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Andalé
Categories: Restaurants Mexican Event Planning & Services Caterers Mexican, Caterers [Edit]
125 Summer St(between Lincoln St & Bedford St)
Boston, MA 02110
(617) 737-2820
- Nearest Transit:
-
Otis St @ Summer St (448, 449, 459, 500, 501, 504, 505, 553, 554, 555, 556, 558, 7)
Essex St @ Kingston St (11, 7)
Bedford St @ Chauncy St (11, 276, 7)
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 10 am - 4 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
79 reviews for Andalé
Review Highlights
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"This place has the best burrito downtown Boston." In 47 reviews -
"The mole sauce is delicious." In 8 reviews -
"Pollo Pibil is impressive." In 7 reviews
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79 reviews in English
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Review from Piyali S.
Boston, MA
3/3/2012
This lunchtime gem is tucked away inside an office building on Summer Street. An offshoot of Back Bay's Zocalo, this place is a great value!
My go to: chicken tamales with mole sauce and enchiladas con verde sauce. The enchiladas come with sides of black beans and rice so you're really getting a full meal for all less than ten dollars (with the tamale). Don't take it from me (I'll admit I lack credibility when it comes to Mexican food being from Jersey) but take it from my Californian friend whose first excited comment was something along the lines of "oh man, this seems like a Cali joint in Boston!" And the food did not disappoint him either. I usually don't like mole sauce, I find it too bitter, but the mole sauce here is a sweeter yet maintains a hint of the bitterness I guess mole sauce is supposed to have. The shredded chicken in the enchiladas is juicy and plentiful, mixed with potatoes and sour cream in a corn tortilla. You will feel like a winner. The tamales are strongly suggestive of delicious cornmeal and remind me of humitas in Ecuador.
For the closest Boston is going to get to Mexican food anytime soon, check out Andale andale! -
Review from Ms P.
Everett, MA
12/23/2011
This place is the best! The financial district is filled with burrito places but none as authentic and satisfying is Andale. Staff is always friendly working fast to get you in and out of the small bright and festive designed restaurant . In the summer there are chairs on the patio to sit and catch some sun before heading back into the office. Andale is also part of the resturant group that includes Ole in Inman Sq - Which is high end Mexican.
The only negative is they dont bag your lunch for you, so dont forget to grab ya fork, napkin and bag located next to the drinks. -
Review from David F.
Boston, MA
4/26/2012
I had a disappointing burrito experience here. First off the guacamole was not what I consider guacamole to be. It was filled with so much salsa that I didn't taste the avocado at all. It was kind of soupy too. The chicken burrito I got was more like a bean burrito for half and completely chicken for the other half. Not well constructed. Too bad because I want the smaller places to make better burritos than the chains such as Chipolte. But Chipolte, which is a 2 minute walk from Andale, has a better burrito. Also Chipolte has all types of peppers that make the burrito so good. On the plus side these guys are friendly and the store is a small, hole-in-the-wall place that is cool looking. The ingredients seem fine but the execution just wasn't right and I had no idea what they were doing with the guacamole but it wasn't working.
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Review from Jonah K.
2/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
Love this place from my old stomping ground. Its a good quick option with good pricing. I wish more places made low carb burritos, great option without getting as stuffed as a normal burrito. Keep up the good work.
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Review from Raymond W.
Cambridge, MA
8/14/2011 3 Check-ins Here
For anyone that is tired of Chipotle or thinks that it's overrated, Head over to Andale for some Mexican goodness hidden away inside 125 Summer Street building. Burritos are smaller than Chipotle, but come with better construction and lower prices.
Andale also offers Mexican soups and other entrees like enchiladas. Also note worthy is Mexican sausage! Best of all, it's located near Chipotle so when your co-workers make an excursion there, you can suggest Andale for other people who may want to abandon the Chipotle ship. -
Review from Anthony R.
Somerville, MA
4/12/2011
Finding good, cheap, quick Mexican downtown is a tough game to win, as evidenced by the mindboggling long lines at the soulless new Chipotle location. I'm telling you right now: don't fall for it! You can do better than that!
Andale leads the charge against megacorporate Mexican with kickass burritos, enchiladas, and other offerings for less cash than the competition in short time. And they don't just outpace megacorporate Chipotle - I'd say they do better than other locals Burritos Express and Hererra's on speed, price, and quality.
