Revisited: Avocado Tree in Sanyuanqiao

It must be said that Avocado Tree is something of a success story. From its original not-quite-successful incarnation as a sit-down burrito place in Wudaokou it has expanded to three bustling storefronts, spread between Sanyuanqiao and Shunyi. Owner Chelsea,  attributes the success of the re-born stores to streamlining the production of all the food to a central kitchen that is then distributed to all the stores, and tracking down (and holding onto) reliable suppliers.

The Sanyuanqiao store, located next to the original location of Homeplate BBQ, keeps up a steady flow of customers throughout lunch. Decor is simple, yet colorful; this is not necessarily a place to linger. Those who have visited the Chipotle chain in the states (or indeed the many similar chains around the world) will be more than familiar with the format here: queue up, choose a dish (burrito, burrito bowl, taco or salad), choose a meat, and finally add toppings and sides.

The burritos here are among the best I've had in Beijing, big tasty beasts brimming with juicy fillings. My personal favorite is the barbacoa beef burrito (RMB 39). The beef is tender, having been braised in spices, including smoky chipotle, for hours. The majority of the ingredients are imported, from the beef for the marinated steak and barbacoa, to the Hass avocados in the guacamole. 

Another hot tip (quite literally, it comes steaming hot) is the unctuous queso (RMB 9, RMB 15 with corn chips). Drizzle it on your chips, drizzle it on your burrito, heck, drink it out of the cup if nobody's watching. 

Vegetarian Friendly:

The tacos, salads, and burritos both traditional and bowl all come in a vegetarian option that includes an increased portion of Avocado Tree's guacamole. You can also add a heaping serving of cheese for RMB 6.

More stories by this author here.

Email: robynnetindall@thebeijinger.com
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Photos: Courtesy of Avocado Tree