Burritos En Fuego: authentic and tasty

Baltimore's historic Fells Point area offers more charm than just bars and pizza shops. In fact, restaurants such as Kali's Court offer some of the best food and atmosphere in the whole city. But if you just want to spend a nice day or evening on the Harbor, sans the touristy Inner Harbor area, Fells Point, with its cobblestone streets and charming shops, offers a great alternative. Some of the best food at Fells Point is in fact available at one of the smallest restaurants.

Burritos En Fuego, located at 809 S. Broadway, is right next to the Nile CafZ and right around the corner from Maggie Moo's Ice Cream. Serving up authentic Mexican food for decent prices, the small takeout shop has become a favorite among locals since it opened in August 2001.

Consisting simply of a small waiting area, usually packed with people, the restaurant has only a small counter eating area and two small tables. Many customers choose to eat outside on the Broadway courtyard benches during nicer weather.

For only $2.50, patrons can get a steak, chicken or ground beef soft taco. These tacos and burritos are unlike anything you've ever had. For the steak and chicken tacos, meat is grilled with a secret marinade that gives it a fruity kick, while keeping the meat tender.

Each soft taco is stuffed to the brim with meat, yellow rice, black beans, chopped tomatoes, Monterey Jack cheese, corn, a splash of chipolte sauce and a dash of cilantro.

The burritos include all of the above, only about twice as large, and their prices run from $4.75 to $6.25. They come in a variety of options, including bean, chicken, spinach, steak, ground beef and chorizo, a seasoned pork sausage.

You'll certainly get some bang for your buck at Burritos En Fuego. Given the portions, it would be admirable to eat more than two tacos or one burrito in one sitting.

Even their taco salad ($5.50-$6.75) is huge. Served on a tostada, it it's piled high with lettuce, salsa, meat, tomatoes, black beans, guacamole, sour cream and tortilla chips.

The menu also features monstrous quesadillas, which include meat, melted cheese and salsa in a toasted flour tortilla. The quesadillas go for the same prices as the burritos.

Finally, the restaurant offers Mexican pizzas ($6.25-$6.75), which consist of a crispy tortilla with vegetables, chicken, ground beef, chorizo or steak and include melted cheese, steamed spinach, black beans and salsa.

Let's get one more thing straight about Burritos En Fuego: you won't get sick when you eat their food. Many people think that if they eat Mexican, they'll spend the rest of the night on the toilet. At Burritos En Fuego, the food is not nearly as greasy as mainstream Mexican restaurants like Taco Bell. Sure it's filling, but it's much lighter than most Mexican fare.

Burritos En Fuego is a great place to get some excellent, quick and inexpensive food for lunch or dinner. It's also a great place to stop on an informal date before heading over to Maggie Moo's.

If you're on a college student budget and are looking for the best Mexican food you've ever had, drive to Fells Point to Burritos En Fuego. You won't be disappointed.