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"Before I discovered Cantina 1511, I couldn't find any really good Mexican restaurants in Charlotte. Sure, I'd found some that were average…" read more »
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When you first see the outside of Phat Burrito, you immediately think of a hippie burrito joint you might see if you're in Santa Cruz or Berkeley. You know you're not in for a traditional Mexican experience, but more of a phunky, philling meal fit for a hungry, money-starved college student.
The quesadillas, tacos and burritos are all big. The variety is awesome. I'm usually satisfied going on the healthier side with the veggie (which I gladly ruin with cheese, guac and sour cream options), but I've also enjoyed going for the BBQ chicken and fish. I love the choice of beans as well.
The chips aren't special. I get them for a crunch on the side, although half the time I don't really need them because I get so full fast (and I'm a pretty big dude).
They're also an excuse to keep hitting the fresh salsa bar. I can get enough of mixing the mild and hot in different combinations. The smokey chipotle-style flavor is awesome.
All the ingredients they put in the burritos taste fresh. An unusual twist that works is Indian-style Basmati rice. They also have expanded and opened up the dining area, and now have easier parking around them.
I kind of strayed away from this place to check out other Mexican places in the area, and of course, the Chipotle not too far on South Blvd. I had this a lot when I first moved here two years ago, when I lived and worked just down the street.
I have rediscovered it, and although I can't eat here more than once a month or so, it's always a worthy trip.
I love this place! We always come for Lunch and it's always packed, I enjoy the fish burrtio, but I'm not the biggest fan of fish, but I like it here bc it has pineapples and other things so I don't get the fish taste.. I also like the self serve salsas. The service is always fast and I love to sit outside on a nice hot day to enjoy my phat burrito!!
The food here comes in large portions and everything tastes pretty good. I wouldn't call it authentic, but I enjoy the eclectic look and feel of the place, the friendly staff and that the food is made to order.
I've tried the chicken burrito and the chicken quesadilla. Both were huge. Each is enough for two girls to split as a meal. I like that they give sour cream on the side with their quesadilla. Mmmm, more fat to ladle onto my cheesy fat pie.
Their salsa bar is pretty standard, not always the freshest looking pico de gallo, but a solid place to drop by, fill up and feel satisfied.
I have eaten at Phat Burrito well over a dozen times and taken many people there. The context is usually prior to a Panther's game, as an easy and tasty tailgtaing alternative. I always get the same thing... naked steak burrito (in a bowl instead of a tortilla). Often get a gourmet brownie to go... be forewarned you can't smuggle them into the stadium. :(
I would have rated it a 4 (Or 4.5) until this last season. I don't know what change they made in beef cut or supplier, but the product has been crap. I ended up spitting out as much meat as I did eating.
I hope they can restore the quality of product I had come to expect. I love and appreciate the eclectic manner, but I still demand the highest standards in quality control.
Phat Burrito is an awesome burrito joint on the Camden Road hipster corridor of South End. Definitely try the burritos and quesadillas. I typically get a chicken burrito, which is packed with shredded chicken, black beans, rice, guac and sour cream.
The food is cheap and filling. As for all the reviews that claim this isn't authentic mexican...duh. Phat Burrito never claimed to be authentic Mexican food. If you're looking for real Mexican food, head east on Central Avenue to La Unica or Casa de Las Enchiladas.
From the outside appearance I was hesitant to try this place; however, from the reviews I was encouraged to go in. Like many of the previous reviews, the portion sizes of the burrito and quesadilla were large. I ordered a veggie burrito and it was really good. The sour cream and guacamole were delicious additions. We also ordered a caramel brownie. My husband and I both ate under $15. This is a great place for lunch or non-fancy dinner. The interior was colorful and very casual. And the impressive part was when it was slow, the employees were cleaning. I appreciate a clean kitchen.
I just devoured two chicken tacos and some rice from Phat Burrito, it was SO GOOD! The prices are great, ans so is the service.
