Nico's Mexican Food (Broadway and Kolb)

This is my second Nico's review, but a review of a Nico's that I have frequented many times. I usually end up ordering a breakfast burrito, but when dinner needs to be quick I grab one of their other burrito offerings. Which leads me to my first discussion item: Nico's menu.

Their menu is devoid of ingredient breakdown. If I order the green chili burrito, what am I getting? Will there be cheese in the burrito? Some other veggie? These things matter! My wife took a chance once and ordered the California burrito, so like the coward I am I just swallow my pride and sheepishly order "one California please" if it's after 3pm.

However(!), their breakfast burrito menu tells you exactly what you're getting. There are no "are there potatoes?" concerns or any other ingredient ambiguities. Why did they choose to do this? Is it because people are passionate about their breakfast burrito contents? Or are people too cranky in the morning and Nico's headquarters ordered the menu change after too many complaints? I applaud the ingredient listing because I don't have to worry about the potato situation^[1].

For this burrito, I changed it up a bit. I understand it will be more difficult to compare Nico's around town by ordering different burritos. Oh well. I felt like something new and different, and Mexican Omelet was the best choice. Full disclosure: the menu says Mexican Omelet does NOT contain potatoes.

Burrito size and tortilla doneness were about the same as the ham burrito I previously reviewed. However, the egg is a little different. Instead of scrambled, it's kept together and flat, like an omelet. A light pico de gallo and cheese is added to the omelet. Interestingly, when the egg is rolled into the tortilla to make the burrito, it's almost like having an omelet within the tortilla, which is probably their intention. It's like a double-decker taco from Taco Bell, but without the refried beans, hard taco shell, and other Taco Bell grossness. OK, it's a pretty far cry from a Taco Bell double-decker taco. It's probably more like a turducken.

I do enjoy the egg and omelet fillings that make up this burrito. There was a slight problem with the pico de gallo mixing with the cheese to create a yellowish liquid that started to threaten a tortilla blowout, but I was able to avoid that catastrophe. The pico de gallo had a noticeable cilantro content. I like cilantro but I know many people who think it's gross, giving off some kind of a B.O. flavoring. I'm glad I'm not one of those people, but I always find it interesting when sneaky cilantro shows up, ready to polarize the eating populace.

Last time, the red salsa water left me wanting so I opted for two green salsa tubs. The green salsa is a little more like a traditional salsa verde, but it doesn't really add too much to the burrito or flavor of its own. I would rather have the uninspiring red salsa or no salsa at all.

Final Verdict: The Mexican Omelet surprises and is quite tasty! My full stomach feeling may not have lasted as long due to no breakfast meat or potato, but I did enjoy the whole experience. Save the environment and opt for no salsa.

Haiku!
Another Nico's
helps out late at night. Fourth meal.
Go to sleep with smiles.

Burrito Thoughts and Other Comments

• Cost: $4.54 ($4.91 with tax)
• Weight: Nuts! I forgot to weigh it.
• Would horchata go with a breakfast burrito? I'm always tempted but I feel like the cinnamon sweetness would not go with egg and cheese.

Know Your Burrito Vocab
^[1]Potato situation - feeling of concern or dread while anticipating whether or not the breakfast burrito you just ordered will contain potatoes.