I love coming to this CalTor ! It is always clean and everyone there is super friendly. The turn around for food is super fast but you still have time to pick a hot sauce and get your drink. I have the burrito elito card and i am always saving money when I am there. It is worth the sign up!
(5)
Joe G.
An acceptable burrito. The rice was underdone, the carnitas was pretty bland, there was lettuce on the burrito by default, which is odd. No refried beans available. The place itself is a dump. Light fixture was hanging from the ceiling, with birds nesting in the opening. Dirty. Water from soda fountain had done kind of residue from other fountain products.
(2)
Mary B.
I'd never heard of CalTort before this one was built locally in Mt. Airy. I decided to go completely on a whim, guessing it would be nothing particularly special. Boy, was I wrong! I discovered their burritos to be just as good as Chipotle's, if not better. I wasn't really a huge Chipotle fan, but I do like their food. I just never went often. CalTort is now a staple of my weekly trips to Mt. Airy. They have an extensive menu, a fun and quirky atmosphere and very friendly employees. It also helps that, unlike Chipotle, I don't have to wait in a 30 minute line. The menu has everything you could want; hard and soft shell chicken or beef tacos, fish tacos, burritos, burrito bowls, salads, chips with cheese and salsa, quesadillas and more. Soon they'll be adding nachos, more burrito varieties and pork carnitas to their menu. All the ingredients taste really fresh and flavorful. I recently tried the fish tacos, as I've never eaten them outside of California and have always been wary to do so. To my surprise, they were excellent. They're made with blackened tilapia and topped with chipotle sour cream, fresh salsa and a sweet slaw; a fabulous mix of flavors! I'm also a fan of the blackened caesar burrito (it's their most popular, but the most fattening, so I've only had it one time), chicken tacos and the fajita burritos. The salads are ENORMOUS, but very good. I haven't had anything at CalTort I didn't like yet, except for maybe the Caribbean Jerk Burrito, which I found to be underwhelming in flavor. Make sure you pick up a Burrito Elito card and register it online; you'll get 10% back and occasionally you get offers for free burritos. Yum! PROs: Huge menu, friendly employees, fun atmosphere, fresh & delicious food. They also have over 75 hot sauces available to try on your burritos! CONs: The most popular (and yummy!) burrito has something like 50 grams of fat. Some people may find the constant '80s and '90s music annoying (I think it's awesome - I can tell the owners are from my generation. Ha!). Tip: Check the money mailers full of local coupons before throwing them in the recycle bin; they have CalTort coupons in them all the time now!
(4)
G K.
Great chain w/healthy alternatives, and some not quite as healthy. This location in Mt. Airy is better quality & service than any other Ca Tortilla I've been to.
(4)
Elaine T.
Delicious TexMex/Southwest/MexiMerica (whatever you want to term it) food. The burritos are HUGE. If you are a party of 1, please opt for the "small" burrito as it will satisfy even a large appetite. The queso is phenomenal. The chips, IMHO, are a learned taste. The first time I had them, I didn't care for them, but I've come to appreciate their thin, sometimes chewy texture. They may be too salty for some. Also, what they term "blackened" chicken is essentially just grilled chicken with a "dark" coating. Still good, though. Service here is always genuinely friendly, and if you're new, they will patiently explain the menu options. I never feel rushed at the order station. Also, I've never had an order that was incorrect, so apparently the kitchen training is great. All burritos can be made into a "bowl" (i.e., no tortilla) for a small (maybe 50 cents) charge, which is great if you like your meals a little less messy. There is a vegan burrito available. Kids meals are enough for an average adult and include a drink and a brownie. As far as cost goes, the kids meals are probably one of the best deals around. Favorite items: Honey-lime chicken burrito -- the quesadilla they call "special-dilla" --- and the queso, mmmmmm...... A great addition to the Mt. Airy "fast food" options.
(4)
Bryan B.
I agree with the excellent customer service. Even with long lines food comes out quickly and they always say thank you. The Burrito Ellito Club is nice to get points for free food. Nice selection of items. They support the local community. One day I went in there I had an Air Force jacket on. The cashier asked if I served, I said no...my son does. They gave me a free burrito. Very impressed they support the military like that. It may have just been that server but still. I will go there again and again.
