The Hot Shop

I have been going here for years and I absolutely LOVE it. the teriyaki chicken burrito is my favorite! so full of flavor and the owner is so amazing. he always remembers who I am and even remembers how I like to order it. perfect costumer service and the best burritos in the area. you will not be disappointed. if I could give ten stars I would! definitely worth trying and very affordable. 👌🏼🌯❤️

Cajun lamb burrito or loaded nachos are the way to go. Family run spot, good eats.

Absolutely delicious food. We've gone several times the last couple of months. Quick and friendly service and delicious every time. I get the teriyaki chicken bowl which I am obsessed with but my husband has tried a couple of burritos and a couple different bowls and has liked them all!

I've been going here for years. Once I discovered their unique flavors I never went anywhere else. Exotic and traditional choices. Made in front of you and always fresh. Try the white sauce with any burrito.

unbelievably good, unexpected flavors that hit every time. 10/10

Great fusion burritos! Tasty vegan options and I love the hot sauces

I had the Cajun burrito with steak with add on of cheese and sour cream. It was delicious. Not your traditional burrito as the seasonings were more Mediterranean and had a little spicy kick. All the flavors worked well together. It was a great culinary experience.

Their burritos are amazing specially the steak ones. I wouldn’t recommend adding cheese and sour cream as that makes the burritos extra heavy and kinda overpower the taste as well. We tried their tropical, bbq and cajun burritos and all of them were equally good. The bbq burrito had somewhat of an overpowering bbq sweet taste which if you are not a fan, you should avoid. They say their Cajun burritos are the most liked but I liked the tropical one better.

This place is a treasure—city no doubt; maybe even state. The decor may have given up the ghost some years ago but the food has miraculously only gotten better. Berkeley bowl even recognized how good this stuff is to the extent that they bought one (perhaps more) of the sauce recipes and pays the shop ROYALTIES on it. I'm pretty sure all the specialty burritos are exactly the same. But they're all to die for. The nachos are mountainous and packed with flavor, along with everything else on the menu. Cash only though.

They have delicious lamb burritos

Really nice family run place with tasty, satisfying burritos in interesting flavors. Haven't had a bad burrito here yet! Owner is really cool and friendly

I’ve been eating here for years. The portions are large, the flavor is hella good. I always get the Cajun steak burrito with everything, and sometimes I order the chicken or steak nachos to share with others. The price is reasonable, and the food is consistently good.

Halal burritos! The food is absolutely delicious. A great combination of afghan and mexican flavors. I am a regular at this place. The burritos are really big and at a reasonable price. Make sure you try all of the sauces. The owner is awesome! He will make you feel welcomed and comfortable.

I got the tropical burrito with lamb! So good!

If you never been to this spot go fast!!! Definitely refreshing surprise on the way. You have to stop and try it! Great service! Amazing food!!! 👏👏👏

I recently visited Hot Shop Burritos, and I must say, it's a hidden gem that offers a unique fusion of Mediterranean and Mexican flavors. The location, situated on a bustling main intersection, might seem tricky to park, but there's actually a small, free parking lot right next to it. What sets Hot Shop Burritos apart is that their menu isn't massive, but it's all about the quality of their offerings. They specialize in a variety of burritos, around 10 or so, and that's where the magic happens. The combination of Mediterranean and Mexican ingredients in these specialty burritos creates a delightful culinary experience. However, what truly makes this place shine is the exceptional service. The main guy running the show is incredibly kind and warm, making you feel like you've known him for years, even if it's your first visit. He's great with recommendations and, when not too busy, may even let you sample some of their delicious creations. Hot Shop Burritos also offers excellent value for the area. For just $30, you can easily feed two people, which is quite a deal, especially when compared to some of the larger chains like Chipotle. I can confidently say that I'll be making Hot Shop Burritos a regular dining spot. It's a wonderful blend of flavors, friendly service, and affordability that's hard to beat.

Delicious gem! Loved the creative burrito and lovely service. Also, so quick!

A coworker recommended this place. $15.50 for a tasty cajun lamb burrito. The combination of lamb + the cajun sauce hit the spot. Three different auxilliary sauces, too, so you can freestyle as you eat. If you want to try a slightly different take on burritos, this is a great place!

