If you’ve had enough of the usual ‘tex mex’ offering and want a more genuine Mexican experience then look no further than Boojum. Located on Dublin’s Millennium Walkway (just off Upper Abbey Street, near Jervis Street SC serving authentic Mexican), this is a no frills answer to all the pretenders out there.
Based on the successful Californian model of cantina style burrito houses, this Dublin Restaurants ethos is fresh ingredients, cooked carefully from scratch and served to you fast - wrapped up in tin foil and presented on a tin plate - at great prices.
You’ll see a small collection of tables and chairs under an awning; once inside the minimalist sleek interior you’ll be greeted by friendly serving staff, ready to make your chosen dish right there in front of you. Just select your base, filling, some zingy salsa and maybe some extras like fresh guacamole or sour cream, pick a stool at the communal counter, let some salsa drip down your chin, get your fingers messy and dig in with gusto.
Burritos as big as a baby’s arm, crispy taco shells filled to the brim and smokey fajitas are the order of the day in Boojum. The shredded beef is meltingly tender and tastes like it’s been slowly braising in a low oven for hours, whilst the marinated chicken has a delicious char-grilled flavour.
Boojum clearly understands what good Mexican food is all about and while you wash it down with a cold Corona you can forget all those pseudo ‘tex mex’ restaurants that get their guacamole from a tub.
The menu is very simple and easy to follow. Behind the service area there is a big board that runs across the wall which explains the method of ordering. First you choose your base (burrito, fajita burrito, burrito bowl, tacos or salad), then you choose your filling (vegetarian, chicken, shredded beef, steak) and then you choose your salsa and any extras you might want.
Prices are modest - Vegetarian, €6.45; Chicken, €6.75; Shredded beef, €6.95; Steak, €7.15 – and all beef is of Irish origin.
If we have a gripe about Boojum it would be the no credit cards policy, which is so unusual in Dublin that it really catches people on the hop – but, at the prices charged, maybe that’s not a fair complaint.
And one other thing - it’s a pity they charge for tortilla chips, considering how cheap they are to produce. It would be nice to see them take the lead from America, where all Mexican cantina style burrito houses have a tortilla bar which is free, and offers customers a selection of eight to ten different fresh salsas.
Customers can visit the salsa bar as often as they like and fill their bowls with as many tortillas as they like. This would be the extra little touch that would really allow Boojum to stand out.
Boojum offers the real deal and can only go from strength to strength; it’s already well established in Belfast - so don’t be suprised if you see one popping up near you.
