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How to say this: Cosmic Cantina is /the/ place in the Triangle for good Mexican food. Perhaps my attachment is purely emotional, but I adore tromping up those graffiti-ed and often-disparaged stairs, swoon over the thought of risking my GI tract on the questionable sanitation standards, and would be willing to give up at least a pinky to get my hands on one of their vegetarian burritos right now.
I generally dislike Tex-Mex, and the food here is not much like the yumminess that I enjoyed during my two-week stint in Baja, Mexico, but however you want to define the food at Cosmic, it's delicious. Ingredients are always fresh, the rice is savory, the cheese is a perfect smooth consistency, and the chicken (from back when I ate chicken) is seasoned to make your mouth want more even as you chew.
But hey, I welcome the nay-sayers - less competition for good tables!
I am normally a fan of Cosmic. Sitting on the back porch on a nice evening with a pitcher of margaritas is a perfect evening for me. I usually stick with the Constance Burrito with Chicken, and I think generally Cosmic does great burritos, but on this occasion my friend and I wanted nachos.
So we stopped by for a quick bite. We ordered nachos and decided that we've had better nachos than what was here. Knowing that a burrito costs about $6 and can fill me enough to skip a meal, I was sort of upset to pay the same amount for a tiny plate of chips & cheese.
First there was the presentation of the nachos. A paper plate covered in chips and beans and tomato pieces and unmelted shredded cheese. The salsa/tomato puree dispersal could have been improved. It seemed that they just opened up a can of beans and spooned some onto the chips - bean juice and all. The unmelted cheese left me wanting. Who makes nachos without melting the cheese? We ran out of chips and only had soggy chips at the end. We tried to go up and get some more chips, but a huge soccer group came in and made talking impossible.
So while I do love me some Cosmic, maybe just stay away from the nachos. They aren't going to be what you expect.
This place has dependable, decent burritos at reasonable prices. It has all the standard ingredients you expect from a burrito joint but nothing extra.
You do however get to walk up the most rickety stairs in Durham to reach this fine establishment.
When I was a freshman at Duke in 1998, I wandered over to this place, having heard some hype. I stood in line and asked the drunken junior in front of me whether "this place [is] any good."
He turned around and grabbed my shirt. "I'd fucking kill my mother for this shit," he confessed.
I looked over his shoulder to the cashier and placed my order: "I'll have what he's having."
Fast forward. It's 11 years later. I live in Los Angeles. Every year, my friends and I celebrate New Years Eve in Washington DC. My best friend lives in Durham. I don't fly to DC. I fly to Durham. I eat two chicken burritos per day until we have to drive to DC.
Rewind to 2003. After I graduated, I worked for Duke for a couple of years. My friend and I would weekly eat a burrito at a different place in Durham/Chapel Hill. We would always compare it to Cosmic.
Cosmic would always win.
I've been doing the same thing in LA since I moved here in 2004. You'd think they'd make a better burrito here. You'd be wrong. One place gets close. One place makes a good burrito. My only consolation is that it's late October, and New Years isn't that far away.
When I lived in Durham I ate here two-three times a week. The burritos are exceptional. The ingredients are fresh, flavorful, and well-balanced, and the salsa is particularly good. The burrito as a whole is light and healthy, you never feel guilty for eating here. Bonus points for the hole-in-the-wall atmosphere, which is regrettably uncommon in Durham.
My favorite burrito joint anywhere... and I live a mile from the Mission.
This place introduced me to the San Francisco-style burrito and I loved it. Its a little different than what I'd consider a mexican burrito. Namely they have more rice, black beans and pico de gallo in their burrito than a mexican burrito that I had eaten previously (refried beans, and lettuce). But since traveling to SF, this place is pretty spot on in terms of making what I'd call a SF-burrito (Tres Amigos, La Cumbre).
It serves cheap burritos that hit to spot late night when nothing else is open.
This seems random, but they have exceptionally fresh and crisp lettuce in their salads. Not something that I would expect for this place. Great guacamole (doesn't taste like it's made out of a bag) and great tortilla chips but the salsa is stock. Good selection for vegetarians as well.
