I've been coming to The Hot Shop for years now, and it's still one of those places I happily recommend whenever someone asks for something different from the usual burrito spot. I was first introduced to this restaurant by a friend back in 2018, and every time I've gone back, the food has been consistently fresh, flavorful, and satisfying. My favorites are the Tropical and Cajun burritos (I've had both with lamb and chicken), and they never disappoint. The flavors are unique without being overwhelming, which is what keeps me coming back. The nachos are also worth trying. read more

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Committed tip fraud. I ordered a burrito to go, was presented a tap to pay machine, and wasn't shown a tip prompt. I also wasn't offered a receipt, but didn't think much of such a small transaction. Later when I checked my card statement, I saw they added on nearly another $2. Yes, it's a small amount, but theft is theft regardless. Always ask for a receipt and check your transactions!! read more

The Hot Shop - Mexican Near Me - Albany, California

Delicious huge quesadillas! Tacos and burritos are also great, but the artichoke quesadilla is my fave. It's enormous (not too big if you're hungry), and they put sour cream in it so it's the perfect amount of melty/creamy/cheesy, and the hot sauces are delicious. There's a lime cilantro one that's perfectly salty and fresh but my fave is the orange one - no idea what's in it but it's so good. Pretty simple menu but the meats are quality, lamb is tender and flavorful and they use flour tortillas for the tacos, not corn (love flour tortillas and theirs are quality!), which I love. I'm rarely in Albany so I don't get to come here enough but I love it. read more

I love supporting small businesses, but I don't love tip fraud. The owner seemed to be a nice guy at first. He kept pushing their Cajun burrito, which I obliged.. then he repeated my order and said with cheese and sour cream. I don't mind the extra add-ons for $0.75, but I could've also gone without it. It felt like he was just pushing me to spend more rather than something I decided on out of free will. Granted I could've been less awkward and say no to the additional items he added. Anyway, everything was fine till the transaction posted and I saw he gave himself a tip for takeout. Not cool. Won't be a returning customer. read more

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My whole family got food poisoning from this place. Was excited to try something new and being that they had good reviews we decided to stop and order some burritos. Bad idea read more

I can't believe I've been eating burritos for 20 years and I finally tried the best burrrito I've ever had! Service was amazing, the flavors were new and enjoyable! read more

Absolutely delicious and saucy burrito; you also have three sauces to try from- ginger/garlic, cilantro lime, and sweet chili. Tasty spiced meat, I got the lamb. Would definitely recommend this place. read more

The Hot Shop - Cajun Burrito - Mexican Near Me - Albany, California

Cute Store w/ Dine-In & Food Delivery Options - Masha Allah !!! Tropical Burrito, Cajun Chicken & Lamb Shawarna Plate. Generous Quantities by Chef Owner Elder Mr. MO !!! Clean Environment on San Pablo Ave. near SOLANO Ave. in Albany , Ca. read more

One line review: Meh. We arrived here with great anticipation. The reviews are stellar, and the overlap of cuisines sounded promising. Alas, the Hot Shop didn't live up to the hype. I am honestly not sure what other reviewers are loving about this place. Our lamb burritos had way too much rice and not much lamb; the lamb was also bland, not well-seasoned. The nachos were a liquidy mess, causing the chips to become limp. Maybe I should have asked for the chips on the side, but who does that with nachos? On the positive, the nachos were a generous portion, but that and the green hot sauce were about the only things to celebrate here. The server (owner?) was friendly and recommended the dishes we ordered. But if this is his best, we were underwhelmed. We honestly felt like perhaps he made those recommendations to get rid of something that wasn't selling that day. Value was not good. Either we got overcharged substantially (by something like $10). Maybe he surreptitiously added a gratuity? -- or the soft drinks are /really/ expensive. Parking was free around the corner. Bottom line: In retrospect, I should have asked more questions about the bill, but it won't affect us again because we won't be back. read more

