El Cortijo Taqueria

During my recent trip to Burlington, I was in the mood for some good Mexican food, and El Cortijo Taqueria came highly recommended. The retro ambiance immediately drew me in—it’s such a fun and unique spot that adds a lot of character to the dining experience. Despite the place being fairly busy, we were seated surprisingly quickly, and service throughout was prompt and friendly. I ordered a pollo rice bowl, and my friend went with the pescado. Both dishes were beautifully presented and packed with flavor. The chicken was juicy and well-seasoned, and the sauces—especially the bartender’s special—really elevated everything. I loved how the flavors all came together in a satisfying way. That said, the pricing did feel a little on the high side. Around $20 for a rice bowl or $22 for three tacos is more than I’d normally expect to pay. But in fairness, the service, ambiance, and overall quality helped justify the cost. Portions were decent, and I left feeling full and happy. If you’re looking for a flavorful, vibrant Mexican meal in downtown Burlington and don't mind spending a little extra for quality and convenience, I definitely recommend El Cortijo. I’d go back in a heartbeat next time I’m in town!

We had a lot of fun. It was our first time visiting Burlington and we were craving for some Mexican food. It was one of the top rated restaurants on google and the retro ambience it has was one of the factors of us choosing this place to have some food. Amazing choices of food and the meat was juicy and tender!!

Walking into El Cortijo was a shock to my olfactory system — the strong smell of urine hit me immediately. Luckily, my nose adjusted once they turned on the AC, and the smell faded. The menu was nothing special — your basic tacos and other staples you'd expect at a Mexican restaurant. When I came in, they were playing rap throwbacks, which didn’t really match the vibe of the place. Eventually, the music shifted to artists like Frank Ocean or Tyler, the Creator, and finally to some Hispanic tracks that actually matched the food. The ambiance was average — decor was basic, a casual diner setup. Service was standard nothing bad nothing amazing to praise. Fish Tacos These were very good. They reminded me of a taco spot called Escondite. The fish was delicious, the cabbage added a great crunch, and the sauce was flavorful — though I definitely wanted more of it. 8.4/10 Shrimp Tacos The sauce was very spicy and kind of overpowered everything else. It was still a good taco, but I wish it had a creamy sauce to balance the heat. The one random slice of carrot felt out of place — I wish they added something more thoughtful instead of just pineapple. 7.6/10 Fries Over-salted but well-seasoned. I loved the queso — overall pretty good. 7/10 Side Dishes Rice: Basic Spanish rice, but honestly? Delectable. I loved it. 9.5/10 Side Salad: Surprisingly a 10/10. The dressing was amazing and brought it all together. I genuinely loved it. Final Thoughts All in all, it's a decent spot. Would I go back? Probably not. The area felt a little sketchy — people walking by in the alley next to the restaurant made me grip my purse a little tighter. And while the food was solid, I don’t see myself returning to a place where the bathroom smells better than the dining area.

We came down from Canada to Burlington and ate at some great restaurants there. This was the one place we went back to twice! The staff were very attentive, engaging, and helpful. The food was very very good. We had the huevos rancheros, a chorizo torta, and a chorizo omelette. The winners? The huevos rancheros, and the potatoes. Very flavourful, good balance and portion size. Each element of the huevos rancheros was delicious independently and paired with other elements on the plate. They do potatoes differently here - crunchy, salty, fried. So good! The staff really care about the food, the uniqueness of a diner experience, and the details. While there we saw healthy discussions among the staff about the ideal angle for sign tilting, consistency of the margaritas, outdoor sign art, and the music selection. Every thing went to show how much care goes into this place and the food. Chris was cooking and came to check in on us. He even gave us a sample of the Chilaquiles to try when he heard how far we’d come. We felt so welcomed, taken care of, and full as we left each time. I can’t wait to go back and introduce El Cortijo to my people.

This place is so cool. The decor is such a cozy vibe and it's perfectly eccentric and stylized down to the toilets having cool designs in the bathrooms. The staff were lovely and attentive. I got a burrito bowl and I thought it was huge until my brother got his burrito and that was MASSIVE. Needless to say, portion sizes are great. Both dishes were also incredibly tasty.

