Quality has gone up and down over the years, but they seem to be going through a good phase right now, at least at the North Austin locations I frequent. I consider them the Thundercloud Subs of burritos. Cheap enough, consistent enough, and numerous enough to warrant semi-regular visits. There are better burritos in town, but sometimes I'm in a hurry at lunch, and Freebirds checks the boxes.
by disgracedcosmonaut1
42 Comments
I go to freebirds when I want a fuck off sozed burrito for my next 3 meals. It’s good, but doesn’t feel as fresh as some of the local spots.
Haters gonna hate. They have a great deal right now. It’s a Halfbird, chips and queso, and a drink for $9.99. Is it the absolute best? No. Is it good enough to eat for lunch during the week? Yes.
edit: and kids eat free Sunday
I’m most frustrated they’re the only one of the chain burrito places that also has refried beans and Spanish rice. It’s honestly one of reasons I’d choose them over Cabo bobs and chipotle.
That looks like 70% rice.
Was loving going there for lunch recently until the main girl who works at the location near me was incredibly rude to me for literally no reason when i picked up my online order. I myself bust my ass in the service industry and never treat people the way i was treated. Wont be returning thanks to shitty service
Our location down here in the burbs of Kyle has not been good for a while. The rice is dry, the chicken is burnt, it’s just a sad experience. 🙁
I agree with you lol
They just crossed my mind this morning too
I always forget about them
Baby embryo
I dont know, the one up north off Whitestone near the CostCo can’t make a burrito to save their lives. Constantly out of common ingredients and messing things up. Guess you’ve had better luck. They used to be good and consistent, though, for sure.
Oh good! I stopped going during the last down spell, will pick it back up!
a lil’ bird burrito told me they’re changing tortilla vendors. curious to see how that holds up.
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There used to be one off of Burnet behind the domain not sure if it’s still open but I felt the same way about it – good enough. Not as good as it used to be but still a hell of a lot better than most fast food.
Really missing Freebird’s. They’re definitely “sysco burrito peddler #52”, but the value is so much better than places like Chipotle. And they have actually good hot sauces! I love making them uncomfortably nervous as I ask for more death sauce for the 6th time in a row.
Cabo Bobs. That is the only place you should be getting burritos
Id rather just find one of the many hole in the wall joints around me rather than eat a private equity burrito
Cabo bobs is preferred
Used to be great. Now not so much. Sad, really.
I have always been a freebirds stan but they keep finding the most annoying ways to piss me off. First was getting rid of the old chips. Next was changing the takeout containers to be all plastic. Then they started getting very stingy with the queso for the nachos.
I’ve been ordering chipotle more often of late. The chipotle honey chicken is delicious. Their quesadilla slaps and the chips are real tortilla chips.
Cabo Bobs is also the only local joint out of the big 3 here.
Occasionally they have a BOGO free burrito deal for a month or so, and that’s about the right price.
I love how spicy I can make the burritos too. Between the habanero sauce, other sauces, and extra fresh jalapeños. To me that is how they stand out
The burritos are good enough, and I really like them offering hero tortillas – I just wish they’d do better than those awful plastic bagged, little league concession stand nacho chips.
They’re actually fairly good. Also, saying “fuck chipotle” while eating makes it taste even better.
Can we please stop posting photos of half eaten food?
Was a big fan of freebirds when I was in college but I feel like they changed everything that made them great. Quality of the food has downgraded that my wife would rather have a burrito from Taco Cabana.
Chachos in San Antonio is still king of Tex Mex to me.
They would make so much money if they came to Austin and had something near downtown
The last couple of times I’ve been the steak meat has been chewy and gristly. Impossible to chew. Didn’t use to be that way, but ever since at least COVID, it hasn’t been good. If I try again, it’ll have to be chicken. They can’t screw that up, right?
Beyond mid.
Cabo bobs is 10x better and cheaper
I got a half bird there recently and it was the smallest burrito I had ever been served. Smaller than a Taco Bell burrito. I’ll still eat there though, I like it.
I appreciate they have low carb tortillas
Their online ordering would not accept the BOGO deal code on their website “BOGO2025” and the employees weren’t helpful. Oh well the food mostly sucks
White people Mexican food
I went there one time, it happened to be a Sunday, and I saw kids eat free. Great, as I was with my kid. I asked for whatever the free kids deal was, and proceeded to order my burrito while this little kid picked his toppings. It came out to $30 total, because the kid got queso and some forbidden meat, they offered him chips as I’m still ordering, etc., but he wasn’t warned about it costing more.
It was car salesman tactics at a burrito shop. It seemed these 3 high-schoolers manning the line had been literally trained to be deceptive, and not just by a buck or 2 upcharge for guacamole or whatever. Never again.
I love Cabo Bob’s.
When I used to visit College Station I would require a freebird
I’ve been eating the same order at Freebirds since I first tasted it in 1992 at the north gate location: chipotle tort, Mexican rice, refried, steak, pico, add guac, mild tomatillo.
Ya know who is always consistent? Cabo Bobs! They never let me down, which is more than I can say for freebirds
We love it, great way to get my kids to eat something other than chicken nuggets.
Cabo bobs >
Man I worked at Freebirds in like 2003. Place rules.
If I was on death row I think my last meal would be a monster from Freebirds.😊
God, Freebirds is soooo much better than Chipotle. Although I do with that they would upgrade the chips
I did and they didn’t. It was clearly a policy trained into these scared teenagers to make a few extra bucks in the short-term.
I understand I could’ve made a scene and walked out without paying, leaving the food. Not my style. Again, a world I don’t want to live in.
I’ll end by imploring you to consider why Cabo Bob’s has little signs indicating upcharges and otherwise communicates clearly (maybe even spelling in out for a kid or their parent at different points in the line)? Do you think they don’t like extra money? No, it’s because they are a busy, well-oiled machine that people want to go back to. It’s a conscious effort to avoid situations just like the one I’ve disected for you.