First Look: Fighting Burrito downtown

A custom burrito at The Fighting Burrito with a garden tortilla, wild rice, slow roasted pork, grilled veggies, cilantro lime sour cream, smokey chipotle salsa and cilantro. Crispy tacos, quesadillas, a salad and nachos are also on the menu. (Credit: Zach Boyden-Holmes/Metromix)

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Even if your stomach is grumbling, you won’t have to fight for your next meal.

The Fighting Burrito, a popular Ames restaurant in Campustown, opened its second location last week in Western Gateway and offers burritos, nachos and tacos in a fast-casual environment. Especially burritos.

My dining partner and I stopped by on a Wednesday for lunch, just days after the restaurant opened. Although it was before noon, the place was already packed with people enjoying their lunches at tables or waiting in line.

Instead of a typical assembly line, owner Matthew Goodman designed this Fighting Burrito with a split assembly line to serve customers faster. No matter which door you enter to the restaurant, the line begins in the center, where the row of hard-surfaced booths break apart to leave a gap.

Place your order in the center. Each side has its own assembly line, register and drink station. Once we realized where to start, it was a well-oiled machine.

I built my own burrito for $6.25 in a garden tortilla (choose from flour, wheat, garden or tomato) with wild rice, slow roasted pork, grilled veggies, cilantro lime sour cream, smoky chipotle salsa and cilantro. The flavors were fresh, and I could taste each of the ingredients, from the pork to the cilantro. I enjoyed it with a pineapple Jarritos — my favorite soda.

My dining partner tried the Tank Man for $6.15, a huge burrito with double the rice and meat, along with black beans, salsa and cilantro sour cream.

“They had me at ‘double meat,’ ” he said.

For those craving something other than a burrito, a few choices — including crispy tacos, quesadillas, a salad and nachos — are also on the menu.

If you don’t need a giant burrito for lunch, a “mini burrito” is available for $4.25, which is prepared in a smaller tortilla with lighter portions.

The Fighting Burrito is an inexpensive, quick and fresh spot for lunch or dinner. The restaurant prepares its own meats, and makes its own salsas and sour cream mixes. It also offers a few beer choices, if you’re off the clock.

The Fighting Burrito

Find it: 309 13th St.

Hours: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday through Friday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

Info: eatfightingburrito.com