One rainy day last year I was walking down Leinster St. when a sign made up of colourful tiles drew my attention. The place was tiny, but, for its size, very aesthetic. I looked up at the sign: Mama’s Revenge. I looked down at the menu. And I couldn’t believe my eyes. A 25cm burrito for € 6.50. That price has now risen to € 6.95, but I am still convinced that this little locale offers one of the best value for money near Trinity’s campus.
While not necessarily unknown to students, I feel it is mostly frequented by Hamilton dwellers, due to its location. Yet, it’s only a five minute walk from the Arts Block entrance and so, so worth it. The student offer (a 30cm burrito for € 8.95) is a win of only a euro compared to the regular price (€ 9.95) and the baby one is already huge.
I first visited the place a few weeks after making my discovery. With my friend we spent 10 minutes outside, deciding which nine items we would choose to fill our burrito. Turns out that once you choose your rice, beans and meat filling (fear not, they also offer vegetarian options!) you can fit basically anything else you might want in the remaining 6 slots. The staff is rather understanding of students with money and decision-making problems. My go-to is rather basic – white rice, black beans, chilli beef, pico, sweetcorn, lettuce, cheese, sour cream and a medium sauce (on that note – the spicy sauce is really rather spicy, you can try it in smaller amounts if you head to the seating area downstairs). However, I have seen many other interesting combinations – the chorizo filling is spicy but very funky, and some people choose sweet potatoes, pickled peppers or aubergines to fill their wraps. You can also add guac, unfortunately at an extra charge. One thing about me is that once I find food I like, I will continue eating it over and over, so I have not strayed far from my order. However, I would recommend trying a few different combinations, if the first one doesn’t quite hit the spot.
Unlike other burrito places I’ve found in Dublin, Mama’s Revenge serves them filled to the brim with a variety of flavours (if you choose that option – some people just go for a plain bean and rice burrito). You can taste the vegetables, the cream, and the sauce, which all make for a deliciously filling, yet not heavy, meal.
Apart from the divine burritos, they also serve a variety of different Tex-Mex-inspired foods. Quesadillas (Baby €5.95, Regular €7.95) work similarly to the burritos, allowing for a choice of filling and salsa. For an additional 50 cents, you can also get one of the aforementioned add-ons (guac, sour cream, sweetcorn etc.). The portion of tacos one can get for € 8.75 consists of three ten centimeter corn or flour tacos with your chosen filling, topped with red onion, coriander and salsa on the side. You can choose to add a sprinkling of cheese or sour cream or pay extra to get guac, lettuce or sweetcorn. While they also serve nachos with a huge variety of toppings and bowls of chilli con carne, for famished students looking for an affordable, filling lunch I would definitely recommend the burrito.
You can either opt for the food-to-go and enjoy it on campus or in the neighbouring parks (take a plastic fork from the counter, burritos inevitably get messy!), or head downstairs into the seating area. Painted in bright, primary colours, with a goat’s head dressed in a MEXICO t-shirt, and no windows, it emanates a diner vibe – in a good way. The music is a mix of old rock and Latin beats, and the tables are spacious enough to fit a lot of people (and at times scattered with the remains of food). However, it is not a place I would recommend to dwell in for too long. Eat your lunch, enjoy a few songs and leave making space for other famished patrons. Merrion Square Park or the National Gallery are right down the road if you want to enjoy your few hours off school in a calm and pretty place.
It’s clear to see that Mama’s Revenge is one of my Dublin obsessions. And I think it deserves that opinion – from the pretty sign outside which first drew my attention on a rainy day, to the kind and quick staff, the huge selection of food and the amazing taste. I want to let more people know about it so that everyone can enjoy the delicious, filling, affordable goodness that awaits inside!