The pollo pibil burrito is a standout offering, and the place is rarely packed if you're there after the big rush -- arrive at 1pm and you can be in and out in just a couple minutes.
Viva lunch! Andale! -
Review from Jessica H.
Hyde Park, MA
4/27/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Vegetable burrito with Mole. Such yummy vegetables you don't find any many other places. YUM!
I love this place for its food and it's location. It's so nice to have a local burrito place nearby + one of high quality. I also like their sister restaurant Zocolo. I always get the same thing here at Andale - the vegetable burrito with mole. It's so good and different from any other burrito. Such a filling vegan burrito. I also always get guacamole added (you have to pay $0.50 extra for it).
But here's where the lack of 2 stars come from. Their attitude or lack of customer service I should say. EVERYTIME I go there the cash register person (whoever it is depending on the day) is either a little rude or very disengaged with the customers. I feel like they rather be doing something else. and EVERYTIME I order guacamole they either forget it (like they did the other day) or they put such a tiny amount you don't even know it's there). What's up? If you are going to charge extra for guacamole then put my fair share on there. Once they argued with me saying they put it on there but when I opened the burrito I was like where is - show me where it is because I don't see it. And they still were pissy.
It can be very crowded because it's small so expect to possibly get your food and eat somewhere else. During the summer they have outdoor seating which is really really nice.
Anyway definitely get something with the mole because its' great but watch out for the guacamole grinches! -
Review from Tara G.
Cambridge, MA
7/19/2011
I really like Andale's food a lot. It's homey, well prepared, good quality food. Everything from basics (veg burrito) to featured items (enchiladas, quesadillas) are made with good quality ingredients and are tasty.
But... this is the second time the staffperson taking my order has made me feel like a complete a-hole. On Friday, the guy made me feel like such a jerk for ordering for the office on a single tab (I thought that would have made life easier for them, and that they'd appreciate the extra business). Today, the same guy interrupted me and didn't get my order right, then made a huge stink about how much that wrecked everything, how I was wrong, etc. I left feeling yucky, like I had wrecked their day or something.
I don't think I'll be back for a while. Noon is too early in the day for grey clouds. -
Review from Damien S.
12/1/2010 2 Check-ins Here
Andale, you beautiful bastard. The Sour Jacks of business lunches, putting forth to the famished masses a most delectable array of dishes so loaded with addictive elements yet delivered with reckless disregard to the fronts of our shirts.
If you haven't had their mole (the same found at parent restos Zocalo) over enchiladas, then put it on your bucket list. And by that I mean, the roster of life events you've neglected thus earning the consequence of wearing a metal bucket over your head while third graders beat it with ladles. I mean that; you deserve it.
I always read the menu while snaking through the inevitable midday line. Why? To kill boredom, practice mi espanol, elongate the neck thus making my aesthetic more pleasing, I have no idea. It's always a torta de pollo mole ($6) - grilled chicken, the aforementioned angel jizz, L, T, avocado, pinto beans and queso blanco on toasty Telera bread.
Plan ahead and wear that button-up you planned to toss anyway. Plasticware and a bushel of napkins won't save you from wearing half of this thing. The toasty, airy pocket does NOT stand up to the metric buttload of mole they dump on the 'wich. The first bite will quickly turn in to Luke cutting open his tauntaun to survive.
Confuzzled? Whimsical product reference here: http://bit.ly/fOGghT
You'll love it while you hate you while you destroy it. That's nature. That's Andale. That's lunch tomorrow.Listed in: Tiny Places, Lunch Under $10, Sandwiches From Around The…
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Review from Thana T.
Boston, MA
3/3/2011
Andale, you are single-handedly dominating the burrito market share.
No, I don't care that you have limited seating inside and will seat me elbow-to-elbow with suits from the nearby Financial District. Nor do I care that your summer seating outside at mirrored tables can give you precision Lasik eye surgery if you're not careful. Just give me two steak enchiladas, smothered with melty cheese and verde sauce, and coupled with black beans and rice (with some salsa and sour cream on the side) and I AM SET.
Don't be surprised when the line is out the door. This place is small, but it's also popular. -
Review from Michele G.
