Burrito Box: What’s Vegetarian Editorial Review

Burrito Box, which calls itself El Burrito Box on its website, is a counter-service Tex-Mex spot at 885 9th Avenue in Hell’s Kitchen. The cooks grill steak and chicken and braise pork. Vegetarians get their own section, a Vegetarian Burritos category with six fillings, so you can order without asking anyone to improvise.

Start with the burrito. The traditional version arrives in a 12-inch flour tortilla with rice, black beans, pico de gallo, lettuce, cheese, and sour cream, plus the filling you pick. The vegetarian fillings are Organic Seitan at $14.50, Sauteed Spinach at $14.25, Grilled Portobello Mushrooms at $14.95, Mixed Vegetables at $14.25, Grilled Tofu at $14.25, and a plain Black or Pinto Beans burrito at $11.95. You can also order any of them as a bowl. The kitchen stews the seitan, a wheat gluten protein, with green peppers, onions, and tomato. Zucchini, onions, peppers, broccoli, carrot, and corn make up the mixed vegetables.

The menu lists swaps on request. You can ask for a whole wheat or spinach tortilla, brown rice, pinto beans, soy cheese, or tofu sour cream. Those swaps help vegans, though the menu does not label any dish vegan, so confirm the tortilla and the rice with the counter before you order. Guacamole adds $2.50.

Other formats follow the same pattern. Quesadillas come in Monterey Jack cheese for $10.50, Black or Pinto Beans for $11.95, Mixed Vegetables, Sauteed Spinach, Organic Seitan, and Grilled Portobello. The tacos arrive two to an order, and you can fill them with seitan, mixed veggies, portobello, spinach, tofu, or beans and cheese, from $9.25 to $10.95. Nachos come with queso and Monterey Jack for $10.50 or with cheese and beans for $11.95. The Tostadas with beans and cheese cost $12.50. A Rice & Beans Platter runs $9.00, and a cup of black beans costs $7.75. Sides include Guacamole & Chips at $12.50 and Salsa & Chips at $8.25. Diners who want spinach or mixed vegetables on the side can add an 8 ounce portion for $4.75.

Meat takes up most of the page, from charcoal grilled steak and chicken to carnitas and a chili con carne built on ground beef. The Infatuation gave the place a 7.3 in a July 2024 review and praised the chili con carne. The same review said the tacos, tostadas, and bowls suit people who want more vegetarian options than a usual Mexican counter offers. The restaurant posts no note on shared grills, so ask the cook to use a clean surface for your portobello or tofu.

Plan for a quick stop. The Infatuation describes a counter spot with no seats, so you will eat on a bench or take it home. The doors open daily at 11am, close at 11pm Monday through Friday, and close at 10pm on weekends. For delivery, call (212) 489-6889 or (646) 998-5048.

Order the grilled portobello burrito with guacamole and a side of black beans.