The Mission Mexican Grill

Really good burritos for a good price! Being from San Francisco, I had high expectations. This burrito satisfied, considering how far I was from USA and Mexico.

There was a sign that said more seating downstairs. There were only bathrooms. Other than the lack of seats. This place was pretty good. I think I sill prefer chipotle. But this place came pretty darn close. The salsa was definitely more spicy than I expected. But then again I can’t really handle spicy well. They had these cute little survey cards that asked if their burritos were good or bad. In the form of your fav pop culture characters. Which was a really nice touch. This place was a nice touch of home during a week long abroad trip at Oxford.

Nice stuff. Mexican in the Uk is tricky, Again they didn’t get the rolling of the burrito quite right, but it was better than some other I’ve seen over here. Sadly they added uncooked onions. Not really something I’m expecting in a burrito.

One of the best burritos I’ve ever eaten. The place is quick, cheap and always tasty. There are two restaurants in Oxford and both are great and always busy. I’ve tried most combinations on the menu and can recommend them all.

One of my favourite places to eat in Oxford if I want something quick. Expect queues if you go at lunch time. And don’t forget to try the rice box which is just as good as their burritos!

I’m from SoCal, so I was craving some type of burrito out here. I heard this place was similar to Chipotle, which I love, so I thought I’d give it a try. I went in with low standards already since were in England and they don’t seem to get certain cuisines right. But, I was desperate for anything.
It is very similar to Chipotle but not so much. Close but no cigar. Its set up is the same where you pick your protein, how you want wrapped up and then all the fixings. I had a small beef burrito with peppers instead of beans on a wheat tortilla. The regular size burritos comes on a 12in tortilla. I thought that would be too big for me. My total came to be £4.30, which I thought was cheap. I did think £2.95 for chips and guacamole was outrageous, so I didn’t get them.
Anyways, I ate it and it was just alright. Nothing super spectacular. It wasn’t that flavorful and the guacamole needs more lime. I went another time and got the chicken salad and I don’t know if the lettuce was watery or if it was the juices from the chicken but my salad was watery at the end. Not soggy just a pool of water. And at Chipotle they have a dressing that goes with the salad and here they don’t, they only have the salsas, so I had to use the mild salsa as my «dressing.» I wasn’t very happy about that but, oh well. The tortillas chips are just okay, a little thick for my liking.
The location in city center on St. Micheal’s St. is pretty small and was hot inside, and I had just beat the lunch crowd, THANK GOD. Line was out the door. The other one further down, I forget the street but it’s a little bigger and less crowded. Not on the beaten path.
Therefore, 2 stars. I need to bring authentic Mexican cuisine up in here!

There is a serious dearth of great food in Oxford. And veggies? Where are the salads and fresh vegetables? It’s as if England purposely avoids vegetables and loads up on the starch ²⁴⁄₇. Anyway, after weeks of mediocre food and carb loading to the max, I was dying to find something, ANYTHING, with veggies in it.
After class, I was walking back to home when I noticed Mission Mexican Grill tucked away on a side street. I realized it’s like an American Chipotle, so I JUMPED at the chance to taste a little bit of home. You don’t understand how excited I was…
… that is, until I tasted the food.
A little over 6£ for a Chipotle wannabe… and the Carnitas was dry. If that isn’t bad enough, the fajitas? Too wet! This odd mixture soaked through the tortilla, so by the time I got home, I just had a pile of mush to deal with. The rice was dry, and the pico de gallo smelled slightly rancid. The only good part was the guacamole: it was chunky and tasted fresh. Without that guacamole, I would be rating this location 2 stars.
Why would I even give this place two stars? Location. The service workers were pretty nice, and the restaurant was clean. Of course it was also pretty empty (maybe because of the *meh* food), but that was kind of nice as I didn’t have to wait at all to get my food.
To be fair, I didn’t try anything else on their menu. But do you blame me? I was so turned off by the food that I didn’t even give it a second chance (I always give places a second chance). I don’t know how you can mess up a burrito; you just put ingredients together on a tortilla and roll it up!
I hope they get their act together. There are hungry tourists in England, and this place has a chance at being a savior in many ways. Don’t let the tourists down! :/

As a lover of San Francisco mission style burritos, I was ecstatic to hear about this place upon arriving in Oxford for my masters. Growing up in the North-​eastern part of the United States I was a frequent customer at Qdoba, Boloco, and Chipotle. I enjoyed the offerings at these places and The Mission Mexican Grill was off to a good start in having a very similar appearance. The location cannot be beat as it is right off of one of the main pedestrian routes in the center of town. The interior is colorful and vibrant. Plus, the prices are comparable to those chains in the US (something that cannot be said about much else in Oxford).
Unfortunately, the food was a major let-​down. The ingredients were entirely without flavor, the tortilla was bland, and the meat was extremely dry. This establishment was recommended to me on multiple occasions by British friends who swear by it. The only rationale I can ascertain for this hype is that they have never tried any other burrito, which is a pity because this place gives burritos a bad name!