Boston, MA
3/26/2011
Andale... Nowhere on your Groupon, your take-out menu, or your website does it say that you close at 3pm on Fridays. You have now deprived me of my last chance to indulge in your lightning-quick Mex... Just a few days ago, I arrived hungry and needing a fix, only to find you closed shop at 3:30. I'd gone all the way across town with my second Groupon, only to be denied access. Boo. I'm starting a new gig on Monday, and since you're strictly M-F, 11-4pm (supposedly), I can no longer use my voucher.
That said, the guac is nowhere near as good as it is at Zocalo, but not much guac is. Burritos are good, quesadillas are great. I'll miss you. -
Review from Michelle B.
Roxbury, MA
1/19/2011
A co-worker and I bought yesterday's groupon and because we have no shame, we used it to buy ourselves lunch for yesterday and today. Yesterday's lunch was a delicious pulled pork torta; everything about this sandwich was good. The pork was spiced perfectly (it had that warm, spicy note to it that I love) and the toppings were plentiful.. even though I had sauce shooting out of the back of the sandwich every time I took a bite. Very messy, but well worth it.
Today's lunch was the steak gratinada and it was also really good. It's a plate of steak, peppers and onions over rice with sides of salsa and black beans. It was a little too heavy on the onions for my liking but the steak was so tender, it was great.
My co-worker got the quesadilla and wasn't too impressed with it, saying it was bland and soggy (I can at least vouch for the sogginess).
The only negative about it is that we ordered over the phone and they gave us a price of $25, but when we got there that was somehow increased to $34? Not sure how that happened, but when we got the receipt everything added up fine, so it might've just been a mistake during the ordering process. -
Review from Rani P.
7/30/2010 ROTD 8/8/2010
So with sticky fingers and a full stomach I write this review about Andale- an impulse burrito purchase I made for lunch today. I was shocked for as many people that were waiting for their order, my burrito was hot and ready in less than a 5 minute wait. Feeling a time crunch, I ordered the low-carb chicken burrito that comes with a whole wheat tortilla, black beans and the usual spread. (I assume the low-carb aspect of this burrito is the lack of rice and whole wheat tortilla.) It was juicy and delicious- didn't rock my world- but definitely hit the spot. It was so juicy, in fact, I dripped all over myself and my desk. During my mess- one of my co-workers spotted me eating it and said it looked so good, she is getting one for herself on Monday.
The menu was intriguing so I will definitely go back and see if I can get a bit more flavor. Definitely a great change of pace from the Qdoba and Bolocos of the world. -
Review from Jeff F.
11/13/2010
Came in here for lunch and recommend Andale if you need some good mexican for lunch.
- Pollo Pibil is impressive. Really flavorful burrito - the orange flavor isn't overpowering, ingredients seemed fresh
- Carnitas Mexican plate - very good
Definitely a solid choice for lunch. I've seen surcharges for guac, sour cream, but never a whole wheat tortilla - seems like a weak move. Other than that, great experience. -
Review from Melly B.
Cambridge, MA
6/18/2008
This review really only needs to consist of three words:
Mashed potato burrito.
Has there ever been a concept more brilliant? No. No, there has not.
Smashed spuds aside, this place is lovely. It's convenient to where I work, so I've been a few times for lunch. I have not been disappointed yet. The service is fast and pleasant, the decor is cute, and the mole is delicious. Also, I'm not sure if I mentioned that they have a burrito that has MASHED POTATOES in it, but they do. And it rocks.
I love Andale. -
Review from Michael L.
Allston, MA
9/21/2007
I've been here several times before, so when the line was out the door for delicious-smelling boloco, it was with great reluctance I resigned myself to Andale.
I've tried their quesadillas (soggy) before and their burritos (ricey). Today was an entirely different experience from those I've had in the past. Instead of waiting in what was a stupidly long line at boloco, walked in here, ordered my braised pork burrito and Diet Coke (total: $6.25) and was out the door in 3 minutes.
It was much better than before, I think in part because I didn't order sour cream or guac (both extra $) and they couldn't ruin my food. Also, I really liked that it wasn't wrapped so tightly that it quirted (UPDATE: I love "quirted") , which always makes me a bit uncomfortable. It had a slightly sweet taste, which was unexpected but quite pleasant.
!Andale!Listed in: Burritos Are For Eating
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Review from Michelle C.
Somerville, MA
11/2/2011
I've had the worst lunch experience ever!!!