Took off a whole star because they took the best drink on the menu off! The first time i visited this restaurant i had a coconut margarita and it was by far one the best drinks I've ever had. I have told many people about this place, specifically just to have them go and try this drink. I live hours away and i arrive today only to find out it was taken off the menu. To say i was disappointed was an understatement. Everything about this place is great, but it’s a HUGE mistake to remove that drink from the menu…it was the highlight of my dining experience there and a showstopper for the palate. BRING BACK THE COCONUT MARGARITA PLEASE AND THANK YOU 🙏🏻

Stopped by for lunch with a friend. Food was a bit pricey but delicious. Overall a good experience would definitely visit again.

Really liked this place. Excellent food and strong drinks, all presented in a cool, historic diner that is well cared for. With the drinks, the tab hit $30-$40 each and we didn’t have desert. Servings are generous. Food is of high quality. The vibe is good. Our waiter made a minor mistake and immediately provided a fix at no cost to us. Parking garage on the same block. Church Street a short walk away.

A former railroad car manufactured by the Mountain View Diner Company, this "art deco streamline moderne style diner" was delivered here in 1954. It's a small place with only a dozen or so tables and a dozen or so seats at the counter. I arrived at 6pm on a Monday and lucked out by getting one of the last seats. After me, it was a queue that went down the block. I chose the "one taco plate" with the roasted potatoes and "dressed greens." It did not take too long but that gave me time to enjoy a house margarita on the rocks and look out at the place. It's not noisy or boisterous, but it was a bunch of people having a good time and not being at all quiet or demure. Fun! Service was quick and attentive, the margarita was tasty, the taco was overloaded with flavor. Not terribly spicy or hot, but flavorful. Are they "Mexican street food" quality? You're in a converted railcar in Vermont, buddy. These are perfect. [Review 1641 of 2024 - 130 in Vermont - 22664 overall]

I'm visiting Burlington area for the first time and decided to order take out for dinner on 10/17/24. I ordered the refried beans enchilada that comes with two sides. So I chose the roasted potatoes and the side of mescaline green salad. The portion of the two sides were very, very small. First of all second of all, the roasted potatoes was overcooked to a point where it was very hard, also the potatoes were not cut the same size so some of the potatoes had more cooking time than the other. It was cooked uneven. The dressing that came with the salad part barely had any flavor and the refried beans enchiladas had no flavor that there was some, tomatillo sauce drizzled over it was very generic. as I was leaving the restaurant with my takeout was serving one of those bottles of corona beer to a customer sitting at the table and the lime wedge fell off and landed on the table top by the bar, so she serve the beer to the guy without the lime sticking in the bottle. She walked back and picked up the lime from the table and gave it to the customer with her, and the customer took it from her with his own hands. Disgusting.

Really fun atmosphere with a truly outstanding bartender--one of the best I've seen. The food was a solid okay, nothing to write home about, but it was fine and definitely worth it for the nice vibes and awesome drinks.

Food was next to inedible, honestly seemed old. Mango margarita was a chore to swallow. And the male server was rude. Yet he was very kind to the table of young females behind me. Don't waste your time

Really wanted to like this spot but I think I have been spoiled by having better more authentic Mexican food. The front desk at the hotel I was staying at recommended this place and said they had the best tacos in Burlington. It was a short walk away and for a Wednesday night it wasn't crowded. I came with three other people and we got a table right up near the front. It looks like it used to be a diner inside with one small town of booths on one side. They had some Christmas decorations up to get everyone in the holiday mood. The highlight had to be the house margaritas. They were so good and at a great price point. As for the food I had the street tacos and wasn't impressed. I had one carne asada, one chicken, and one pork. The flavor was just so so. About the quality of chipotle but a little more expensive. They came with beans and Spanish rice. The rice was dry and the beans were cold. Overall disappointing but the margaritas would be the only thing I would come back for.

