Zapatista? You may be wondering what this is. I had never heard of it until I met my boyfriend who is literally OBSESSED. When he first mentioned the word to me I had no clue what he was talking about, even my coursemates didn't know what Zapatista was until I told them. So what is it?
Zapatista is a Mexican burrito bar which sells a variety of Mexican food. After research, I have discovered that Zapatista is a Newcastle-only based restaurant which I am amazed at as it is really quite popular here. Whether the company has plans of expanding I do not know but I suggest they do as I believe it will be just as popular elsewhere as it is here in Newcastle. There isn't that many Mexican food outlets around, probably with Chiquito being the most popular with of course many localised brands in different cities so Zapatista would fit into any major city perfectly.
It is the perfect food for students, for people on a budget and even for people in a rush but are feeling a little peckish and want something healthier than a McDonald's so it isn't too damaging to the diet. Having the option to choose whether to eat in or take out is always a good thing.
It is a pretty simple menu but a very tasty one at that! From burritos to fajitas, tacos to nachos and even salad, there's something for everyone, even with vegan and gluten free options too! All of these options range from £4.40 to £5 which is amazing value for the amount you get!
It's set up like Subway. You choose which option you'd like (I stick with a burrito seeing as it is a burrito bar) and then what kind of spicy beans you'd like (I have mild beans as the spicy option is apparently very hot so I don't think I could handle it).Then your choice of meat is chosen (either beef, pork, chicken or chilli or sauteed vegetables for you vegetarians out there). You then choose a salsa (of course with it being a Mexican restaurant) which ranges from mild to very hot. I tend to stick to the safe option of mild once again. You can then add a range of toppings (some do cost extra ranging from 30p to 60p) including sour cream, lettuce, guacamole and jalapenos meaning your meal can be as personal as you like! A selection of soft drinks, Mexican bottled beers (including San Miguel, Desperados and Corona) as well as wine makes the perfect cheap yet yummy meal, all for under a tenner! For the 2 burritos and 2 large soft drinks that me and my boyfriend have, the price is a low £13 in total! You can even buy a tequila shot!
Me and my boyfriend tend to eat in. The restaurant has a really friendly Mexican vibe with happy Mexican music in the background, extremely friendly staff, Mexican decor and a range of free hot sauces (including Cholula sauce) on tap. I have to say that I have only tried the burrito range as since trying my first personally created burrito, I have been hooked! But I'm sure the other options are just as good, I will have to give them all a try so I can write about them (which I'm not going to complain at). The burrito is pretty big, I have never managed to finish a full burrito from Zapatista even when I'm starving, in fact I only usually manage half. My boyfriend of course finishes his burrito and usually mine too although burritos are wrapped in foil so it would be perfectly fine to take home as a snack for later.
They also have a Loyal 'Bandito' Card where you get a stamp for every meal you buy, 5 stamps and you get a free drink, 10 stamps and you get a free meal! Perfect for people who are obsessed with Zapatista!
Unfortunately I have no images of the food but I will be sure to take some next time which I'm sure will be soon with the amount of times I go. All images on this post are taken from the Zapatista website and the menu can be seen here.
I would 100% recommend Zapatista if you ever visit Newcastle, trust me it will not disappoint!
Will you try Zapatista if you visit Newcastle? Do you like Mexican food? Have you tried Zapatista?