Representing 2nd quarter of 2018 is California Tortilla in downtown Bethesda. I visited this location a couple of times when my friend lived on Cordell Ave as a few of us enjoy CalTor, and this one of the few inexpensive eating options in this immediate area. The first time I ever had CalTor was this location. I went to the Silver Spring (near White Oak) and Fairfax, VA (when I had work travel prior to Covid out there). Sadly, those 2 favorite locations closed. Downtown Bethesda is my 3rd favorite location. In most recent years, Columbia is my common go to location. It's rare I'm ever in downtown Bethesda these days, but I still have memories whenever I've been around here of discussions about all their Wall of Flame of various spice levels of hot sauce. In late 2010's when I visited this location, I think I got the burrito every time, and it's a solid, delicious burrito. One of the noteworthy visits was on April 5, 2018. My relationship at the time was in decline over the last 2 months; we broke up 2 weeks later. There was a BOGO deal for burritos on that day only. I invited a woman I had some interest in (to go as friends) to go to the Silver Spring one as it was on the way home (in Wheaton at the time) from my office. She had agreed initially but then said can we make it the Bethesda one as she didn't feel comfortable going out to US 29. She lived relatively close to Bethesda. Although slightly annoyed, I agreed to schlep past home to downtown Bethesda. She's a nice person and is a friend to this day, but it was good thing nothing ever materialized later for a relationship as I've gotten to know her better. In summary, I still go to CalTor nowadays, and this location is good too. But if on the rare occasion I'm in downtown Bethesda, I'd be like I can eat at CalTor anytime at Columbia. So, I'd try to go to some local restaurant I can't get near me. read more

It has been several years since I last grabbed a burrito from this restaurant and let me tell you it was outstanding. I got the chicken Caesar, which was loaded and I mean loaded with fresh ingredients. The service was impeccable, and the food was quickly prepared, and we sat and enjoyed our lunch in the inside of the restaurant was very clean Which really cool is the wall of various hot sauces from all over the place and some of them you need to be careful cause they'll burn your tongue out lol read more

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California Tortilla, aka "OM" (because that's all you can say after a bite), is officially my new wrap-star. The place was spotless, which is great--no one wants to guac into a messy restaurant. The service? Prompt, friendly, and faster than me unwrapping a burrito on a hungry day. And the queso... wow. Absolutely delicious. Who doesn't love queso? It's basically the glue that holds my soul together. I got the large size, because small queso is like a burrito without guac--what's the point? The jalapeños had a kick that snuck up on me, like a salsa dancer with hot sauce in their shoes. Just enough heat to say "hello," but not so much that I needed to write my will. As for food, I went with the kid's shrimp burrito quesadilla. Why? Because I'm an adult who makes questionable choices in the name of happiness. It was cheesy, it was shrimpy, and it was a tortilla mic drop. Truly the guac and roll lifestyle. California Tortilla: clean, quick, cheesy, spicy, and a place that really knows how to wrap things up. read more

California Tortilla - Large Chips & Queso shrimp quesadilla - Tex-Mex Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

I started going to California Tortilla back in high school -- nearly 25 years ago -- and I'm glad it is still around. I remember when the loyalty system was a paper card; if memory serves, after buying six burritos, the seventh one was free. I moved away in 2019, but my parents are still local and I am a Burrito Elito member, so every now and then, I get to enjoy a spin of the Monday night wheel. I was visiting home recently and had the chance to take my parents out to dinner. California Tortilla was celebrating its 30th anniversary with $5 burritos, which made the choice a no-brainer. Our plan was to get three Bangkok Shrimp bowls. We're all fans, and it is generally not available year-round. We were disappointed when we arrived and learned that the Bangkok Shrimp bowl was not an option -- along with a few others -- for the anniversary promotion. I was pretty sure the advertisement I had seen said all burritos would be $5, but the staff person taking our order was probably not in charge of marketing, so it was a moot point. (I was right - see photo.) The three burrito bowls we tried (Honey Lime, Crunchy BBQ Ranch, and California Screamin') were tasty - just not quite as good as the Bangkok Shrimp bowls would have been. I'm hoping it was a mistake in communication rather than an intentional effort to mislead with false advertising. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt, so California Tortilla gets four stars in my book. read more

California Tortilla - Burrito Bowls: Honey Lime, Crunchy BBQ Ranch, and California Screamin' - Tex-Mex Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

I went in the get a Diet Coke. They changed my $3.91 for a 20 oz Diet Coke. If you or go to eat at this restaurant for California to do your fucking stupid these people are doing nothing ripping you off the Services sucky people are rude and the lines are long. They don't pay anybody to work there and be able to are rude and inconsiderate when you extra sauce or anything. read more

I'm a big fan of this place. Very convenient, clean, easy to get to. Recommend when you need something reliable and fast!