Andale' ...I ordered a Chicken Burrito which on the price board was priced at $5.75 each and I got charged $6.25 plus tax ... it was nasty so I took two bites and it tasted just like tuna.. and probably because it was dark meat! I threw it in the barrel. So now I have just chips and salsa the salsa was like colslaw and chips came right out of bag of they probably got at stop and shop and charged $2.70 for the ordeal... I can't win and the chips were not good and better yet tasted like cardboard. So now I go to the vending machine at my office and I get trailmix and I start to eat it and discover the raisins taste like bandaids... which means it went bad. I am so mad and now I have a meeting in 3 mins with a bad taste in my mouth and an empty stomach. hahaahahahahahahahaha -
Review from Alex G.
Boston, MA
4/7/2006
In a tucked off little corner of downtown within sight of South Station, lies Andale, probably the best Mexican food in the area. It's apparently the to-go counterpart of Ole' and the quality on par with its big daddy. Everything is fresh and tastey. On the menu they have built in 'quick' options to get you going in the hustle, of which the chicken mole is my personal fav; for the money (~$6.50) you won't get a more filling lunch and every bite is loaded with its own flavor of deliciousness. A welcoming feel inside, a nice change from the quasi chains that dominate downtown, but not much in the way of seating apart from some counter seats. I also noticed they have some good vegetarian options
they have jarritos too if thats your deal -
Review from Cheryl Y.
Brookline, MA
1/30/2007
This place is wonderful! I've only had items with chicken but it is incredibly flavorful chicken at that! Also good service and good prices.
This place is owned by the same people as Zocalo in Brighton and Arlington. I have also had them do catering for my office. When you call the catering number you actually get Ricardo, the owner. He is very good at helping you put your events together.Listed in: Where I Work
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Review from Dan R.
Beverly, MA
10/29/2011
Best mole sauce in Boston. I'm a big enchilada fan and I love the Racheras and Pollo plates as well. Quick, friendly clean. Wish I still worked downtown!
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Review from Amanda L.
Brighton, MA
1/18/2008
Does anyone else think of Speedy Gonzalez when they walk past or go to Andale?
Anyway, I'd like to give them extra points for letting me get a million and one substitutions for my portobello burrito. They let me get extra portobellos because I didn't want any beans.
I'd like to point out that they do NOT skimp on the guacamole and sour cream. Seriously, some places give you a drop of sour cream and guacamole. Here, it's a nice fat strip of guac and sour cream right on my burrito. Me likey that very much.
The only negative is that now I have a tummy ache, which I don't know if I should blame myself or Andale. We're gonna call that one even.Listed in: Lunch Hour - South Station…
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Review from P K.
Boston, MA
9/5/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Fantastic pickup and go Mexican. The best in Boston. Great, solid burritos.
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Review from Alex M.
Brighton, MA
9/11/2007
It was raining - I was starving. I'm sorry Burrito Express, please forgive me.
I ordered the Quesadilla Ole, and received a soggy mess in a tray instead. The portion was not that big, and the tortilla was not toasted much at all. My fillings (beans, cheese, bacon, etc) oozed water-juice everywhere so I had to drop the thing and find a fork and knife to spare my clothes and dignity.
I know I wasn't the only one who got screwed, as I was watching the burrito guys, and they had to wipe the table after each burrito they made - so much gross juice spilling out. D:
Also, the food actually wasn't that flavorful at all. It was SUB-MEDIOCRE!, my harshest possible adjective!
One co-worker liked his burrito (he is literally insane anyways) and the other hated her Queso Enchilada ("It had no cheese, just quac. That's gross").
Seriously, check out the Burrito Express, it's maybe a 2 min walk away and so much better. If you go there and don't like it, I'll buy your remaining bite.
I hope they forgive me for my infidelity. :( -
Review from Brendan D.
Boston, MA
4/20/2009
Arguably the best Mexican in the financial district. This hole in the wall can be easy to miss because it doesn't have a street entrance. You have to enter the office building that it is located in the base of and then claw your way through the sea of people waiting for their orders because of the hastily designed layout of the place. In all fairness though, this place is severely lacking space and the owners did the best they could with basically no room.
As far as the food is concerned Andale is slightly above average. The burritos are decent, the chicken mole is interesting, and the tacos are pretty standard. The real highlight of the menu is the Ricardos Quesadilla... it keeps me coming back every time. They don't use a lot of grease or oil on the grill so the tortilla is cooked just right. The quesadilla is loaded with all kinds of fresh ingredients, chicken, and cheese. They top it off with some kind of red sauce that is slightly spicy and gives it enough kick but doesn't overpower the other flavors in the burrito.