Middle tier mexican spot in a converted railcar. Food stands between authentic Mexican and Tex-Mex of the likes of Casa Real. I believe the young male bartender was new and was attentive and friendly, management: older women and younger blonde were overbearing and added to confusion. Appetizers were brought out with entrees. One of our orders was incorrect and the bartender was apologetic and fixed it immediately. Management pointed fingers at the host stand while the bartender and servers mitigated issues. They switched away from the whole wheat tortillas which definitely improved the burritos. For the price portions are small, proteins are not up the the standard of Mad Taco or Taco Gordo but are decent. To their credit the hot sauces are flavorful, the chips are homemade and the queso and salsas were both very good. For the quality, price of food, and management this would be 2 stars, however our bartender, ambiance, and lack of other Mexican sit down options make it a 3 and still worth trying.

Stopped by here for dinner this past Thursday with my family after exploring Downtown Burlington. Cortijo Taqueria is located in an old school diner which I appreciated. The decor, ambiance and feel of the restaurant were definitely enjoyable. When we arrived we were promptly seated and had our order taken. We ordered a few drinks, shareables, and some main items I got the chicken enchiladas, and the rest of my family got tacos. We got chips some ceviche and chips + guac as a starters. Overall the quality of food wasn't bad at all - the guac and chips were fresh , my chicken enchiladas themselves were well made, and the tacos seemed to be well received among the rest of my family. On the downside, I found my rice and beans to be kind of one note (very cumin forward) and the ceviche seemed to have used pre-cooked shrimp (don't quite me on that - observation by my dad as I didn't have any) With that said, I found El Cortijo to be fairly standard/ par for the course for east coast Mexican food. I'd also like to note the the service here was very friendly and all the staff members we interacted with were very pleasant. If you do find yourself in Burlington and need a Mexican food fix , I do think this place would get the job done. But I'm curious to see what other places in the area have to offer. 3/5

Cute old diner, transmogrified into taqueria and bar. The rainy day we were there the AC was running cold. The nachos were not bad. The margarita was weak, shaken half heartedly for 5 seconds or so. I ordered a shot and splashed it in. Then, it was about right. We sat at the counter, the tender was attentive and nice enough.

This is my second time coming to this establishment and never getting service. I am very disappointed as I sat and waited for over 10 minutes and not one person acknowledged me. I do not understand what is the issue because they were not busy. The male server literally walked past every table to ask if they were ok but never my table. I really wanted to give this place a try so that's why I came back a second time. But, I will never be back again.

Came here for lunch; sat at the bar as the place was full when we got there. We got the guac and chips which was mediocre, and the taquitos which were delicious. Would come back here for takeout and to try other things on the menu.