If you're craving a quick (yet not really considered fast-food), delicious food that doesn't sacrifice flavor, California Tortilla is the perfect go-to spot. This no-frills, fast-casual eatery delivers some of the best burritos and salads, all served up quickly and with a generous portion of flavor that makes it impossible to resist. My work unit would go to CT once a week together (miss it). read more

Solid burrito place with a nice variety of options and quick service. I enjoyed my food and will definitely come back. (P).

I used to go to Caltort when Pam first opened the store in the 90s and it was great! I went back recently and ordered the blackened chicken caesar bowl. Ick. The chicken rocks were so over cooked and hard, they were virutually inedible. To make up for flavor they were smothered in 4 chili spices. The bowl had so much greasy flavorless dressing that the chicken rocks were swimming in it. Lastly I asked for guacamole and all I got was a splat of some sort of brownish-gray glop. Not going back.. read more

I haven't been to the Bethesda location since they moved to this location. We came during the pandemic and yay, they were open for takeout. No need to preorder, but you can on their app. A huge bonus was the designated pickup parking right beside the restaurant on Norfolk. I usually avoid Bethesda because of parking, but now it's so easy. The workers were great. Huge thank you for them for being there. My fish tacos had huge pieces of fish in them. I got the street taco version because I prefer cabbage over lettuce, but I requested flour tortillas because I am too much of a gringo. Love their queso too! Wish I could buy it by the jar! read more

California Tortilla - Social distancing - Tex-Mex Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

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The food was good I do wanna know if they have a create your own option that would be nice but other than that place is really good staff is really nice and the hot sauce wall is actually the best part choosing them is hard because I wanna try all of them but really good place definitely recommend. read more

California Tortilla - Korean BBQ Burrito Small Chips - Tex-Mex Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

I went here for national burrito day, and got a free coupon for chips & queso. This is a chain restaurant in the DMV area, and boasts a wide variety of food options (you can go the classic route or get something unconventional, like the Korean BBQ burrito). This location had the drink machines with a million options, which is always a positive. They also have this incredible display of dozens of various hot sauces to pick from. I enjoyed the variety and the options. The hot sauces are labeled in terms of hotness, which is useful. Decor was fun but nothing out of the ordinary. The only interaction I had with staff was at the counter to order, but they seemed nice and friendly. read more

California Tortilla - Honey Lime - Tex-Mex Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

This is a fast casual restaurant in old Bethesda (as opposed to new Bethesda Row, just a few blocks south). It's a corner location with plenty of seats outside on their gated patio and several booths and tables inside, ample for a large group. I ate lunch here yesterday while doing errands nearby. I ordered the pick 2 classic black bean and cheese tacos: simply a soft tortilla shell, cheese, beans, lettuce, and tomatoes. The black bean were piping hot, the cheese and lettuce fresh, and the tomatoes vibrant and tasty! The tacos were a delight to eat! Great big wall of sauces in the back boasts hundreds of sauces. I recommend the Blind Betty---super tasty! read more

California Tortilla - Tex-Mex Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

This place is horrible and has no right to have the name "California" in the name when California has THE best Mexican food. The rice was hard and old, hardly any steak, cold and bland. read more

California Tortilla - Trash - Tex-Mex Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

I haven't been ripped about this place. I've only done a quesadilla and nachos, and would be open to trying something else but have found the other things to be very bland read more

We love coming here as part of our routine (it was Monday for a while, which was fun with the wheel). The cashier is the most kind and knows our regular order even reminding ME of a side of cilantro I love. Thanks for the consistently yummy food and great service! We get quesadillas and chips with guac the guac is so good. read more