The Hot Shop - Nachos - Mexican Near Me - Albany, California

The food was delicious and super flavorful. As everyone mentioned the owner is so sweet and will recommend great choices. There is a small amount of indoor seating but most people take out. They have a good selection on sauces if you decide to eat in. The nachos are HUGE. Will make 2 people very full and 4 people satiated. The Cajun burrito was very juicy. Food came out pretty quick but if you are in a hurry order ahead as there can sometimes be a small line. read more

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My husband brought me a veggie burrito which I didn't care for, but decided to give them another chance with their salmon burrito, and it was even worse. It had bones in it and just didn't taste good. Fishy and unpleasant flavor. :( read more

Everything was delicious Lamb Cajun bowl, Tropical was yummy and service was great, recommended,

Get the Cajun lamb burrito--you won't be disappointed! Mo, the owner, is so kind. Love coming here for a hearty meal

Absolutely do not recommend, gave me food poisoning, stay away from this place. Came in with my gf, there was nobody trying to help, owner was rude and abnoxious, overall a garbage place dnt waste your time. read more

My boys and I come here from time to time for their variety of veggie burritos and quesadillas, they are all tasty and reasonably priced compared to other places. We appreciate their the afghani influence on the food and especially the sauces! Mo and the other gent at the counter have always been courteous. read more

The Hot Shop is a burrito place that a couple of my friends had mentioned to me before and suggested that I check it out. I was around the Albany area with my gf, and we weren't too far from this place so we decided to give it a shot. The inside is decently spacious with a good amount of seating, so we were able to find a table pretty easily. You just order at the front, and you get your food within a few minutes so it's good if you want it pretty quickly. Here, the prices are pretty reasonable and much better than the ones in SF. The burrito my friends recommended was the Tropical burrito, as it has a curry sauce included in it which is pretty unique. I decided to get that burrito with steak in it, which came alongside tortilla chips and salsa. The burrito is pretty good and flavorful, although it's on the smaller side in terms of burritos that I've had. I do appreciate them trying out some different combos for their burritos to make some interesting flavors and I can see myself stopping here again if I pass by it. Overall, if you're in the Albany area then this is a pretty good restaurant to check out if you're in the mood for Mexican food. read more

The Hot Shop - Mexican Near Me - Albany, California

3.5 Stars for food and service. My only problem was the bathroom. We ordered the steak and chicken burritos. The steak was pleasantly tender and juicy. The chicken was dry and didn't have much flavor. These are "gourmet" burritos so no refried beans here folks (love my refried though lol). However the black beans and rice inside our burritos was really good and married nicely together. You can add sour cream/cheese for an extra $1 (approx). We did because we like that. The burritos had a little lettuce and tomato that wasn't soggy even after reheating 20 mins in a 350 degree oven! We both added lots of sauces to achieve the desired flavor and heat. Next time we plan to try the prawn burrito. Nice guy working the counter. Its a small place with maybe 6 tables, and sits just off Solano on San Pablo Ave. It's nestled between a couple of slightly larger businesses and you will miss it if you drive too fast. There is a plastic tent on the sidewalk to help guide you. See pic attached. The bathroom needs a lot of attention but nothing a good wall wash and coat of paint can't fix. The soap dispenser was low on soap but not empty. After going in there I was afraid to eat the food (germaphobe) but we didn't get sick or have digestive problems lol. So yeah we'll go again. Hopefully that problem won't exist next time. read more

Grabbed the Garlic Lime Steak burrito and this thing kicks. I like a LOT of flavor in my food, this is one of the few times I wouldn't add more garlic. Do not order this on a date or if you are sitting in a meeting room with people (or will be in a meeting the next day), do order if you are a vampire hunter or love to be left alone. Ton of sauce but it stays together when eating, they take the time to roll it up well. Fresh ingredients, good size burrito. Guy behind the counter was great and seemed to care about the food and customers instead of being on his phone like most places I hit. read more

Amazing burrito. I had the Cajun with Lamb and loved it. Good atmosphere and service.

Excellent service and food I highly recommended it. And Nachos is really tasty. And the owner Kabir has an amazing personality.