This is staple for Duke students. Better than the other burrito chains - but please do not call this Mexican food.
This place is kind of hidden off of Ninth St, but that really doesn't stop tons of people from being there all the time. I've been coming here for years and it's always been consistent. It's cheap, it's quick, and it's really really good. I've always gotten the Constance burrito which is just sour cream, rice, and cheese, and as unappealing as that sounds, it's amazing. Their other burritos are definitely worth trying as well. The interior is kind of run down, but I think that's part of the charm. There's also an outdoor seating area with a beautiful scenic view of some concrete and an alleyway.
Also, part of the fun is giving the cashier a fake name for when they call out to tell you your order's ready. Well, at least it was when I was in high school.
I think a lot of the positive reviews come because these burritos taste AWESOME when you're drunk at 1am. And so what? They do! It's also a good place to bump into friends in similar condition. It is a little hard to find, tucked away up a rickety flight of stairs, but that adds to the charm. Portions are generous, so what's not to like?
To be honest, I don't understand all the hype. The burritos aren't that great, and you can get better tacos at Chubby's just down the street.
I used to frequent this place as an undergrad for the bar downstairs, which closed down a few years ago. It was an open jam session every night (with bar-provided instruments), and every once in a while, the bartender would take a break, pick up a guitar, and shred like Hendrix. But now that it's gone, I haven't found a reason to go.
Ok. There's nothing wrong with Cosmic, per se. Sure, it's filled with drunk Duke coeds at 3PM. Sure, it's a bit seedy, the music is loud and crappy, the margaritas are watery, and the door sticks open and its cold and drafty in the winter. I would forgive all of these sins readily, and happily, but for the greater sin that is lowered expectation.
I used to live in Cambridge, MA, the home of Ana's and Felipe's. We also have a Qdoba and a Chipotle, as well as Picante and probably 18 other places that served burritos. So maybe I'm spoiiled. But guacamole shouldn't cost $2. A burrito at Cosmic that sates a reasonable adult male appetite seems to lie somewhere between their regular and giant size, and the giant comes with guac. This means I end up buying the giant and having leftovers, but I pay like 10 frickin dollars for my burrito. Call me spoiled, but I want my burrito for $5, $6 with guac and sour cream I'd also like it to have tangier mexican cheese, rice cooked in and infused with chicken stock, well-spiced beans, (better?) steamed moist tortillas leading to a moister overall burrito, and maybe more 'burrito integrity'- the property that prevents burrito disintegration mid-bite.
So while there was nothing wrong with Cosmic if you've never known a good burrito shop, I'm willing to be the arrogant, elitist burrito snob from the big ol' city that tells you all that you don't know what you're missing.
I WANT to love this place. I really, really do. I want a burrito shop in Durham to frequent and adore and to crave. Cosmic ain't it.
Let me begin by describing my initial experiences with Cosmic Cantina. It all started when I was an RN at Duke hospital working night shift. Every Friday night we would order delivery of Cosmic Cantina. That being said, I found their chips to be great and their burritos fabulous. No complaints here.
A few years later, now in graduate school, a few friends suggested we pay a visit to Cosmic Cantina. As in, eat at the actual facility. The thought had never even occured to me. So we go! Woohoo!
Upon entering the place, you walk up a stair class. I was afraid the weight of my purse alone was going to cause me to come crashing through to the basement, not to mention, I'm pretty sure the holes in the wall have asbestos just pouring out of them. However, once up the stairs and into the "restaurant" it was really quite a dive. Still, the food was excellent and you have to remind yourself to look past the place itself. But, damn. That place is a shithole. I couldn't believe I had ordered food from this place for so long... but don't be discouraged as I probably would have been!
The bathroom was surprisingly clean, aside from the "Toni was here", "Billy Bob + Tiffy = heart", or "DaNiqua is a HOE" writen all over the entirety.
There are about 7 tables/booths in the entire place... so big groups beware.
Overall, if your looking to score a quick bite to eat in the Dirty D area... Cosmic Cantina is a great choice. If you weigh greater than 300 lbs... I would probably order delivery... as I'm not sure that the stairs can accomodate you. Seriously.