(5)
Gwen N.
There are better tex-mex options overall but this is one of my boyfriend's regular stops when we're home. Love love love the selection of hot sauces! We've been introduced to many a hot sauce here. Great place to taste and buy. The entrees I've ordered here have been okay, but nothing remarkable. The chips are great though! Perfectly light, thin, and slightly limey. Could go with or without California Tortilla in my life.
(3)
Katie S.
I love me my Cal Tort! I highly recommend signing up for a burrito ellito card! FREE FOOD! I also like this company because of their unique and quirky business style (like sending out emails to their members to share a secret password that will get you free chips and queso or free soup/chili). I do wish they would provide more unique vegetarian options though!!
(4)
Don K.
Fast and friendly service. My kids love coming here for the kids meals with brownies. Burritos are good and it dosent break the bank. Get a rewards card! We. Save like $5 almost every visit it seems!
(4)
Margaret H.
Excellent customer service. Fresh food. Never waited long for my order. Very community oriented; some Tuesday nights a portion of your bill goes to the local high school sport teams. Not a high turnover in employees so they really know the menu.
(5)
Brook H.
Love this place! The staff are always friendly, the service is quick, and the food is tasty. If you have an issue, the manager will gladly help you. If there's one thing that has me coming back, though, it's the queso. I could eat their chips and queso for days! No one else has matched it yet, even at the higher-priced Mexican restaurants. Also, their large burritos are huge, and you'll be wishing you bought a small afterwards. Plus, they have the coolest soda machine, that lets you choose between a variety of sodas and drinks (as well as their low-calorie options) and even add a ton of flavor shots (vanilla, cherry, raspberry, peach, etc.) to whatever you choose. CalTort... you rock!
(4)
Christy L.
While I was home on the east coast visiting family, I drove by and saw that it was CalTor's opening day! I immediately forced my family to come eat free burritos with me (like that was a hard task)... I've always felt that CalTor has some of the best Tex-Mex burritos out there, and for $6, you get a hunk of food that's bigger than your head. If you're visiting for the first time, I highly recommend the thai chicken burrito, taco salad, and the BBQ quesadilla. Also, sign up for their Taco Talk newsletter and you'll be alerted to a burrito special that they create every month. Just like the other CalTor locations, this one has all the "spunky" features that make the chain so unique, like the wall of 100 hot sauces, the mystery burrito wheel that you can spin for prizes on Mondays after 5PM, and pens that are held to the counter with gigantic heavy chains. (I guess they really hate people stealing their pens when they sign receipts!) The people making the burritos even burst into song every so often. From what I could tell on opening day, this CalTor definitely looks promising and I will absolutely be back for more burrito goodness when I'm back in Maryland!
(4)
Grant M.
This place is pretty much the obverse of Chipotle. It's pretty good. I got the blackened chicken, which was obscenely unhealthy, and pretty good, although perhaps not good enough to justify the unhealthiness, if that makes sense. The thai chicken too is a pretty good burrito, and you're sure to get enough to be full.
(3)
S J.
Same yummy burritos as the other locations, but this one is still going through some growing pains. We've been there quite a few times now and on more than a couple of occasions we've watched as orders get taken and literally nobody gets around to actually making the food. It's not like you can't tell, because they pretty much make the burritos right in front of you. To be fair, they all look very busy, restocking things, cleaning things and doing I don't really know what else. It's just a little frustrating to sit there and wait for someone to mosey over to the burrito making area. We were there yesterday and watched for about 5 to 10 minutes after placing our order. I think three orders were placed before anybody thought about making a move to make anything. Anyway, food is as good as other locations, so if you like Caltort elsewhere, you'll like this one too.... Update: 1/07/10 We've been back a few more times since the initial review I posted and looks like they've figured out that to keep people coming back, they actually need to serve them food. Speed and service has been pretty good....kudos to them for picking it up!