It's a taqueria, with a small menu limited to tacos, burritos, rice bows, and some appetizers. Not a full-fledged Mexican restaurant. But what amazing tacos! The best I've had in a long time! I was going to order my usual: tacos. They are sold a-la-carte and also as dinners with a choice of 2 sides. The dinners come with one, two, or three tacos, and they're totally cool with mix-and-match. (Many places will only let you order all the same kind.) But then I saw the Ceviché appetizer, made with shrimp and mahi-mahi. I'm a fan so I'm glad I tried it. The $17 appetizer was huge and almost a meal in itself. It was limey and tomatoey, lots of bite from the jalapeno slices and onions, and probably the best of the non-Oriental style I've ever had. Shrimp were medium (not tiny), the mahi-mahi was firm in texture, well-cured by the citrus marinade. Served with house chips: many more than I needed. As I said, a meal in itself. Then the taco arrived. My choice was Carnitas, with roasted pineapple, cilantro, queso fresco. The pork was slow-cooked pork finely shredded - perhaps a bit too finely. A little drippy from the sauce making it somewhat messy to eat. But it held together well due to the double tortilla wrap. Substantial; after the hefty appetizer I'm glad I just got one, and still I couldn't finish the sides. The first side was roasted potatoes. This was a first for me in a taqueria. It reminded me of the American deep-fried potato skins appetizer but seasoned with chili and Mexican spices. The refried beans were good, not over pureed and not too oily. To spice things up I had a choice of the salsa served with the chips and two house sauces unmarked bottles. Both very hot. Ambience: As I said: this is NOT a Mexican restaurant. None of the staff appeared Mexican or Hispanic, the music was a lively classsic rock mix, and the decor was bright and colorful but definitely not Mexican. In fact, it more resembled a classic diner than anything else. That's because it actually was a diner in a past incarnation. It struck me as amusingly out-of-place in the downtown urban location; more like something I'd find on a suburban roadside. My server was perfection in every way, as was the service in general. It started as I entered and was shown my table: She tells me "not to alarm you", but there's a bee on my neck. A very tired bee apparently because it seemed to just want to linger there. So as I gingerly feel around for the bee, unable to find it, she brings over a towel and with soft soothing voice entices the bee to leave its comfy spot for the towel and she carefully places it outside. Other customers were watching at this point but it really was touching. In general the pacing of the meal was good, I was checked on at regular but not annoying intervals, and she came back for my second drink order exactly when I was ready for it. There were serveral Margaritas on the menu, and I tried two. The first, the "Smokeshow", made with mezcal, was less smoky in flavor than I expected - was it a blend? The second was a more standard one, made with silver tequila. Both were nicely limey and tangy, definitely house-made from limes - not from a mix. Excellent - at $13 they'd better be!

Overall, had a pleasant but certainly not outstanding experience this evening at Cortijo Taqueria. The staff was friendly, but not particularly outgoing or anything of note. Our chip to salsa ratio was certainly off, and we were out of salsa before half the chips were gone, although I did enjoy the salsa, and a refill of the salsa was the same price as the app itself for the little bowl. My Pescado bowl was enjoyable, although it lacked the oomph of flavor I was searching for in the meal, it was just a bit bland. The fish itself however was well cooked and had a great texture and flavor on its own, I enjoyed the breading and the meat. The rest of the bowl's contents were enjoyable, but nothing to write home about. As for the chorizo bowl, I unfortunately am not able to report back as positively. The refried beans were seasoned extremely heavily, and did not mesh with the rest of the meal at all, completely overpowering any other element of the bowl, including the chorizo, which had an abnormally pasty texture, as well as a flavor that left much to be desired. The Bloody Mary's were good, but closer to a bloody Maria and left me wishing for a more briny flavor as opposed to the excess of spice and pepperiness that were present. Overall, would try it one more time and perhaps get a burrito or check out the taco situation, but would probably not order the same dishes again. Would certainly be interested to try out their breakfast options! I did enjoy the vibes in there, and honestly I did expect the food to be a little better.

Mediocre Tex mex served out of an old diner. The ambiance is lacking and the food, while not expensive, is a bit overpriced for what it is. Think of chipotle only less tasty, smaller portions at higher prices. It'll get the job done, but you may be better off looking elsewhere.

This old tin diner turned Mexican restaurant in the center of downtown Burlington was a nice spot to stop for dinner. For a Saturday night it was not too busy, as we were able to get seated right away. The restaurant itself is a narrow old building that the waiter said used to be a diner. It didn't really seem fitting for the type of food they were serving, but the preservation of the original building was a nice gesture. This was not authentic Mexican food by any means, but the food was good. By far my favorite part of my meal was the strawberry basil margarita, which was a special at the time, that had strawberry purée and fresh basil. We started our meal with the elote nachos. These were delicious and flavorful. The tacos were just okay, and I was a bit frustrated that my request for no onions was not followed, but I picked around them. This food was also expensive, $21 for 3 average tacos and two small servings of a side. The drink and nachos were also pretty pricy too. Overall, not a must stop but a good choice if you're in Burlington!

Neat place, pretty good food, surprisingly crowded but we were able to get a seat at the bar. I got 3 tacos, pollo, carnitas, and barbacoa, all were loaded and pretty tasty. I tried a bite of the quesadilla, and we had buñuelos to go, both were pretty good as well. Certainly worth a visit if you're in the area.