Okay, so I won't stray too much from most of the reviews here, but that's only because I LOVE Cosmic Cantina. I really can't think of one single thing I don't like about this place. Great prices for delicious, enormous burritos and chimichangas, a great hole-in-the-wall atmosphere, the coolest rooftop patio I've seen in Durham, and cheap, strong margaritas add up to one awesome dining experience. I just can't go there without getting a chimichanga - the ingredients are as fresh as they come and my mouth is watering just thinking about it. And, as many have noted, Cosmic is open late...I think I may have to cut this review short and make a little drive!
In short, if you love fresh, cheap, heaping portions of Mexican food and a slight workout climbing stairs to get there, go to Cosmic Cantina RIGHT NOW! You'll probably see me there in a few!
Burritos are marginal at best. Rice has no flavor, there isn't enough cheese in the burritos, and the salsa is really bland.
With that said, Cosmic Cantina does have a great feel to it and the drinks are reasonably price. Furthermore, they are open pretty late. If you're looking for for a cool place to hang out with friends and have a couple drinks, then CC is the place for you. If you want a phenomenal burrito, try some of the taquerias or taco trucks in the area.
Sure, the building feels like it just might fall apart if you breathe too hard, but that doesn't stop The Cosmic Cantina from being one of the best stops out there. Period. Not for a burrito, not for a margarita - though both are quite good and come more than highly recommended - just period. Go here.
The food always tastes fresh, and comes out hot & quick. It's one of the worst-kept secrets in Durham (plus, it's cheap food near Duke's campus), so be prepared to wait if you're going during prime dining hours. The wait, the climb up stairs that you're almost certain are going collapse beneath your feet, and the heat upstairs will all end up being worth it.
Okay, be forewarned: I will *attempt* to contain my joy while writing this review, but I probably won't be too successful!
OH MY LORDY LORD COSMIC CANTINA IS AMAZING.
With all due respect to the wonderful people who make up the Yelp community, I have to fervently and energetically disagree with Sarah M.'s note that Cosmic Cantina would have gotten 4 stars from her if she hadn't had Chipotle on the brain. Sister, Chipotle can't hold a candle to this rich Mexican goodness, and furthermore Chipotle's viability as a 'restaurant' is based on the revenue generated by loyal followers that hole-in-the-wall places like Cosmic Cantina have all over this great country of ours!!!
With cheap, fresh ingredients, and an ample menu (even for vegetarians) my review of Cosmic Cantina hits the 5-star mother load due to their solid know-how when it comes to burrito wrapping. Benjamin B. has it right: the ingredients in a burrito need to be well mixed, and they need to stay wrapped up in the darned tortilla! It's not a particularly hard concept, but those fast-food joints just can't seem to get it right.
The Durham location is on the second floor up a well-used, oozing-with-character staircase, above a flower shop and next to a dance studio. With seating inside and out, I recommend the great patio seating, complete with tables that aren't balanced - bless their hearts. Expect to pay around $5 for a burrito, and make sure to get some guacamole on that bad boy: Cosmic Cantina makes it as good as anybody in the biz.
Exactly the same as it was 5 years ago when I was a student! Yummy burritos and chips & salsa, fast, friendly service and an outside patio to enjoy the weather. The place itself is still old and crappy (I didn't think the staircase could get any worse, but it has) but that won't stop us from coming back at every reunion!!
This place is a bit far from my usual stomping grounds, but when I can get here it's always worth it. They've got the best Burritos in the Triangle (Apologies to my Raleigh favorite Baja Burrito) and serve homemade sangria that's delicious.
The best part about Cosmic Cantina is that it's cheap: most of the quesadillas and burritos are $5 and under, and they're huge. If you go during the nights, expect a large crowd. This place wins in my book because of the great selection of vegetarian friendly options (it can be quiet hard to find a good vegetarian option in the Triangle area) and Cosmic has never let me down.
Maybe this place would've gotten 4 stars had I not been jonesing for Chipotle. But I am visiting my sister up here in Durham, and I said burrito, and she replied, Cosmic.
