I don't know why most folks think of this place as just a late-night burrito joint. I love their burritos any time of day. Their prices are excellent if you know what to order -- hint hint: the "mini" burritos are almost the same size as the regular burritos and half the price. My order: Regular vegetarian burrito (chimichanga is good as well), quesadilla, and chips and salsa --- this usually comes to under $8 for a ton of food. These are very different burritos from your chain usuals (i.e. Chipotle and Qdoba) and I think much much better. If you like hot sauce be sure to try the green hot sauce they have (salsa verde I think they call it). They make it seem like it is the hottest stuff on the planet when you are ordering it but really it's no big deal. Be sure to get it inside the burrito if you're feeling especially daring. Any day of the week and anytime of day after 1pm this place is the way to go. Some of the reviews seem to bash it because it's not "authentic Mexican" but I'm really not sure where in Durham, North Carolina they're hoping to get authentic Mexican food. Last comment: they've never messed up my order regardless of how many items are on it and how many special requests (hot sauce inside versus outside, pinto vs black beans etc), which is much more than I can say about 80% of restaurants I've visited in Durham so that's a big one for me. read more

I love eating at Cosmic Cantina. A long time, local and delicious Mexican option. It's always very crowded at meal times and is a small space so be warned! Their "mini" burritos are the PERFECT size and you should definitely ask for hot sauce--they have a wonderfully spicy green sauce that they make themselves. read more

I'm not vegetarian, but I always get the vegetarian mini burrito... it comes with some chips and salsa and is super yummy! I tried their guac there the other day, it was really good too! Now, I don't typically eat the steak there... I'm sure it's fine, but I just don't really trust it.... the chicken is okay, but it is blackened, so it has a bit of a charred taste. The atmosphere is very laid back... not really the cleanest place in the world, but it's cheap mexican food, what can you expect!? read more

Pretty much local's version of Chipotle. On the plus side, the burritos seem to be wrapped/prepared much better than other fast food places. However, what really brings down the rating are the prices. A lot of micro-charges on the menu that shouldn't be there, such as having to pay quite a bit for just some regular salsa to go along with your plain tortilla chips, which should be complimentary. As well as having to pay like 5 bucks for a regular guacamole or queso. C'mon guys, a little bit of pico de gallo to go with my chips isn't going to make you go under, considering the other prices are higher than they should be as well. 3/5. read more

"The Best Mexican Food on the Planet." While I wasn't utterly blown away by my burrito experience, I'd say it's fair for Cosmic Cantina to self-claim this title. This venue is somewhat of a hole-in-the-wall, located along the same staircase that brings you to 9th St Dance. A small amount of indoor seating but they also have more seats on the balcony, which is nice when it's not too chilly outside. The atmosphere is dark and slightly grungy, yet Cosmic still manages to feel quaint. Since the venue is open so late, you don't have to worry about waiting in line unless you come near midnight on a weekend. Burritos are what this place is known for and being open til 4 AM, Cosmic is great for late-night food. If you're hungry, you'll want to go for a deluxe burrito; you'll leave full for sure. Rice, beans, meat, guac, lettuce, and sour cream are sure to satisfy. Compared to Chipotle, the burritos from Cosmic aren't as salty. As much as I am a Chipotle fan, I'm all for less salt in my food. Both venues offer burritos at comparable prices. Because Cosmic is open much later than Chipotle and because it isn't a large franchise like Chipotle, it fills a niche that isn't already occupied in Durham. It's a favorite among college students and I'm certain that it'll remain so for years to come. read more

Just off 9th street this place is one of those memorable local spots that is worth the experience at least once. You enter the door from the street marked as a dance studio and walk up graffiti lined stairs where each riser has bit of a poem written on it. Enter a battered red industrial looking door on the second floor and there you have it -- a wonderful joint serving burritos late into the night. The burritos are very tasty but are not very spicy at all so I usually finish it off with hot sauce at home. If you do stick around to eat there be sure to head out and eat on the patio past the unmarked door by the bussing station. Tip: Be sure to order deluxe so you get the guac and sour cream. Also be sure to ask them to add hot sauce to your burrito, it makes all the difference in the world. read more

