Wow, I am a happy girl: the sun is shining, and I have a new taco shop within a mile of my home. If you live in or drive by the Claremont area of Everett, you might have noticed the old Casa Tequila restaurant next to Staples has changed. It is now bright yellow and red and is a 24/7 taco shop called Washington Burrito. This is the second Washington Burrito location; the first is on 44th in Lynnwood.

I wasn’t a fan of Casa Tequila, but I am a fan of taco shops. I visited Washington Burrito with visions of Raliberto’s, or any of the “berto” taco shops that hail from the southern Cali area. I came away with slightly diminished visions. However, I am not entirely disappointed.

Washington Burrito has a huge menu: tacos, burritos, quesadillas, enchiladas, taquitos, nachos, carne asada fries, they even have churros and a kid’s menu. My taco shop standards are always a burrito, usually a breakfast one, and tacos or a quesadilla. A friend had recently raved about their quesadilla, so I had to try one. 

Up first is the steak and egg breakfast burrito: carne asada, eggs, pico de gallo, and cheese wrapped in a 14” flour tortilla. Very basic and traditional for a breakfast burrito. It wasn’t greasy, which I’m not sure I’m upset about; sometimes, a greasy burrito is mandatory. But the carne asada was very tender and tasty. Honestly, one of the better-quality meats I’ve had from taco shops around here. The cheddar tasted like it was sharp cheddar, which I was not upset about. The filling ingredients were well-balanced, but it was cheese heavy in the center. I would have liked to have more meat and less filler. Although you really can’t beat the price of under $8.00. I like to drizzle red and green sauces as I nosh on my handheld delight.

Pro tip: Avoid the red sauce if you want to keep your lips on your face. It is very good, but it is VERY spicy. In contrast, the green is nice and mild with plenty of flavor. 

Our next visit was also carne asada but this time in quesadilla form: carne asada and cheese. Simple and delicious. One 14” tortilla folded over plenty of meat and cheese and cut in half. I would suggest ordering a side of sour cream; it takes it up a notch. Again, I got the impression that the cheddar is sharp, and again I was pleased with the meat quality. The boyfriend and I each ordered one, but we ended up splitting one for dinner. It was not greasy, but the filling was lumped in the middle of the tortilla, which left the edges fairly bare.

While Washington Burrito is not on the same So Cal Taco Shop level that I expected, it is still a worthy contender, and, given how convenient to home it is, I will be a frequent customer while I work my way through their massive menu. Their location and their drive-thru make it very easy to grab a bite while you’re commuting through Everett, especially since they’re open 24/7.

Washington burrito
5028 Evergreen Way
Everett, WA 98203
(425) 563-9950

Rachel Weatherholt is a long-time Everett resident who loves books, horror movies, cooking, and eating good food.