The space is cool. It's this little hole-in-the-wall and is probably a favorite to many people because of that. I think we sometimes crave those places that don't look polished. Perhaps it makes us feel like we're willing to sacrifice ambiance for good food.
Whether this place does that, though? Jury's out on that one. I suppose you just like what you're used to. My sister loves this place. Me? I kept taking bites of burrito hoping that it will start tasting like Chipotle.
I've been here more times than I can remember. My favorites are the burritos and chimichangas (deep-fried and covered with cheese and salsa). If you live burritos and are in the area, then you need to stop by and check it out. Open late until 4am (often).
Bums sometimes hang out by the entrance but they seem harmless.
Best Burritos in this area!
This place is a hole, but definitely a hidden treasure. You almost have to be a local just to find the place as it's up a steep stairwell next to a dance studio in the "Ninth Street" area of Durham. But if you do find it you're going to find some great eating!
I spent several years in the San Francisco and San Jose area of California, and there are many such places out there. Family ran operations with real authentic style fixings. The burritos at Cosmic Cantina are of this style.
Great filling comfort food.
-Zac Morris
I'm probably biased since I ate here approximately 537 times between '98 and '02, but this is the greatest burrito place in the entire world.
Chimichangas, taco salads, quesadillas, burritos - all amazing. I was partial to the vegetarian or Constance burritos, but the chicken is delicious as well.
I've never really gotten the point of measuring how "authentic" a restaurant's cuisine is, so I can't comment there. I just like food that tastes good, and this place really does it for me.
The original Cosmic Cantina is fresh, cheap, and delicious. I generally stick with the burritos and chips with guac, but I imagine the whole menu is great. Here are some particulars:
- They know how to wrap a burrito. There isn't any of this bulging-burrito mess that you find at Chipotle or Qdoba. That puppy stays together so it goes in your mouth, rather than your lap. While it can occasionally be mess, it has an optimal and well-mixed amount of all the constituent parts.
- The guacamole is fantastic. Just get it.
- The chips are homemade and well salted. Consequently, they are very tasty. Occasionally, you will be lucky and get warm chips, which are even better.
- If your stomach is small but your eyes are large, get a mini-burrito with a side of something.
Hmm, I have to give only 3 stars.
On the one hand, the burritos are pretty cheap for what you get.
On the other hand, this isn't the best burrito out there...of course, given that Durham is nowhere close to the border, it might be the best you can do for 500 miles. However, I can't give it much credit for being the cyclops in the land of the blind, can I?
I lived on these burritos in grad school. I hope there are no long term ramifications...
I moved away from Durham 3 years ago and I still haven't shaken the hold this place has over me. No other burrito has been able to measure up. For the love of all that's holy, go there if you can.
I love cosmic :) great quality food, cheap, and open muy late! My fave is the roasted veggie quesadilla. The burritos are good too! They stay together well and are stuffed perfectly every time. Everything is freshly grilled, and they make the chips right there as well. Their guac is pretty tasty too :)
Cosmic puts chipotle to shame... unless you like queso, that is. or your taco salad in a fried flour tortilla shell (yes, it defeats the purpose of getting a salad, but its sooo goooood)... cosmic doesn't have those. :/ Other than those 2 drawbacks - it's great!
So there was an on-going war between my friend Jonathan and I about which is better- Carrburritos (my fave) or Cosmic Cantina (his). We decided to have a dine off to determine which was best. We drove over to Durham. We climbed up the steps. I thought, "this place is just like the Armadillo Grill in Carrboro." I kept my thoughts to myself. The first thing I ordered, they couldn't make because they were out of the ingredients. The second thing I ordered they also couldn't make. So, I opted for a quesadilla, thinking, "if you're out of cheese, chicken or tortillas, you need to close." I got my quesadilla. Nothing special. The chips and salsa were stock. In my mind, I won that night. Thank you Carrburritos.
I love the Cosmic Cantina in Chapel Hill, and this one is a close runner-up for some of the best burritos in the area. The main disconnect for me is that this Cosmic Cantina doesn't stuff their burritos nearly as much as the one in Chapel Hill. They have the same ingredients and the same ratios of fillings, but just don't quite put as much rice, beans, and chicken as my old stand-by in Chapel Hill. Still one heck of a burrito though, so don't pass it up if you're trying to find a great spot in Durham.
