News & Press
People have said some pretty nice things about us recently, so we thought we’d show-off a little bit.
The Northeast, which in the Burrito Bracket extends from Missouri to Maine, has the second-most burrito-selling establishments of any of our four regions (after California, of course). It lacks the historic Mexican culinary influence of California and the West, but is flush with college campuses and big cities, which breed burrito lovers.
According to Silver’s website and blog FiveThirtyEight.com, there are 67,391 restaurants in the United States that serve a burrito. In Silver’s ongoing quest to find the country’s best one, the El Pelón Taquería burrito has been named number four.
If you’re a fan of watching heat-seeking masochists wallowing in self-inflicted pain, then you don’t want to miss out on El Pelón Taqueria’s annual hot chili pepper eating championship on May 7. Throughout the month of April, contestants qualified by eating (and keeping down) 15 roasted habanero chili peppers in 15 minutes.
Out of the terror and tragedy at last year’s Boston Marathon bombings came many stories of people helping others. Some were stories of heroism and bravery, but there were also stories of those who helped in a more subtle way. Their acts of kindness were often relatively small—food, use of a cell phone, shelter from the cold—but they were timed in a manner that caused them to make a big difference.
For one night only, The Hawthorne is partnering with the Anti-Defamation League to raise funds for the World of Difference Institute, a leading provider in anti-bias education. On the evening of March 24, the $20 price of admission will get you Latin-inspired food provided by El Pelon Taqueriaand The Hawthorne kitchen staff, as well as Eastern Standard bartender Naomi Levy’s award-winning Guayaba Arabica cocktail.
Our Eater NY colleague, Robert Sietsema, notes that greasy spoons are generally small, cheap, not afraid of fat, and adored by their communities. While we often speak of diners when referring to greasy spoons, he and we both know a wide range of places can fit the bill. Fenway and Brighton's El Pelon may not make French fries, but the fry-o-lator is constantly bubbling with fish for pescado tacos or plantains for the El Guapo burrito.
The toasted roll gives a nice crunch to this torta. Add in a meat, refried beans, the delectable limed onions and guacamole, and you have a great meal. But the true star of the sandwich has to be the spicy mayo. A nice kick of flavor to end the ideal bite, this condiment gives your taste buds exactly what they need. These tortas are best with the chicken, but don’t be afraid of the steak or braised pork. Any option is a good one for this zesty dish.
Authentic Mexican is hard to come by in Boston, but this taqueria puts up a fair fight. The picnic tables with umbrellas and the cozy, off-the-main-road location are reason alone to try out the eats on a warm day. Order chips and salsa for an afternoon snack, or the fish tacos for a cheap dinner. Beware: spicy means spicy. 92 Peterborough St., Boston, 617-262-9090, elpelon.com.
Throughout Boston, you’ll find Mexican restaurants featuring hearty burritos boasting wide ranges of ingredients. In each neighborhood, whether you’re lounging with friends and sipping margaritas with a burrito or just making a quick stop to grab a burrito and go, you can’t do better than the following locations.
After being decimated by a fire in 2009, the Fenway’s popular El Pelon Taqueria finally reopened the doors of its rebuilt Peterborough Street location in November. It’s a small space, with walls filled with pictures of satisfied and loyal customers from all over the world. On a recent lunchtime visit, the crowd was a bustling cross section of hungry students, young professionals, and locals crammed into the mostly take-out operation.
