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Pablo Picanté
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 12:00 - 20:00
- Good for Children:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking Garages:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Price Range:
-
€
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
32 reviews for Pablo Picanté
Review Highlights
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"...had the San Diego Chicken burrito and I enjoyed every last..." In 22 reviews -
"fast and friendly service." In 3 reviews -
"...filled with chicken, refried beans, rice, lettuce, cheese..." In 3 reviews
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32 reviews in English
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Review from Ami S.
Dublin
19/12/2011
The food here is very tasty. My favorite is Beefy Barbacoa with extra picante salsa.
The staff are very friendly and quick.
The only one think I don't like, is the venue is too small, only 3 seats.Comment from Colm M. of Pablo Picanté 30/12/2011
Thanks Ami S. We have another, larger restaurant in the… More » -
Review from Emilie A.
6/4/2012
Definitely the only place in Dublin that serves good burritos. The ingredients are fresh, and while I hate coriander (and it's mixed into the rice, guacamole and some sauces) I couldn't taste it at all, so yay for me.
Why two stars? I remove two stars because after I purchased food and drink for myself and my partner, we asked for a glass of tap water. They would not give it to us! Their excuse was ludicrous: we have no cold water out of the taps. I have to add that I'm very visibly pregnant (a few days short of 9 months) and I just wanted a damn glass of water with my drink in case it wasn't enough. It left a somewhat sour taste in our mouths. -
Review from Vicky L.
23/9/2011
I've been meaning to try this place out. I went before peak lunch time hour, so it wasn't full. The staff were really nice, as it was my first time, I picked the first thing that popped out from the menu, which was "Ensenada Ensalada".
The price is pretty good and I was stuffed afterwards. I would recommend it for a quick lunch and even with a bunch of friends.
Just wish there was more seating as I can see this place being packed. Can't wait to go back again and try the other items on the menu.Listed in: Lunch
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Review from Adam C.
17/6/2011 ROTD 19/11/2011
Finally remembered to go here for lunch one day and I am glad I did. Having lived in the US for 5 years I like a good (or even a bad) burrito every now and then. When I left for the US there were no decent options in Ireland - now there seem to be more opening all the time.
Pablos does a quick, reasonably priced and very tasty implementation of the take-away burrito. Is it as good as what I could get in the US? no, it isn't - but in terms of quality it would be better than a chain burrito like Chipotle for example. For Ireland that is very good and I will be going back - though I may need to wait until after my wedding when I finish dieting :) -
Review from Sebastian F.
Dublin
The idea itself of bringing some Californian taste to the sunshine and burrito deserted land of Dublin seems to deserve 5 stars, however, I'm trying to focus more on the food here.
The Good:
+ quality burritos
+ fast and friendly service
+ not too pricey for DS (Dublin standards)
Yes, you can get a decent burrito take-out experience in Dublin, that's the good news. They offer a whole range of burritos you would also find in one of the endless joints in Cali. I tried the "Sunny San Diego" and didn't really miss anything in particular. Good stuff!
The Bad:
- only a few seatings (4 or 5)
- limited selection
- no breakfast burrito (okay, that's my personal favorite)
Totally recommended if you're craving for a decent burrito around D2 and D4!Comment from Colm M. of Pablo Picanté 5/2/2011
Hey Sebastian. Thanks for the review. We've been busy… More » -
Review from Alan H.
Dublin
"Super Picante" please !!! God I really love this little place. Located on the corner of Pembroke St, you can't miss it as there's usually a queue leading out onto Baggot Street at lunch time.
The menu has a nice selection. Today I went for the 'Sonny San Diego'....Super Picante (Extra Spicy). From the first bite, right down to the last tiny piece of Cilantro & Lime Rice, my mexican experience was 'Muy bien' !!
....so sitting back down to my desk after lunch, I can still feel my lips burning....but it was well worth it !!
¡Arriba! ¡Arriba! -
Review from Jeff L.
Dublin
26/7/2011
Solid 3 stars. I came to Dublin from California (5th generation born and bred, thanks very much) a couple of years ago and have definitely missed the ubiquitous $5-7 delicious burrito you can find almost anywhere in the Golden State. Was intrigued by Pablo Picante's, ahem, "Californian Burrito Bar" (for you, this would be like coming to California and seeing a pub named DRUNKY MCIRISH'S CELTIC ALCOHOL EMPORIUM) and thought, besides the name, that they did a pretty good job. Out of the three different burritos I've tried, the Carnitas was far and away the best and most authentic (and also was sold out 2 of the 3 times I went there!).