This concept was really cool! It was fun sitting in an old school diner car style spot. We got the last seats at the bar so we didn't have to wait and had great service. The staff was super nice and attentive. We ordered a bunch of different stuff off the menu and loved the ceviche. Their menu was impressive and had a selection with something for everyone and some nice combinations. It's hard to impress a Texan with tacos, but their flavor profiles were unique and enjoyable

Oh my word! Best Mexican Food Ever! Order the fish to chicken tacos with black beans (perfectly seasoned!). And be sure to ask for the homemade hot sauce behind the bar. Absolutely fantastic!

First time eating here and I have to say I enjoyed the Elote taco better than the other two (carnitas and chorizo). The crispy eggplant was delicious. Highly recommend trying it! For a drink I tried the blood orange margarita which was equally delicious.

I would give 5 stars to Waitstaff for there Friendliness and Positive Attitude! But Food MMEEHH ! We had eaten here 3 years ago and it was FANTASTIC- NOT Anymore! Tacos we had 3 different they all SUCKED! Fish Taco Slimy and old tasting one bite was enough! Mushroom Taco Nasty ! Black Bean Taco with Avocado also Trio Salsa And Chips we're good especially Red salsa Soup was just ok Tacos were $5.50 each and served on Corn Tortillas size of a Tennis Ball . Definitely Will NOT Return It's too bad because it's super cool atmosphere and has a wonderful VIBE!

Stopped in here at the suggestion of a colleague for a margarita and some lunch to go. The mango margarita was phenomenal, the Tajin rim was a great touch. The bartender was quick to take our orders and make our drinks, and kept an eye on us while we checked out the menu. Our lunches were enjoyed back at our hotel. The decor was cute, much like a diner, but Latin

Cute Mexican diner. Tacos aren't huge for the money but they are very tasty. Friendly, fast service.

El Cortijo Taqueria y Cantina is a diner converted into a Mexican restaurant. Definitely a kind of cool vibe. Service is decent and the food...well, the food is...(at best) mediocre. It's not that is is terrible, it is just that I have had far better and I have had far better in a lot more places. The food, if anything, was...I guess that I can best describe it as underwhelming. Again, it has a cool vibe, though not one that you would associate with a Mexican restaurant and the service was good. The burrito was...well, I guess alright in a mediocre kind of way. Prices might be a bit high, but not exorbitantly so.

My boyfriend and I stopped here to get takeout after our long drive from Mass. My friend had recommended it and the place itself was super cute looking so I was really excited to try. Overall, however, the food was really mediocre at best. We ordered chips and two dips (salsa and guac), a fish taco, a carnitas taco, a chorizo rice bowl, and a passion fruit margarita for two! The chips to start were decent but the salsa and guac were really underwhelming. I've had much better chips and salsa/guac at many other Mexican restaurants. Out of the tacos, the carnitas was probably the better of the two. Although both were just average. The chorizo rice bowl had way too many beans and not enough chorizo. And the chorizo itself, I wasn't a fan of. Finally, the passion fruit margarita was actually pretty good~ probably the best thing we got, mainly because they put a lot of tequila in it!! It was pretty strong! Even though it says 'for two' it comes in one bottle which was a little deceiving at first, but it's definitely enough! Overall I definitely don't think I'll be back. Yes, the place itself is super cute and they do offer outdoor seating which is nice, but the food was really just average and nothing special. There are tons of other restaurants downtown Burlington that are more worth while.

Very pleasant server. Floor manager not friendly. Was this a prank??!! Pollo Enchilada was cold tortilla wrapped chicken skin. See pic. No fresh jalapeños. American rendition of Spanish. Bowl looked nice with fresh cabbage and canned pineapple. Old school Rock music - hoped for any kind of Spanish/Latin flavor atmosphere/food. Walked in since Bourbon Cajun was closed. Appreciated the server taking the pollo enchilada off the bill ... I've never asked for that but the roll of chicken skin in the enchilada turned my stomach.