Impress your coworkers with your intricate knowledge of downtown eateries, bring your boss here when you are trying to get that promotion, or just roll solo, but do yourself a favor and try this place at least once. Just make sure you get the Ricardos Quesadilla.Listed in: Quest for Mex
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Review from Daniel M.
6/4/2008 1 Check-in Here
Tasty, fast, perfect for lunch.
I waited until well after the lunch rush to visit so it was easy enough to get out in a timely manner. The menu is expansive and took a while to peruse so I was glad to not be there during the lunch crunch. I ended up getting the "low-carb" (no rice/whole wheat tortilla) grilled vegetable burrito.
It's no Anna's but it was pretty good. Without the rice the burrito wasn't as heavy and uber-filling as usual which I liked. The sweet potato inside was perfection, the mixed greens weird. The wheat tortilla gave it more of a wrap feeling but it was still better than Boloco.
Also, they didn't charge extra for sour cream and guacamole. Yay!
I'm going back for the enchiladas and the molé. There's more to explore here.Listed in: Let's lunch!, Mex-I-Can
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Review from Ryan W.
2/5/2009
I can't believe I haven't reviewed this place already. We've been going here as an office lunch group for almost 2 years. The service is fast and friendly, they have lots of vegetarian options (including fillings like mashed potatoes, peppers and portobello mushrooms), delicious mole sauce, and reasonable prices considering the huge portions you get. The lines can sometimes be long, but they move fast (not always a good thing when I'm trying, as I always am, to decide between peppers or mushrooms).
The only drawback is that unless you go before or after the lunch rush there is nowhere to sit. Just an FYI before you go. -
Review from Robby T.
Manhattan, NY
12/4/2007
As a former resident of SF's Mission District and native Angelino, I cannot believe I'm 4-starring a Mexican spot in Boston. Maybe it's my re-virginized tastebuds, which have been starved of good Mexican food in this town of Italian restaurants and Irish pubs; but Andale had some good flavors happening.
Last Friday, I thought I'd try their stewed chicken burrito (pollo algo, no recuerdo). The chicken preparation incorporates fresh oranges and is slow cooked. Tasty!...not to die for, but muy rico. On top of that, the burrito took ~1.5 mins to make after I waited in their 10 min lunch line.
I will go back I recommend it w/ this same baffled intonation to my friends. -
Review from Dana G.
Melrose, MA
8/24/2011
LOVE the Torta - awesome sandwich with chicken, orange salsa, huge slice of avocado and some secret sauce. I would give it five stars but I dont want this place to get any busier than it already is.
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Review from Chris T.
Boston, MA
8/7/2008
Fast service even when the line extends out the door during the rush.
My favorite is Ricardo's Quesadilla. It has portobella mushrooms, chicken, onions, jalepenos,chese, and topped with roja and salsa verde.
Fresh ingredients in an authentic type atmosphere.
Definately the best mexican food around.Listed in: Downtown
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Review from John B.
Natick, MA
4/15/2010
I'm a fan. Its quick, delicious and fresh. Try the torta's. Large sandwich bread, baked specifically for Andale, with chicken or carnitas, queso fresco, avocado and salsa, it's delicious. Some negatives, the carnitas can be a little too juicy (its authentic slow cooked, but when it sits in the serving container the juices pool), and the chicken can be dry at times. But overall a tasty treat and a good deal in the city. Al the burritos are great, I like to order mine spicy (they add a special sauce with a kick).
If you're up for a tasty treat, they have Salchicha, which is a type of sausage and it's not on the menu, you'll have to order it by name. -
Review from Vivian C.
Updated - 8/19/2010 16 photos
On my fourth visit to this fine primarily take-out establishment, shortly before noon, a number of gentlemen arrived ahead of me, but since they didn't know yet what they were going to order, they allowed me to go ahead of them.
Their mole sauce has been highly touted in my presence, so I ordered the chicken tamal with mole on the side $3.95, and a pollo pibil burrito $6.25 which was described as shredded chicken with fresh orange, tomatoes, cheese & a mild chile sauce.
The burrito was hefty and fat, but I didn't notice any fresh orange in my bundle. But the cheese melted from the heat of the ingredients and as a whole the burrito was pretty tasty despite the lack of an expected orange tang.