The nachos with the special Cajun sauce used to be unbelievable, but recently I got them and they used way less sauce (they have to have lots of sauce or forget it - ask for it), and I suspect they changed the chips to cheaper ones in 2026, that aren’t as good. I’ve had these once a month and they’ve never gotten soggy in the 5 mins it took to get my order. Anyway, The fusion of his spicy Cajun sauce overtop the nachos or in a burrito takes the food to the next level. This place flies under the radar. I’d say re-name and re-brand to mach how completely scrumptious and unique and delicious it actually is! And it’s 👉halal👈for those who can which NEVER happens with Mexican!🌮 The owner couldn’t be nicer😊 The location means prices are good - he filled the container up, feels like 5lbs lol, and with chicken it was $14.95 - and absolutely excellent and full of flavor!! Others there for the first time were also surprised how good it was😋

I am currently crawling around the floor of this restaurant searching for my jaw cause it fell clean off after I took my first bite of the angelic creation that is the Cajun lamb burrito. My partner got the Tropical, and Artichoke burritos, and they were both as mercilessly delicious as mine, though with flavors completely unique themselves. Three different sauces came with our food, and, as someone who was lost in the sauce long ago, I was extremely pleased. All the housemade sauces were uniquely spectacular; each bringing something new, and dynamic to the already formidable burritos we gobbled up with ravenous glee. The interior of the restaurant itself was nice, clean, and the pricing was great for food of this calibur. When I awoke this morning I had no idea I was going to experience a life-changing burrito, but here we are. I’ll definitely be back!

One of my favorite spots from when I was a student. The only place in the planet that serves Gourmet-Afghan-Cajun-Lamb-Burrito which is absolutely top notch. The sauces elevate the entire experience (especially the garlic chilli sauce and mint chutney 👌🏽). The loaded nachos are glorious as well 😋

Teriyaki Steak Nachos and Cajun Chicken Burrito. Loaded steak nachos topped with black beans, sour cream, guac, shredded cheese and pico de gallo. The teriyaki flavor added a unique taste to a usually savory dish, giving it the perfect blend of sweet and salty. The steak was just the right texture as well - not too chewy or stiff. Honestly one of the best loaded nachos I've ever had. The chicken burrito was also solid, and I especially enjoyed the variety of hot sauce options offered while dining in, but the nachos are the clear winner here. Highly recommend! 5/5.

This restaurant. Wow. It was a human experience. I didn’t feel like a cog in a machine—moving down the conveyor belt calling out instructions to the chipotle worker “white rice, no beans, fajitas, etc.” like some sort of ChatGPT robot. No, this was something else. I said hello to the owner, and he smiled. I gave my order…and he delivered. I asked for sauces—no charge. Can you imagine that? How far have we fallen as a society that I could not believe house made sauces would be complimentary. He threw them in the bag like a mobster making it rain—no regard for cost or expense. Pleasantries ended, got my food, said a prayer, and got to it. It was a perfect blend of everything. Succulent Afghan chicken kabob, rice, beans, pico, sour cream, cheese, and sauce. It delivered. These days, hype is rarely deserved—Zion Williamson, Rivian, Virtual Reality, Cryptocurrency. But this man and his burritos deserve all the hype. Oh, and it’s not expensive! Fin.

Wow the most unique burrito I have ever experienced! The tropical burrito is a must have. It is made with a beautiful sweet curry sauce that is perfectly unique. The owner as well as the employee were amazingly nice and had great recommendations. Make sure to get chips to try with all their delicious sauces!

Not the best picture but whatever. I was in the mood of having a burrito, but not quite exactly a burrito, so I decided to hit this place up! I had the Cajun chicken burrito as recommended by the person working inside and I was in for a treat! Loved loved how the fusion flavors are combining inside the burrito, even the rice tastes spicier and different. The place advertises itself as Afghan fusion and I wasn’t disappointed! Also, no clue why they give chips with the burrito when there’s no salsa, that’s kinda weird. Also 2: cash only (they accept Venmo)

Alexander Boulgakov

A coworker recommended this place. $15.50 for a tasty cajun lamb burrito. The combination of lamb + the cajun sauce hit the spot. Three different auxilliary sauces, too, so you can freestyle as you eat. If you want to try a slightly different take on burritos, this is a great place!

