Well, the Mexican food scene in CH is pretty abysmal, and by other city standards, this place likely gets 3 stars. Mind you that I take cost into account when I rate these places, 'cause I'm a lover of good deals. For 5 bucks, you can get a veggie burrito and a soda that's definitely filling. A buck or two more for meat, but their burrito meats are pretty bad, so stay away. Their quesadillas are pretty good, and costs about as much as a taco bell quesadilla, but bigger and much better. Ambience is cramped, which I like, and on Thursdays and Saturdays, 2 dollar Sierra Nevadas, then the place doesn't seem so small. I prefer Cosmic over Chipotle or Qdoba, anyday. read more

The food is surprisingly very good. Not bad for a quick lunch stop. However, should you be "inebriated" and it's 1:00-2:00am, GO HERE! I swear, the food quality jumps to insane levels. This is the place to "clock out" on your way home from clubbing. Get a burrito. You will be happier for it. Atmosphere: During late hours, There somehow is always a person who manages to be more intoxicated than you, so that's a good laugh for you and your friends. Be warned: you won't always be guaranteed a seat during peak hours (lunch) because the place is awfully small. It looks like a bit of a dive, but the food is very good, and the workers are very nice. Also, food is very quick. Efficient. read more

I don't have a lot to say about this place. The ambiance is non-existant, the place is a little ill-lit hole in the wall. The kid working the counter laughed to my face when I asked if there was any lettuce in the burrito. I understand that most burrito's don't have lettuce, but I've seen it before, and I don't want lettuce on my food, so I asked for a reason. Kind of insulting.... The food was cheap and very filling. The food however tasted really generic. I couldn't barely taste any thing but the tortilla that the burrito was wrapped in. Also they offered a very paltry amount of salsa and chips Also, you have to ask for a key to the restroom, a feature that I associate with nasty gas stations, not a restaurant. I didn't like it, I'd rather go to Carrburrito's in the future. read more

This is a popular late night spot in downtown Chapel Hill and personally one of my favorite Mexican spots (and I've been to many!). The staff are very pleasant (especially if you happen to know how to speak Spanish) and make an effort to remember your name if you are a regular customer. I think the food is great; I usually order a vegetarian burrito, which runs for about $3.28 including tax. If you eat there during the day you also get complimentary chips and salsa with your order. My favorite ingredient is the salsa, which they make fresh, pico de gallo style. Also on Friday nights they do $1 drafts which is fun if you're looking to pre-game before going to the bars. My only other tip is that if you order nachos of any kind, order them to-go - the to-go boxes are much larger than the baskets they use for dine-in orders so you get a lot more for the same price. read more

Not good Mexican food. Honestly, not good good. Seems like everything is made in a microwave. I guess the prices are alright. The people working here are nice enough. read more

I tried their chicken burrito for lunch a few weeks back, and it sucked. I can see how you'd like this place if: 1. You're drunk 2. You're a student who just doesn't know any better 3. You just returned to the states from a long visit in a third world country read more

Cosmic was my holy land as a poor college student. I started eating there the first week of my freshman year, and I could get a whole meal for $2. That was back in the day, when I knew to order the vegetarian quesadilla (cheese, fresh spinach and mushrooms, salsa) before they put it on the permanent menu. Another good option is the veggie deluxe burrito. It'll cost you $5, but you can cut it in half and save the rest for tomorrow. (If you're extra hungry, get the giant size for a dollar more.) After the bars close on the weekends, Cosmic's line snakes out the door, but it's worth the wait for a relatively healthy place to get late-nite food. Cosmic's ingredients are fresh, and their portions are generous. And the Coke from their Coke machine is the best Coke in the world. Cosmic has recently put in a very tiny bar and done some small updates to the decor. Overall it's an improvement, but I'm still saddened by the absence of the Silly Man. There used to be spectacularly bizarre poster-sized sections of wall art, a few of which were preserved even after repainting. One of them was on the wall by the door and depicted "Silly man attempting to suck the cold out of the earth." Silly Man was a stick figure standing on his head, into which an arrow was moving up from the ground. I hope he succeeded before he got painted over. read more

I LOVE cosmic! Best food/bargain in Chapel Hill! I get their cheese and salsa quesadilla every time. It's delicious, filling, fresh, and packed with flavor. And It's only about two dollars. TWO DOLLARS! That's wayyyy cheaper than Taco Bell! And unlike the Taco Bell version, it's not made with cow feces. Great prices, open late, awesome quality, and delicious food! The restaurant has a reputation for being a hotspot when you're drunk, and out late, but the food quality and service is worth it any time of the day. read more

Cosmic is a STAPLE for college students and staff alike. The mini burrito is the perfect mid day meal!

