The Burrito Gringo Origin Story

How a Small Tex-Mex Spot Became Ottawa’s Go-To for Bold, Homemade Flavor

Long before the words “burrito” and “Ottawa” were commonly seen in the same sentence, one small, family-run restaurant took a bold leap. In 2012, Burrito Gringo opened its first location with one mission:
👉 To bring real, homemade Tex-Mex flavors to the people of Ottawa — no shortcuts, no franchises, just fresh food made with heart.

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👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family-Owned from Day One

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Unlike the big chains, Burrito Gringo has always been locally owned and operated. There’s no corporate office, no national boardroom — just a tight-knit team of food lovers and family members who believe in making food the right way.

From day one, the goal was simple:

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✅ Use fresh, real ingredients
✅ Keep the recipes authentic and homemade
✅ Treat every customer like family

And those values still guide everything we do today.

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🌮 The First Burritos in Barrhaven

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The very first Burrito Gringo opened its doors in Barrhaven, and people quickly took notice. Why?
Because it didn’t taste like fast food. It tasted like something cooked in your own kitchen, but with way more flavor.

Word spread fast, and soon, customers were lining up for their favorite burritos, tacos, bowls, and nachos — all made from scratch daily, using real spices, no freezers, and no microwaves.

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📈 Growth Without Compromise

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Over the last 10+ years, Burrito Gringo has grown to six locations across Ottawa—but the heart of the business hasn’t changed.

Each location is run with the same family-driven philosophy, the same commitment to fresh cooking, and the same signature flavors that made our first burrito so memorable.

Even as we’ve grown, we’ve never turned Burrito Gringo into a franchise.
Why? Because we care more about consistency and quality than cookie-cutter expansion.

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🧑‍🍳 A Legacy of Homemade Cooking

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What sets us apart is what happens behind the counter every day:

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• Guacamole mashed by hand
• Beans slow-cooked to perfection
• Meat marinated and grilled in-house
• Salsas made fresh from scratch

That’s the Burrito Gringo difference. You won’t find it in a corporate kitchen.

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🌯 Built on Community, Served with Love

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We’re proud to be part of the Ottawa community, serving students, families, workers, and taco lovers from all walks of life. Whether you're here for Taco Tuesday, a late-night burrito, or catering your office party — you're part of our story too.

Thank you for supporting local.
Thank you for choosing real food.
Thank you for being part of the Burrito Gringo family.

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🎉 The Story Continues...

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Visit one of our six locations and experience the flavor that started it all.
📍 Family-owned. Ottawa-grown. Forever fresh.

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