The tamal - steamed corn meal stuffed with chicken wrapped in a banana leaf - was really moist and fall apart inside when I poked it, but filled with large chunks of chicken that made it tough to eat in bits with a knife & fork. Perhaps it is more of a one bite at a time dish? I never had tamal before. It was tasty though. My first taste of the mole was a bit hotter than expected, but once I ate it with the tamal, it was much tamer to the tongue. (end visit #4, 8/2010... sorry, ran out of room on my original review)
Two of us split the Chicken Mole Enchiladas $6.95 (2 little corn tortillas stuffed which chocolate sauced chicken cubes) and the create your own Quesadilla 2 item option for $5.75 - mashed potato and braised pork.
Yeah, the Quesadilla is a good thing here, and quite filling. I think this will be my default dish to order at Andale...
The rice and beans that came with the enchilada wasn't anything special, but the enchiladas were pretty tasty. They came with little containers of pico de gallo and sour cream - too bad I forgot to use them. (end visit #5, 8/2010)
For a visit in 5/2011, I tried the nachos appetizer. They gave me no hassle about nixing the olives and jalapenos. The portion was good, but the chips got moist and weren't very crunchy on the whole, although there were some pieces that were still crispy at first.
During another visit in 5/2011, I tried the Torta de Carnitas - Marinated shredded pork, tomatoes, queso fresco, pinto beans, topped with lettuce, fresh avocado and salsa verde. $5.50 I found it a bit too bready and the bread a bit dry, and the pork too moist (it soaked part of the bottom bun), and the temperature too low (no cheese melt).
12/2011 - Flan's off the menu. I really don't like the bread they use for the Tortas. I still like the 2 item Quesadilla with the mashed and the pork. And they've signed up with Level Up, and are touting it heavily with a decor on the floor, business cards everywhere and cute cube card holders at the counter seating area.Listed in: Spud-tastic!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/18/2010
I walk by 125 Summer Street all the time, and from the main entrance there is nary a hint of the… Read more »
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Review from Era F.
Boston, MA
10/20/2010
This review is for the sandwiches, or tortas, although calling it a sandwich doesn't do it justice. It's more like a little piece of tasty heaven.
It's definitely messy, you'll need a nice stack of napkins (think eating barbecue) but not soupy and I must say I almost wished there was *more* sauce on my last one. The mole sauce is delicious.
My torta was on a nice toasted toasted bun that was more of the panini kind, a little bigger than hamburger bun size (and much, much more delicious), with lettuce, tomato, cheese, avocado, and grilled chicken covered in mole sauce. If that doesn't make you mouth water, it should!
I probably stop by once a month, month and a half since Mexican isn't my lunch go to (I'm more of a wrap and salad kinda girl) but every time I come I'm very happy). It's not your usual tex mex, but that's why I like it, if I wanted fake tex mex I would have gone to Qdoba or Boloco a block away (which is just blasphemy, but hey, to each his own).
Note - there isn't any seating inside, so it's a take it back and eat it at the office kind of deal. -
Review from Tim B.
Boulder, CO
3/20/2007
TORTA UPDATE:
No longer is Andale my #1 torta place. Check my review of Burrito Express for more.
PREVIOUS:
Andale comes out on top in my ranking of the tortas of Downtown Crossing. This sandwich is just plain huge, so it definitely makes the grade from a value standpoint. Homemade bread and fresh cheese are what puts it ahead of the competition. Chacarero will always have a special place in my stomach, but this sandwich just refuses to be ignored.Listed in: Tortas of DTX
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Review from Nikki B.
Cambridge, MA
9/13/2010
Working in the Leather District and always on the hunt for new places to grab a quick lunch to go, I was very excited to find and try Andalé. I will preface the rest of my review by saying that I have high expectations when it comes to Mexican food. I may have grew up in Seattle but I've had family in the Southern US long enough to know what the real stuff tastes like. To be fair, I should have probably just accepted that New England has terrible Mexican food and stuck to the familiar places, but I was feeling adventurous!
I made my way there with a coworker and we placed our orders.. a quesadilla Olé and a chicken burrito. We had planned to get the flan as well and were sad to hear they were out. On the plus side, service was fast- we must have waited only a couple of minutes before our containers were handed over and we were on our way back to the office. I probably should have gotten worried though when the order lady called out a dish with "qweeso" in it right after she took our orders.
