Steamrollers on Hornby is one of the closer "quick service" type joints to my new work. It is one of those places that I come back to every once in a while because, as I said, I want to like them. I do like the industrial style design of the stores with the orange accents. The Hornby location is quite large and set up mostly with long rows of stools. There are a few booths to the side. They can fit quite a few people in there and it does seem quite busy at lunches when I go by.
The menu offers a variation of vegetarian, chicken and beef burritos. You can order them "wet" in which they top them with sauce or order a "roller bowl" (which the derby girl in me loves!) which is the toppings without the tortilla. As all of their burritos are steam cooked, they are a fairly healthy lunch option. They offer a calorie count on their website if anyone is interested.
On this trip I went for the Deluxe Chicken burrito for $7.95. "DELUXE CHICKEN- whole wheat tortilla, Spanish rice, pinto beans, jack cheese, lettuce, salsa, garlic yogurt sauce". It was ready less than five minutes.
On the inside:
It was very... brown. My least favorite part were the beans. They were cooked, but lacked any flavor or seasoning. I wish the meat were spicier as well, but a good size and very filling. I was trying to think of more to say but, really, that's it.
I like that Steamrollers is a healthy (depending on what you get) lunch option in the downtown core. I also like that they are a Vancouver company started by a San Fran transplant who missed Mission-style burritos (there they just call them burritos), and started a company to sell them. I like that they are successful. I just wish I was more blown away by the flavour. I will keep trying.
FULLY agree with your take. I also want to like Steamrollers, and have gone back many many times and always leave a little disappointed. I have developed a bit of an appreciation for the original wet burrito. But like you, I am happy they are successful.
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