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Burrito Beach
Master Critic Reviews (4 Lists)
Burrito Beach
8.4
Burrito Beach’s Ohio Street location is a fast-casual staple for toasted burritos, bowls, and tacos built with fresher-than-average ingredients. High-volume lunch lines from nearby offices and hotels speak to its role as Streeterville’s reliable, customizable Mexican grill.
Must-Try Dishes:
Toasted Burritos, Beach Bowls, Crispy Quesadillas
Scores:
Value: 8.8
Service: 7.8
Consistency: 8.7
Food Quality: 8.7
Atmosphere: 6.7
Cultural Relevance: 8.2
What makes it special: A Chicago-born Mexican grill balancing speed, customizability, and fresher ingredients.
Who should go: Office workers and hotel guests needing a fast Mexican lunch.
When to visit: Arrive just before noon to beat peak weekday lines.
What to order: Build a toasted burrito, add a Beach Bowl, share a crispy quesadilla.
Insider tip: Order online for pickup to skip the peak lunch line and secure better seating.
Logistics & Planning
Parking: Street parking is limited in Streeterville; nearby paid garages and hotel garages are the most reliable options.
Dress code: Casual — office wear, athleisure, and jeans are all common.
Noise level: Moderate during peak lunch rush; easy conversation outside the noon window.
Weekend wait: Usually little to no wait — traffic is lighter than weekday lunch.
Weekday lunch: Expect a 5–15 minute line during peak noon hours; mobile pickup is faster.
Dietary Options
Vegetarian options: Yes — beans, rice, veggie proteins, and build-your-own bowls and burritos make it easy to order meat-free.
Vegan options: Yes — customizable bowls and burritos can be made vegan if you skip cheese and crema; confirm ingredients when ordering.
Gluten-free options: Partial — bowls and salads work well, but tortillas contain gluten and there is no fully separate prep area.
Good to Know
Is this good for a first date? Not ideal for a first date — it’s a fast-casual counter setup best suited for quick meals rather than a sit-down, conversational setting.
Can I get a table without a reservation? Yes — no reservations are taken. Seating is first-come, first-served, with the tightest availability during weekday lunch.
Is it kid-friendly? Yes — casual seating, quick service, and simple burrito and bowl builds work well for families, though space can feel cramped during the lunch rush.
Best For
Better for: Fast, customizable burritos and bowls with fresher-leaning ingredients than many national chains, especially for downtown office and hotel traffic.
Skip if: You want a full-service Mexican meal, margaritas, or a slower, sit-down dining experience — this is a convenience-forward counter spot.
Burrito Beach
8.0
This 30-year-old Chicago-born fast-casual chain’s Streeterville location is a reliable stop for build-your-own tacos, bowls, and burritos a short walk from the lakefront hotels. Fresh salsas, a dedicated vegan menu, and speedy counter service make it a practical option for quick taco platters before meetings or sightseeing.
Must-Try Dishes:
Fish Tacos, Hot Honey Chicken Burrito, Steak Quesadilla
Scores:
Value: 8.5
Service: 7.8
Consistency: 7.9
Food Quality: 8.2
Atmosphere: 6.5
Cultural Relevance: 8.5
What makes it special: A long-running Chicago fast-casual brand where customizable tacos, bowls, and burritos are built quickly with fresher-than-average ingredients.
Who should go: Office workers, convention-goers, and hotel guests needing efficient meals.
When to visit: Weekdays 11:30am–1:30pm or early evening before the rush.
What to order: Fish tacos, hot honey chicken burrito, steak quesadilla with extra salsa.
Insider tip: Use the build-your-own format to turn any burrito combo into a taco platter, and add guacamole—locals consider it one of the better fast-casual versions in the area.
Logistics & Planning
Parking: Garage parking in nearby Streeterville decks; limited metered street parking and ride-share is most practical during peak hours.
Dress code: Casual — office wear, athleisure, and sightseeing attire are all common.
Noise level: Moderate — counter-service bustle at lunch, but conversation is easy once seated.
Weekend wait: Usually minimal — short line during early evening but moves quickly.
Weekday lunch: 5–10 minutes during peak convention and office rush; little to no wait off-peak.
Dietary Options
Vegetarian options: Yes — multiple veggie fillings, bowls, and salads with customizable toppings.
Vegan options: Yes — dedicated vegan items and build-your-own combinations that can be made fully plant-based.
Gluten-free options: Partial — bowls and many taco builds can be made without flour tortillas, but there is no dedicated gluten-free kitchen or prep area.
Good to Know
Is this good for a first date? Only if you’re aiming for something casual and quick — it’s counter service and best for a low-key bite, not a linger-over-drinks setting.
Can I get a table without a reservation? Yes — it’s walk-in only. Order at the counter and grab any open table; seating turnover is fast even during busy periods.
Is it kid-friendly? Yes — flexible portions, mild salsas, and quick service work well for families; high chairs are limited and seating is cafeteria-style.
Best For
Better for: Fast, customizable taco and burrito builds with fresher salsas and clearer vegan options than most nearby grab-and-go spots.
Skip if: You’re looking for a sit-down taco experience with cocktails, tableside service, or a more atmospheric dinner setting.