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Waiter Service : No Caters : Yes
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
Ronnie M.
I love coming to this CalTor ! It is always clean and everyone there is super friendly. The turn around for food is super fast but you still have time to pick a hot sauce and get your drink. I have the burrito elito card and i am always saving money when I am there. It is worth the sign up!
(5)Joe G.
An acceptable burrito. The rice was underdone, the carnitas was pretty bland, there was lettuce on the burrito by default, which is odd. No refried beans available. The place itself is a dump. Light fixture was hanging from the ceiling, with birds nesting in the opening. Dirty. Water from soda fountain had done kind of residue from other fountain products.
(2)Mary B.
I'd never heard of CalTort before this one was built locally in Mt. Airy. I decided to go completely on a whim, guessing it would be nothing particularly special. Boy, was I wrong! I discovered their burritos to be just as good as Chipotle's, if not better. I wasn't really a huge Chipotle fan, but I do like their food. I just never went often. CalTort is now a staple of my weekly trips to Mt. Airy. They have an extensive menu, a fun and quirky atmosphere and very friendly employees. It also helps that, unlike Chipotle, I don't have to wait in a 30 minute line. The menu has everything you could want; hard and soft shell chicken or beef tacos, fish tacos, burritos, burrito bowls, salads, chips with cheese and salsa, quesadillas and more. Soon they'll be adding nachos, more burrito varieties and pork carnitas to their menu. All the ingredients taste really fresh and flavorful. I recently tried the fish tacos, as I've never eaten them outside of California and have always been wary to do so. To my surprise, they were excellent. They're made with blackened tilapia and topped with chipotle sour cream, fresh salsa and a sweet slaw; a fabulous mix of flavors! I'm also a fan of the blackened caesar burrito (it's their most popular, but the most fattening, so I've only had it one time), chicken tacos and the fajita burritos. The salads are ENORMOUS, but very good. I haven't had anything at CalTort I didn't like yet, except for maybe the Caribbean Jerk Burrito, which I found to be underwhelming in flavor. Make sure you pick up a Burrito Elito card and register it online; you'll get 10% back and occasionally you get offers for free burritos. Yum! PROs: Huge menu, friendly employees, fun atmosphere, fresh & delicious food. They also have over 75 hot sauces available to try on your burritos! CONs: The most popular (and yummy!) burrito has something like 50 grams of fat. Some people may find the constant '80s and '90s music annoying (I think it's awesome - I can tell the owners are from my generation. Ha!). Tip: Check the money mailers full of local coupons before throwing them in the recycle bin; they have CalTort coupons in them all the time now!
(4)G K.
Great chain w/healthy alternatives, and some not quite as healthy. This location in Mt. Airy is better quality & service than any other Ca Tortilla I've been to.
(4)Elaine T.
Delicious TexMex/Southwest/MexiMerica (whatever you want to term it) food. The burritos are HUGE. If you are a party of 1, please opt for the "small" burrito as it will satisfy even a large appetite. The queso is phenomenal. The chips, IMHO, are a learned taste. The first time I had them, I didn't care for them, but I've come to appreciate their thin, sometimes chewy texture. They may be too salty for some. Also, what they term "blackened" chicken is essentially just grilled chicken with a "dark" coating. Still good, though. Service here is always genuinely friendly, and if you're new, they will patiently explain the menu options. I never feel rushed at the order station. Also, I've never had an order that was incorrect, so apparently the kitchen training is great. All burritos can be made into a "bowl" (i.e., no tortilla) for a small (maybe 50 cents) charge, which is great if you like your meals a little less messy. There is a vegan burrito available. Kids meals are enough for an average adult and include a drink and a brownie. As far as cost goes, the kids meals are probably one of the best deals around. Favorite items: Honey-lime chicken burrito -- the quesadilla they call "special-dilla" --- and the queso, mmmmmm...... A great addition to the Mt. Airy "fast food" options.
(4)Bryan B.