Closed at 2am instead of 4am during summer They should update their info on web to reflect these change of hours. read more

You don't have to be drunk to enjoy the food here. Its really tasty, fresh and seriously not overloaded with salt that you can actually taste the food. Most burrito places I take a bite and I can feel myself bloating instantly but I did just fine eating one of these. They have a great selection of sizes and combos and the prices were reasonable. I had a normal size burrito and it filled me up without being way obnoxious. Though they have obnoxious if so needed. Service is friendly and quick. read more

This is one of the best mexican food/burrito places in chapel hill. The prices cannot be beat either. They make the food pretty quickly and right in front of you. This is also great place to eat if you are a vegan or vegetarian! They have a variety of ingredients to choose from and the ingredients are very fresh. Cosmic has black or pinto beans and it even has tofu as a stuffing choice also! One of the reviewers wrote that they wish they used black beans....well you don't have to go by their menu...you can make your own burrito! I always do! I make mine with black beans, rice, spinach, guacamole and salsa...turns out to be very yummy! Also, if you want some kick...ask for their free extra spicy salsa. Convenient, fresh, cheap, quick and tasty! What more can you ask for? Update: A few years ago their burritos were so big that you could eat one burrito for two meals like another reviewer wrote....you used to have to order their mini burrito if you just wanted a quick lunch...however, the other day I ordered a mini burrito and was shocked to pay $3.00 for a mini.... but finished it in two bites...I was hungry 40 minutes later...and for some reason their regular burrito has gotten smaller also...but the taste it still the same! :) read more

Decent. Fast food mexican type of vibe. I think some things were most definitely over priced and I would pick a food truck next time over it for sure. read more

Cosmic is hands down, one of the best late night stops in Chapel Hill. I'm not sure I've ever eaten here prior to midnight, but boy is this stuff good after dark. Their fare is quality and, relative to other Mexican joints on Franklin, pretty authentic. They serve big, tasty burritos, offer some beer, and an assortment of other options. I absolutely recommend you go with the burrito and go home happy. read more

Okay, this is probably one of the better late night spots on Franklin. I would not go here during the day at all. The burritos are decent as are the nachos, the quesadillas are a little messy and should be avoided unless you want to just drip grease all over yourself. Prices are pretty reasonable at about $6 or so. If you get here after 2am the lines are out the door and there's no seating, I think you're better off showing up at 1:50 just to be one of the first in line and to grab a table. Also don't forget to harass them for salsa, they like to hold it back so you gotta be pushy to get it, but it's worth it. read more

This place is a great late night place. And now that Hector's is no more, I just go here when I'm in town. No Hector's makes me so sad. However, now that Cosmic has cleaned up it isn't too shabby to go to at 3AM. Never met anyone who goes before 2AM, but it definitely hits the spot in the middle of the night! read more

Giant chicken burrito and a Negro Modelo. Excellent. The interior isn't as scuzzy the Durham location, which is good. Sadly, it's also a bit more cramped. Of course, that has nothing to do with the food. Good food at really good prices. The ingredients are nice and fresh, and they have a good selection for both vegetarians and carnivores. That said, I do wish you could tweak the burritos a bit more. Maybe black beans instead of pinto beans. The Cosmic burrito tastes good, but each is exactly the same as the last. read more

This place has decline in quality in the last 5 years. The burritos have gotten smaller and drier. I used to get a large and it would last me 2 meals. You can't beat it for convenience though. It's close to campus, it's still the cheapest quality burrito, it's super quick and it's open late. There's often a $1 off coupon in The Independent. read more

The food here is cheap, pretty good, and always filling, which is why it gets 4 stars from me. I almost always go for the mini burritos ($4.something for lunch), but their nachos and salsa are good as well (salsa is very sweet FYI). Despite this, I've noticed a huge decline in the quality of the meat in the burritos in the last year, especially in the chicken, which is now usually hard and sometimes burned. If they can fix this issue, it's a 5 star place for lunch or dinner for sure. read more

I love this place for its atmosphere. You know it's been a successful night out when you end up at Cosmic. I have so many great memories here which is why I'm giving it 4 stars. The food is hit or miss. The food on its own would only carry 3 stars. During the summer months, the food is usually not as fresh or as good as it is during the main school year. The steak burritos are good. The steak salad is out of this world. I'm usually not a salad person, but the steak salad is amazing - little juicy chunks of steak mixed with black beans, shredded mozzarella cheese, pico de gallo, and a really really really good dressing. read more

This place is pretty good late night food, and they have cheap options, especially for vegetarians and vegans. It's honestly nothing to write home about, but it does in a pinch. read more

Just no. Came here because of the good reviews. Chicken was chewy and taco was soggy. Guacamole was not fresh. Was hoping the "hole in the wall" would leave us impressed but nope. read more

One of the best places on Franklin to go when you're drunk! They have awesome food. Favorites: -Vegetarian burritos. (YES!) -Vegetarian deluxe nachos. (YESS!) -Cheese and salsa quesadilla. (YESSS!) The food is so inexpensive, too! read more

These are the best burritos I've ever had, highly recommend. Fast and high quality and super convenient location.