I was invited to come here in return that I post about it on my food Instagram. BUT, I grew up going occasionally to Cal Tort, so I was excited to come back! I definitely think it's a solid lunch spot and we ordered online so it was ready when we got there. I got the crunchy BBQ chicken ranch burrito which I liked and was filling. We got some tacos and the one that I liked the best was the fish taco but felt like it was okay overall. Overall, I feel like this is a lunch spot to go to if you need a quick and filling meal read more

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I came here on a Tuesday night with a friend, it was quiet and only a handful of people were inside the restaurant. I ordered the Chips & Guac and the Blackened Fish Tacos. They do not skimp on guac, you get a huge serving of guac with your chips. The Blackened Fish Tacos were decent, lacking flavor... but this location has such a huge variety of sauces at your disposal :) I appreciated the wall of sauces available to customers. The staff were all friendly and the restaurant itself was clean. If you are looking for a quick, cheap bite to eat, I would recommend California Tortilla in Bethesda. Parking can be a hassle, but there are a few garages nearby that are within walking distance. read more

The food is not fresh , the salads are terrible The item in the salad had half of an union instead of chopped up . read more

Pretty solid place for a quick lunch. I usually get the veggie burrito, or the shrimp bowl. The veggies always taste fresh, the spicy sauce in the burrito is very delicious. The shrimp seems to be the frozen deep fried kind, but the sauce they slather on top makes the bowl delicious. Sometimes I do get food that's not the freshest, but not often. Overall a pretty great spot to pick up something fast, and when you order for delivery they get to you fairly quick. read more

One of my favorite burritos of all-time was at California Tortilla. We use to go the old location a lot back in the day before they moved to this new location. The old store was actually the first ever California Tortilla. My ex-girlfriends best friend lived right across the street from the old location and I can vividly remember the first time she ever took me here. It was love at first bite! In my opinion there probably isn't a better burrito on this planet. I have a lot of great memories at the old location on Cordell Ave as well as many of the other location across the DMV . If you have never tried a burrito from California Tortilla, you are missing out on a huge part of burrito heaven. read more

I came to this Cal Tor a while ago and got the "Southwestern Salad" ... as I usually do. But once I started to dig in- I realized that this piece of lettuce was bad.. then another piece... then another piece. Gross the whole salad was essentially rotten. So I go up and show the people at the line ( I'm not afraid to return food #heritage). And he makes me a brand new salad and apologizes. Turns out this salad is also jacked. I shouldn't have ordered the salad again. Silly me. But I thought maybe it was a one-off. No, the entire batch of lettuce they used was donezo. So I avoided this place for a while. Thinking that this Cal Tor had an issue with freshness. Well, when I saw that they had free wifi I had to give it another go. So I go, order my salad- bump into a few friends and sit down and eat. The salad was fresh fresh. Like fresher than I even remember. The lettuce was as crisp as a fall breeze. The tomatos (plum tomatoes) were cut smaller and had more flavor than usual. They still thinned out at the guac too much. That happened a long time ago. Along with the queso. They thinned the shiz out of that biz. I got the salad with the already cut up chicken ( the ones they put in the burritos). I think it's fresher cause they serve more burritos and tacos than they do salads. The chicken was fresh as Will Smith - Prince of Belair days. So... I had a great experience. Minus the obnoxious amount of children- ( which they don't have any control over). But because this place attracts so many children - the floor of the restaurant is like walking through a burrito bowl around lunch. After I ate my lunch with my friends, I tried to move to a place with an outlet for my computer... but I was so grossed out by the state of the floor that I left. Like it was capital "N" nasty. They really need someone dedicated to cleaning the restaurant around lunch time if that many children tend to come in. It's the price of having kid-friendly food. Gross kids who spill all their food on the floor. Yes, I know... their just kids. Doesn't make a floor full of rice beans and chicken any less gross- lo siento. Anyways, much better experience then I had las time. The food quality was much higher. I just think I'm gonna tailor my trips to only later at night. read more

The food was really good! I ordered 3 blacken chicken tacos. They were really good! I also got chips and guacamole. The guacamole was fresh and yummy. I think the restaurant was really cool because they had a hot sauce wall. It was really fun trying all the hot sauces, and I really enjoyed myself! The staff were really kind and helpful! Overall, I really enjoyed this restaurant! read more

