PHOTOS
Jerome Maida
When Chelsea McCall and Edgar Torrez moved to the 570 from Philadelphia, they did not come just to see the Electric City scenery.
"We wanted to try something different," Torrez said.
Now the co-owners of Tacos 'n' Burritos on the Scranton-Carbondale Highway in Dickson City, which opened this April, it is clear that McCall, 20, and Torrez, 21, have not only tried, but succeeded.
It's possible there has never been a Mexican restaurant like this in the area before.
First, we sampled the Mexican pizza and some quesadillas, both of which were above average.
But the name of the restaurant isn't Tacos 'n' Burritos for nothing.
Next up was the hard beef taco, which is served hotter than a branded steer. That was followed by the chicken soft taco that was equally tasty and sizzling. There is also a soft beef taco on the menu. All three come with fresh lettuce and cheese.
As for the burritos, we were tempted by the chicken burrito, which includes shredded chicken, black beans, rice and cheese; the chicken and cheese burrito, which combines chicken breast, cheese, lettuce and salsa; or the beef burrito, which consists of beef, black beans, rice and cheese.
Instead, we went for a California chicken burrito - which we had never before seen on a menu - and were instantly pleased with our choice. The freshly made burrito featured cool cucumber, which was a nice contradiction to the fiery chicken, and combined with salsa, chipotle, guacamole and green peppers to tantalize our tastebuds as a top-of-the-line dish.
Then, for the non-meat-eating people out there, we sampled the vegetarian burritos, choosing the black bean burrito over the more complex refried black bean burrito. The combo of black beans, lettuce, rice, cheese and salsa made for a tasty alternative to the beef- and chicken-filled choices.
Also worth trying is the black bean chili with plenty of large beans and no shortage of beef. It is a dish that would likely satisfy even the biggest chili lovers.
There are four different nacho dishes available at Tacos 'n' Burritos, as well as a taco bowl salad that includes lettuce, cheese, salsa fresca, black olives and a side of ranch - with the option of having either chicken or beef added to the mix.
Even the sides orders are top notch. McCall says she and Torrez make the chipotle, sour cream, guacomole and salsa fresh themselves. After tasting each, it is safe to say the extra effort pays off.
Then there are the sauces. Imported from Mexico, the Cholula hot sauce has some zing, but the El Yucateo red hot sauce makes it taste like ketchup by comparison. Neither can match the tongue-burning, eye-watering capability of the El Yucateo green sauce.
To wash all this down - and experience something new and different - we strongly suggest the Jarritos, different flavors of Mexican soda imported directly from Mexico. We tried the watermelon, lime, and pineapple varieties and found them much more refreshing than syrupy soda. The Jarritos also come in strawberry, guava, grapefruit, fruit punch and mandarin flavors.
If you're simply in the mood for a tasty taco or a true Mexican experience, Tacos 'n' Burritos is the place for you.