Granny’s Burritos is back.

For lots of locals, that short sentence doesn’t need much explanation. But it’s still worth talking about.

Beginning in 1995, Granny’s Burritos established itself as one of the go-to places for good take-out food in Portland, not to mention great-tasting and innovative burritos and quesadillas. Owner Christopher Godin moved the place several times around the Old Port and downtown. It was located on Congress Street near the West End before Godin closed it. It remained closed for about three years.

But a few weeks ago, Godin re-opened Granny’s — with all his old recipes intact — in the busy second-floor eatery space at the Public Market House in Monument Square.

When I visited during a recent lunch hour, Granny’s was bustling, and Godin was hustling to keep pace with orders. I sampled the guacamole burrito ($7.50) in a sun-dried tomato tortilla as well as the sweet potato quesadilla ($5.50) in a white tortilla. I ate half of each that day for lunch, and the other halves the next day. It made for two filling lunches.

The burrito was as I remembered it. It was large and packed with cheese, rice, pinto and black beans, salsa, lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream and Granny’s fresh guacamole. I could taste everything individually, as no one flavor or spice overshadowed the others. The guacamole was especially good, and the whole thing was warm and comforting.

Other burritos on the menu range from a veggie for $5.50 to the chicken mango or chicken pesto for $8, and also include sweet potato, spinach and beef.

The sweet potato quesadilla was a very pleasant surprise, as I had never tried one before. Unlike some quesadillas I’ve had, which use two round tortillas, this had one big tortilla folded over, sort of like a flat, grilled burrito.

Inside, there was mashed sweet potato (almost pureed) spiced with garlic and ginger, as well as cheese, beans, tomatoes and salsa. It was very warm and gooey, and the sweet potato with the ginger and garlic was incredible — just spicy enough. It was very satisfying, and it came with a small order of chips and salsa.

Other quesadillas on the menu ranged from a veggie for $4.50 to chicken pesto or chicken mango for $7, and also include spinach, guacamole and beef.

For children, you can get a kid-sized burrito, quesadilla or peanut butter and jelly roll-up for $3, with chips on the side.

The menu also includes turkey chili ($3 a cup) and sides of chips with various condiments, as well as rice, beans, rice and bean combos, or sweet potatoes. A plain order of rice and beans is $3.50, while adding sweet potato or spinach brings it to $4.50. Add chicken, beef or guacamole for $5.50.

The Features staff anonymously samples meals for about $7.

 

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