocked!!! Due to multiple food allergies - I have ordered this specific dish exactly the same for years and know exactly how it is put together, the portions and items that should be on the dish however, in all the years of ordering this same item, I NEVER WAS GIVEN SO MANY JALAPENO PEPPERS LIKE THIS AND CAME TO THE REALIZATION THAT THIS WAS A DELIVERATE AND INTENTIONAL ACTION! For the next 20 min, I combed through my food, removing all the peppers I could to try to make it edible and finally after my family was completely finished eating their dinner I decided that I needed to call the store and ask to speak with a manager. I called and spoke with Manager, Matt who listened, apologized, asked who made my food and asked to refund my money. My reason for calling was not to have my money refunded or to pick up another dinner (I live 20 minutes away) but instead to inform the Manager of the despicable and vindictive actions of his employees. THIS ACTION IS JUST ONE STEP AWAY FROM SPITTING IN MY FOOD and actually is much worse because after I hung up with Matt, I went back to see if I could possibly continue eating - thinking I had removed most of the peppers. Upon taking another bite of my food I realized that not only had they SCOOPED hands full of chopped jalapeños on my food, but they also POURED the pepper juice on the whole dish and everything was saturated in jalapeño juice! After a few small bites, I had to throw the dish out for it was completely inedible - my mouth was on fire, and I was forming blisters on my lips. I have attached a picture of what was pulled out and as you can see at the time of this picture, there are still plenty more peppers still in food. (btw - it was a heaping 1/4 cup of chopped jalapenos - see attached picture).Words cannot describe how outraged I am at this debauched and depraved action of your employees!!! I spent a whole night unable to sleep due to extreme digestion issues. This should never have happened and should never happen to anyone else! read more

Burrito of the week is usually outstanding, the build your own option is a godsend, and the salsa of the week is something creative you would have never thought of. I love their pork- well anything they make is de.lic.ious If you are in the allentown area you should make the stop! read more

We live so close to Cali Burritto that it's become a regular stop for us. My two favorites are the Santa Cruz (tofu tacos) and their breakfast burrito (served all day). The food is fresh, which is a huge plus to the flavor. The line moves fairly quickly and sometimes they run out of seating. The place is always packed so I think they must be doing pretty well. Be sure to check out the rotating burrito of the week and salsa of the week. They can get pretty creative at times. read more

New location is great!!!! Parking lot is huge and the food that d fantastic!! Whenever I'm passing by I try to stop in. I always get the taco salad and I love that it comes in a shell bowl. Employees are friendly and the new restaurant is nicely decorated from the inside. A must go if you are in the area. read more

Cali Burrito - Cali Burrito - Mexican Near Me - Allentown, Pennsylvania

I really liked the chips and salsa here. Chips are served warm. The atmosphere is nice. Seems clean enough, when you walk in, but I wouldn't want to see the kitchen. I have witnessed enough when the kitchen door swings open. I have had chicken in my burrito burned so black throughout so many pieces of meat, it made the burrito inedible. I wouldn't have served something that "charred" I have had some burritos that had chicken cooked properly, and the chicken tasted bland. As long as I added salsa and guacamole to it was good. My friends love it here. Just saying... I'd rather do it myself at home. I know my hands are clean. I don't leave my backdoor open, for bugs. And I cut off the inedible burnt pieces, if I create them. read more

Love Love Love the most delicious the feel of walking around Venice Beach! CALI food done up right for anyone!

Cali Burrito is consistently GREAT! The chicken tacos are my favorite but everything on their menu is delicious. Salsa is always fresh and flavorful. The staff is friendly and responsive. Cannot recommend this place enough!! read more

Cali Burrito is a vegetarian friendly restaurant, located on the Hamilton Boulevard bypass across from Weis Market. Portions are generous, especially with the burritos, and the flavor is pure "California-style" Mexican food. Fresh vegetables and natural smoke flavoring play predominant roles, as opposed to the traditional salt and spice normally associated with Mexican food by people on the east coast. Cost is relatively low, and 2 meals plus a drink can be had for less than $20. You can eat in or take out, but the dining area fills up quickly at lunch, and seats may not be available. Plan accordingly. I highly recommend it! read more

My friends and I love Cali Burrito. Great, consistent food every time. Fast service. Never disappoints. My favorite is the San Diego tacos.