Compared to Chubby's, Chubby's takes the cake unfortunately. I wouldn't feel bad giving this place 2-stars, but the 3rd star is for the fact that they stay open late. A very, very rare commodity in Durham. I've tried their quesadillas and burritos there and all are average. Not great, not inedible. I feel like there's an unusually high cheese to meat ratio and I like cheese. Service is SLOW and the guy behind the counter never seems to care to go any faster no matter how long the line gets. Like Chubby's, they serve beer there. You can tell a lot of Duke undergrads frequent there quite a bit, which is fine, but can be annoying at times when you have a bunch of drunk and inebriated 19 and 20 year olds taking forever and a day to order because they're too high to comprehend the menu. I wouldn't even limit it to undergrads. I've seen plenty of law students come in, in the same state too. Not cute. If it's midnight and you absolutely need some Mexican food, then I'd definitely recommend this place. Just know that it's nothing special, but definitely fills the void when you want some late night munchies. read more

I was stuck in a November rain and ran up in here majorly suffering a bloodsugar attack. Quick service saved my life no joke. The plain chicken burrito was $6 without chips. I was like, "Owch." HOWEVER, it didn't need any pico or sour cream or even guacamole. It was seasoned so beautifully. Just rice, beans, chicken, and whatever magic they throw in there. I wanted to complain about the price, coming from San Francisco where they'll hustle you a burrito and greasy tortilla chips for $3.50 in The Mission. But, in the end, this mega burrito of flavor lasted for TWO meals. Even in my desperate, post-college no-job miserhood, I cannot deny the value and deliciousness. Eff a bunch of grease chips. I'll be back rain or shine. read more

"THE BEST MEXICAN FOOD ON THE PLANET," proclaims the sign on their building. (I have posted it in photos for those who desire proof.) Really? Would the best Mexican food on the planet be somewhere in the middle of Durham, North Carolina rather than... um... MEXICO?!? But, more relevant to this review, it's not even the best Mexican food on the block! There's Blue Corn Cafe and Chubby's Tacos just around the corner on Ninth Street! Alright, these burritos are huge, and if you're someone like me who gets off on eating more than your date who is a lot bigger than you then this is the place for you. But that date was in high school, which is the only reason that his choice of restaurant is at all forgivable. (PS - This was not a recent date! I was in high school too, okay!) The burritos are pretty standard, not really any better than Chipotle, though you get to enjoy that self-righteous rush of not endorsing a chain restaurant. Dear Cosmic Cantina, I grant you 3 stars for food/service and old time's sake, but one star is lost due to racist/nationalist arrogance. Kisses, Theo read more

The Cosmic Cantina - Really? REALLY?!? - Mexican Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

First challenge: find the entrance to this place. The restaurant is on the second floor so you have to find the entrance door (that is slightly hidden) and go up the stairs and to the right. They have a menu board, but if you ask at the register, they have a paper menu that explains the various options. I opted for the regular chicken burrito (rice, chicken, beans, cheese, salsa) and it was a sizable meal (at least a pound of food). I wished I had opted for the deluxe version with sour cream and guacamole (next time). The burrito was delicious. The chicken was super flavorful and the proportions of rice:beans:meat:cheese was pretty awesome. I'd definitely come back here for a quick and easy meal (it's like a way better Chipotle). Fun factoid: They have this sweet little outdoor dining area that is kind of hidden if you don't know about it. When you're facing the counter, look to your left and there is a door - go out that and you'll be outside. SURPRISE! read more

Okay, be forewarned: I will *attempt* to contain my joy while writing this review, but I probably won't be too successful! OH MY LORDY LORD COSMIC CANTINA IS AMAZING. With all due respect to the wonderful people who make up the Yelp community, I have to fervently and energetically disagree with Sarah M.'s note that Cosmic Cantina would have gotten 4 stars from her if she hadn't had Chipotle on the brain. Sister, Chipotle can't hold a candle to this rich Mexican goodness, and furthermore Chipotle's viability as a 'restaurant' is based on the revenue generated by loyal followers that hole-in-the-wall places like Cosmic Cantina have all over this great country of ours!!! With cheap, fresh ingredients, and an ample menu (even for vegetarians) my review of Cosmic Cantina hits the 5-star mother load due to their solid know-how when it comes to burrito wrapping. Benjamin B. has it right: the ingredients in a burrito need to be well mixed, and they need to stay wrapped up in the darned tortilla! It's not a particularly hard concept, but those fast-food joints just can't seem to get it right. The Durham location is on the second floor up a well-used, oozing-with-character staircase, above a flower shop and next to a dance studio. With seating inside and out, I recommend the great patio seating, complete with tables that aren't balanced - bless their hearts. Expect to pay around $5 for a burrito, and make sure to get some guacamole on that bad boy: Cosmic Cantina makes it as good as anybody in the biz. read more