Once back at my desk, I opened my container and felt grateful that I had remembered to bring in plastic cutlery to keep in a drawer, because there was no way to eat this 'quesadilla' with just my hands. To say it was a bit watery would be an understatement, and any balance of ingredients just plain didn't exist. My coworker enjoyed their burrito but hasn't wanted to go back so I think it's safe to say that for them, it was 'meh' too. We also reflected that it was probably a good thing for us that they were out of flan!
In all, this place is not terrible but it's certainly not very good, either. If you're looking for something cheap, filling, fast and you don't know or care what authentic Mexican food is like, this place would hit the spot. But if you do, you should probably skip Andalé. -
Review from Alex S.
Brighton, MA
7/18/2006
I first started seeing the signs for Andale, but it took me a while to see exactly how you get into the place. Once you've finagled to get in you're presented with a good number of options without being overwhelmed. The burritos are as good as people have said and are chock full of flavor. I also recommend the tamales (wrapped in a banana leaf instead of the corn husk). And don't plan on hanging around after you have your order - it's called Andale for a reason and they have about 4 seats.
Oh and they are one of few places where you can find regular Coke with Lime. Oh so tasty. -
Review from Sally B.
7/27/2010
Delicious quality food downtown. Of all my regular lunch destinations, this is the one I crave for days, nay, weeks, in advance, and the one that makes me the most happy.
I think that everyone should be required to have the mole sauce their first time here. I am a wicked fan of their chicken enchiladas with mole sauce - the dish comes with rice and beans, and a type of sour cream and salsa. The food is high quality and tastes really authentic (says the girl from New Hampshire). I recommend this place to all my friends.
The line can look long but the service is surprisingly fast, and definitely worth the short wait. -
Review from Melissa G.
Cambridge, MA
3/3/2010 4 Check-ins Here
When I got a new job working in the Leather District the first thing I did was check out the lunch time meal options. I was pretty excited to see that Andale is right across the street from my office.
Torta's are something you don't see a whole lot of on menus around here, and it's a shame as torta's make a great meal. The Torta de Pollo al Carbon at Andale is well made with flavorful grilled chicken, fresh mandarin salsa and avocado, as well as queso fresco (yum), on crispy Mexican flatbread.
Other menu options of note: the tamal (near perfect), Jarritas, and the Vegetarian Burrito.
And on top of all this Mexican goodness, the staff is friendly, helpful, and fast! -
Review from Geoffrey R.
Cambridge, MA
11/12/2007
A small hole in the wall where you can get a burrito 5 bucks. Very sizable, good flavor. If you are trying to stay on the cheap be careful, cheese is considered an add on. On the other hand the Burritos Favoritas run a few bucks more but offer a new take on the traditional Burrito. Pollo Pibil - chicken and fresh oranges, Chicken Mole - chicken in an enriched mild chocolate chile sauce.
Be warned there is severely limited seating. -
Review from JohnnyFoodface ..
Boston, MA
8/8/2007
Yes this place does exist. And they have some of the best burritos downtown
Living in Inman Square, I know how good Ole' is, and I have also had dinner at Zocalo - all great Mexican food joints. Ole' is recommended for Brunch and on 5/5.
That said, I had the vegetarian burrito with roasted poblano peppers. I winced as I saw the guy scoop a lump of wet peppers onto my burrito he was making, but holding fast I was rewarded in the end.
This is a chop shop - don't come here for seating, big groups to impress, or with someone you're shy with. Read the menu thoroughly and know exactly what options and choices you want before you step up to the plate.
They have wheat tortillas, a nice colby-jack cheese blend, and overall kick butt burritos.
And I hear they do breakfast... Will definitely be back.
The only thing Boloco has on them is creativity and tofu! -
Review from Mark M.
Reading, MA
1/11/2010
Yes...yesss...YESSS!!! A burritogasm.
Tough to find. It's a little hole-in-the-wall in the lobby of an office building near South Station. Not really good for eating there as there are only some chairs around the periphery of the room against a window counter and the lines snake through the entire place at lunch. But the wait is short and service is very efficient.
I love getting a combination chicken and mexican sausage burrito with the works. It has a good heft to it, and never falls apart while you're eating it. Well crafted. Since we moved offices I don't get over there as much any longer, but I hope to make the trek once the weather warms up again.