Good stuff, would be nice to have more options though such as quesadillas

This place is ok. Nothing spectacular about the burritos (especially the vegetarian option), but can be quite filling. Ah, how I miss burritos from California.

This place wasn’t so bad. I had low-​ish expectations as it just didn’t look like it would be good enough to rival Chipotle imho, but I got the tacos and was pleasantly surprised. The portion kept me going for half a day and service came with a smile. Mexican food is hard to find in Oxford and we should support the spice! x

This is not comparable to Mexican food in California but we still enjoyed our coronas, chicken burrito, carnitas burrito, chips and guacamole, and some very spicy habanero salsa. The chips tasted like they came out of a giant bag and were not super fresh. Guacamole did not have any tomatoes, onions, or jalapenos to kick it up a notch. It looked almost whipped.
The food was average but it hits the spot if you are craving for some Mexican food. I was pleasantly surprised by the spice level of their habanero salsa which was VERY SPICY!

Comparing this to a burrito place in America, or authentic Mexican food, is useless. You’ll always be disappointed. But when you’re in Oxford, and you want a burrito, Mission is pretty much the only choice.
The chicken is a bit dry, but has some flavor and a bit of spice to it. The pulled pork is better, but again, a bit dry. They haven’t quite figured out how to keep it tender and moist. The rice is good, and the beans are fine. The guacamole is a rip-​off and not very good. The cheese is good, but also costs extra. Sour cream is good, and they have plenty of Cholula bottles around the restaurant. The sauces are surprisingly tasty and spicy, but nothing to write home about. Overall, the burritos lack flavor — you can make up for it with more hot sauce, but it’s still a disappointment.
You get free tortilla chips (which are incredibly salty but surprisingly satisfying and thick) if you show them your student card, and they have a buy-​10-​get-​1-​free loyalty card. Fairly cheap for the size of the burrito.
They also have Jarritos soft drinks and Negra Modelo beer for sale, which is a nice touch, but overall, there’s not really much redeeming about the burritos here. I’ve had many, and every time have wanted to like them, but the chicken/​pork are just too dry, and the rest of the burrito doesn’t really make up for that.

Eerily similar to Chipotle (a popular American burrito chain), but delicious.
I don’t know if The Mission is owned by the Chipotle group from the US, or if they are just going with a near-​identical concept, but it was a very similar experience in terms of the food choices and layout. However, I must say that the burrito I had was really good, and the extra-​hot habanero sauce was fantastic, with that bright, explosive spiciness that a good habanero sauce should have. Wasn’t expecting great Tex-​Mex in the UK, but there you go.
Will be back again.

#555 Dare I say it? Yes, yes I dare.
The Mission Mexican is actually better than Chipotle, Taco Factory, and Qdoba back home.
Maybe it’s the embarrassingly large portions of the chains or the obscene amounts of guacamole and sour cream people are apt to include in their orders. But, Chipotle and Qdoba are just too much for a small stomach like mine. Instead, we have The Mission, which has embraced the authenticity of Mexican food via the Mission District in San Francisco and coupled it with regular-​sized portions characteristic of the rest of the world. The prices are high compared to back home, but for the perfect quantity and deliciously flavorful vegetables and sauces with tasty black beans and perfectly-​warmed rice, I’m willing to plop down the extra £1 coins.
The Vegetarian also proved to be a stand-​out choice compared to those at similar establishments. The veggies were roasted perfectly with their natural flavors infused into each bite. It was a far cry from the salty veggie goop you normally get at chain places back home. Seriously, the simpler, the better. No need to redo Mother Nature’s work with veggies. Originally, I was planning on going for their Fajita Burrito, but with that order you only get extra servings of veggies without the beans. So, I suggest going with the regular burrito, which comes with beans, and going Vegetarian. I also went with the salsa verde, but it wasn’t nearly spicy enough. So, if you like spicy, go up a level of spiciness. All in all, I definitely see myself coming back, especially since this is the only Mexican restaurant in the area.
Oh, and to those being overly critical about the offerings here, you obviously haven’t read their facts sheet explaining how everything is prepared fresh in their kitchen in the basement. Also, where would you point me to go if I wanted decent Mexican fare? I don’t think a plane ticket back to the states is worth it for what Chipotle and Qdoba are offering. Keep the harsh comments to yourself and enjoy your burrito.

I really don’t know that much about Mexican or Tex-​Mex. However, I know The Mission isn’t terrible and I did end up filling up at least two loyalty cards over the course of 2 ½ years, despite the fact that sour cream and raw onions are a physiological catastrophe for me.
I’d usually go for a carnitas (pork — the tastiest and most reliable of the meat selection) burrito, pinto beans, salad, salsa verde or one of the hotter sauces and lime. The burritos aren’t huge but they are filling, and at £5 they’re really not bad. Plus, if you show your University card they give you free tortilla chips. Awesome. Yes, it has its drawbacks. Yes, it’s not going to be good as Mexico. Yes, you end up having to take a lion-​sized bite at the end of the thing just before the burrito falls apart, covering you in porky juice. Yes, it has a poor hygiene record (every month or two, I’d hear of someone in college getting food poisoning from there — I advise steering clear of the chicken). However, it’s certainly more interesting than most of the food options in Oxford, so it’s worth trying.