This is Durham. Or at least a fantastic facet of it. Graffiti-riddled stairwell. A little confusion. A hidden rooftop. Good, cheap food with just enough choices. Go. Bring a friend. Enjoy something a little different, but if a couple other reviews put you off, maybe you're better off at a chain. read more

I went here late at night, not something I would normally do but Art was with me so, safe and sound! The place is so much brighter at night and the cashier suddenly speaks perfect English with no accent. They were playing beautiful Spanish love songs as opposed to the normal stuff. Was I in another dimension?? I ordered my tried and true steak burrito with black beans and it was the best I have ever had there. Everything just collided perfectly that night into one amazing burrito. Pro Tip - burritos and chips are really a big meal even if they don't look like it. Save half of your burrito but just wrapping it back up in the foil and reheating in the oven for another "cosmic" explosion. I swear it was even better the second time around if that is even possible. read more

I love this place, I really do. Chubby's (just up Ninth Street) has better food, but Cosmic has the atmosphere and hours to make up for it. I might prefer a barbacoa burrito from Chubby's, but make no mistake, the burritos at Cosmic are no slouches! (Seemingly) High quality ingredients, HUGE portions and a great flavor add up to THE perfect late night meal, while the roof-top patio and no-one being bothered enough to shush you and your buddies make it the perfect late night dive. If it's after midnight, you're hungry and your friends don't know where to go, go to Cosmic, you won't be sorry! read more

After having a friend tell me that I will not find a better burrito ANYWHERE, I had to go to Cosmic Cantina. Don't be fooled by the hype. I got the steak burrito with the regular fixings with a beer on the side. The service was on par. Order the food and the hand it to you when it is ready. The chips are tasty but the salsa taste like cilantro. The burrito was nothing to write home about. I honestly think I have made better at my own house. Some people will call me crazy, but I honestly don't think you can mess up a burrito unless you're buying it out of the freezer section of the grocery store. Save some money and go to Moe's. BTW...what's up with the placement of the bathrooms in that place? read more

Awesome quesadilla great place to go after a night out on the town. If you are looking for great food to fill you up this is the place

Maybe this place would've gotten 4 stars had I not been jonesing for Chipotle. But I am visiting my sister up here in Durham, and I said burrito, and she replied, Cosmic. The space is cool. It's this little hole-in-the-wall and is probably a favorite to many people because of that. I think we sometimes crave those places that don't look polished. Perhaps it makes us feel like we're willing to sacrifice ambiance for good food. Whether this place does that, though? Jury's out on that one. I suppose you just like what you're used to. My sister loves this place. Me? I kept taking bites of burrito hoping that it will start tasting like Chipotle. read more

Not sure whether the haters who wrote the 1- and 2-star reviews were expecting some fancy pants cuisine or something, but for what it is, Cosmic knows how to get things done. They may be a little bold with their sign out front that reads "BEST MEXICAN FOOD ON THE PLANET", but don't write this place off! This joint is certainly unassuming at best -- you walk up this sketchy staircase to enter (rickety to the point that I'm always nervous to do my walk down because I'll be carrying an extra few pounds of burrito baby), the menu is on a chalkboard, and I wouldn't linger in those bathrooms much longer than nature requires, but this is a quality cantina. They have an expansive menu (and they're good about letting you customize things -- always a plus given how picky an eater I am), good margaritas, friendly staff, and fast service. The guacamole too is (pun intended, I couldn't help myself) out of this world, but they are best known for their burritos. They do take credit cards, which given the looks of the place always surprised me. The line at night (open until 4 AM) can get quite long, but don't worry -- it moves pretty fast. While I wouldn't probably bring someone here on a first date (or maybe I would, 'cause I'm classy like that), I would certainly consider an aversion to this place to be a red flag. Surprisingly spacious especially if you consider the patio deck out back. Prices have gone up a little since I went there for the first time like 11 or so years ago, but it's still very reasonable (easy to spend less than $10 including a drink). The music can get a little overwhelming sometimes and the cleanliness / general decor leaves a little to be desired (I have seen the occasional rat when seated outside), but I'll chalk those up as part of the ~*~*ambiance*~*~. Also - I definitely think the super friendly guy (old ish one, not the attractive young guy) who works the counter is drunk like over 50% of the times I've been here. read more

This little hidden gem was found by yelp! If you were to just drive around and find a place you would not be able to find this! You have to walk up a stairway to locate this restaurant. I didn't care too much about my burrito. But the value of this place is great! You can get a regular, deluxe, or a giant of any order. The regular is obviously the normal size. The deluxe have sour cream and guacamole. And the giant is truly that! I got the regular and my boyfriend got the giant burrito. The giant size was easily 3 pounds of food, if not more. It was twice the size of mine! However the speed and value that you'll receive here is what gets the 4 stars! The only thing I wish they carried was hot sauce to add to their food. This place makes for delicious left overs! read more

