Burrito Social - San Juan, Puerto Rico
At the end of 2024 we had a day to spend in San Juan, and of course we had to find tacos. We looked into quite a few places, but one stood out. Burrito Social.
For their a la carte menu offering a great selection of tacos, the close proximity to the port, and their overall aesthetic, we were excited to check it out.
What started as a popular Tex-Mex food truck in Puerto Rico has since turned into a couple of brick and mortar restaurants with beachy, coastal vibes. We stopped by the one in Condado, a nice beach area just outside of Old San Juan.
First Bites
Chips and Salsa
As per usual, we started with the chips and salsa. At Burrito Social, their base salsa was a citrusy salsa verde with a good bit of spice. We really enjoyed the chips which were crispy and salty, no complaints there. The salsa itself was a little more on the liquid side, but still had great flavor.
Second First Bites
The Chip Trio
After trying the chips (and wanting more of them), we decided to order their chip trio after seeing someone else order the same. This was a vibrant platter of chips along with…you guessed it, a trio of pairings to include guacamole, pico de gallo, and “Queso Dip”. The pico was fantastic; super fresh with a nice citrusy balance of flavors, and the texture was great. The guacamole was also fresh and flavorful, but we found it was almost too thick as it’s where chips went and somewhat didn’t return. By the end we had a bit of a chip graveyard, but we were able to scoop out their remains at the end.
The “queso dip” was the most interesting of the bunch as it wasn’t a traditional queso, but was described more as a cheese sauce dip, and it had a good flavor and overall was something we enjoyed.
If we had to pick a favorite, we’d choose the pico, but you can’t go wrong in any case.
Tacos For Any Taste
The tacos at Burrito Social carried on the same bright aesthetic we found throughout the restaurant and really found each to be visibly appealing. Their menu had a great selection of thirteen a la carte taco options, and that’s something we always love to see. There’s nothing worse than going to a taco place and seeing many great options only to find out they aren’t available a la carte.
Ranging from $4.98 to $7.48, the tacos weren’t overly priced but are a little higher than what you might find in other places, but the quality justified the cost.
We were also surprised to see that their Al Pastor was actually called “Trompo Al Pastor” and they confirmed they did in fact use a trompo for their pastor which is always a good thing to hear.
The Tacos - But different
When I first started Tacothority, I included ratings with my reviews to help paint a picture of how tacos stacked up against one another. But after lots of thought and the simple fact that what I love might not be the same for someone else, I’m trying something new to see if it’s a better way. Instead of focusing on numbers, I want to shift toward simply sharing the experience, the flavors, and my honest thoughts. At the end of the day, tacos are meant to be enjoyed, and my goal is to help others find ones worth trying.
Irma’s Tacos - Three Amigos
The Three Amigos The Tacos I Tried?
As we mentioned above, there were a whopping thirteen options, and of those I chose four to try, and was still thinking about our normal process where i try three standard tacos and one wildcard so here’s what I chose.
Costra (Steak, Manchego cheese, sliced pickled onions, salsa aquacate, cilantro)
This one caught me off guard. I love Manchego cheese, but I didn’t expect this to be a case where the steak was wrapped in a blanket of cheese, making for a warm embrace for your taste buds. On top of the savory combo, you had a fragrant salsa along with pickled onions for a bit of citrus. I really enjoyed this and think it’s definitely one to try!
Trompo Al Pastor (Pastor pork, raw onions, salsa roja, pineapple, cilantro)
The Pastor was solid, and had great flavor with just the right amount of seasoning. There were plenty of pineapple chunks but they weren’t overpowering which is good for someone who doesn’t like pineapple like myself.
Carnitas & Pork Rinds (Nine hour braised pork, pickled onions, cilantro, salsa verde cruda, chicharron de cerdo)
I felt like the pork rinds were lost among the rest of the taco, but the flavor was great overall. They roast their pork for nine hours, leading to carnitas that was super juicy. The only other fault I could note is that the pork wasn’t as shredded as I’d like, making for a difficult bite and chew compared to a more shredded variety.
Baja Fish (Beer battered, crispy fried Mahi Mahi, shredded cabbage slaw, crema, fresh habanero mango salsa)
The Baja Fish was cooked well and had a golden-brown crispy outer shell. The flavors were good, but I wished a bit for a more flavorful beer batter, but with as much crunch as I was getting from the fish and the purple cabbage, it had a great texture and I enjoyed it overall.
Irma’s Tacos - The Franklin
The Surprising Wildcard
Normally the wildcard is something I order initially, but in this case we’re highlighting something my wife had ordered.
The Volcan De Carne Asada (Steak, molten Manchego cheese, crispy bacon, chipotle cream sauce, sliced avocado on a tostada)
One of the tacos my wife had ordered looked appealing, and you’d be correct, it doesn’t look like a taco, but will give it a pass. After trying this when I wrapped up my tasting, we realized we needed more, so we each ordered another one to try. It was super savory, and well balanced by the freshness of the avocado. A strong blend of textures from the crispy shell and bacon, to the melted cheese and tender steak, we LOVED this.
Notable Mention
The Drinks!
We don’t always get margaritas when we try a new place as some places just don’t serve alcohol….but if they do, we typically get margaritas…it’s as simple as that.
While waiting for our appetizers and deciding on tacos, we couldn’t help but notice the extensive tequila selection and the sheer visual appeal of the drinks being served.
Naturally, we had to try the margaritas. I opted for a Tajín-rimmed glass—my go-to choice—and from the first sip, we were blown away.
Fresh, simple, and dare I say, perfect, each margarita was as good as (if not better than) the last. We ended up having three or four, savoring every sip. Visually stunning and made with fresh ingredients, our bartender shared that everything was crafted in-house, with loads of limes freshly squeezed each morning—a small detail that made all the difference.
Final Thoughts
We really enjoyed Burrito Social. While they originally expanded from Puerto Rico into Florida, we learned that they no longer have locations here—something we hope they reconsider in the future. From the service to the drinks to the food, every part of our visit was a great experience, and we wouldn’t hesitate to return. If you’re nearby, stopping in is a must. And if it’s a bit out of the way? It’s worth the trip.
Bottom Line: Every taco we tried was solid, but the costra and volcán de asada stood out as the most unforgettable bites—so much so that we couldn’t stop thinking about them (even if the volcán is technically a tostada).