3/3/21 Well wow!, I can't believe I have forgotten about this place. Th ih s store is the very first store I experienced the great food. I would like to say my tastes for chicken quesadilla expanded. There was something very different about this restaurant from all the other ones at the time. I think this might have had one of the first open kitchens where you can see your food being prepared. Normally back in the day, you almost never saw the cooks/chiefs. I was into drinking a lot of soda back in the day and there was some Mighty fine choices of drinks. Have you ever mixed Rootbeer, Orange Soda, Sprite, Coke and Dr. Pepper? Tastes good doesn't it? I was very excited to see these stores spring up in other places. I was very happy to see this store pop up in Rockville Maryland a few years later. I will have to try the food again. Maybe next Saturday. read more

California sunset bowl with tofu is delicious! I really appreciated how the tofu was not drenched in breading and it makes basically anything on the menu subject to becoming vegan which is great! read more

always great food at a reasonable price, employees are very nice as well! I love all the choices at the soda machine, I'm very happy they offer Coke zero! read more

If you want great food fast and very affordable then you need to stop by here. The Fajita burrito was very filling. I also really like their chips with salsa and guacamole. read more

Yummmmm. Cal Tor is the best. Sub the blackened chicken in everything and you'll be happy you did

This is a place my wife and I use to take the kids to. Since they left home, we haven't been back until this visit. There seem to be more options this time. The staff was very accommodating about adding a little something, subtracting a little something, or even exchanging an ingredient for another as you seek to customize your meal. They still have all those hot sauces that can add spice and heat to the dish. I found that I am still partial to the crocodile sauce in moderation. I chose the Caribbean mango salad. A bed of greens served as the foundation, then blackened chicken, avocado, tomatoes, cilantro, and diced mango were added. A mango dressing completed this tasty offering. My wife chose the California Sunset salad. Her foundation was spinach, rice, and black beans. Over that went grilled mesquite chicken, veggies, cilantro, avocado, and a spicy sauce. Also very nice. With their willingness to modify the menu, you can pretty much taylor your meal to whatever you are looking for. This is a winning strategy, and leaves them as a reasonable choice among the myriad of Bethesda bowl places. read more

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Solid quick dining option that delivers consistent, reasonably priced meals. Proofs in the pudding - so I just checked my checking account for 2018 and I spent almost $1,000 in lunches. There really is no better option in Bethesda if you are looking for something easy and cheap. Staff is great and knows their customers on a first name basis, and if something is wrong they will right it with urgency. The Burrito Elito card has become somewhat of a joke. It use to be a marginally ok deal, but now its akin to spending $150 and getting $5 off a burrito. But hey, its better then nothing ! read more

Fast, friendly service, reasonable prices but quality of ingredients has lowered. Recently guacamole seems to be made without real avocado and with cheap squash substitute instead. read more

California Tortilla - Tex-Mex Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

One and a half stars. Rounding up since their spinach, avocado, and shredded lettuce are actually fresh. Maybe you can't really eat healthy at a California Tortilla and leave satisfied. You would think I'd be used to Mex chains offering borderline offensive rice, but mushy on top of bland is depressing. Mixed grill bowl was filling and at least the meats were still tender. Blackened fish was somewhat overcooked. I'd pick Chipotle over this any day. read more

California Tortilla - Southwestern salad w/blackened fish, spinach, avocado. - Tex-Mex Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

An oldie but goodie! I've been going to California Tortilla ever since Pam opened her very first location on the opposite side of Cordell from where they are now, and the food is still as solid as ever. The burritos are great, but they also make some pretty great salads. This last visit, I went for the Southwestern Salad - chicken, jack cheese, tomatos, corn, and tortilla strips, with the low-fat Spicy Sunset dressing... delicious! The salad also comes with guac if you want it, but I prefer the salad without it. It's nice that you can go to a place like this and eat healthy (or not, depending on your mood). Be sure to get a Burrito Elito card - the rewards stack up fast if you're a regular. You can also join the program by downloading CalTort's mobile app. A special surprise this past Tuesday - it was Ice Cream Day! You get to pick the complimentary ice cream of your choice, a nice treat on a warm summer's day. Score! read more

California Tortilla - The Wall of Flame! - Tex-Mex Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