So, looking through the reviews for Cosmic Cantina gave me a very Catherine Zeta-Jones impression. You know, bi-polar. So, I wasn't sure what to think - but I wanted to try a new (to me) burrito place. I was very pleased with my experience. Yes, it is a weird staircase and entrance to the restaurant. But, I thought that the burrito was really good. It was fresh and the chicken was particularly good - I could actually tell that it had been grilled - because some of the chicken had charring on the edges. It is a basic burrito (I got the "Old School"), but just flat out tasty. For the bad reviews? Maybe this is one of those places where you have to get the right dish. I actually liked the Cosmic Cantina chicken burrito better than the chicken burrito from Chubby's. Next time, I'll try the tacos and see how they fare. read more

Happiness is an order of 4 plain cheese quesadillas and hot sauce. I'm a regular now, coming whenever my stomach craves the awesome melted cheese and flour tortillas. The chips are also quite good. If you're a Duke student, show them your ID and you get a discount. read more

Delicious late night munchies. Very juicy chicken that had great flavoring. Atmosphere is very hipster / college like and you're likely to see some drunk people coming through for some late night entertainment. read more

Cosmic or Chubby's, Cosmic or Chubby's, Cosmic or Chubby's... I think I actually choose Cosmic 4 out of 5 times, though I think I actually enjoy Chubby's burritos more. So really my choices make no sense. Maybe it's the dark, rickety staircase or the colorful graffitti on the Cosmic bathroom walls that draw me in time after time. Ah, it is truly a mystery. Ok, so the flavor may not be mind-blowing but it's pretty darn good and at a very reasonable price. The vegetarian and cheese quesadillas are particularly a steal at their low prices. Along those lines, Cosmic offers a wide variety of vegetarian options (including a delicious tofu burrito!). They advertise numerous different burritos, although I'm not totally sure how all the different incarnations of chicken differ. Chubby's does have a leg up in the burrito size department, as well as in the magnitude of your salsa bar department (since Cosmic does not have a salsa bar). Yes, Cosmic is very easy to walk by, and yes, the staircase leading up to the restuarant can be construed as "shady" but there is a certain charm to this little Mexican joint with it's homely outdoor seating, largely friendly staff, late night hours and big board of a menu. Plus how many Mexican restaurants can boast that you have the option of moseying across the hall right after your meal to work off that burrito and Corona at an actual dance studio? I'm betting not many... read more

+ despite the fact that I eat these free on avg 2x week, I have not gotten sick of them! :) that's b/c they are awesome burritos! + full of flavor with a good mix of fillings: rice/beans/meat/cheese, depending on what you get. + prices are great to get a very filling burrito for ~$5. + open late. It irks me so much that many places close to campus aren't open past 10! What's a girl to do if she's hungry?! +/- the entrance is through an unmarked glass door up these creaky worn down stairs that I'm terrified of going back down for fear of falling and smashing my face. BUT, inspirational stuff written up the steps... So it gives it character. - wouldn't say this is authentic like I wouldn't come here if I want some yummy sopes or tamales. read more

Just moved from San Diego. I got a veggie quesadilla, my honey got a steak chimi..... This is easily better Mexican food than SD. So much flavor! read more

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Cosmic is one of my favorite go-to places for good mexican at a cheapish price. It's open very late (til 4 I think), which makes it great for a late night snack after a night on the town or if you're an insomniac (like me, occasionally) looking for a meal. It's fairly cheap, but not dirt cheap. 2.50 for a big taco. ~8 for a generous burrito. Meals are maybe a buck or two more expensive than your typical tacqueria, but cheaper than your average meal. The food is some of the better mexican around, but note that this depends on taste. Compared to Chubby's Tacos down the street, the food is less rich. e.g., Cosmic has less doughy soft-shells. Cosmic is also less eclectic and more "traditional", more in line with what you'd "expect" from cheap mexican food. If you go, choose from the burritos or the tacos. Can't go wrong. There's a good beer selection, too. Avoid the margaritas (they're both bland and weak). read more

