Down with Big Chains, And Up with Big Flavor!

by Lilah Boig ‘26

Located within the Exxon on Georgia Avenue lies the jewel of Asian Burritos. Upon entry, you instantly see a small kitchen and bar counter in the back of the store. Behind that counter is Peter Chen, the owner, who works by hand to prepare every dish with only two to three other staff. When I walked up, I was greeted by Chen, who was happy to answer some of my questions even during their dinner rush. He explained that this was his only location and while he would love to expand to a full-sized restaurant, the spaces in the area are too expensive.

Takeout is the norm at Asian Burritos and the menu is organized between main dishes of burritos, rice bowls, and Chinese buns, as well as soups, sides, and drinks. For students who aren’t fans of other boba places in the area, this is the place for you. The green tea boba I had with my meal was more flavorful and less sugary than the other boba places in town.

The main dishes each have a standard vegetable base and have eighteen different types of meat, ranging from raw salmon to breaded chicken, as well as vegetarian options. Their most popular choices are basil chicken, raw salmon, and teriyaki chicken. “Although my favorite is #12 [black pepper beef],” Chen told me, which I was able to get a taste of. It was unlike what I was expecting from an Asian-style restaurant and had a strong American beef taste.

Asian Burrito itself is a unique style of food nearly exclusive to the restaurant. It is like a sushi roll filled with vegetables but in the size of a massive burrito, allowing customers to eat authentic Asian cuisine with their hands. Unlike the high-class buttoned-up feeling of going to other sushi places, Asian Burritos’ food creates a warm and relaxed feeling. While some may be wary of getting sushi from a gas station, Asian Burrito is a separate restaurant and promises all of its ingredients are fresh.

On my visit, I tried a few of the popular dishes out. The raw salmon was wonderfully fresh sashimi and spicy. I also tasted the tuna which had a similar flavor without the spice. Next, the teriyaki chicken was not as sweet as many Chinese places normally are, and had a strong flavor of cumin. They also offer Chinese buns, unlike other establishments within the area, and I tried one with shrimp tempura. Even if I hadn’t seen it get fried in-house, you would be able to tell its authenticity by how crispy the outside is and how fresh the inside shrimp is. The bun itself was super fluffy and had more flavor than I was expecting.

Located in a rented-out kitchen in a gas station, Chen said they make a decent profit for where they are. This was apparent, as for the half hour I was there, five people came in to pick up their orders and chatted with Chen, proving that good hospitality and strong flavors always bring in loyal customers. He let me know that their least busy time is from 3-4 pm, so if you’re ever sick of the Olney’s same old chains, make sure to stop in after school, say hello, and grab a bite of great Asian food.