We enjoyed the picante margarita and the fresh and simple take on tacos, rice bowls, enchiladas. The retro diner vibe was cool. The service was also terrific.

We stopped in while traveling through town. We really enjoyed the whole experience. We both started with margarita and, while they took a little bit of time to arrive, they were excellent! I had the Enchiladas de Pollo. That one of the most flavorful enchiladas that I have had in some time. Their table Salsas are an appreciated kicker! My wife had chicken tacos which also had great flavor and were nicely presented. We are through ton from time to time and this place is definitely on our must-do list.

*** Takeout Review for Dec 2020 (COVID) *** We got takeout from El Cortijo while visiting Burlington over New Year's Eve 2021 during the pandemic. Dine-In was not an option during our time in Burlington, as there are only a few tables in the space to begin with. Regardless, they are still doing their thing and providing great experiences to their customers. We ordered the chips+salsa+guac starter, the Caliente Margaritas (for 2) to go, and then a taco plate for each of us. We both got the fried fish and shredded chicken tacos, while I got the carnitas taco as well. Each of the dishes made it home without being soggy or coming undone as some dishes can do in transit. The fish was still super crispy, the sauces and toppings didn't bleed all through the containers, and the food was still hot (not just warm). Each of the tacos boasted a different set of toppings that enhanced the meat and the freshly made corn tortillas that wrapped them up like a warm blanket on a cold, winter night (which... oddly enough, describes the night we ordered them). The food is done well, travels well, is spiced fantastically, and the staff is super friendly (at least for takeout). The only thing that perhaps docked the star was the value paid for the food. While I do not think it was significantly overpriced, the margaritas to go were about 8-10oz for $20 which seems more like Boston prices than Burlington. We didn't feel like we were slighted for what we paid, but it wasn't a great value... which isn't to say I wouldn't return (I would), but if I'm looking for a value I don't know that this is where I would go. However, if all you are seeking is a taco plate that is done VERY well - then you can't go wrong here!

Came here on a busy Sunday morning from out of town for a brunch. Food was good and tasted fresh; I had the coconut margarita and it was delicious and refreshing. I do want to share my experience as a heads-up to others dining here; if you have a reservation, leave way more extra time than you think to make your reservation on time. Our group got stuck in rerouted traffic and arrived to find our table had been given away since we were not there in 15 minutes. We called multiple times to let the staff know, but no one picked up the phone and the voicemail was full. While I understand we were late and they have rules in a very small location, the staff was a bit rude in telling us this and dismissed our mention of trying to call by abruptly saying their phones were not working. We ended up eating here anyway as the other restaurants nearby were filled; it was over an hour after our initial reservation that we were seated. I happened to be seated near the counter and heard the phone ringing throughout our meal; it seemed to be working, but the staff was just not picking up. I understand fully that things are very busy and a small staff may not get every call, but I did not appreciate being told "the phones weren't working" when they very obviously were. I also overheard a conversation by the staff about giving away a table after 7 minutes; I couldn't help but wonder if one of the ringing phone calls was that party.

Terrible food and service! Small and cramped and horrible drinks and food. Waste of money.

first of all i drove 3hrs to Burlington just for them study my ID for 10 minutes. My picture was just me when i was younger and with a few more pounds but no dramatic changes. two people looked at my REAL ID license and refused to accept it, i asked why and all they would say is sorry. i've been 21 for almost a year now and i understand that i may look young but this has never happened to me before. I tried asking why but the dude couldn't even give me a reason and just kept saying sorry. I just had a long day of driving and was just hoping to end my night with a drink. I was never rude to them about it and after they proceeded to ask us if we still wanted our food. well they were lucky i was so starving that i could eat their mediocre burrito. they also got my friends order wrong, and she is a vegetarian and they had given her one with meat. they did compensate for that meal which was nice. throughout the night they didn't seem to give us much service.

Food was not worth the money, the chips and guacamole were really greasy. In house menu was different then charged price. Service was okay.