Best Steak Quesadilla Ever Gotta get that green sauce Cheaper and Better than Taco Bell read more

The Hot Shop - Steak Quesadilla - Mexican Near Me - Albany, California

The sweet, friendly oowner rapidly put together a plate of rice and beans with greens along with tiny bits of beef that my temporary Implants were able to chew and enjoy; accompany by yummy salsa fresca with tasty hot sauce. The environment is a bit spartan and simple, but very pleasant all the same, and the expediency of the proprietor was excellent. We needed rapid service to get to a concert on time and it all worked out.. read more

The Hot Shop was highly mentioned to me by a couple of my friends so I knew I had to check it out. It is near Albany and from the outside looks very small. However, on the inside it is quite spacious and has a lot of seating. You can order at the front and the food comes out very quick, and the owner is very friendly! The Hot Shop is known for their burritos, specifically the curry burrito which is the one my boyfriend and I got with lamb. This burrito was divine as the lamb, rice and beans were immersed in a delicious thai-style yellow curry. The burrito also came with tortilla and chips and two dipping sauces: a green and orange one with the green being like a mint chutney and the orange being like a sweet chipotle mayo. The orange sauce was my favorite. Definitely check out the Hot Shop for unique curry burritos! read more

That chicken artichoke burrito with the added mixed vegetables and a spinach tortilla was SoOoo delicious #grateful

The owner is very friendly and the Chicken Cajun Burrito was amazing! I have been coming here for a while now and have bright many different friends with me, and we all agreed that the secret sauce is amazing!! He adds it to all the burritos and you can add it on the side as well, highly recommend coming here! read more

I've been coming here since 2009. I'm surprised I haven't put a review yet but I would like to consider myself one of the pioneers of putting this place on the map on social media which led to its child franchise, Afghan Burrito. The cajun sauce is not just a million dollar sauce. It's a billion dollar sauce. Get your cajun lamb burrito. You won't regret it if you have taste buds. read more

I don't know what to make of this place. Ordered steak nachos and I'm pretty sure I got lamb meat instead but it wasn't that bad. The nachos had a curry flavor to them which was just okay. There was a puddle of liquid sauce at the bottom of the nachos that made everything soggy. My plate literally looked like a bowl of soup. Visually, it looks nice but none of the flavors worked well together. They served it with Chinese sweet and sour sauce which was weird. The cashier who I believe is the owner was super friendly. He also helped out an elderly customer getting them utensils and napkins from the self serve counter which I liked and is why they get 3 stars and not 2. read more

The Hot Shop - Soggy curry nachos with a puddle of sauce underneath - Mexican Near Me - Albany, California

This was a total winner for a casual dinner after a windswept afternoon walk at the Albany Bulb. The dude behind the counter was very friendly and recommended the Cajun burrito for those who like spicy- my dining companions each happily ordered that, with lamb as the protein. The artichoke burrito with steak was interesting and enjoyable- not something I've seen before. My one recommendation would be to chop the artichoke up so that you get smaller amounts that are more distributed. read more

I came in around 2pm, there was no except for owners or workers inside so I was able to order right away. They have tape marked on the floor to designate 6 feet apart for the line, and a temporary small plastic barrier attached to the order counter to provide a little more protection between cashier and customer. The worker who took my order was wearing gloves, but they are still cash only at this time. I ordered a tropical burrito with mixed vegetables, and agreed to adding on cheese and sour cream for another $0.75. They asked me if I wanted it spicy but I declined. Adding it tax, the total was $9.55. They were super fast - made the food in 3 minutes or less. Didn't offer a receipt, so you might have to ask if you want one. The burrito came double wrapped in aluminum foil, and burrito and chips put together into a small paper bag. The burrito itself is good; as the tropical burrito's description indicated, it is a honey curry sauce, plus vegetables as I had selected (definitely had black beans, lettuce, broccoli, I think either zucchini or cucumber, and rice). It was mild and not spicy at all, as I intended. It was very filling and good portion size for a reasonable price, so I had leftovers. Would definitely like to come back sometime and try some other things on their menu. read more

The Hot Shop - Tropical burrito with mixed vegetables, cheese, and sour cream, plus some chips - Mexican Near Me - Albany, California

