Anna's is Fast, Delicious, and Wicked Cheap
Written: Jun 06 '03
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Pros: great food, cheap, fast
Cons: may be hard to find a table
The Bottom Line: Eat like royalty on a peasant's budget.
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| beckytcy's Full Review: Anna's Taqueria |
My brother Charlie has been raving about Anna's Taqueria for months. He promised he'd take me there last summer and then again for my birthday in February, but, for some reason, the timing never worked out right. When I graduated from college two weekends ago, he presented me with a home-made certificate good for one lunch at Anna's. Not that I'm calling my little brother cheap, but our delicious lunch cost only $8.40 including drinks.
"No [burritos] for you!"
The set-up of Anna's reminds me a bit of the "Soup Nazi" episode of Seinfeld, and I was concerned about screwing up the ordering process. Thankfully, with Charlie's help, I made it through unscathed, but I heard the guy sitting at the next table over from us lamenting his own "rookie mistake." Whew!
You wait in line for one of the cooks to yell, "NEXT!" and then hurry up to counter to place your order. The menu is listed above the counter like a fast-food restaurant, but all of the food is made fresh right in front of you. You tell the chef what basic dish you want (i.e. you say, "chicken burrito", "veggie quesadilla", "steak taco," etc.) and then follow him/her along the counter as he/she adds your customized fillings.
Everyone who goes to Anna's for the first time is amazed by how quickly the employees make the food. If you are discouraged by a large line, don't despair as it will move very quickly.
The Food
Unlike the flat quesadillas I'm used to, the ones at Anna's are shaped like a burrito and wrapped in foil. The difference between burritos and quesedillas is that the tortilla for the quesedilla is fried quickly to make it slightly crispy. It is delicious and unique.
The menu options are:
Super Burritos, which are larger than regular burritos and are filled with rice, beans, cheese, and a choice of filling. Super burritos cost just $3.75.
Burritos are a bit smaller than their super older brothers and don't automatically include rice. You can add rice for a few cents extra to the $2.95 price.
I've never had the tacos, but Charlie says they are small and don't have much filling. They are made with a soft, corn tortilla and will set you back just $2.05 or $1.95 for the bean and cheese variety.
The quesadilla that I described above costs just $2.95!
A final menu option is the Mexican Plate which comes with corn tortillas, beans and rice, salsa and a choice of filling, so you can make your own tacos. This meal will set you back just $3.95!
For each of these options, the fillings are:
Chicken, carnitas (Charlie says this is similar to pulled pork), steak, grilled vegetables, or beans and rice. You can also add extra meat for $0.95. The chicken is very flavorful and less dry than the chicken I've had at other Mexican restaurants.
One can also buy chips and salsa for $1.50, chips and guacamole for $1.75, a mini quesadilla for $0.85, or a half pint of beans, rice, or fresh salsa for $0.75!!
How to Eat and not Look Like a Slob
To eat the burritos or quesadillas, make sure you only open one end of the foil. Rolling down the foil from the top ensures that most of the filling will remain in the bottom of the wrapping and not fall all over your plate.
Drinks
Anna's has a standard number of fountain sodas plus unsweetened ice tea. The smallest size (only 69 cents!!) was large enough for me since the sodas are self-serve and, thus, won't be 75% ice. Charlie went for the medium for just a few cents extra. The largest size is only 99 cents. Anna's also has a selection of bottled Mexican sodas.
Locations
Anna's has 2 locations in Brookline and one in Davis Square (Somerville). Charlie and I went to the one in Porter Square (Cambridge). There is free parking in the shopping center in which Anna's is located. All Anna's locations are open daily from 10 AM to 11 PM.
Anna's would also be an excellent option for catering. The burritos and quesadillas are very easy to transport for take-out since they are tightly wrapped in foil. We brought one home for mom.
The only problem I have with Anna's is that the restaurant is a bit small compared to its popularity, and you may have to wait a few minutes to find a table. Also, Charlie and I found both tables we tested out to be wobbly.
Overall, an excellent lunch! Thanks, Charlie!
Recommended:
Yes
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Notes, Tips or Menu Recommendations My brother and I recommend the quesadillas.
Best Suited For: Friends
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Epinions.com ID:
beckytcy
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 - Top 500 |
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Member: Becky
Location: Boston
Reviews written: 277
Trusted by: 235 members
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