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Review from Julie T.
Dublin
31/8/2010
As a Mexican-food-loving Californian, I was ecstatic when a friend told me about this gem! Fellow Americans, if you're looking for a basis of comparison, I would liken Pablo Picante to the popular chain Chipotle.
My favorite burrito is the Sonny San Diego, which is filled with chicken, refried beans, rice, lettuce, cheese, and salsa (choose from three levels of spiciness!). It's tasy, filling, and easy on the wallet. I've also tried their lighter option, the Señor Slim Delgado. While I enjoyed it, they're not kidding about this burrito's size -- it is quite slender and left me feeling hungry.
The restaurant is tiny, so I'd recommend bringing your food home or taking it over to St. Stephen's Green for a picnic. As an added bonus, the owner and staff are super friendly. Now if only they would deliver! -
Review from Sebastian B.
Dublin
6/1/2011 12 Check-ins Here
25 good reviews and counting - why does this take out Burrito joint in Baggot Street need another one? Because it is frigging fantastic, that's why.
Pro: Funny wrestling theme, soft tortillas, tender beef, right balance of ingredients and flavours, good selection of different chili sauces from mild to scorching (proper scorching) hot if you want it to be, good value at around six Euros, close to the city centre, fast and friendly service.
Contra: No sit in (which was recently remedied by the brand new Pablo near Steven's Green shopping Centre). -
Review from Erin M.
Dublin
15/9/2010
This place is freakin' awesome...
I've been on the search for a new lunchtime place close to the office where I can just pick up something and run...Pablo fits the bill perfectly.
Walk right in, place your order and they'll have it ready for you almost straight away. Not much room to eat in the joint, so plan to get take away.
Friendly service, strong and quality food (pretty good value for the price) makes it a nice gem on the Dublin lunchtime scene.
I don't get caught up in how authentically Mexican Pablo's is...I just know they give me hot and sexy food on a rainy Irish afternoon. -
Review from Annie L.
10/5/2010 1 Check-in Here
You know what annoys me?
"No Annie, pray tell what annoys you?"
Well Cindi (Josh rightfully pointed out that Cindy should be spelt with an i & a love heart, visualise the love hearts over the i's) I get very peeved when people forget their geographical location.
"Huh?"
So it's like this. Guess what? I live in Ireland for the now. Guess what? This ain't California so please... Pretty please stop comparing the food here to there, because it will fail that's a given. I have accepted that, so will you please accept that?
The burrito here is good, obviously due to being a tiny island and poor proximity to Mexico and California it ain't going to be that authentic... That's a shocker.
Constantly comparing everything here to stuff that's better at home is like comparing your present girlfriend to you amazing ex... It ain't cool and you end up missing out on the good qualities such as they use real Irish beef... & how beef works into a girlfriend analogy is beyond me but it felt right at the time. -
Review from Bridget R.
What's the best way to cheer for a Lucha Libre-masked burrito shop (a tiny walk-in with no seating) on the corner of Baggot and Pembroke streets?
I could pick up my guitarra and sing about the deeply satisfying smells of Mexican seasonings and carne asada that follow hungry walkers halfway down the block... Then there's the long lines, the loyal fans, and the small (but perfectly formed) menu of gorgeous (but pricey at €6 - 7 a pop) and grande burritos.
Note: the classic steak is as delicious as the ensalada options, but really the only way to know is to eat them all... mmmm.
Oh, can't forget to mention the sense of fun in store and online -someone with a deep love of Spanglish, Mexican wrestling and tasty food is behind the mask here.
Right, that's the details, now to write that review...Listed in: Om Nom Nom
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Review from Ryan S.
Dublin
16/4/2010 ROTD 19/12/2010
A well-crafted, spicy burrito is, in my opinion, one of the best single food items that you could eat. There are plenty of really good things to eat in this world, but nothing has quite the breadth of flavors nor the depth of ingredients as a burrito. Rice, beans, cheese, meat, and a soft flour tortilla are just the minimum in making a good burrito. There are so many things that can go wrong, but there's nothing like that first unravelling of aluminum (I'm American, it's spelled that way) and the first bite.
Pablo Picante is the best that I've had since I moved from San Francisco a year and a half ago. Mexican food in this country is a travesty, until recently.
