Los Cantaritos

Los Cantaritos
13343 South Baltimore Avenue
Chicago, IL 60633 MAP
(773) 646-4015
Hours:
Tuesday - Saturday: 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Sunday: 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Monday: Closed

March 31st, 12:30 p.m.

Los Cantaritos is located in Hegewisch just north of Brainard Avenue and is quite a gem. Their menu is typical Mexican fare with hamburgers, hot dogs, and gyros available as well.



Getting right to the point, I really liked this steak burrito. The steak was excellent and was supported by a likewise excellent balance of beans (light), lettuce, tomato, cheese, and sour cream. The burrito was quite juicy at the end (not annoyingly so) and contained a few pieces of fat and gristle. The red sauce was good with the burrito, while the verde was excellent; so good in fact that I did not try the red again.

The complimentary chips were nicely salted and very good. I found the pico de gallo excellent with a heat characteristic that built slowly.

Los Cantaritos' steak burrito would easily be rated in the 9’s for flavor had it not been for the fat and gristle. Probably more noteworthy is the value. Finding a steak burrito weighing over a pound for less than five bucks was great in 2005 and even more so in 2010.



Weight: 17.5 ounces
Length: 8 inches
Circumference: 9.5 inches
Price: $4.50 or 25.7¢ an ounce
Beer availability: No

Flavor: 8.5/10 sombreros
Value: 9/10 sombreros

Camacho's Cantina

Camacho's Cantina
Terminal #1
Los Angeles International Airport MAP
(310) 645-9984
Hours: N/A

March 13th, 12:30 p.m.

Upon returning from a cruise of the Mexican Riviera, my wife and I needed a meal before our flight back to Chicago. Luckily there was a Mexican restaurant in our terminal. Why would I wait and review a burrito in LAX after I was in Mexico all week, you ask? Food poisoning! Yes, I got sick on the ship before our first stop in Puerta Vallarta and was still hurting when we arrived in Mazatlan. Cabo San Lucas was our final port, and margaritas were on my mind more than burritos.

Camacho's appears to be a California version of Pepe's in Chicago. They've been around for quite some time, have several locations, and deliver good, yet rather unspectacular Mexican fare. I wasn't expecting much considering I was eating in an airport, and of course I knew my wallet would take a hit.



For my ten bucks I got a fairly light burrito filled with steak and beans only and lettuce and guacamole on the side. I added jalapeño and two tubs of salsa to my tray from the condiment bar and grabbed a seat. I added the lettuce, guacamole, and jalapeños into the burrito and dived in. The steak was a little dry (no grease or fat) and had a slight char to it that seemed to come from being re-grilled. The red salsa was salty and excellent while the verde was very good, and both salsas added up with the lettuce, guacamole, and jalapeños to make a satisfying meal.

If you fly Southwest Airlines and find yourself in LA, give Camacho’s a shot. Or don’t. Oh yeah, and you can wash it all down one of five margaritas, a beer, or anything else from their full bar. Happy flying!



Weight: 13.8 ounces
Length: 8.25 inches
Circumference: 8 inches
Price: $9.95 or 72.1¢ an ounce (highest yet!)
Beer availability: Yes!

Flavor: 7.5/10 sombreros
Value: -2.5/10 sombreros