I love California Tortilla. My favorite item is the Southwestern Salad with blackened chicken and salsa for the dressing. This location is especially nice because when I ask for salsa they give me like 3 containers. My other favorite is the blackened chicken tacos. Yum. Get some guacamole and salsa on them and you will be a happy camper. I tried the Caribbean mango salad the other day and it was quite good. If you are in the mood for sweet/savory, I'd recommend it. read more

More like a 3.5 stars. A very straightforward Chipotle-style Americanized Mexican fast food place. Straightforward ingredient options, and you basically can get a burrito, burrito bowl, salad, quesadilla, or soft tacos. The calorie counts are all there, which is useful or daunting depending on how you look at it. I got the enchilada bowl with the pork carnitas. It hit the spot pretty well - was filling and tasty! The guacamole was also great - creamy with good chunks of tomato and onion. But overall the meal was not super memorable. Basically what you'd expect. They have a wall of all sorts of hot sauces, which is pretty cool, though it's not clear to me how to incorporate them into most of these dishes. They also have outdoor seating, which is nice during good weather. Basically a decent place to fill up, but nothing that stands out. Bethesda has more exciting fast food places (like Chicken on the Run, or I'm an &pizza fan), and it also has better Mexican (Gringos & Mariachis anyone?). So I'll have to give this place a middle-of-the-road score for now. read more

California Tortilla - Enchilada bowl - there is meat and rice under there, I promise! - Tex-Mex Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

I go to California Tortilla pretty often and I order the same thing every time. This particular one I been going to because I work down the road from it and they serve my food fairly quick, which is good since I do not have all day for lunch. The cashiers are very quick and friendly, especially when I forget to bring my members card and have to pull it up manually (which is every time). The food is good, the price is fair, it is very fast and convenient. If you are a member, you receive an occasional perks like $5 off or free chips, etc. I think it is a great place to grab quick food that is not too greasy or heavy. The reason why I cannot give it a 5 star is because it smells kind of bad inside the dining area. It smells like the rag they use to wipe down the tables have not been washed for weeks or something. I am forced to dine in because I cannot eat outside in the cold. Besides the smell, I think this place is great. read more

California Tortilla - I won this sauce randomly for being a member. Can't complain about free sauce. - Tex-Mex Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

3.5 stars. I love that they will give you a burrito you can't get anywhere else, with much more than your standard meat, rice, beans, etc. And there's a bunch of hot sauces available to go for. I've tried the havana, which comes with grilled chicken, black beans, Havana sauce (whatever that is), rice, lettuce, and salsa. I've also gone with the california screamin, which has chicken, grilled peppers, onions, hot sauce, queso sauce, and salsa. Both were tasty. I especially liked the screamin, which had a nice kick. This is fast food tex mex (cal mex?) that will fill you up and leave you satisfied. It won't blow you away, though - it is still fast food, and I've been spoiled enough by fast food mexican joints with super fresh, blow your mind delicious tortillas to be a bit disappointed by the ones here. Not that they're bad, just not great. Worth a visit. read more

I headed into California Tortilla to kill an hour one day and grab some food. This was my second time to California Tortilla but my first time at this location, despite the proximity to my apartment. I ordered a regular burrito with blackened chicken and no beans ($6.89), a small chips and guac (about $2.50), and a fountain soda. The staff were friendly and set me up with a California Tortilla card. It was a bit busy, but I managed to find a nice booth to sit in. The food was ready pretty fast, and everything was really delicious. The burrito was big, and I was pretty full and happy when I left- with no complaints. You can also order ahead online for pickup, which I haven't tried, but seems very convenient. Their website also had a catering menu. I did notice that while they have free internet, I didn't see many outlets. Overall, two thumbs up! read more

I was in the mood for Mexican and it hit the spot. Without hesitation I ordered the California Sunset Bowl. It had grilled chicken, rice, black beans, fresh avocado, cilantro and fresh spinach. I couldn't stop eating. The bowl seemed bigger than Chipotle's. I also got chips and queso! Overall, this location was great! Service was great and so was the food! I think I found me a new place to go to instead of the others lol. read more

Although I don't have a picture it is an amazing fast food service. Great and fast food. Great burrito if you need a quick dinner or lunch.