April 28, 2008
Cheap Eats: Anna's Taqueria
There's been plenty of talk about burritos on Bostonist and in other local news media. And sure, this Bostonist enjoys a burrito now and again, but sometimes you want something that's not so heavy or rice-filled.
The quesadillas at Anna's Taqueria are formidable competitors if you broaden the search for good Mexican in Boston. The tortilla is oiled and grilled to crispy perfection, while the cheese inside is creamy. The best choice for a filling is, surprisingly, the vegetables. In the production line of various fillings is a big bin filled with all kinds of roasted veggies - zucchini, broccoli, red onion, sweet potato, and corn on the cob. The faster-than-hell guy assembling your meal will freshly chop up some of the vegetables to add to the quesadilla, but make sure you ask for some sweet potato. Its sweetness and soft consistency makes it the secret to a perfect quesadilla. The fresh tomato salsa with lots of bright cilantro is a great accompaniment to all the cooked veggies.
The best part? You won't have to part with more than one of those creepy new $5 bills. There are five Anna's locations, in Brookline, Somerville, and Cambridge.
For more local food writing from Pam Aghababian, check out Cave Cibum.
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I like steak in mine. Been getting them for years! And when I do, the other diners are always jealous.
Also, those new five dollar bills are awesome, not creepy!
Why? Why?
I do just do not understand the love for Anna's. Every time I have gone my food has at its worst been bad and at its best mediocre. As Anna's has expanded its presence in the city I have noticed a steady decline in quality, freshness, and consistency.
Maybe I am bitter because I have friends who keep dragging me here insisting I just got them on a bad day.
In my experience the best burritos in town are found at El Pelon in Fenway. There may be better but I have not found it...yet.
I have to agree with anonymous, the anna's burrito is just too greasy for me without the kind of flavor you'd expect. Bolocco is a favorite of mine, but my favorite was a loaded up chicken burrito from the one about 2 blocks from the Cambridgeside Galleria on 1st Street.
Like I said, I am leaving the burrito discussion to others. My point was that the roasted veggie quesadilla is quite good and is something that most people don't order.
How about the fact that they cook their rice in chicken broth? Boston is the worst city ever for vegetarians, but this one seems easy.
Anna's to me has always been synonymous with rude service and bland, colorless food.
I would vote El Pelon as my favorite but you always have to stand in line in the drafty doorway with a sample population of insufferable douches muttering "eww horchata?"
Boca Grande has always tasted better to me than Ana's.
When it comes to Tex-Mex or Fresh Mex or whatever the new buzzword is these days to describe Anna's Taqueria, Chipotle, Boloco, etc., I prefer Chipotle for their fresh ingredients, service quality, and more.