Natalia Chippa

I am currently crawling around the floor of this restaurant searching for my jaw cause it fell clean off after I took my first bite of the angelic creation that is the Cajun lamb burrito. My partner got the Tropical, and Artichoke burritos, and they were both as mercilessly delicious as mine, though with flavors completely unique themselves. Three different sauces came with our food, and, as someone who was lost in the sauce long ago, I was extremely pleased. All the housemade sauces were uniquely spectacular; each bringing something new, and dynamic to the already formidable burritos we gobbled up with ravenous glee. The interior of the restaurant itself was nice, clean, and the pricing was great for food of this calibur. When I awoke this morning I had no idea I was going to experience a life-changing burrito, but here we are. I’ll definitely be back!

Mohammad Afsar

One of my favorite spots from when I was a student. The only place in the planet that serves Gourmet-Afghan-Cajun-Lamb-Burrito which is absolutely top notch. The sauces elevate the entire experience (especially the garlic chilli sauce and mint chutney 👌🏽). The loaded nachos are glorious as well 😋

Adil Hussain

Teriyaki Steak Nachos and Cajun Chicken Burrito. Loaded steak nachos topped with black beans, sour cream, guac, shredded cheese and pico de gallo. The teriyaki flavor added a unique taste to a usually savory dish, giving it the perfect blend of sweet and salty. The steak was just the right texture as well - not too chewy or stiff. Honestly one of the best loaded nachos I've ever had. The chicken burrito was also solid, and I especially enjoyed the variety of hot sauce options offered while dining in, but the nachos are the clear winner here. Highly recommend! 5/5.

Mustafa Alemi

This restaurant. Wow. It was a human experience. I didn’t feel like a cog in a machine—moving down the conveyor belt calling out instructions to the chipotle worker “white rice, no beans, fajitas, etc.” like some sort of ChatGPT robot. No, this was something else. I said hello to the owner, and he smiled. I gave my order…and he delivered. I asked for sauces—no charge. Can you imagine that? How far have we fallen as a society that I could not believe house made sauces would be complimentary. He threw them in the bag like a mobster making it rain—no regard for cost or expense. Pleasantries ended, got my food, said a prayer, and got to it. It was a perfect blend of everything. Succulent Afghan chicken kabob, rice, beans, pico, sour cream, cheese, and sauce. It delivered. These days, hype is rarely deserved—Zion Williamson, Rivian, Virtual Reality, Cryptocurrency. But this man and his burritos deserve all the hype. Oh, and it’s not expensive! Fin.

Sarah De Sousa

Wow the most unique burrito I have ever experienced! The tropical burrito is a must have. It is made with a beautiful sweet curry sauce that is perfectly unique. The owner as well as the employee were amazingly nice and had great recommendations. Make sure to get chips to try with all their delicious sauces!

Ziad Shafi

Not the best picture but whatever. I was in the mood of having a burrito, but not quite exactly a burrito, so I decided to hit this place up! I had the Cajun chicken burrito as recommended by the person working inside and I was in for a treat! Loved loved how the fusion flavors are combining inside the burrito, even the rice tastes spicier and different. The place advertises itself as Afghan fusion and I wasn’t disappointed! Also, no clue why they give chips with the burrito when there’s no salsa, that’s kinda weird. Also 2: cash only (they accept Venmo)

Lindsey Alíce Ford

I got the tropical burrito with lamb! So good!

Jack Tur

If you never been to this spot go fast!!! Definitely refreshing surprise on the way. You have to stop and try it! Great service! Amazing food!!! 👏👏👏

Wes Harris

I recently visited Hot Shop Burritos, and I must say, it's a hidden gem that offers a unique fusion of Mediterranean and Mexican flavors. The location, situated on a bustling main intersection, might seem tricky to park, but there's actually a small, free parking lot right next to it. What sets Hot Shop Burritos apart is that their menu isn't massive, but it's all about the quality of their offerings. They specialize in a variety of burritos, around 10 or so, and that's where the magic happens. The combination of Mediterranean and Mexican ingredients in these specialty burritos creates a delightful culinary experience. However, what truly makes this place shine is the exceptional service. The main guy running the show is incredibly kind and warm, making you feel like you've known him for years, even if it's your first visit. He's great with recommendations and, when not too busy, may even let you sample some of their delicious creations. Hot Shop Burritos also offers excellent value for the area. For just $30, you can easily feed two people, which is quite a deal, especially when compared to some of the larger chains like Chipotle. I can confidently say that I'll be making Hot Shop Burritos a regular dining spot. It's a wonderful blend of flavors, friendly service, and affordability that's hard to beat.