Enter I, The Brit whom for the last 6 years has spent almost exactly half of his time in California and half his time in Oxford, and has lived in California for over 12 years. I don’t want to brag, but I may just be the most qualified to settle this California Mexican vs. UK Mexican debate.
First off I think The Mission should only be compared to Mexican burrito/​taco CHAINS such as Chipotle and Qdoba. It is not fast-​food nor authentic sit-​down, but that nice category of ‘fast casual’ «Mexican» food. Comparing the Mission to small greasy Mexican restaurants is unfair. Not only because the cook at that small Cali– Mexican restaurant probably lives, breaths and eats Mexico… but because that small greasy Cali– Mexican restaurant, although you don’t want to admit it, has probably given you the runs more than a few times.
The Mission is a valiant attempt at enjoyable low risk fast casual Mexican in the UK. I’ve been to this particular location at least a dozen times since it opened.
The great: Carnitas — So so good every time.
The good: Chicken — Fairly decent, but chicken is chicken.
The unpredictable: Steak — I’ve had it really nice, but often a bit dry and tough.
Yet to be tried: Vegetarian
The Special: Increasingly more often The Mission has been doing special fillings, yum. My recent favourite was the Cochinita Pibil back in early November, very delicious. I would suggest them bringing it back asap, but as long as it is after I return to the UK later this month.
Compared to its Californian fast-​casual burrito counterparts the Mission has a few good and bad qualities:
–Smaller than your swollen Chipotle small baby burrito. However I do not mind this. I’ve been here with guys and girls and the guys find it to be perfectly filling, and the girls sometimes cannot even finish it. Essentially it is just right.
–The fillings are wonderfully fresh and the guacamole is made in-​house. It is all wonderfully delicious and much more consistent in freshness than the California staples like Chipotle and Qdoba.
–The staff are efficient and seem invested in the restaurant.
–Not enough seating space. Being unique in Oxford it gets busy on the weekends and during peak hours.
–Price: If you have come from the US, you are going to think it is expensive, that is unless you have actually been paying attention to just how expensive the UK is. I’ll admit to thinking it is a little overpriced, but I’d take it over your equally priced pub or café meal any day.
I know of no other restaurant in the UK doing the same fast casual Cali– Mexican as The Mission (although I heard rumour there is a Chipotle somewhere in London). Sure they have their counterparts elsewhere in the world but in the UK, where they are the only one, they deserve the 5-​star «Woohoo! As good as it gets!»… at least for the time being.
P. S. They are open late for an Oxford restaurant.(10pm sun-​wed, 11pm thu– sat)

I’m just gonna come out and say it: Californians, I do love you (I really do)…but stop complaining about mexican food in the UK already. Please & thank you.
(Not just about this particular burrito joint, either… I’ve seen rampant complaining all over mexican restaurants on Unilocal UK). .
Guess what? You’re NOT in San Francisco anymore… Yes, I’ve been there, and yes, burritos there ARE amazing… but now, you’re in the UK. Gain some perspective, perhaps? You’re on the other side of the world where the percentage of the population who are of mexican-​descent is minuscule compared to your homeland. Hence, fewer Mexican restaurants. So, instead of comparing Mexican food in the UK to food back home… compare it to other Mexican restaurants in England, maybe? Comparing it to Californian food is just silly. OBVIOUSLY they’re not *quite* as good.
Also, kids… I’m Canadian. I hail from the great white north, where most Mexican joints are 10 times worse than anything you’ll find in the UK. Also, I lived in an igloo and had a lazy dog sled team… so getting to my local burrito joint was a mission!*
So, IMO. the burritos at the mission are pretty flipping awesome. Made even more delicious with the fresh guac & salsa they serve with ‘em! Deeeelicious.
Definitely, definitely worth a try if you’re in Oxford. I personally like to stumble here after a few wheat beers across the road at the Three Goats Heads… but you know, whatever floats your boat!
*this was humor. i’m not nearly as funny as I think I am, i know.

Yes, another Southern Californian here to you this place isn’t as good as back home. I don’t know if I agree with this «at least they are trying» business that fellow Unilocalers are claiming. I mean seriously, how hard is it to just get the right spice to grease ratio?
I had the chicken burrito and quality of the chicken was very poor. I was planning on ordering the steak, but the upon looking at it I quickly changed my mind as it looked dry and nasty… The size of the burrito was no where near the Chipotle standard I’m used to, but it was decent for the UK.
The one thing that actually surprised me about this place was the hot sauce. Their hot sauce that you can get with the burrito is actually hot! And they have Cholula sitting at the tables! Nice.
Overall: Not bad for England, but no where as good as Benito’s Hat in London. ²⁄₅ in the UK (¹⁄₅ if this place was in Cali)

I give them 5 stars for trying. Their burritos are okay. For England, they could be considered very very good. By California standards the salsa and everything else about the burrito is simply «okay». Edible but nothing to write home about.
Kudos to them for bringing the burrito to England.