Benito’s Hat

Great burrito made to order, really tasty & large portion. My son, who was a diehard fan of Chipotle, adores it here. The spicy salsa is quite hot.

Better than Chipotle, and nearly 4 but not quite!
Benito’s hat is good, no doubt about it. But it’s now ‘WOW’ and not a place I would be shouting about to my friends to go visit.
That said, it’s a great spot for a quick lunch on the move, and for me right next to work so a regular destination!
The service is good, the food is nice, the variety is there and it does what is says on the tin!
There are plenty of better options in Covent Garden, but if you want a burrito this is your best bet!
Best Burrito in town is Chilango or Daddy Donkey! Worth a visit if you want to venture a bit further.

Fine fast food. Won’t blow your socks off but will fill your tummy and is relatively tasty.

I don’t know who Benito is or why his hat is so special, but I do love him all the same. I always think of Mexico as the proper and only home of the chilli and Mexicans as the only people who really understand its subtle qualities. I thought of this when I ordered a carnitas (pork) burrito with habenero sauce (the volcanic version). I then huffed when the lady tried to swizzle me out of some sliced chillis-​she looked at me and shook her head like I had just taken a selfie on train tracks. The thing is I love chillis and it’s not just about heat, as habanero is sweet tasting-​once your taste buds come back! Anyway, the burrito was lovely. Here, they throw in the tortilla chips for free. Now, you can go to Chipotle round the corner and there is a plethora of harsh stainless steel and hard chairs which screams-«eat your burrito and leave» whereas-​for the same price-​Benitos provides a much more relaxed and pleasant environment where you can sit and sip a margarita at leisure. The product is the same in both but I have a continued soft spot for Benito and his head appendage.

Spent the day in London walking around exhibitions and en route to the station came across this place. Popped in for a pick me up to boost those sugar levels. Margaritas were very good and the barman pleasantly chatty while he made ours. Tacos were really delicious. I had 3 corn tortillas with grilled spicy chicken and all the other bits! Not too spicy and great fresh tastes.
I’d definitely recommend visiting during happy hour between 5pm-​7pm!

I regret coming here again, what was I thinking? I was hungry so just went anywhere that seemed quick.
The burrito I ate was horrible, it was not Mexican food at all. The rice was not real Mexican rice, the meat was ok and salsa chips/​crisp didn’t come with salsa, don’t count on a salsa bar.
If you know what real taquieria should be, please don’t go there. I overheard the manager asked some chick about the taste of her food, she responded that it was too spicy for here. So yeah, the clientele they cater to have not tasted a real thing, sorry not their fault. Sorry if i sounded like a snob but just wished that i haven’t wasted my calories on this bland burrito.
Californians — don’t bother eating Mexican food here in London, spend your dough on European food here instead.

I went to ask if they had a restroom so I could wash my hands after coming off the tube, and the first man I spoke to said there was no toilet. I thought it was a bit strange, but I just went with it. I got two chicken tacos, one grilled and one braised, with mild and hot salsa and sour cream with a side of guac. The hot salsa is not hot, but more medium. The medium salsa was delicious, though not medium. The guacamole was pretty good, but it was missing some salt or lime juice. I was overall pleased with the ambiance and experience, as I was just hungry and looking for a quick bite. There was a sink at the end of the counter and I asked if I could wash my hands, to which a different person told me there was a sink and toilet downstairs. So strange. I’m not sure what happened there. I’d go back in a pinch, as the food was good, but it wasn’t on any must try list for me.

Pretty bland burrito. Even with the hot salsa it was not very spicy nor tastey. Free tortilla chips were a nice touch but would not go out of my way to return.
The search for London’s best burrito continues.

I worked in Covent garden for a while and visited Benito’s Hat at least once a week! I love the chicken burrito. It also accommodates veggies :-). Reaaly nice guac. I miss the place

A decent option for lunch in this area, plenty of seating, good options, nice American drinks and helpful staff, I enjoyed a tasty steak burrito, I didn’t find the medium salsa at all spicy though.
I liked having extra tortilla chips and the proper cutlery and plate to eat from; I eat my burrito with cutlery-don’t ask!
Overall, a great relaxed vibe, only criticism was the staff were a little rushed in serving when we were the only people in there, but were friendly at the same time.

For my money the best Burrito in London… that I’ve had.
Let me tot it up:
+1* Really really juicy pork, the kind that drips all over your hands
+1* A nice range of Mexican beers
+1* lovely relaxed interior
+1* 2for1 margaritas between 5 and 7
+1* A fully stuffed burrito
+1* Lovely tortilla chips
–1* it’s sooooo far from my house
5 STARS!!!