I definitely enjoyed my dinner. I was disappointed at first upon arriving as I had ordered through grub hub for pick up on my way home, only to arrive and find out they don't take orders from grubhub and therefore did not have my food ready. But they quickly made my order and knocked my socks off with how well the food was made. The cheese dip was phenomenal, my quesadilla was on perfect, the corn chips were fresh and perfectly salted. I enjoyed the pico de gallo and the salsa Verde was amazing, I asked for extra for my chips because it was amazing. I will definitely be going back for more. The staff was amazing and I enjoyed the conversation the guy who rung me up, although if you aren't fluent in Spanish that may be hard for you to accomplish. Looking forward to my next night off so I can try some more of the menu read more

They claim their business hours are until 4:00, but they are not! Fi your business hours, it's ridiculous!!! Do not recommend until everything is updated online. read more

Good food but the place is a dump. It's in a college town just off UNC chapel hill campus. Very good steak burrito. It does have a 98 health rating so the kitchen is clean. read more

Cosmic Cantina - Menu board - Mexican Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

See all

Drunk food at its finest. Cosmic cantina is the best burrito deal around and the portions are extremely generous. Chips and salsa with every burrito is so awesome! read more

Cosmic Cantina - Giant veggie burrito - Mexican Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Great food and ambiance. The people working here are very friendly and the location in a school town with multiple bars, restaurants and coffee shops on the same street is fun to be in. Portions are good and there is a line here in the evening. read more

Awesome burritos, cheap prices, open super late...what more could you ask for? Seriously, this is my favorite burrito place in town, it's awesome. I will say that you better be prepared to be around a bunch of noisy, drunk college students if you go there for late night... but it's pretty mellow if you go any other time. Check it out, you won't be disappointed. read more

Cosmic is ok. I'll agree with other comments that the quality has declined since my college days (class of '03). I usually get a chicken burrito, but I hear lots of folks ordering the veggie, so maybe I should give it a try. It's decent, but nothing to write home about. read more

-Art Majors' Food Mecca- It's really close to Hanes Art Center and so cheap and there are healthy options... so... how can I not eat there multiple times a day? Also, almost everything on the menu is fresh and delicious. The staff seems pretty cool, and is tolerant of the nerdy white Spanish 100 students who try to order in spanish. Only critique: I wish they still sold coffee. I can't find anywhere that sells coffee on Franklin after 11pm. How am I supposed to stay awake in Hanes all night without it? read more

Great customer service & good food. We received out orders very quickly as well...all this & a good price. A winner!

Best Burritos with fresh ingredients. Just as good as California style mission burritos!

Cosmic has seen the best and the worst of me over the 3 years I was at an undergrad. I live in Boston now and miss it so much. It's cheap and filling and TASTY. Service is always quick and the workers are friendly. The burritos come in 3 sizes and the mini is so cheap (especially vegetarian). read more

Cosmic is a good restaurant to grab a quick eat from. The price is also very reasonable and they come closest to making the tasty West Coast mission style burrito of any other similar food joint in the area. I usually get the veggie deluxe burrito for 5.11$ (get UConnection to save 1$) and have never been disappointed. The environment could be a bit better but due to all the other plus factors, I don't have much complaints. read more

This place is by no means my favorite Mexican place in town, but it's a consistent source of cheap and decent tasting food. You can get a pretty good veggie burrito for a little more than $3, and be on your way. I personally prefer places like Bski's or Time Out for drunk eating, (less inhibitions=willing to spend a little more money) but I won't lie, it does get pretty interesting in there. Actual quote from what I'm assuming was a very intoxicated alumnus at around 1am: "IN MY YOUNGER DAYS, I WOULD HAVE TRIED TO SEDUCE YOU!" She repeated this several times until the woman she was talking to sort of awkwardly laughed. read more

I love cosmic. Their food is always tasty tasty and the prices are really reasonable for the HUGE portions you get. I love their burritos and that's what I almost always get, but occasionally I change it up with nachos that are fantastic or a tasty quesadilla. They are fantastic late night food or great food for on campus; can't go wrong for after bar hopping food or studying for exams food. :) I love the chicken and black bean burrito. read more

This is hands down the best and most affordable place to eat lunch on Franklin during the week. Everyone who works here is extremely nice and they always greet you with a smile. It feels like a real family owned restaurant rather than another cookie-cutter place. It's nice to know your money is going to the community rather than some big business. Pro tip: if you come during the day you can get free chips and salsa! read more

I don't get it. Below average food in a tight, cramped joint. Maybe its the prices and proximity to campus but if you have a car or are not a student, head to Carrburitos in Carrboro for much tastier and fresher tex-mex with a much better atmosphere read more