62 Middlesex Street,
City of London,
London,
E1 7EZ
(020) 7650 8858
The ViewLondon Review
A cute, quirky burrito place that surprises with good value, high quality burritos.
The Venue
A small cafe located on Middlesex Street, the Flying Burrito is colourful and compact. The size is its only real drawback as there are just three narrow tables to eat in. This means most of their business is takeaway, making it a busy, bustling environment come lunchtime. There are some cute, bright napkin holders – including one of a donkey (aka a burro) with wings – their very own mascot.
The Atmosphere
Staff are friendly, helpful and don’t mind if you linger over a lengthy lunch – although you might be asked to budge over by fellow burrito fans. The clientele seems to be mainly single diners, in accordance with the burrito’s ‘quick lunch in a foil package’ ethos that makes it so popular – and convenient. Keep an eye out for staff on Middlesex Street as they occasionally hand out free samples to lure in hungry East Londoners.
The Food
The Flying Burrito operates on a familiar setup to other burrito venues in the capital, with a choice of chicken, pork, beef and vegetables available as a burrito (£5.50), salad (£5.50) and quesadilla (£5). What they do do differently, however, is their veggie choice – which should be commended for offering a combination of sweet potatoes, corn, plantains, green beans, nuts, seeds and mole (a spicy sauce made with dark chocolate) as opposed to the usual greasy onions and peppers combo. Their salsas, too, are standouts, with options like sweetcorn and pineapple and cactus leaf salsa alongside the usual pico de gallo.
Their slow-braised pork, although a traditional option, still stands out, with a good, slightly chewy texture and a tangy flavour that really complements the sweet pineapple salsa. Lettuce, cheese, sour cream, coriander rice, black beans (or pinto beans) are all available as filling options, as you’d expect, along with a green chilli hot sauce. Guacamole costs 75p extra which isn’t too excessive. The burrito is wrapped well so that none of the juices escape – the foil wrap is a good backup – and the tortilla itself is warm, which is always a nice touch. The burritos are large but if you’re still peckish there’s a good amount of interesting snacks, biscuits and crisps available by the till.
The Drink
A chiller features a variety of upmarket bottled drinks like Fentimans and Luscombe juices (£2) as well as bottled sodas (£1.50). Fair-trade coffee is also available.
The Last Word
Burritos are becoming commonplace when it comes to quick, convenient lunches but if you’re getting tired of the standard ingredients the Flying Burrito offers more than a few unusual options.
Flying Burrito has been reviewed by 2 users