Loved the diner setting! Delicious guacamole and tasty chips. Spicy margarita was fantastic!!! Pork burrito bowl was super tasty and filling. Tacos were good. Service was average... they were very busy.

Nice place to go for lunch. We sat outside the other day. Pretty pricey for lunch but the food is outstanding. All the sauces were very different and delicious. The winners in our party were great waitstaff, nachos, and Carnitas tacos... will be back. Only downside is the water cups they provided are sooooo small I felt like I was drinking water from a cup of a 3 year old Update 3/15/20: Because of needing to move my kid out of school, we tried some take-out places, amazing food and kudos to Jason our server. Nachos are good comfort food in a crisis. (Had to eat somewhere).

Really like the tacos I had here. Very, very good. The interior is tight so it might be tough for a big group. They have Edward, which is great. The waitress was excellent. And friendly. And attentive. Unlike the awful experience we had at Ri Ra earlier in the night. I recommend.

Pretty good! I really liked the chips (served warm), salsa and guacamole. The sweet potato burrito was very good; I loved the flavors of the sweet potato, however, the spice in the black bean/rice portion of my burrito was just OK. Hot sauces on the table were very nice and kicked up the heat a notch. Rave reviews on the chicken burrito and the tacos were "decent". Tacos were described as "saucy" and more like "tex-mex" than authentic Mexican tacos. Rice was left behind. The decor and vibe is very cool - love the old time diner style of the booths and counter area. Mondays are "Margarita Mondays" but I was driving, so I didn't get a chance to partake in what looked like really good adult bevvies. Next time.

Came here without reservations and was able to snag seats at the bar. Reservation definitely recommended as this place used to be a diner and is small in size. Had the chips, guac, salsa and hongos tacos (mushrooms). Very well prepared! Also came with two sides, I chose rice and dressed greens.

This place has a lot going for it! Location is great, atmosphere is great, food is great! drinks are greaaat! Margarita was nice and strong and the tacos were killer. Loaded nachos were delightful but I was so hungry we ate too fast and I couldn't get a picture lol. The service was top notch, professional but not too on your business. They made great recommendations and worked fast. The one downside is that the for the price I though the portions were slightly small. Overall - really loved it! They are also taking great precautions with Covid.

The waiter was nice and the place was not very busy, so it was a nice atmosphere! Ordered a fried zucchini bowl that was good, and the presentation was nice.

El Cortijo is a cool place on Bank St near S Winooski. It is a really small and thin diner-style taco joint with a few booths and bar seating. Expect a wait due to the size and it's probably best to go with a MAXIMUM of four people. The tacos are ok...we got two taco plates with chicken and shrimp tacos. The tacos are on corn tortillas which is great but there is only one tortilla. Usually when thin (non-handmade) corn tortillas are used, two tortillas are used to prevent a disintegrating mess. The tacos fell apart and we had to resort to using forks. The chicken and shrimp were seasoned very well however and very tasty! We did appreciate the side options however...the black beans and greens were great accompaniments. Cool spot in Burlington and we are glad we happened upon it!

I'd say "pedestrian" describes the place. The carnitas taco was pretty good although the pork was more chunky than shredded. Chips and salsa were extra and the salsa was bland-in-a-can. Ditto for the rice and the refried beans. Old El Paso clones (Possibly actually in fact). You're in Burlington on Church Street for heaven's sake. You can do better.

The salsa was refreshing and tasty. However, the rice and guac threw me off. I'm fortunate to come from a city with a hefty Hispanic population and authentic Mexican food options galore - tamale shop, pupusas, you name it. El Cortijo seems to do the trick in Burlington. Think of it as a Mexican diner with a few modern twists on the menu. I loved the space. Super cozy, great location and a fun vibe. We opted for the guac, queso and fresh salsa. Highly recommend the salsa (maybe this is an ideal spot for margaritas and salsa?). The guac was on the mushy side for my liking and I was sad to see the rice was more like rice-a-roni. Their menu features several vegetarian options. If I were to visit it again it would probably be for drinks, chips and salsa.