Linsi Crain

Delicious gem! Loved the creative burrito and lovely service. Also, so quick!

This place is special; it's on my A-list for out of towners and I eat here once a month if not more. I'm sure the regular burritos are good, but where this place really shines is the owner's sauces. Don't sleep on the special menu! Cajun, Tropical, Teriyaki, etc... And his salsas! If he sold these for retail I'd take home all three of these regularly. The only reason I'd say stay away is so that there's no line when I want to go. There's a reason the Hot Shop wins Best Of Albany awards regularly. S-Tier burrito shop if you like flavor. Enjoy yourself!

The best burrito I’ve ever had and the service is always amazing recommend everyone try this place

Have eaten here before. The Chef / Owner Mr. Mohammed is very Industrious, and makes sure we receive ' Ample Quantities ' on our Plates !!! The Meat Selections are Halal. Location is Good, and since it's a Prime Location near Solano Avenue on San Pablo Avenue ... there is ' An Off Street Parking Lot 2 -3 spaces before , and Just South of the Store. The Owner just confirmed they have Spaces in there !!! Important to ' Patronize Local Small Businesses post Covid - 19... Enjoy !!!!

Steak taco and Cajun burrito was amazing! The portions are quite big and the service is fast. All halal meat!

Moses

Steak taco and Cajun burrito was amazing! The portions are quite big and the service is fast. All halal meat!

Anwar Hussain

Have eaten here before. The Chef / Owner Mr. Mohammed is very Industrious, and makes sure we receive ' Ample Quantities ' on our Plates !!! The Meat Selections are Halal. Location is Good, and since it's a Prime Location near Solano Avenue on San Pablo Avenue ... there is ' An Off Street Parking Lot 2 -3 spaces before , and Just South of the Store. The Owner just confirmed they have Spaces in there !!! Important to ' Patronize Local Small Businesses post Covid - 19... Enjoy !!!!

Kathem Muhammad

The best burrito I’ve ever had and the service is always amazing recommend everyone try this place

David Mackie

Great fusion burritos! Tasty vegan options and I love the hot sauces

Max Blum

This place is special; it's on my A-list for out of towners and I eat here once a month if not more. I'm sure the regular burritos are good, but where this place really shines is the owner's sauces. Don't sleep on the special menu! Cajun, Tropical, Teriyaki, etc... And his salsas! If he sold these for retail I'd take home all three of these regularly. The only reason I'd say stay away is so that there's no line when I want to go. There's a reason the Hot Shop wins Best Of Albany awards regularly. S-Tier burrito shop if you like flavor. Enjoy yourself!

The food is unique and delicious and the prices are fair. If that were all to consider it would be five stars. There is parking street side which is better than no parking and it's cash only but the ATM machine is out of order. The parking isn't a big deal as it is available but if you have a cash only policy the ATM machine should work. That's my only real complaint though. Bring cash and enjoy the experience.

Amazing food, blend of Afghan and Mexican. Sizes are huge and the food is very flavourful. One burrito can feed two people, would recommend the nachos for first timers, they can definitely be shared. Only takes cash and prices can vary depending on his mood.

Great place for tropical chicken! Go try small spot with good clean food! Guys been there over 30 years!

They serve an interesting array of fusion food. I always get the Cajun burrito. It's delicious with the little sweet and spicy sauce but very spicy. Even though I love their burritos for some reason they make me gassy.

Went here for a quick dinner. Shared nachos and a burrito. The nachos are interesting. Has a curry-ish sauce on top and shredded cheese with other toppings. Feels healthier than other nachos but the chips get real soggy since the sauce is watery. Comes with a great green sauce to put on top. The owner is friendly and the food comes fast. Would definitely come back!