There are a few things that are wrong with the stock burritos; these have already been mentioned. It is easy to get around them though, just ask them to remove them altogether, "no salad, no onion please." I'm not a fan of onions in Mexican food anyways. The first burrito had all the bits, the second burrito I knew to have them removed. Easy!
What I do find hilarious is how they wrap the burritos in the aluminum foil. I can't really explain it, you'll just have to experience it for yourself. The shop is a bit funky with the lucha libre themes, but I once got thrown off a train wearing one, so no worries there. The staff is friendly and it is super close to where I live.
€6 for a burrito is a small price to pay when it would cost me €600 to get one from California.
Bravo. -
Review from Conall O.
Greystones, Co. Wicklow
13/7/2010 3 Check-ins Here
Just like Boojum, this little Mexican gem has recently appeared in Dublin and wow am I glad it has.
I'm a big fan of burritos. So much that I'm known to go looking for a burrito within hours of disembarking the plane every time I end up in San Francisco for work. Pablo Picante have the best burritos I can find 15 min walk away from my desk, which definitely beats 12+ hours in the air to California.
I recommend their "El Classico", the shredded beef steak is awesome. They also have Bundaberg Root Beer from Austraila, if you're a root beer fan.Listed in: Quick Bites
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Review from Joshua R.
10/5/2010
This is as close to the legendary roadside stands of my youth as one is going to find these days, and as such, does a beautiful job. It's nitty gritty, down-and-dirty food, lots o' noms for the money and you can choose your level of spice, I picked mid-level and was satisfied, so I'm glad to know I can still go UP on the Scoville scale if I want to.
Who needs to sit down? Stand outside, partake of the wonderful aroma of good tortillas and spicy beef while you chow down on scrumptious mexiceire (see what I did there?) cuisine. Go early, they do run out of certain things sometimes.
Bottom Line: would only be better with beer!
Bottom Line #2: as of this writing, the address is slightly incorrect. It's in D2, not D4, and is found much closer to An Lar/City Centre that the displayed junction of Baggot and Pembroke. I counted a total of 4!! junctions of Baggot and something Pembroke as I was slowly guided in via text from the people who were lucky enough to already be there... -
Review from Daniel D.
11/8/2011
Excellent place, I have been going there since it opened. The Burritos are so tasty and the staff are very quick. They get a line around the street during lunch time but they get orders sorted quickly. They're at the forefront of inexpensive gourmet food in Dublin and their competitors can't hold a candle to them.
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Review from Francesca A.
Dublin
Updated - 10/8/2010 5 Check-ins Here
I was harsh with my last review. The barbacoa is fantastic and the chipotle crema really does rock my world. I ordered a three-chilli-spicy burrito with guac and chipotle crema and had compliments from my boss about how good my parcel o'joy smelled. My only complaint is the one that comes from wanting to have it all- those extras add up! 70c for the guac and 60c for the crema or something like that- add in a bottled American tea-drink at €3 and my lunch breaks a tenner. On second thoughts, hold the tea...
but yes, the extras were sooo worth it.
The owner's also quite personable, ready to have a chat, remembers customers, and is focused on happy-eatin' people. He answers questions on facebook (I mean, Pablo himself answers them, duh) in fabulous Spanglish. PS, he shared that he's looking into a second, bigger location where they could have boozahol and offer specials more often.
I have one more issue with Pablo, and that's inconsistency. 85% of the time, he's right on point with everything he does, but sometimes the flavours just disappoint. I'm confident that will evaporate with experience and practice.Listed in: Places I'll miss, "Ethnic" Foods, Spice it Up
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/5/2010
I had a veggie burrito a few weeks ago which was just fine. Went back yesterday to pick up a… Read more »
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Review from Katie S.
Dublin
20/8/2010
Very tasty Cali-style burritos-- with Dr. Pepper and Root beer to boot! I had the San Diego Chicken burrito and I enjoyed every last bite.
I lived in California for 4 years, and I am very pleased to have a small bit of Cali here in Dublin.
My only gripe?? They close at 8.00pm.....8PM!? Why?! -
Review from Neil F.
22/4/2010
These burritos are the best in Dublin! And some of the best food in Dublin. Fresh ingredients, daily specials (recently I had the fried carnitas burrito--totally awesome), and great prices. And--if you want heat, they can give you real heat. Please do yourself a favor and grab some lunch here.
I went to school in California. I find myself craving Mexican food quite frequently. Pablo Picanta delivers. The only thing that would make it better is a tallboy of Tecate. -
Review from Brendan g.
