Anna's Taqueria

Anna's Taqueria is a chain of Fresh Mex restaurants in the Boston area.

Overview

It is modeled after U.S. West Coast style Mexican cuisine, specifically the San Francisco burrito. Its menu offers only four core items: burritos, tacos, quesadillas and Mexican plates. The food is made in an assembly line-style process. It is known for its comparatively low prices. Most people who have been to Anna's believe that they have the best burritos in Massachusetts, if not the East Coast. [http://www.beaconhilltimes.com/archives/jan11.html]

Anna's has locations in Brookline (on both Harvard and Beacon streets), Cambridge (in Porter Square and at MIT), and Somerville (in Davis Square). A sixth location near Mass General Hospital in Boston's Beacon Hill district recently opened, and the chain's owner has publicly stated his interest in Kenmore Square.Fact|date=March 2008

The name "Anna's" comes from no girl in particular, but was chosen because it is easy to remember, sounds motherly, and would promise prime placement in alphabetical restaurant guides.

History

The first Anna's Taqueria was founded by Michael Kamio and located in Brookline's Coolidge Corner in 1995. Over the next several years, a second Brookline restaurant was opened and more at locations in Porter and Davis Squares. In February 2005, Anna's opened its fifth location at MIT's Stratton Student Center. Most recently, a sixth location was opened on Cambridge St. in Boston across from the Massachusetts General Hospital. Fact|date=March 2008

Kamio's sister, Mariko Kamio, owns the competing Boca Grande chain. [http://www.bostonmagazine.com/articles/the_burrito_war/]

Competition

Anna's Taqueria competes with other Boston-area taquerias such as Boca Grande Taqueria, Baja Betty's, Picante, Felipe's, and El Pelón, as well as national chains including Qdoba Mexican Grill and Chipotle Mexican Grill.

ecret Menu

There are certain dishes at Anna's that are not listed on the traditional menu. They are available only to those savvy enough to request them. One notorious example is the "Super Quesadilla," which is made from the larger "Super" tortilla. Other off-the-menu options include the addition of unlisted toppings. For example, it is possible to add the fresh onions and cilantro that come on the al pastor taco to any dish. One can also add the accompanying red and green al pastor sauces. The last known category of "secret" dishes are the hybrid options. These include mixing meats and vegetables, mixing different types of meats, and adding rice and beans to quesadillas or Super Qs.

ources

* [http://www.beaconhilltimes.com/archives/jan11.html "Beacon Hill Times" report on Mass General-area Anna's]
* [http://www-tech.mit.edu/V125/N4/4annas.4n.html "MIT Tech" interview with Michael Kamio]
* [http://www.bcheights.com/media/storage/paper144/news/2005/05/05/Features/A.Spice.Of.Sibling.Rivalry-948409.shtml?norewrite200607032317&sourcedomain=www.bcheights.com A spice of sibling rivalry]
* [http://www.dol.gov/esa/media/press/whd/whdpressVB2.asp?pressdoc=boston/2004048.xml Labor law violation press release]
* [http://www.bostonmagazine.com/articles/the_burrito_war Boston Magazine: The Burrito War]

External links

* [http://www.shopannas.com/ Anna's Taqueria Official Website]