Cosmic is okay, but I don't get the hype. I guess it's a Dukie thing. The food reminds me a lot of the Baja Fresh chain. Don't expect greatness. The steak was overcooked and under-seasoned. There was distinct lack of spiciness, which is frustrating when eating Mexican food. Not a place I would go out of my way for, but I'd have it in the future if I was in the area and wanted something fast and affordable.
Maybe it's because I'm not a Dukie but I just don't see the love for this place. The prices are not that cheap and the sizes are not that large. The burritos are okay but nothing special and there isn't anything that draws me back for return visits.
I guess the location on Ninth Street is good and I can see how this place is cool for students to come and hang out and grab a bite but I've had better.
P.S. I hear they have opened a location in Penn Station in NYC so I guess people must like this place enough.
until i was exposed to a mission burrito, nothing could compare to one from cosmic.
the anticipation would build as we'd stumble up those many steps. the ever constant late night line was never a deterrent. the crew there work like burrito making machines, keeping everything going smooth and quickly.
this place still holds a special place in my tummy. as it did for many blue devils, it helped me survive when i devoured all the points on my meal plan.
the original location is conveniently within walking distance to east campus.
Before burrito chains like Moe's, Qdoba, and Salsaritas moved into the area, there was Cosmic Cantina. They serve up big, fat burritos, quesadillas, chimichangas, and more, at very reasonable prices (about $5), along with chips and some of my favorite salsa (more like pico de gallo) and guacamole in the area. The chicken nachos were my all-time favorite. Ingredients are mostly organic, and there are some low-fat options available too. A veggie burrito is very filling and will only run you around $3. The Chapel Hill location is open late, perfect for a quick meal after a concert or night out.
Really good cheap tofu burritos and delicious and strong margaritas. Plus, it's open late. They also offer shots of tequilas and other liquor, as well as sangrias. So you can get full and drunk, all under $10.
I lived on these Burritos my junior year of college. The cantina is fun, too.
People seem to love Cosmic, so I was eager to try it, but it's nothing to write home about. The food quality is mediocre and the flavor isn't all that great, but at least it's cheap. It's certainly far from authentic and there are much better burritos to be had in Durham (try out Taqueria Miranda's and see what I mean). Unless I was in dire need of a burrito on 9th street, I probably wouldn't go back to Cosmic.
cosmic burritos are definitely what i miss most about durham! :)
i'm not sure what makes them so great since i don't think they're really that authentic, but you can get a lot of food for not a lot of money really late at night (they're open until 4am). there's also something about the experience of opening that sketchy door and walking up those creaky stairs into a very jankity looking restaurant that just makes them more awesome.
also: you can buy beer by the bottle here for not a lot of money (and they actually have pretty decent beers like newcastle and anchorsteam). i never tried any of their liquor or margaritas but i guess you could go that way too if you so desired.
Fresh and cheap. Any return to Durham necessitates a trip to Cosmic. Great post-barhopping 4th meal. Nice, though often crowded patio. My mouth is watering for Cosmic right now.
I would have starved for 2 years had it not been for the Cantina. Great burritos (hopefully the quality is holding up). I live in the Mission in SF (burrito capitol, USA) and still hold the Cantina in high esteem (perhaps somewhat for nostalgia). The deck out back is a great little hideaway.
Okay, I have to be fair and say that living close to the Mission in San Francisco for 15 years has probably spoiled me for Mexican food forever. That being said, the Cosmic Cantina is a fun place to go. You can hang out on the balcony (although, maybe it isn't a balcony because I don't think it actually overlooks anything) and eat for dirt cheap. Yes, you will find better burritos at many places, but I love the location (I can walk there) and the prices. Also, they do have good chips and salsa, and they really stuff the quesadillas.
this is rightly an institution in durham. get their veggie chimichanga, the deep-fried guilt is worth it.
Chapel Hill, NC
Category: Mexican
Durham, NC
Category: American (New)
Durham, NC
Category: Barbeque
Durham, NC
Category: Restaurants
Durham, NC
Category: Southern
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