It’s one of the most iconic burrito shops to grace the Emerald Isle, but as the Irish food scene has expanded and diversified, we have to ask the question; is Boojum still good?
Picture this: you’ve just been out on a night on the tear with your pals. It was a good night – perhaps too good – but the only form of nourishment you received over the course of the evening was the salt and lime on the side of your tequila.
The morning has been spent debriefing, horsing into a Lucozade Sport and swearing you’ll never do it again.
Now your electrolytes are back, and you’re a bit peckish. You already ate a greasy kebab on the way home last night, and you’re riddled with guilt about further abusing your body with more oil, but you’re hungover – it would be wrong not to order food. Where to? Boojum, of course.
- It’s one of the most iconic burrito shops to grace the Emerald Isle, but as the Irish food scene has expanded and diversified, we have to ask the question; is Boojum still good?
- Origins – where did Boojum come from?
- Is Boojum still good? – my thoughts
- Competitors – stiff competition in 2023
- Verdict – is Boojum still good?
Origins – where did Boojum come from?
If Boojum was to lie in the intersection of a Venn diagram, it would be this one: dining that’s quick, casual and delicious.
It’s one of those perfect places that’s a bit more respectable than stopping for a McDonald’s Eurosaver burger but not too fancy that you have to calculate splitting the bill with your friends while the waiter awkwardly hovers over you with a card machine.
The first ever Boojum opened in Botanic Avenue, Belfast, in 2007 by David Maxwell. Having been inspired by Mexican food while working in an Irish pub in Arizona, David had a dream of bringing fresh, authentic Mexican food to Irish shores.
Today, there are 14 stores across the country, so you’re never far from the blue t-shirted crew ready to slap on some guac and roll your lunch into the tightest wrap you’ve ever seen.
Is Boojum still good? – my thoughts
My Boojum baptism was probably around 2016. It was potentially my first-ever burrito (good ol’ rural Ireland).
It was in the flagship store in Belfast, and my friend warned me before we went in: “This is your first time, so it can be a bit overwhelming with the choice. Better if you decide what you want now”.
Having not even seen the menu yet, I sheepishly copied her order, watching the servers smear, smack and roll the ingredients into the wrap.
My ability to tolerate spice is alarmingly feeble, so I had the crew member load it with globs of guac, sour cream and cheese to combat the (mild) tomato salsa.
The portions are hefty – I cradled the burrito like a newborn – and treated the weighty meal swaddled in tinfoil almost as reverently as if it was a real baby.
We sat down to eat and the experience bordered on religious. That chicken! Those beans! That guac. I’ll never forget it. I think I’m still chasing that high to this day.
Competitors – stiff competition in 2023
However, in 2023, Boojum is not the only casual-dining, burrito-serving, hangover-curing outlet out there.
The pool has grown larger, and today we have Zambrero, Burrito n’ Blues and Pablo Picante, to name a few, battling for the burrito top spot.
Boojum’s competitors all offer a similar service to Boojum in that the service is casual – you can run in on your lunch break and get a healthy enough meal in fifteen minutes.
In terms of pricing, a standard chicken burrito from Boojum will set you back a steep €9.65. Zambrero isn’t too far off at a pricey €9.30.
Pablo Picante places third at €8.20, and Burrito n Blues reigns cheapest at €7.50. This is all, of course, not including extras – if you’re looking for guacamole, add at least another euro to your budget.
Despite the obvious price difference, the question remains – is Boojum still good today? Does it still top the Irish burrito charts?
Verdict – is Boojum still good?
In our humble opinion, yes – Boojum is still good. Admittedly, €9.65 is a lot to spend on lunch. While it mightn’t be a case of nipping across the road to Boojum every lunch break, it’s a nice treat on a Friday to get you excited for the weekend.
Plus, quite frankly, a necessity to facilitate a hangover revival without feeling like you’re ingesting spoonfuls of oil.
Its competitors, while offering a similar service, are just not places I’ve warmed to as much as Boojum. Perhaps it’s the garish branding (I love me some brash blue and pink) or the familiarity at every store (change is scary), or just perhaps that I love their food.
It’s possible it’s not the best burrito in Ireland (with my spice aversion, I hardly think I’m the best candidate to judge that), but I still believe that Boojum is a perfectly lovely spot to go with friends, be it your finance bro colleagues or your bestie you watched eat the face off some fella the night before.
