Oso Burrito = Oso Awesome

When walking into Oso Burrito, you will immediately recognize its unique and refreshing décor that lets you know you aren’t in a boring franchise restaurant anymore. Its atmosphere is as distinctive, cool and fun as its menu and its burrito bar will magically craft a flavor that your palette has never experienced before.

Oso Burrito doesn’t consider themselves to be a Mexican restaurant, but they will give you Mexican flavors if you want them. Otherwise, their fresh ingredients range from a wide assortment of meats, vegetables, spices and flavors that most restaurants wouldn’t dream of serving. Oso Burrito boldly explores unique flavors that are difficult to create and find nearly anywhere around. The possibilities are endless.

The Thai peanut burrito is a common favorite of mine– a spicy and sweet explosion of flavor balanced by rice, lettuce and cheese. When I am feeling less ambitious I sometimes go for a mini-burrito or a salad. Then, I usually opt for a side of chips and salsa. Their salad is great because they give you the choice of layering the lettuce, meat, cheese and all the extra toppings and salsas over crushed tortilla chips! Just yesterday I went with the mouthwatering shredded pork salad with the two different salsas (the corn and the ginger), pico, cheese, lettuce and guacamole on the side; it was basically a glorified nachos platter. And glorious it was.

For the real deal, Oso Burrito does have a nacho entrée. All dishes can be created as a burrito, mini-burrito, taco or salad. The fish burrito is another favorite of mine. It is combined with a cabbage mixture, chipotle sauce, cilantro, pico and my extra addition of guacamole.

Other options for meats include chicken, fish or beef that can all be dressed in a different way– from a Pesto or Buffalo sauce to a char-grilled Jerk seasoning. They also offer vegetarian entrees made with tofu, potatoes or portabella mushrooms. Nearly anything can be ordered with rice, beans, an assortment of veggies, salsas, sour cream, cheeses and sauces. If you are like me, and you get so excited that you want to have them squeeze everything into one burrito to taste it all, just take their word for it and try a delicious “specialty” burrito. They have expertly matched up different ingredients and sauces to make it simple for you.

Like I said, their atmosphere has as much flair as their menu. A string of “pepper” lights hang across the walls around a sign reminding its customers to “eat local.”

The modern décor is quirky and artistic with graffiti over the door, a menu etched in colorful chalk, wooden panels lining the walls and red and black hues throughout the space. The area opens up from the large windows and high ceilings.

Even its employees and owners are fun and outgoing. Take a trip to Lincoln’s locally owned Oso Burrito for its delicious and different menu. If you are looking for something out of the ordinary, you won’t be disappointed. With a variety of vegetarian and specialty choices, an assortment of beer, and a quaint patio to enjoy it all on, you will be Oso happy you came.

Nader Sepaphur opened Oso Burrito in 2002 in downtown Lincoln (also owning and operating another local favorite of mine Yia Yia’s pizza). He opened up a second location of Oso Burrito in December of 2007, on 70th and Van Dorn streets. Oso Burrito has the concept of a burrito and an imaginatively yummy cuisine that is unlike any other franchise you will find.