Yummy, yummy burritos! I've done Phat Burrito mostly for lunch. One of the offices where I used to work would make it into a Friday lunch trip out now and then. The lines were always long, but we were on the clock, so the lines were kind of nice.
I love, love, love the salsa bar. The hot stuff is really hot, so watch out for it if you're a wuss. It's fun being able to determine for yourself if you've got enough salsa or not...I hate when Mexican places dole it out to you. End the salsa tyranny!
My favorite dish is the vegetarian quesadilla. It's loaded with stuff, and the vegetables are nicely cooked before they go into the quesadilla. There's some kind of juice that drips out, which is exciting because then you can sop it up with the outside of the tortilla. I have a whole technique...I should upload a video. Can we do that here?
Phat Burrito is good- you can definitely tell that it isn't too authentic like some other Mexican restaurants in town. You need to head down Independence pretty far, or there are some good places on N. Tryon. You'll have to find those for yourself- I don't want to turn anyone away from Phat Burrito at all!
In my opinion, it reminded me of Chipotle Grill quite a bit. Except, these burritos are much more massive. I think the fish tacos are the best item on the menu- I never had these before I moved to Charlotte!
Like everyone else said- it is a great place to stop in for a quick bite (don't miss out on the salsa bar!).
Phat Burrito doesn't look like much from the outside, just a rundown, brightly colored cinder block building. But this place has some of the best burritos in Charlotte.
These burritos are not only massive, but filled with fresh ingredients you can't get at the franchise burrito joints. There are several options of burritos, but their menu isn't that extensive. Don't go here looking for a Mexican restaurant, go here only if you want burritos or quesadillas. From black to pinto, chicken to beef to fish, & several other options, Phat Burrito provides enough of an option for the whole group to enjoy the kind of burrito each person likes. The salsa bar also has some different options to top your burrito with, & you can try as many as you wish.
This place is pretty tiny, with not much room for indoor eating. When the weather is nice, the patio is a good option & is right next to the light rail. The lunch crowd is always huge & most people take their food as takeout, so expect to wait a good while to order, & wait for seating as well if you plan to stay. The parking lot can sometimes be a hassle as well.
Phat Burrito is so much better than your normal Qdoba, Chipotle, etc. types. Phat Burrito gives you a much better tasting burrito, without a high price, & will have you going back again & again to this unique little joint.
Phat Burrito's burritos are just that: Phat. And, depending on how you order them, they're Fat too. And really, there's no reason to order anything else.
Choose from BBQ Chicken, Steak, Chicken, Fish and Grilled Veggies (the girlfriend's pick every time). Surprisingly, the fish is excellent--and at a really good value. It's like a blackened Tilapia and comes with a pineapple-y salsa. Extremely tasty. Everything else is good as well--and you can add beans (black, spicy red or refried) for no additional cost. Go with the spicy red; you won't be disappointed. The guacamole isnt anything special, but it's fresh and tasty, so throw that on your burrito as well.
Grab a Modelo as your cerveza and you're all set to enjoy the funky decor of the spare inside. Outside seating is perfect for a warm evening, and there's often a mellow hipster crowd out there enjoying itself.
Life is Phat.
Update! I tried it again last night because I WANT it to work. There have been some improvements: the small claustrophobic space has expanded to include a new and improved seating area. The chips still look like tostitos but they are no longer tri-colored and the guac (which I did not try) looked much better this time around. The steak was still a bit dry but in a pinch I would go here again.
This is what goes for authentic Mexican around here? Sorry, but coming from Chicago I've had my share of tacos, sometimes eating them three or four times a week. Love 'em. The burrito I got at Phat Burrito is the only reason there are three stars. That and the staff seemed pretty nice. However, no way are tri-colored tostitos real nacho chips. And I've never had more watery guacamole. Really not very good and definitely disappointing. I may try this place again, but it's not at the top of my list. I'd rather spend the extra $$ and get great tacos at Cantina.