Dublin
8/7/2011
Cracking burrito. Fiery hot and fresh. Pity the place is so small.
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Review from Arsheen Q.
23/4/2011
Like someone said below I got the vegetarian burrito here last year and it had white rice, cabbage, carrots and was there broccoli in there too? Can't remember, but some green garden veg, which doesn't make sense for a burrito (which should have yellow rice, refried beans and grilled veg like peppers, tomatoes etc) and cheese. Very disappointed. It tasted like a vegetarian wrap than a burrito and had no kick.
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Review from Éamonn O.
3/6/2010
Not the best burrito and not the worst.
Price: I personally think it's steep for what you get. Everything here should be under a fiver, but that's simply my opinion that feeds from my overall rant that Dublin restaurant overlords are taking the piss with prices. It's 6.95 for a steak burrito, for example.
Service: It's good and they are polite. Though, each time I ask for extra cheese - they say ok, yet don't ever comply. They have business cards - buy 10 get 1 free, make sure to get yours stamped! (I've already forgot twice.)
Atmosphere: Cramped. There are two tables for outside seating and an indoor counter with a couple of stools. But the queues around lunch-time make this place jammers so you'd be better off taking it takeaway and eat elsewhere.
I've only had their steak burrito and have found it hit-or-miss. Generally speaking, it is good, but the very first time I had it was excellent. The last two times have been ok, such as the steak was a bit fatty and tough. You basically make your selection, they make it in the back, and you can choose your level of hot sauce. I personally don't find them very spicy, but be warned that each person I work with disagrees and finds the sauces quite hot.
It's a nice change of pace for lunch when you are tired of the same old carvery. -
Review from Molly O.
10/6/2010
Probably the closest thing you'll get to a fantastic mexican-style burrito in Dublin. It's yummm. Note I didn't say it's fantastically orgasmic, but it's damn good. Go there. Spend the €5 - you won't be disappointed.
It's difficult to find a good Mexican food spot in Dublin - and if you do, the salsa is more like tomato sauce. Pablo Picante's has renewed my faith in Dublin's ability to do Mexican nearly right.
It's a tiny corner spot on Baggot Street, just a few minutes walk from Stephen's Green. Gaining in popularity, it's frequently crowded and they're nearly outgrowing their space. The inside bar counter seats about 4 people, the outdoor tables provide seating for about 8.
I ordered the vegetarian burrito, which was lovely. Served in a flour tortilla wrap, it was filled with rice and various veg, including a few bits of what was either butternut squash or sweet potato - I couldn't tell, but it was delicious either way.
Sour cream was an additional 50c, which I still find laughable. It's flipping sour cream, for crying out loud. Really, is it necessary to charge for a tablespoon of the stuff? Well, on this day I apparently felt it was justified, probably simply because I was so excited to finally eat real Mexican food.
One tip: if you like really spicy food, tell them you want it extra spicy. When I was asked "how spicy do you want it?" I said "verrry spicy" - to which he slightly questioned my decision, telling me that it would be exceptionally spicy. Result: It was spicy - full stop. However, I expected this and was not disappointed. They have bottles of sauce on the tables with little peppers denoting how spicy that particular sauce is. one pepper - mild, two peppers, medium, etc. If you're on a spicy craving, try the 3-pepper sauce. That should satisfy your urge and clear the sinuses.
Pablo's is great - one tip for improvement would be to add a corn tortilla option for a further attempt at authentic Mexican flavor.
Try it, you'll be pleasantly surprised. -
Review from Sean O.
23/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
Very good burritos, nice staff, now also open near to Peter's Pub. Tasty fresh Mexican - the way it should be (and more the way it is in the US for a long time, where it's a cheap, tasty meal or snack...)
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Review from Neal J.
3/6/2010 1 photo
I figured finding anything that resembles Mexican food in Dublin would be a bit of a challenge, but was able to come across Pablo Picante. I'm not sure why, but the name itself makes me laugh.
Pablo Picante is mostly a take out place but there is a small bar you can sit at or a couple tables outside. When we went, they were out of a few items but it was nearing closing time. I got the Classico steak burrito, which had pretty decent flavor, but the steak chunks were tough. I think a suggestion of thinner steak strips and possibly marinating longer would improve this greatly.
There is a picante 'meter' of sorts that allows you to choose your spiciness level. I went with the hottest, not expecting much considering I am used to Tex Mex from the states. The hottest had pretty good flavor and did have some heat to it, but as expected, wasn't on par with what I am used to. The guy behind the counter (may have been the owner) did warn us that it was 'proper' spice, not Irish spice, and he was semi-accurate.