I never write reviews but felt the need to warn others that this is the worse and most expensive Mexican food I have ever eaten. I spent $140.00 for my family of four to each have an entree and one drink (2 alcoholic). Where to begin...the rice and beans were not cooked, the spice is significant for the average person (and I like heat) and I found a large chicken bone in my enchilada. Please take this review as a warning to think twice before you go.

Our beans were severely undercooked rice undercooked too. I would not suggest going here what is a mexican place if you can't even cook your beans and rice correctly. Waitstaff was unkind and slow service. Go to el gato cantina instead don't waste your time and money!!

This is my second time dining at El Cortijo. Both times, I made reservations in advance, but according to El Cortijo's outgoing phone message, most tables are available for walk-in diners. Both visits to El Cortijo were worthy of 5 star reviews! El Cortijo is housed in an old-timey diner. The service is relaxed, but attentive, allowing diners to enjoy an unhurried meal. The food at El Cortijo is excellent! It is so fresh and tasty! I enjoyed a spicy margarita and the table shared chips with salsa verde (not too spicy) and queso fundido. For entrees, 3 of us got different types of rice bowls, which we were able to customize based on our preferences, and 1 of us got a burrito. All of the food was delicious! I look forward to dining at El Cortijo the next time I visit Burlington!

Came here on a Friday night, expecting a delay. 1.5 hours later we finally sat down. The waiter took his sweet time in recognizing us at the table while there were five other "waiters" behind the counter having a great conversation.

On our first night in Burlington, this was a great way to kick off our little vacation. The vibe was super cool in an old 50s diner. Colorful decor and a cute little patio. They followed all guidelines for Covid that made us feel very safe. We were able to reserve a table outside with the nicest waiter. I started off with a blood orange margarita (so tasty) and we ordered the salsa, queso and guacamole. All the dips were delicious and there was no shortage of chips. For dinner my boyfriend got the chorizo and carnitas tacos with rice and beans. Both tacos were very flavorful with just the right amount of spice. I had the chicken quesadilla and it was delicious. I rounded out my meal with a coconut margarita that had the perfect balance of sweet and tart. I would definitely come back and recommend to friends.

Completing an online reservation through Resy was simple. I arrived early and the host was able to accommodate. My first margarita was a DayBreak and I would have like stronger heat and coconut flavors. The appetizer Elote Dip was hot, earthy and sweet. My two taco entree was served with a side salad and cold refried beans. The taco Carnitas was juicy and delicious. The Camote had amazing salsa and pepitas for crunch. But the tortilla was noticeable hard and not as great a texture as the Carnitas. The wait time from appetizer to entree was substantial and I was extremely hungry waiting for the kitchen. Five stars to the friendly server and bartender.

I stopped by here because I like Farmhouse, a sister restaurant, and wanted to grab something (lighter/mildly healthier) before heading out of town and the sandwich places I would normally have headed to were closed for the night. (Burlington is dead, folks. So much was straight up just closed.) Ordered take out at the hostess table. Ladies up there were great! Helped right away, they helped each other, they were personable. Who-ever is hiring front of house does a great job. The food... Food came out quickly/in a reasonable amount of time for a sit-down place (10-15 minutes?). Awesome. I got the rice bowl topped with fish. Fish was well done, crispy, yum. The components went together well. Except for the rice. The rice was weird. I'm not 100% certain why I didn't like it but it will be the reason I don't go back. And the 3 stars: a place that probably serves rice with nearly every dish should have that down pat. (Note: it could be as simple as the fact that it looked and tasted like there are a lot of spices on the rice itself. I could see how this could be great in a saucy burrito. It was less great as part of my rice bowl.) Going back: probably not. The only reason this would change is if family that lives in town said they've gone and loved it.

This is a tough review to write, but here goes: I've gone here with friends many times and I witnessed an encounter that has to be known. We saw a patron blackballed for writing an unfavorable review. The manager asked him if he was X and then proceeded to tell him she was not going to wait on him because she didn't like his review. We all rely on Yelp for honest reviews, and I was so turned off I'm never going there again.