Massachusetts: Does This Local Burrito Chain Give Chiptole A Run For Their Money?
This past Sunday I was driving home in central Massachusetts when my boys asked if we could stop for lunch. I remembered there was a local burrito chain that my wife loved very close to where our lacrosse tournament was. Oddly enough, my wife was also at a lacrosse tournament with my daughter in Western Mass and she, too, stopped at the same burrito chain post-game. Their original location was in close proximity to their original Amherst spot, where she was first introduced to (and fell in love with) their food.
I’m taking about Bueno Y Sano. They explain their name translates as “good from the start,” or “good and healthy.” “It means using loving attention to handcraft them into healthy meals for you and your family.”
From 1995, they have stuck to every word that makes up their name. We each ordered one of their classic burritos. Two kids sizes and two adult sizes (one for the 12-year-old who just completed six lacrosse games). Each one was a generous portion. In fact, three of the four of us brought some home. However, the amount of food is not the main point here. The quality of food is.
Bueno Y Sano Is A Local Burrito Chain That Is Content Staying Local
They say that their mission has always been, simply, to make people happy. “Bob Lowry, who still owns and runs the original company, hatched the idea for Bueno Y Sano after having a burrito at a small restaurant on Nantucket Island,” they explain. To this day, Lowry and his family members still run each restaurant and the business operations behind them.
They pride themselves on the freshness of each item you order. When you visit their homepage, you will notice a few images of vegetables or bitten into burritos showcasing their vibrant colors.
The first thing I noticed about my burrito was that the peppers in the mix were so fresh. Sure, this sounds silly and should be a standard, but I’m talking about crunchy peppers that were still an inch long and full of flavor. They were not scooped out of a tin where they had become wilted and soggy. They enhanced the rest of this bundle of joy.
You could then tell there was an art to how the burrito was prepared. The guacamole was placed in a certain area that somehow intertwined it with everything stuffed inside and coated the edges without seeping through. The chicken was diced and also incredibly fresh.
Furthermore, there was no burrito hangover. This was important to someone who still had a two-hour Sunday drive ahead of him. When you get tired or lethargic after lunch and it can often mean you ate too heavy, too much, or unhealthy food. Upon finishing my meal, I truly felt like I had eaten something as nutritious as a salad, yet in a hearty burrito form.
The kids loved the chips and Jarritos Mexican Soft Soda is just on another level, especially the fruit punch.
Upon all of us arriving home from our burrito and lacrosse weekend adventures, both cars shared a “We went to the best place for lunch on the way home” stories. Little did we know, it was the same restaurant 70 miles apart. Nonetheless, after almost 30 years, Bueno Y Sano still accomplishes their goal, making all of us quite happy with a local story to tell.
Bueno Y Sano has 7 locations. You can find them all here.