Burrito Beach
8.4
A Chicago-born fast-casual spot founded in the mid-1990s, Burrito Beach’s Ohio Street location builds customizable burritos, bowls, and tacos with a broad range of proteins and salsas. It’s the go-to in Streeterville for a quick, reliable burrito fix that’s a step up from the national chains but still easy on time and budget.
Must-Try Dishes:
Baja Chicken Burrito, Cabo Shrimp Burrito, Chicken & Chorizo Burrito
Scores:
Value: 8.5
Service: 7.8
Consistency: 8.7
Food Quality: 8.7
Atmosphere: 6.7
Cultural Relevance: 8.2
What makes it special: Local fast-casual burrito chain with deep multi-platform review volume and Chicago roots.
Who should go: Downtown workers and visitors needing a fast, filling burrito.
When to visit: Weekday lunch and early dinner when lines move quickest.
What to order: Baja Chicken Burrito, Cabo Shrimp Burrito, chips with salsa bar.
Insider tip: Order online for pickup to skip the often-long counter line at peak lunch.
Logistics & Planning
Parking: Primarily paid garage parking in nearby Streeterville decks; limited metered street parking on surrounding blocks, especially tight during weekday lunch.
Dress code: Casual — office wear, gym clothes, and jeans are all common.
Noise level: Moderate at peak lunch with counter bustle; generally easy to hold a short conversation while dining.
Weekend wait: Usually no wait — traffic is lighter outside weekday lunch rush.
Weekday lunch: 5–15 minutes during peak noon rush; mobile pickup is typically faster.
Dietary Options
Vegetarian options: Yes — build-your-own burritos and bowls with beans, rice, vegetables, and salsa (no meat required).
Vegan options: Possible with custom builds — choose beans, rice, vegetables, and salsas; skip cheese and crema (confirm ingredients at ordering).
Gluten-free options: Bowls and salads work as gluten-free alternatives to tortillas, but preparation is shared — ask staff if cross-contact is a concern.
Good to Know
Is this good for a first date? Better suited to casual, low-key meetups than a formal first date — it’s counter-service, quick, and practical rather than atmospheric.
Can I get a table without a reservation? Yes — it’s walk-in, counter-service only. Seating turns quickly, but during peak lunch you may need to wait a few minutes for an open table.
Is it kid-friendly? Yes — fast service, simple menu builds, and bowl options work well for kids; no dedicated play area or high-chair focused setup.
Best For
Better for: Fast, customizable burritos and bowls with Chicago-born branding and stronger review depth than most national chains in the area.
Skip if: You want a sit-down experience, late-night hours, or more regional Mexican cooking beyond fast-casual burritos and bowls.
Burrito Beach
7.8
The Ohio Street outpost of Burrito Beach is a fast-casual Mexican grill where downtown regulars build tacos, bowls, and burritos from a scratch-made line. It’s more functional than flashy, but steady quality, good portions, and occasional margarita and taco specials make it a reliable happy hour-adjacent option near hotels and Navy Pier.
Must-Try Dishes:
Mexico City Tacos, Cabo Shrimp Tacos, Crispy Fish Tacos
Scores:
Value: 8.4
Service: 7.1
Consistency: 8
Food Quality: 8
Atmosphere: 6.2
Cultural Relevance: 7.5
What makes it special: Long-running Chicago fast-casual spot where the Ohio Street shop turns out customizable tacos and bowls a short walk from major hotels.
Who should go: Downtown workers and visitors needing quick, customizable tacos.
When to visit: Weekday late lunch into early evening for lighter crowds and deals.
What to order: Mexico City Tacos, Cabo Shrimp Tacos, and chips with guacamole.
Insider tip: Order ahead online during peak hours to skip the counter line.
Logistics & Planning
Parking: No valet; paid garages and hotel decks nearby, limited metered street parking on surrounding blocks especially during evenings and weekends.
Dress code: Casual — come as you are; office attire and jeans are both common.
Noise level: Low to moderate — counter-service environment where conversation is easy at most times.
Weekend wait: Usually little to no wait; brief lines during pre-Navy Pier or event rushes.
Weekday lunch: Short, fast-moving line during peak lunch; mobile pickup is typically quickest.
Dietary Options
Vegetarian options: Yes — beans, veggie fillings, and customizable tacos, bowls, and salads.
Vegan options: Yes — build-your-own options with beans, rice, vegetables, and salsas (verify sauces if strict).
Gluten-free options: Partially — bowls and salads work well; tortillas may contain gluten and shared prep is likely.
Good to Know
Is this good for a first date? Better for casual meetups than a first date — it’s counter service and efficiency-focused rather than atmospheric.
Can I get a table without a reservation? Yes — reservations aren’t used; seating is first-come and turnover is quick, with off-peak hours the easiest.
Is it kid-friendly? Yes — simple menu, quick service, and flexible portions suit families; seating is limited during peak times.
Best For
Better for: Fast, customizable tacos and bowls near Navy Pier and hotels, with lighter and healthier-leaning options at budget pricing.
Skip if: You want a sit-down taco bar, craft cocktails, or a destination happy-hour scene with table service and ambiance.