This funky little eatery in the South End has grown quite a bit (not in size, but in appeal) over the last few years. What started as not much more than a rather ugly yellow cinder block building on an oddly-shaped lot is now that and more - they've added some landscaping, a paved lot instead of the gravel parking and a nice outdoor eating area too. Inside the food is the same great, simple combinations you're used to getting.
The cramped quarters also haven't changed much, but that's just part of the appeal. As strange as it may sound, the sheer volume that moves through this place makes it possible to place your order and get a table by the time the order is ready - provided everyone cooperates and doesn't hog their table out of their place in line. When you're done, get up and let someone else have the table, and everything keeps moving as it should.
Table tops still contain business cards from around town, and there is plenty of artwork to see as well, and the atmosphere is worth coming for, but it's the food that should keep you coming back. While the burrito is the namesake of the place, make sure you try the quesadilla too. They are excellent.
I've been going here for years and for all the people who say "don't let the outside scare you" - that's after a renovation, haha. it used to be MUCH scarier. The owner put in decent patio furniture, lights, music, flowers, and fresh paint. If you sit at just the right spot on the patio you have a great view of downtown and the wonderfully ugly pink building. The inside isn't much to look at but at least now they have central heat/air and not a window unit that leaks on you. And the art you see on the walls is up for grabs, normally.
As for the food - not authentic mexican - not meant to be. They're burritos, quesadillas, nachos, tacos.... and the most delicious salsa EVER! I don't like quesadillas but I like them here. But whenever I come back to town I get a chicken burrito, black beans, rice, hold the cheese, lettuce, tomatos, sour cream and guac.... lots of guac :-) I eat half there and visit with the staff (V & Kelly are AMAZING) and take the rest for the trip home.
It's within walking distance of some other kewl shops and even Amos' so hit up Phat Burriito before going to a show or out for drinks!
Oh! And the brownies they buy from local bakers are out of this world!
Searching for decent Mexican food in Charlotte is like looking for Big Foot. Just when you think you spotted him, he disappears.
Phat's is a burrito "get it and go" type place. Not an authentic Mexican restaurant. I'll get the major downer out of the way first, their chips and guacamole is pretty disappointing. I've had better chips from Tostitos. As a matter of fact, I think they were Tostitos. That said, the burritos are fair. Not good or great - fair.
They "almost" have a dining room but that's beside the point. If the food warranted it, I would come here every week. It's a decent neighborhood spot that I will probably try again if I'm in the area but there's absolutely no reason to go out of my way to trek here on a regular basis. I really don't understand five stars for a mediocre burrito and brown guacamole. But if you come here with low expectations you just might like it.
I do not live in the area so when I found myself getting my hair done right up the road, I was unsure where to go. One of the girls at the salon suggested Phat Burrito and being the burrito lover that I am, was really excited. I walked in and was not too impressed. The menu was poorly displayed and I really didn't like the fact that I couldn't see what came on each burrito. I ordered the fish burrito with tallapia. I got my burrito, which was huge and took a bite. I was starving so I was excited to eat something that I usually get a lot of satisfaction out of. I immediately tasted this disgusting sweet mango salsa. I was really confused because when the person who took my order went through the toppings, he never mentioned this concoction. I really do not like mangos and tried to open the burrito up and eat it with a fork, that didn't help. Overall, I was not satisfied with my $10 purchase. I was really disappointed and my lunch date who ordered a chicken burrito shared my sentiments. I might go back and try something else but probably not by choice.
Listen, this place has mediocre burritos and "okay" mexican food.
How did this place get such a high rating and how has it been voted as "best Mexican in Charlotte"...I SURE DON'T KNOW.
Honestly great food. But I don't feel it qualifies for authentic Mexican in the least. Mexican food is one of my few passions and I can whip up a better burrito than PHAT Burrito in about 5 minutes in my own kitchen. Some spices would have been nice. The salsa that they have is very good and if you asked them to put it inside the burrito you might have a pretty close match to something halfway tasty.
But quite honestly, it tasted like something from a college campus. Yuck.
Phat Burrito is just another big burrito joint that really doesn't stand a fighting chance against Johnny Burrito.