Chipotle style joint next to the place we were staying at. Took our burritos to go for our train/​plane ride home. They give you a handful of tortilla chips, yummy but salty. The spicy salsa is incredibly spicy, so beware! The meat was cooked fine, but had a cumin type of flavor that I wasn’t big on. The tortilla got really wet for some reason, which was a total yucky factor for me. Lots of rice, but at the end, the burrito made me sick. My friend enjoyed hers, but I would have much rather had the familiar Chipotle.

The best of the central-​London burriterias. I often go here pre-​theatre as it’s quick, quiet, and cheap, and their veggie burritos are stuffed with a great roast veggie combo (not just a regular burrito sans meat). They’re not exactly up to California standard, but considering the other options they get 4 stars. The free chips are nice and thin, and there’s a good choice of salsa (you’re free to have more than one!). Also try the watermelon margarita!

A step above Chipotle. I’m an expat from America and needed a «healthy» fast food place to go to and this place hits the spot. I get the steak burrito with black beans, rice, corn, hot salsa, extra cheese and sour cream. I don’t really care for the free tortilla chips on the side but I must say their service rocks. Everyone was really friendly here, I would definitely come back to get a fast, yummy and affordable comfort food fix!

Solid burritos. Quick and easy. You won’t mistake them for real tex-​mex but the food is serviceable. Fun atmosphere with music playing. Also, Monday is all day happy hour with 2 – 1 drinks.

This was a delicious surprise while waiting for my train. The ingredients all looked fresh and hot unlike many other burrito bars in London.
Friendly staff and the price is good for a central London location. Definitely worth a visit if you have a few minutes to grab one while traveling
Would recommend the pork burrito with everything! Looking forward to my next visit

HHhMmMmMmm… Not so sure about this one. I’d been to a super dooper Unilocal event at Benito’s Hat last year where we were treated to their wonderful summer sharing menu. I thoroughly enjoyed all the grub and the sauces were great. So, I was in the area and needed a quick bite one evening and figured hey, I’ve been meaning to try the regular menu for ages too! And so I did… and was sadly not so impressed.
The tortilla was a little old and so fell apart as I was eating my tacos, all a little messy. Luckily I was dining alone, you would not want this happening in date situation! The fillings and sauces were nothing particularly special and I think the whole thing should have cost a couple of quid less. What a shame! I’ll definitely give it another go as I was really taken with the food at the Unilocal event. Maybe they were just having an off evening, I hope so!
A regretful Meh.
c*

This is far and away my favourite burrito place in West London, and currently in London altogether. There are other good burrito places, but what make Benito’s Hat stand out is the ingredients.
I work nearby, so we walk over fairly often. They change what they have on offer. Unlike Chipotle or Tortilla (both fine in their own ways), Benito’s hat changes things up from time to time. I’ve had spicy tofu, spicy mushrooms, and different kinds of vegetables. They also have my favourite Mexican beer (Negra Modelo) and they serve it with a lime (just like they do in the US). It’s also nice to get a few tortilla chips thrown in when you get a burrito. We usually munch on those during our walk back to the office.

I stopped here for a quick lunch, and was pleased to enjoy a decent veggie burrito, with everything in that you would wish for. It was all good quality and fresh. There is a choice of the sort of things you might expect such as the beans, the salad stuff, and the sauce. I asked for the hottest sauce and it was nicely spicy — not something you can always rely on.
At £5.50 for my veggie burrito, I thought it quite acceptable value for the West End.

Not too long ago, I wrote a review of Benito’s Hat and, overall, I wasn’t very impressed.
Last night, after grabbing some cheap last-​minute tickets to the theatre (yay!), we had 40 minutes to grab something to eat and get back. Benito’s Hat it is, my partner said, even though we’d been less that thrilled last time.
We changed up our strategy this time, however, after noticing that perhaps tacos weren’t the way to go. We both opted for burritos (his pork and refried beans, mine spicy chicken and black beans), and this time we came away happier. It didn’t seem like they were putting much in when they were building it but it ended up being tasty, quick, and relatively cheap.
I still take exception to the fact that they charge £0.70 for guacamole. Maybe I’m cheap but I don’t consider guacamole ‘extra’ on a burrito but rather standard so I don’t think there should be a charge.
Other than that, Benito’s is back in my good graces. I wouldn’t make a special trip for it but I’m more likely to consider it now when I’m in the area.