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a burrito, when blended with a different cultural influence, must be awesome. Jane Austen said that when she ate here and who am I to contradict her? I've gone to LA to eat Korean burritos (and also to El Cerrito for same), to SF to eat the Filipino-Cali burritos, but the Afghani Mexican fusion burritos here are just the beginning of what you can get here: Tropical, Cajun, Artichoke, Teriyaki burritos? Lamb as a meat choice? The Hot Shop mocks your petty attempts to categorize its offerings! Just pick any one at all and you will not be disappointed. Mild downsides: Cash only. You have to wait and wait and wait until 11am (!) to order. While the burritos are big, they aren't insanely so and sometimes I am still a bit peckish after consuming one. So, get two! read more

Wow, this might have been the best damn burrito I've ever had. I've always been into hybrid cusines and Afghan/Mexican is a really interesting one. Ever since I first went here like 3 months ago, I've been back at least three times. If you want to have the best hybrid burrito in the Bay Area or ever, this place is highly recommended. The Cajun burrito is the most recommended. Tropical second! read more

The Hot Shop - Cajun Burrito - Mexican Near Me - Albany, California

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A bizarre mix of Mexican and Afghani food that leans more Mexican except the owner's heritage. The owner/chef is something else. Friendly and helpful and genuinely wanting you to enjoy the food. This place should be compared to fast food not a proper sit down Mexican restaurant. Honestly the food was ok. Chipotle is probably better. But his homemade sauces are really excellent and he gave us all three to try. That's kind of what made it. The price is reasonable. Lots of street parking nearby. It's highly unlikely I'll be back in that town but if I ever return I'd go back. read more

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Cannot believe I had never tried this place. I drive by it often. Ordered the Cajun burrito. I will definitely return. 100%'s better than the burritos from the taco truck nearby. Completely different from Gordo's. Need to try some more types of burritos from here. Love it Prices are GREAT! I will be spending plenty of money here. Can't wait to have other try the burritos. read more

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Some of really great hearty burritos. They're huge and really filling. I had the Cajun one with lamb, really flavorful and ingredients tasted real good. read more

The Hot Shop - Mexican Near Me - Albany, California

Actual rating: 3 1/2 stars. Love their tropical burrito! Not sure what makes it tropical, but it has the right combination of beans, lamb, lettuce, tomatoes, and their signature honey curry sauce. That sauce, man. Also comes with sweet chili sauce and a spicy orange sauce on the side if you want to mix up the flavor profiles. Will keep in mind next time I'm in the area. read more

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Food was good. I had a Cajun lamb burrito, which is very good. It was a mix of middle eastern spices and burrito form. So overall it was nice change. Quick to serve, no credit cards, prefers cash but will take Venmo as payment. Only thing for the three stars, no mask, no gloves. Didn't really care if you are social distance or not. It was pretty quiet when I was there so maybe that's why. But no mask or gloves, maybe not a second time at this point. read more

the following is a vegetarian review from a Punjabi girl with great taste: I come to this place because the 1. The cajun burrito is the bomb.com (with no chicken powder or meat in the beans/rice) 2. The owner is the kind of person that has a dope energy. Its not all business, its community. He wants to get to know you and he may even tell you a dope story. much needed in this fast world read more

I've been coming here for over 15 years and it is easily my favorite place to get a burrito. Their red spicy salsa and garlic salsa are my favorite to go with the tropical steak burrito. I first came here in elementary school with my grandpa and every time I come in, no matter how long it's been, the owner always asks me how he's doing. Great service and great food every time! read more

Second time here First time was 7ish years Ago. I remember getting fusion burritos and liked Them. This time i got a regular chicken burrito. I didnt like it, had to much garlic and was more grilled chicken thay you see on a salad. It didnt do it for me. But 4 stars because maybe its my taste buds . read more

Mind blowing Artichoke quesadilla and Tropical lamb burrito. Fresh and healthy ingredients with tons of flavors. Didn't know they go so well with curry sauce. I couldn't stop bite after bite. Both the guy in the front and lady in the back are super friendly and attentive. Oh, don't forget the magical pink sauce. It brings everything to whole another level! read more

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