Hole in the wall taqueria with unique and delicious burritos. A neighbor highly recommended this taqueria so we drove 30 miles to check it out and we were glad we did. The menu selection is very different from a typical taqueria. We has the Cajun and the Garlic Lime both with lamb. DELICIOUS!

LB

Went here for a quick dinner. Shared nachos and a burrito. The nachos are interesting. Has a curry-ish sauce on top and shredded cheese with other toppings. Feels healthier than other nachos but the chips get real soggy since the sauce is watery. Comes with a great green sauce to put on top. The owner is friendly and the food comes fast. Would definitely come back!

Luna Salaver

Hole in the wall taqueria with unique and delicious burritos. A neighbor highly recommended this taqueria so we drove 30 miles to check it out and we were glad we did. The menu selection is very different from a typical taqueria. We has the Cajun and the Garlic Lime both with lamb. DELICIOUS!

I got a tropical chicken plate when I came here. I wasn't terribly impressed by the tropical sauce, I found it a bit sweet and heavy for my liking, but everything else about the meal was good. I wasn't blown away by anything here, but I wouldn't mind coming back again.

Interesting fusion of flavors here. They have various signature burritos (Cajun, garlic and lime, etc) all of which you can add a protein (steak, chicken, lamb, artichoke). I got the lamb Cajun burrito as they stated it was their spiciest. Not much info in terms of sauce ingredients, can be tricky if you have an allergy. My partner got the artichoke. Service was quick; staff not masked. Some street parking in front. The taste was interesting, but nothing too amazing. Wish the burritos contained more of the protein. Multiple consecutive bites without protein took away from the experience and flavor. A few chips (literally 4-5) per bag per order. Two burritos were $22; so you would expect a bit more value in terms of sides or protein.

D. de Silva

Interesting fusion of flavors here. They have various signature burritos (Cajun, garlic and lime, etc) all of which you can add a protein (steak, chicken, lamb, artichoke). I got the lamb Cajun burrito as they stated it was their spiciest. Not much info in terms of sauce ingredients, can be tricky if you have an allergy. My partner got the artichoke. Service was quick; staff not masked. Some street parking in front. The taste was interesting, but nothing too amazing. Wish the burritos contained more of the protein. Multiple consecutive bites without protein took away from the experience and flavor. A few chips (literally 4-5) per bag per order. Two burritos were $22; so you would expect a bit more value in terms of sides or protein.

Order: Lamb Cajun burrito Lamb tropical burrito Both with cheese+sour cream spicy. $29 This was fine. I wouldn't describe either as Cajun or tropical, both burritos tasted the same. There was an overwhelming amount of beans and rice, with maybe a tablespoon and a half of very lamb-y lamb. Nothing much else was detected, other than a very rich cream sauce + sour cream and cheese. There wasn't much of anything Cajun nor spicy, it was at best bland and heavy. Burrito was very tightly rolled. Maybe skip the sour cream and cheese if you try this place out. You're gonna get your calories worth, for $13 each, but it'll be mostly carbs with very rich sauce, rice, beans, and tortilla.

UPDATE: I enjoyed my visit so much previously, I decided to return. As I walked in the door the person behind the counter came walking up. He was holding a towel in his hands. He wiped down both of his arms with the towel, then wiped down the counter with the same towel! Then he arrived at the register to take my order. I turned around and left ---- This was an unassuming little restaurant, with a fusion of Mexican food and perhaps Afghani food? Portions were very large, my son's burrito was delicious and my steak nachos was just excellent, along with some excellent ethnic condiment sauce to go over it. Prices start off at below $10 per item. Very pleasantly surprised and need to return very soon.

My husband picked it up for me both times so I can't speak to the service or atmosphere but he told me the owner is nice. Anyway, I got a not good veggie burrito, but decided to give them another shot by getting the salmon burrito which was even worse. Tasted fishy and awful and had bones in it. I hope I don't get food poisoning like some other reviews said they did.

T.L. C

My husband picked it up for me both times so I can't speak to the service or atmosphere but he told me the owner is nice. Anyway, I got a not good veggie burrito, but decided to give them another shot by getting the salmon burrito which was even worse. Tasted fishy and awful and had bones in it. I hope I don't get food poisoning like some other reviews said they did.