Habanero Mexican Grill is one of the best-known spots in Martinsburg, and while this spot wouldn’t be considered a hidden gem, it is definitely a restaurant I wanted to highlight for a while. We had a chance to visit Habanero a couple weeks ago when we were doing some work in Martinsburg, and I was very happy with the entire experience. I have had Habanero before when it was the catered meal at a wedding, but I had actually never been inside Habanero. Luckily, that has changed!
Price 💲💲out of 5
I actually didn’t realize Habanero was more of a quick service spot than a traditional sit-down restaurant. Obviously it gives us Chipotle vibes with how you pick what meal and toppings you want, but it just feels so much more intentional and intimate than a Chipotle. The pricing was exceptionally reasonable – it was comparable with what you would see at Chipotle or Moe’s, but the ingredients felt fresher so I think the value is extremely high. If you need a quick and affordable meal in the Martinsburg area, I would highly recommend stopping in to Habanero.
Ambience 🧑🍳🧑🍳🧑🍳🧑🍳 out of 5
A staple of downtown Martinsburg since I can remember, Habanero has established themselves as an institution of the foodies scene. The place is decorated with bright colors and definitely has plenty of Mexican decor. It is clean and everyone there is friendly and helpful. There are plenty of seats for in-person dining. All in all, Habanero does the Mexican quick service industry justice.
Food 🥩🥩🥩🥩 out of 5
I was glad I got to go into Habanero with some coworkers, as I was able to sample a lot of what they had to offer. I got a beef burrito bowl, but I also got to try the chips and queso, nachos al pastor, and a traditional chicken burrito.
Beef burrito bowl: this bowl was jam packed with cilantro rice, black beans, marinated ground beef, and all my toppings of choice, including sour cream, cheese, lettuce, and a side of their extremely spicy habanero sauce. The bowl was filling and the beef was seasoned so nicely. The sauce was too spicy to drown the bowl in, but a few dabs here and there was the perfect addition to the bowl.
Chips and queso: my coworker claimed these were the best chips and queso she has had from a restaurant, and I must say that they are in contention. My main issue with so many restaurants is they overly salt their chips, and I really do not like when they add lime seasoning. These chips were crispy but not overly salted, and the queso was smooth and creamy.
Nachos al pastor: these nachos were LOADED. Habanero does not play when it comes to portion size. Again, the chips were crispy and not overly salted. My coworker opted for the al pastor, and honestly, it was the one thing I was not a fan of. It had a unique flavor that I could not place. While I don’t think it would be considered universally bad, it was not the right flavor profile for me. I can appreciate how they load the nachos up, though, with plenty of meat, beans, and toppings.
Chicken burrito: yet another massive entree, this chicken burrito was filled to the brim with tender, marinated chicken and plenty of other toppings. I usually opt for a bowl to cut down on the carbs, but if you are a burrito person, this is the spot to go.
Experience ⭐⭐⭐⭐ out of 5
I’m glad I can say that I finally made it into the physical location for Habanero. I am already planning my next trip where I plan to get the nachos (while I won’t pick the al pastor, I’m eyeing the chorizo or fajita veggie). I also want to try their quesadilla and get some guacamole and chips. If you are in Martinsburg, skip the trip to Chipotle and head over to Habanero to get a fast and delicious meal made with quality ingredients!