Ava Cado's: Fresh Mex In The City
If you're like me, you appreciate a good burrito. And if you're like me, and have lived in close vicinity to a Chipotle, you curse them for the franchise restrictions that have kept them out of the Northeast. Well, I never thought I'd say this but... Chipotle be damned! No one needs that much grease, or (though they've recently been freed) that association with McDonald's Corporation.
Buffalo's got its own new fresh-mex fast-casual dining option in locally grown Ava Cado's, which feels better on both on the stomach and the conscience. Ava Cado's has been serving up fresh tacos and burritos for a few months now to hungry students out of its location in University Plaza. I discovered it not too long ago and I must say it's a wonderful place to stop and grab a filling, healthy and delicious quick bite.
It's modeled after Chipotle which, if you've never been, means you order your burrito and move on down the line adorning it with your favorite toppings. It's a wonderful option for vegetarians to get a healthy and well-rounded meal, and my meat-eating friends can't say enough about the steak (they never can).
You've got a plethora of options when it comes to fillings, sides and salsas.... and if burritos aren't your thing, grab yourself a bowl of their spicy chili or a taco salad in one of those crisp and tasty taco bowls. Sounds good to me!
Ava Cado's Fresh-Mex
University Plaza (Main Street at Kenmore Avenue)
716.446.5080
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Comment Options
parkview
This place sounds like Edrious, which unfortunately has closed after an unsuccessful move downtown.
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DJK
I went right after they opened, last fall. It was definitely good, but a hell of alot of money to pay for a burrito. Everything is an extra charge...
Hey, this place isn't even in the city?!?! What are you guys doing writing it up?
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kelly
Their salsa is really good. Not sure if it's good enough for the shockingly high prices, but it was good. I can see eating there again if I'm in the area, but I don't think I would go out of my way for it at those prices.
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JohnMartin
Mediocre burrito, exorbitant prices. If I want a quality burrito, I'll make the drive out to the burbs to get one from Moe's.
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rhubarbgirl
one of my new fav places to eat. I have been to Chipolte and Ava's is the best next thing. Buffalo needs this type of place. The prices are not bad considering they make everything there. People need to understand that good quality costs a bit more than crap from Taco Bell or other franchise places. Support local business..Support Buffalo.
And the Gauc is homemade and super yummy. They have fish tacos for lent now too.
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kelly
People need to understand that good quality costs a bit more than crap from Taco Bell or other franchise places. Support local business..Support Buffalo.
I absolutely agree... but they're still more even when compared to places like El Corporal and the like, out by the galleria, where the food is fresh, they bring it to you, and it's not made on an assembly line. I don't know, for those kind of prices I'd rather go to a sit-down kind of place and not a rehabbed Quiznos.
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rhubarbgirl
Kelly, your comparing apples to oranges. Ava's is a quick service while El Corporal is a sit down resturant with a full service kitchen. You can't compare the two. The food is fresh..at Ava's . I have watched the staff cook chips, meats and even watched them make soup .. cutting their own veggies.
El Corporal is a franchise also. I dont see the harm in supporting a good local place that compared to Burrito Bay , the prices are fair.
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JohnMartin
Implying that I need to better understand the difference between quality food and fast food crap does not better your point.
I have no problem paying for quality, unfortunately, the burritos at this joint are mediocre and I don't feel the need to pay a premium for mediocrity. I know this post is an advertisement and not a review, but come on.
Don't insult me to make this "webpage advert" for Ava Cado's seem worth it to the proprietors of said restaurant.
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YiS
I don't understand the 'assembly line' complaint...personally, I don't care if the ingredients fall out of the sky onto my plate...if they're fresh, they're fresh. And, if I wanted a dollar menu, I'd stand in line for my blank look, dead fries and stale flattened burger across the plaza...and I'd be saving, what...two bucks for that 'experience'? I like the food. If you know what you like on your burrito, you GET what you like on your burrito. I'm also not normally interested or impressed with "throw-ins", but the salsas make the extra chips worthwhile...and as someone noted before, the guacamole is fantastic. I also like the staff (who don't seem to be afraid or irritated when talking to customers, rather the opposite), and the general mood of the place (nice music selection, btw)... I don't mean for all that to sound quite so glowing...truth is, I probably eat there about 2-3 times a month (and NO, I don't work there...pfft)... But, like all new places, it's evolving, and I'm interested in seeing where it goes... ...hopefully to success, imo.
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carl
salsaritos (spelling) on deleware and chippawa is cheaper, and better....and basicly the same thing + a bar + flat screens + chippawa etc...
i think they might be a chain though....
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kelly
rhubarbgirl, that's exactly my point... for the prices of this place, and it is "fast food" fresh or not, I can go to any number of sit down places and have a meal served to me that isn't dished out of steam trays. Normally you would expect the latter to be more money. I have been there, and the food is good, I most likely will eat there again if I'm in the area. I just can't see myself going out of my way for a $7 burrito, though.
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Jenna77
Edritos Downtown is not closed and the move was not unsuccessful by any means. They do a very brisk lunch business for the downtown business crowd. They did scale back their hours to correspond with the high volume downtown traffic - mainly weekday lunches.
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BurritoMan
Being an expert Burrito eater, I can honestly say that Ava Cado's doesn't even compare to the excellent food they have at Burrito Bay. If you haven't been to Burrito Bay in a while, Checkout their new menu. It now has combo meals, kids meals and even an express menu with Items that are made one way at reduced prices. You can check them out at www.burritobay.com
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Divaliciciousone1975
I just paid a visit for the first time today. I had an extremely craving for Edrito's and thought this may be a replacement. So I drove from office downtown to Kenmore and it was worth it, even with a slight fender bender after leaving. The Burritos are smaller than Edrito's but the selection of stuffings are great and made it very tasty. Their fish taco was pretty good and the service was pleasant. The prices were reasonable in comparison to Edrito's but might be a little high for the average college student. However they do offer the "Fiesta Card" which does save you $5 on your 8th visit. I'll definitely be returning.
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