Rico Rico Taco - repeat visit

Details:

• Rating: 7.60
• Order: Burrito - $10.87
• Meat: Carnitas - 9
• Beans: Black - 5
• Rice: 10
• Guacamole: 8
• Crema: 6
• Salsa: 8
• Tortilla: 9
• Cheese: 6
• Size: 8
• Taste: 8

Description:

This repeat visit to a top 10 taqueria proves that the first test was not a fluke. Yes, Rico Rico has now dropped to #11, but it was still an awesome burrito.

This time I tried the carnitas, which was true to the menu description: crispy. It was super crispy. This is pretty rare for carnitas in a burrito, so props to Rico Rico. However, it was so crispy that it was a bit hard to eat in burrito form, and it was also a bit too salty. But I can't knock it too much because the flavor was great. Just like last time, the star of the show at Rico Rico is their rice. I can't even imagine getting a taco that is 1/5 the size for 1/2 the price, and doesn't have rice! Even if their taco tortillas are freshly homemade.

The other great thing about this burrito is the extra greasy fried tortilla. Tastes delicious, but at the cost of making the burrito more brittle and messy to eat. Pretty much everything else was as I remember it from the first trip. Overall very quality ingredients. The only difference this time was that I got black beans. I usually enjoy black beans more than pinto, but they were not very good this time. A bit undercooked, not much flavor, more grainy than creamy. I'll be sticking to the pinto from now on at Rico Rico. Overall, I still highly recommend, especially since there are very few other good burrito spots in the area.

Other Notes:

See review for 5/16/19.

Taqueria Los Pericos #5 (San Leandro)

Details:

• Rating: 6.54
• Order: Super Burrito - $13.16
• Meat: Carne Asada - 8
• Beans: Refried - 4
• Rice: 7
• Guacamole: 7
• Crema: 7
• Salsa: 7
• Tortilla: 7
• Cheese: 6
• Size: 7
• Taste: 7

Description:

I wanted to try this taqueria because I figured it must have been the same owners as the same-named #7 on the list in Santa Cruz. But as soon as I stepped out with my burrito, I realized there was another Taqueria Los Pericos a single block away. At this point I have no idea what connection they all have to each other. All I know is that this definitely does not match up to the Santa Cruz version. But it's still a solid burrito overall.

The meat had a nice charred flavor. The beans were pretty meh, but everything else was solid. Not amazing, but solid. This is another classic Bay Area burrito that satisfies any burrito craving, but doesn't leave the critic saying "wow." And maybe I'm just too price sensitive, but $13+ for a burrito doesn't sit quite right with me. I understand burrito price inflation has been skyrocketing over the past 5 years or so, but this is still on the upper end. I'd happily eat another burrito from here, but I won't be going out of my way for it.

Almost forgot to mention, check out all that guac and crema in the picture! Too bad it was too good to be true. Just another case of poor ingredient distribution left me guac-less and crema-less after the first few bites. So sad.

Other Notes:

None.