Holy crap! Whoever told me that I HAD to try this place when I mentioned I was on a mission to find a truly authentic Mexican establishment in RTP was WAY off the mark. This review goes hand in hand with my review for El Rodeo Mexican Restaurant in the same area. I was optimistic when I walked in and saw/heard Hispanic employees but was immediately let down when I looked at the menu. No carne asada, no pollo de anything, no barbacoa, nothing of the sort. Still mildly hopeful that maybe they've dumbed down the menu presentation for better local marketing, I ordered the steak burrito. I certainly got what I ordered. Steak. In a tortilla. No flavour and no authenticity. read more

frequented here freshman year for those late night drunk food sessions. Cosmic may be a reason of the popular freshman 15... nonetheless the food is excellent, cheap and close to East campus. read more

Yes, some of the best Mexican food on the planet. We drive from Wake Forest to get our fix! read more

The Cosmic Cantina - Mexican Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Classic Durham staple for late night fare! Despite being a known as an after hours spot, cosmic has some of the best Mexican in the Durham area. Great service great atmosphere and the chicken in any dish is freaking delicious. read more

Great price point and very pleasant food. Good vegan options. I ordered a burrito with black beans. It was very mild but pleasing. My wife's Margarita was great. She had the tofu burrito. I tried it and it was delicious too. Mild but more flavor than the straight-up black bean. I wish they had salsas available again but with their low prices, this can be forgiven. read more

Late night plain cheese quesadillas with green hot sauce. To quote Barney Stinson, "LEGEND... wait for it... DARY!" Seriously, if you think you're a burrito/taco/nachos person, just try it once. Plain. Cheese. Quesadillas. Possibly life-changing. read more

This dive is delicious. I love the atmosphere, the grunginess, and the food. The burritos are big and the margaritas are cheap. The menu is on a chalkboard and the service is very fast. I'm craving a steak burrito now. yum :) read more

In my opinion, this is the best burrito in Durham. Chicken deluxe baby! I have been coming here for a couple years now and it never fails to deliver on an excellent burrito. Very consistent. Nine times out of ten, you will find the same man working the cash register, and despite the drunken clientele he may have to deal with on a daily basis he maintains a very friendly disposition, which i commend him for. They also should be recognized for the hours they keep, i mean every day til 4am? Who else does that? Now I am hungry again, thanks yelp! ;) read more

While at a conference in Durham I had two lunches at Cosmic Cantina. It was good enough for me to come back and is probably among the better Mexican joints in the Triangle, but I am still searching for excellent east coast mexican. The veggie mole burrito was tasty mole but sort of sad otherwise - just beans and cheese and lots of rice. I added guac to it the second time, which made it better, but what about roasted veggies or even some pico de gallo? All these cost extra at Cosmic Cantina. That said, my colleagues really liked the Chimichangas and the salads. read more

I'm not from this area, but many people recommended that I try the place out. Since I'm here for a few weeks I made sure that I tried it out. Walked in with a couple of friends because we heard about the yummy $3 veggie burritos... ...and it was SO YUMMY! It was simple with beans, rice, salsa, and cheese. When you put the salsa verde on it, it was EXTRA yummy. I will definitely be going back to get this burrito. The place was a little dirty. There was dust on paintings as well as the fans. read more

Yeah so this place is on my radar for lunch with coworkers. First off, this place is a dive. Often when sitting outside in the summer you have to pick and choose you chairs carefully as some are obviously suspect. Walking up the stairs, it immediately transports me back to my college days. The stairs are well worn. The primary character of the Cantina is the diveiness. All the comments of the establishment aside, they are always super busy and I never fear what comes out of the kitchen. I have never gotten sick aside from eating too much. The chips are good. The salsa is really really bland and needs some heat or something. I have only gotten the burritos and they are alright. I hate to say this but I think Qdoba or Chipotle do it better. They are always super fast so much so that even with the drive here at lunch time, there is no rush. I would say maybe 3 stars based on food, but the fact that it is so run down gives it the 2 stars. Ultimately, Cosmic is on my radar and I eat here more than I would care to admit because it is simply ok, but I do love me a burrito very once and a while with coworkers. read more

I'm probably biased since I ate here approximately 537 times between '98 and '02, but this is the greatest burrito place in the entire world. Chimichangas, taco salads, quesadillas, burritos - all amazing. I was partial to the vegetarian or Constance burritos, but the chicken is delicious as well. I've never really gotten the point of measuring how "authentic" a restaurant's cuisine is, so I can't comment there. I just like food that tastes good, and this place really does it for me. read more

Food is fab and veryyyyy cheap for the large portions. Only complaint is that you can't order ahead because they literally never ever pickup the phone. read more

This place came highly recommended from several sources. I'm not sure what the fuss is all about. Sure, the ambiance was nice. But the burritos...seriously. The burrito tasted average at best. read more