All in all, if you're looking for a decent burrito in Dublin, this plays will satisfy that craving. -
Review from eamonn c.
20/4/2010
Considering a Dublin burrito could just as well be a sausage roll, I was very pleased with Pablo's offering.
I even added an extra star for the smell that ventilates out the door onto the corner... -
Review from dan d.
17/9/2010
I go to Dublin regularly. While walking back to my hotel dreading room service, I pass this joint. Being a New Yorker, Im pretty discerning about what is a burrito place and ...in Dublin? Pretty skeptical...but alot of Irishmen have spent time in Cali, this place proves it. Place is the size of a shoebox. 4 people behind the counter, all smiling. Best burrito I ever had in my life. I had two the them. My wife is back in the room looking at menus that I need a mortgage to pay. Total cost of dinner tonite was 12 euro plus 2 heinekens from the hotel bar. Amazingly fresh...so much so I just texted all my friends in town. None of them heard of it...they have now.
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Review from Suzanne S.
Dublin
15/12/2010
I work close by and this place always has queues out the door at lunchtime. Delicious fresh burritos any time of the day, easily addicted
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Review from O'Brien J.
Dublin
30/6/2010
Best burrito in Dublin? Perhaps. Certainly a welcome addition.
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Review from susan o.
12/5/2010 8 Check-ins Here
how many stars did i give boojum? *checks* ok so this place is definitely on par and i honestly can't say to you which i think is better. i'm personally just incredibly happy that these mexican places are cropping up all over town all of a sudden. after nearly 2 years with poorly-approximated travesties like acapulco and cactus jack's as my only choices, i drool a little bit every time someone mentions pablo or boojum.
*salivates on keyboard*
so since i absolutely CAN'T decide which place i like better, i'm going to talk about the little things... firstly, the beef (barbacoa) at pablo is fantastic. blows the shredded beef at boojum completely out of the water. also, the salsa is spicier so there's no need for extra jalapenos. in general the whole thing just tasted more cohesive, and no, i didn't get the "salad". seriously guys, what's up w/ that? how can you get so many things right and then do something so terribly terribly wrong???
but i digress.
what i like about boojum over this place is that they do have seating and tables and happy, friendly staff (who probably would have reacted better to us wearing luchador masks whilst ordering food on cinco de mayo!). they also serve beer and their chicken blows my mind (and i don't even like chicken).
so i'd like to go back to pablo and try their carnitas. carnitas are like my favorite mexican thing in the whole world. if they can even come close to decent, i think we'll have a winner :)Listed in: favorite dublin eats
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Review from Stacy B.
25/8/2010
I had high expectations after reading the other reviews, and I was not disappointed. I dropped by for lunch, and the place was pretty busy, but they got my order out in about 5 minutes. I had the barbacoa (beef) burrito, with rice, refried beans, and cheese (hold the salsa). The beef was very nice spiced, the cheese was melty, and all together it was a good burrito. This was a better burrito than I'd expect to find in some parts of the U.S., let alone in Dublin. Plan to take your food to go, there are only a couple of stools inside which are crowded by all the people waiting on their orders, and a couple of tables outside.
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Review from Christina H.
Dublin
2/11/2010
I'd like to preface my review by saying that I am an American, born and raised in California who is of Mexican decent (mom and dad are both Mexican) so I am a little tough on ANY kind of Mexican food. I moved to Dublin about five months ago and had accepted the fact that I was going to go through burrito withdrawals, so when my friends here, even some fellow Californians, told me that this place wasn't bad I was still very skeptical. None the less I decided to try it and was pleasantly surprised. It obviously doesn't compare to mom's home cooking or even a real authentic taqueria but it does the trick when I get a craving for a burrito. I don't like that they use black beans instead of pinto beans in some of the burritos because that's tex-mex and not Californian Mexican but they are healthier so I get why they use it in the Senor Slim Delgado. The salsa they give on the side is a little lacking and there are a number of other things that aren't 'authentic,' but who cares if it tastes good right? And I have to say that overall the taste isn't bad for what it is. I agree with the other reviewer that compared it to a Chipotle.
I also give them lots of points for having an authentic 'taqueria' setup, tiny, no frills, order at counter, etc. My only suggestion would be that they stay open late night. I know chippers are the late night go to here but in California our chipper equivalent was a taqueria so I think they might make a killing if they tried it!
