Armando and Francisco serve great burritos at the Herrera’s stand in Downtown Crossing.
Armando pushed the steak burrito a few days ago, but your Resident Inhaler had a red meat hangover from the night before. So I ordered the bean and cheese option, which paid dividends.
Not Too Cheesy
They don’t overdo the cheese. Many burrito makers lay it on so thick that you have trouble tasting anything else. Not so at Herrera's. They give you a fair amount while leaving room for guac, hot sauce and rice.
But if you prefer flesh, Herrera's offers steak, chicken and fish burritos. And early risers can splurge on home fries. It's enough to get me up with the sun...almost.
Steak Out
When I go back—not if, but when—I’ll try the steak. Armando pushed it hard. You can watch him in the video below.
You can also watch me eat. I hold my grub right up to the lens in every clip. When your mouth starts watering—not if, but when—only one thing will do.
A nice guy named Jason works it. He’s got regular mustard, as well as the incomparable Gulden’s Spicy Brown.
Not Perfect, but Not Bad Either
I’ve had chewier pretzels, but the Gulden’s covers a multitude of sins. If you need something fast and cheap, these twisted treats hit the spot at $2.50 a pop.
And I’ll say this: Jason doles out just enough salt. No skimping, but no saturating either. He says he can move about 35 pretzels on an average day.
When I’m in the neighborhood, make that 36.
Packin’
Let me plug the packs—mustard packs, that is. Most stands have communal vats, and Jason does too.
But he also has individual Gulden packs at the counter, so you can just grab one and keep moving.
“A lot of people want the packs,” he said. Of course they do. Nothing upsets me quite like the wait at a Starbucks cream dispenser, or the interminable line at a McDonald’s fixings bar.
But with the packs, you can get your pretzel and jet. No hassle. No handling what so many others have touched.
Just your pretzel. Just the fixings that you need. Just imagine it…
PLUS...check out my slideshow featuring additional options in Downtown Crossing! Not sure if you can eat the geese, but it can't hurt to ask...or maybe it can.
Where to begin with Rob, who sells Daddy’s Fried Dough by the Park Street T?
He’s got a few prepared routines, including a rap about being “known coast to coast/like butter n’ toast.”
Just say the word, and he’ll put extra butter on your order. He sells the traditional option (slab n’ sugar) as well as cherry, apple, blueberry and Boston crème.
Old School
I went traditional on a recent visit, with extra butter. It held most of the sugar in place, but expect a little powder to spill on your jacket (it makes a handy snack later on, when no one's looking).
The dough itself is a guilty pleasure, like all things fried. But Rob knows when to lay off. He won’t burn your snack to a crisp.
Running Commentary
Misanthropes need not apply at Daddy’s Fried Dough. Get ready for a heart-to-heart as Rob prepares your order.
He’ll ask about your hometown if you’re a tourist, your work if you’re a suit, and your mental health if you say, “no sugar, please.”
He does it all with a smile, plus a rhyming couplet. Read more about him here. Watch him work in the clip below.
Linda runs a family sausage and dawg biz--the name escapes me--in several Bay State locations.
But the go-to stand for tourists and legislative aides lies just a few paces from Daddy's Fried Dough.
Beef Variety
Linda offers sweet Italian sausage, as well as dawgs made only in New England. I tried the gourmet dawg and sausage on consecutive days.
"Gourmet" at Linda's stand means "nightmare" for your cardiologist. Once she adds the onions, pepper and hot sauce, you'll think twice about that New Year's Resolution to eat healthier (a relative term if ever there was one). The Real Thing
I'd stack these sausages next to anything you can get outside of Fenway--they're just as big, and just as bold.
And while the beef in the gourmet dawg weighs about half as much as everything else, you can still taste its slow-grilled flavor.
It stays with you. Stay with me now for a video clip, and watch Linda deliver the goods por moi and some Parisian tourists.
Freddy sells Italian sausages and dawgs on Washington Street, right outside the Boston Historical Society headquarters.
While I can't picture John Adams scarfing one of Freddy's sausages, all living carnivores should hit this stand.
A Better Bun
He uses fresh bread that won't crumble after the first bite (is there anything more irritating in a large city?)
His bread has a lot of those yellow seeds on it--not poppy, the other kind. Whatever you call 'em, they remind me of a bygone era...one of solvent pension funds, high employment rates and neighborhood delis.
Pick the Peppers
Ask for everything, and Freddy drops a mountain of peppers and onions on your sausage. I daresay he gives more toppings than Linda, but not by much.
Julio, a souvenir vendor with a stand on the same block, said that Freddy studied for five years to master the art of grilling.
He may have embellished, but I'm not when I say that these sausages pack a wallop. I haven't tried the dawgs yet. But you'll have to get down there fast (like, tomorrow) if you plan to eat one before me.
But I bet the Greek salad wrap could lure even the Emeritus crowd out of the faculty club for an occasional sidewalk lunch.
Greek (and good) to Me
My wrap came with a tangy dressing, as well as radishes and juicy tomatoes. I'd call it health food with zip.
Students Sound Off
Most BU kids share my enthusiasm for the little red trolley at 665 Commonwealth Ave., directly across the street from the new Starbucks.
But one Yelper called the food "mediocre" and "mushy" in a recent post. I beg to differ. My wrap held everything together, despite a ton of dressing that would have seeped through a flimsier surface.
Swift Service
Nadim, Trolley conductor, prepares orders in under a minute. He said the steak bomb's popular right now-guess everyone wants beef for Christmas.
You can get it cheaply here; most items cost under $5. Watch me go Greek in the clip below.
Welcome! This site offers clips, quips and tips to help you find the best street vendors in Boston. Whether you prefer dawgs, salad or something a little sweeter, may the Hungry Heart suggest...