Villa Mexico Cafe

Enjoy tasty, authentic Mexican food in the last place you'd think to look for it—a Beacon Hill gas station.

Pros

Cons

I'm going to do something I never thought I would do. I am going to urge you, my readers, to buy a burrito from a restaurant located inside a gas station convenience store. What kind of restaurant sets up shop inside a gas station, you ask? A really good one it turns out.

I've been keeping an eye on Villa Mexico Cafe since it first opened in 2006. I don't remember what first inspired me to actually try it, but the food is fantastic and the woman who owns and operates it is a delight. The truth is, I didn't know if it would make it on stuffy old Beacon Hill, but to my immense relief, and it would seem the relief of many others, the place is thriving. It rapidly became a favorite with those who live, work, or go to school around Beacon Hill, especially the Mass General Hospital crowd from across the street.

The food at Villa Mexico Cafe is fresh and authentic, and the homemade salsa is phenomenal. I don't know exactly what's in it, but it is totally unlike the salsa everywhere else in Boston. I'm a big fan of the mushroom quesadillas ($6.50), served with a side of rice, beans, and salsa—but the biggest raves I usually hear are for the aguas frescas ($2.75) and the burritos ($6.50), which were named "Best Burrito" in The Phoenix's 2007 Reader's Poll. They also serve an assortment of tacos, flautas, mole poblano, tamales, tostados, licaudos, and smoothies.

As for the location, what can I say—it's in a gas station, something Villa's website mentions is fairly common in the owner's native Mexico. There are a few seats at a bar if you simply must eat there, but it's really more of a take-away place.

If you can get past the idea of Villa Mexico's location, you won't regret the decision. The food is delicious and a good value, and the restaurant is a welcome addition to the Beacon Hill dining scene.