We have never been disappointed in our food or service from Cali Burrito - we eat here at least once a month. I'm told one of the owners was previously a chef or possibly a partner at Mango's - a five star establishment down the street. It shows in the quality of his ingredients - as in, they use the best! The smoked tofu is amazing, they buy it from a local (allentown) small batch manufacturer and smoke it themselves. I love the fish tacos - don't let the cabbage scare you. The pork and chicken are equally wonderful (in whatever form you order them), the beef was good. They experiment with some pretty funky combinations, I've only worked up the courage to try the falafel burrito - it was ok. Meals come with a combo of corn and flour tortillas, I'm sure made in house, the flour ones are delicious, I always pick mine out first and then try to steal as many as I can from whoever I'm dining with. Meals also come with a visit to the salsa bar and the salsa of the week is always yummy and unique. There are lots of little things they do to make you feel better about your carbon footprint - special containers (made out of sugar I think?), care for recycling, fair trade/organic coffee. Etc. Their hours have sometimes surprised us, they aren't always open as late as you might expect. The menu is on their website, if you call ahead it's even quicker (although they are pretty quick). Take out or eat in. If you are from out of town visiting Dorney Park - I highly recommend this over the other dining options available on that strip. Way better than fast food. read more

I rather enjoy California Burrito's food and if I could rate it a 3.5, I would but it doesn't quite live up to the 4's I've given other restaurants so it seemed unfair. Super casual, rather hipster, each dish has its own name with a Mexican influence. I always get the Sonoma which are their beef tacos that are hard shells wrapped in a soft shell and they are good. Their quesadilla is rather average, though, and so is their salsa. I have never had their guacamole. Typically fast and friendly service and good prices, they lose points bc they don't let you add items a la carte. Each taco order has only 2, when I asked if I could add one more, they said they don't do that and I'd have to make an entire full order. I don't see the reasoning for this at all. I think a lot of people with big appetites may want to add a taco but probably don't want to pay for an entire full order. They lose money doing this. read more

Cali burrito is a great choice if you like fresh, well-made, delicious food. Don't come here if you're punishing yourself for some reason by only giving yourself terrible food. Tacos were reasonable and combine soft and hard taco formats, always a great choice. Fillings were freshly made. Quesadilla had a really solid cheese blend. My one year old housed a bowl of their beans and rice. Salsa bar had great options and was all house made. If you're passing through this area, this is the place to stop. Casual and good for kids. Lots of people already there for a delicious lunch by 11:30. read more

I went to Cali Burrito for the first time today. I've lived in Allentown my whole life and am somewhat ashamed to admit that I've never been to CB before. I ordered The San Diego (2 fish tacos) - it was pretty good, typical lightly battered fish in a hard shell taco wrapped in a soft shell. I enjoyed them, though they definitely weren't the ~best I've ever had~ My boyfriend ordered The Cortez (shrimp burrito) and was very happy with it. Overall, I will definitely be eating here again. I've eaten at Chipotle before and do NOT understand the hype. I would go here over Chipotle or Qdoba any day. read more

ASL? 18/M/CA But I'm in Allentown pa right now. Try Cali burrito it reminds me of home. Get the Santa Barbara it's tits read more

I would recommend it over anything in the area, but, eh, it's not incredible. I love their salsa bar, and their chips are pretty tasty. However, I was never particularly impressed by any of their burritos. Don't get me wrong; they're good and quite filling. They'll definitely get the job done if you're hungry from a day of bumming around the Lehigh Valley. However, it's not anything spectacular. I never really understood all the hype or why exactly everyone in Allentown freaks out about it. To be honest, I think you get a better bang for your buck at Chipotle or Qdoba. read more

Mediocre at best. I'm a San Diego native that has relocated to Lehigh Valley and unfortunately this place does not stand up to its name. If you enjoy bland flavorless Carne Asada or pollo then this place is for you since they clearly skimp I'm adding any authentic flavors and spices to their dishes. If anyone can recommend their favorite; I'd be happy to try the place again. read more

Food was OK. Customer service I'd have to say is lacking. We waited in line at least 15 minutes.

After a day of touristing in the Lehigh valley, what better end than a quick meal at Cali Burrito. Tried fish tacos (San Diego)with guacamole +$1.25. It was like I died and went to burrito heaven. Still feel their best is the falafel burrito (Nephente), but the fresh chips and salsa are good. Avoid at noon on weekdays, it gets really crowded with lunch people. 1145 or 1230 are ok. Wish the space was bigger, but very happy with the food read more

I'm not sure why Cali Burrito doesn't have all the starts because ITS THE BEST EVER. I haven't had their tacos in a while but I remember them being really good, with the soft shell and hard shell combo. But their burritos are where its at. I'm blanking on the names but the burrito with the smoked tofu is just incredible. I don't know how they get that smokey flavor in the tofu but I've tried myself with a mini smoker in the oven as well as with liquid smoke but nothing compares. They have a ton of unique burritos as well as classic combos and each one I've tried they've done a fantastic job. Also, their salsa is a win. Their regular mild and spicy salsas are fresh and tasty and then they have these random other salsas they offer weekly I believe. Always very inventive and fun to try! The restaurant itself has a cali vibe which is cool too. I just love cali burrito. read more

I've gone here for years now and it's always been one of my favorites. Unfortunately, I feel like this place has really gone down hill in the past few months. I'm not sure if there are new cooks or if it under new management but my experience here has been worse and worse every time. The rice is so over cooked it's basically just mush. And to top off our experience my husband found a RUSTY STAPLE in his burrito. Utterly disgusting. Really hope the health department pays this place a visit soon before someone gets tetanus from a burrito. read more