Phat Burrito uses fresh ingredients, but that doesn't matter when said ingredients aren't prepared well. The chicken is underseasoned, and the tortillas dry and hard. Even the chains like Moe's and Salsarita's are superior to Phat Burrito.
I like that they have a salsa bar, but again, the salsas are nothing to write home about. And the atmosphere is a little too dark and dingy for this type of food.
Parking is horrid. Walk there.
I've been a big fan of phat burrito since i moved here about four years ago. the first thing i'll say is don't let the outside scare you. the funky paint and the bars on the windows are from when the southend was more run down.
the second would be to try the bbq chicken tacos. i know it sounds strange, but they are very addictive. i used to call in just to make sure they had enough as they make it fresh and once they're out, they're out. i've never really been there when the place was packed. so, the atmosphere is very laid back and if you have a business card, feel free to slide one under the glass on their tables. this place is great when checking out the shops and galleries of the south end. so, give it a try and have a few tacos on their patio.
Huge burritos at this joint, they have plenty of vegetarian options as well. The naked chicken and rice burrito was delicious and it had an organic flavor. The graffiti outside the place reminds me of that soulful Philly graffiti that I love. This little corner restaurant is fun, go out on the patio and enjoy a burrito.
Yummm!!! This is the best place in town to go for burritos as big as your face. The food here is pretty basic, so don't expect any crazy combinations, but the veggie burrito is the best in town (fresh sauteed portabellos, zucchini, onions, and peppers) and the quesadillas are awesome. Very busy during lunch, but it usually isn't too difficult to get a seat.
Sitting outside and watching the new light rail go by was a highlight but the food is nice too. HUGE burritos.
Very bohemian with awesome mexican food!!! Burritos, tacos, whatever...it's definitely the best in town and worth the struggle for both a parking spot and a seat. Their salsa bar is a huge win for me...love the tangy green chilli. I've been a loyal follower for about six years now and can honestly say, this is the place is where I take anyone new or visiting Charlotte every time.
Phat Burrito makes an impressive burrito...I'll be honest...I've been over 5 times and I always get mine with chicken, black beans, rice, cheese, spinach and fresh jalepeno...kind of lame but I like what I like. I recommend dining outside if weather is permitting. Inside is cool too...a little funky and cramped but all together good. I'm a big fan of their "serve yourself with a laddle" salsa bar too. Best consumed after a night on the town.
Fast fun neighborhood food. Great location near the light rail line makes this a great place to stop at on the way to uptown while riding the line.
Funky laid-back atmosphere. Phatty messy burritos. Not authentic burritos, but more like mission style burritos. Found it strange to have jasmine rice instead of spanish style rice, but I'm not complaining. The place & food never changes, and I like it that way. I like to load up at their salsa bar. I can't really eat a whole burrito in one-sitting, but that's cool 'cause I just have more for later (they are just fine eaten as leftovers). This place has local flavor that is a good place to take out-of-towners to that don't believe Charlotte has some character.
I work within walking distance, and those fish tacos call my name every day around lunch time. My coworker's say the rest of the menu is awesome, too but I have always stuck to the fish tacos and burritos because they are so good. One thing to note is that the indoor seating is limited so there is sort of an unspoken rule about not lingering too long after you finish your food if there is a crowd waiting to sit down.
This place has good food, no ifs ands or buts about it. It's simple, not ellegant but the atmosphere is not lacking in flavor.
The beef burrito was okay. The portion was great (really big). I didn't really like the beef, it's more of the braised cheaper beef. I would go back; but, I think I will try something else.
Simple and unpretentious. Good burritos and better tacos. I'm a fan of their fish tacos with the mango salsa. Can get really crowded at lunch.
Best burritos I've found in Charlotte. Great service and staff. Try the fish taco.
Neighborhood: Dilworth
Category: Mexican
Neighborhood: Dilworth
Category: Mexican
Neighborhood: Dilworth
Category: Southern
Neighborhood: South Park
Category: Southern
Charlotte, NC
Category: American (Traditional)
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