I agree with the excellent customer service. Even with long lines food comes out quickly and they always say thank you. The Burrito Ellito Club is nice to get points for free food. Nice selection of items. They support the local community. One day I went in there I had an Air Force jacket on. The cashier asked if I served, I said no...my son does. They gave me a free burrito. Very impressed they support the military like that. It may have just been that server but still. I will go there again and again.
(5)Gwen N.
There are better tex-mex options overall but this is one of my boyfriend's regular stops when we're home. Love love love the selection of hot sauces! We've been introduced to many a hot sauce here. Great place to taste and buy. The entrees I've ordered here have been okay, but nothing remarkable. The chips are great though! Perfectly light, thin, and slightly limey. Could go with or without California Tortilla in my life.
(3)Katie S.
I love me my Cal Tort! I highly recommend signing up for a burrito ellito card! FREE FOOD! I also like this company because of their unique and quirky business style (like sending out emails to their members to share a secret password that will get you free chips and queso or free soup/chili). I do wish they would provide more unique vegetarian options though!!
(4)Don K.
Fast and friendly service. My kids love coming here for the kids meals with brownies. Burritos are good and it dosent break the bank. Get a rewards card! We. Save like $5 almost every visit it seems!
(4)Margaret H.
Excellent customer service. Fresh food. Never waited long for my order. Very community oriented; some Tuesday nights a portion of your bill goes to the local high school sport teams. Not a high turnover in employees so they really know the menu.
(5)Brook H.
Love this place! The staff are always friendly, the service is quick, and the food is tasty. If you have an issue, the manager will gladly help you. If there's one thing that has me coming back, though, it's the queso. I could eat their chips and queso for days! No one else has matched it yet, even at the higher-priced Mexican restaurants. Also, their large burritos are huge, and you'll be wishing you bought a small afterwards. Plus, they have the coolest soda machine, that lets you choose between a variety of sodas and drinks (as well as their low-calorie options) and even add a ton of flavor shots (vanilla, cherry, raspberry, peach, etc.) to whatever you choose. CalTort... you rock!
(4)Christy L.
While I was home on the east coast visiting family, I drove by and saw that it was CalTor's opening day! I immediately forced my family to come eat free burritos with me (like that was a hard task)... I've always felt that CalTor has some of the best Tex-Mex burritos out there, and for $6, you get a hunk of food that's bigger than your head. If you're visiting for the first time, I highly recommend the thai chicken burrito, taco salad, and the BBQ quesadilla. Also, sign up for their Taco Talk newsletter and you'll be alerted to a burrito special that they create every month. Just like the other CalTor locations, this one has all the "spunky" features that make the chain so unique, like the wall of 100 hot sauces, the mystery burrito wheel that you can spin for prizes on Mondays after 5PM, and pens that are held to the counter with gigantic heavy chains. (I guess they really hate people stealing their pens when they sign receipts!) The people making the burritos even burst into song every so often. From what I could tell on opening day, this CalTor definitely looks promising and I will absolutely be back for more burrito goodness when I'm back in Maryland!
(4)Grant M.
This place is pretty much the obverse of Chipotle. It's pretty good. I got the blackened chicken, which was obscenely unhealthy, and pretty good, although perhaps not good enough to justify the unhealthiness, if that makes sense. The thai chicken too is a pretty good burrito, and you're sure to get enough to be full.
(3)S J.
Same yummy burritos as the other locations, but this one is still going through some growing pains. We've been there quite a few times now and on more than a couple of occasions we've watched as orders get taken and literally nobody gets around to actually making the food. It's not like you can't tell, because they pretty much make the burritos right in front of you. To be fair, they all look very busy, restocking things, cleaning things and doing I don't really know what else. It's just a little frustrating to sit there and wait for someone to mosey over to the burrito making area. We were there yesterday and watched for about 5 to 10 minutes after placing our order. I think three orders were placed before anybody thought about making a move to make anything. Anyway, food is as good as other locations, so if you like Caltort elsewhere, you'll like this one too.... Update: 1/07/10 We've been back a few more times since the initial review I posted and looks like they've figured out that to keep people coming back, they actually need to serve them food. Speed and service has been pretty good....kudos to them for picking it up!
(3)