Anna's Taqueria
Anna's Taqueria is a chain of highly successful Mexican restaurants in the Boston area.
Overview
Anna's is a casual and inexpensive chain which has gained widespread acclaim from customers and critics alike. The food is tasty, fresh, and relatively authentic, modeled after U.S. West Coast-style Mexican cuisine. It's also strikingly inexpensive; the "super" burrito uses a 12 inch tortilla, weighs over a pound, and costs just $3.95.
Anna's is known for its efficiency. Its menu (see it at amazon.com [1]) offers only four core items, and the assembly line-style ordering process is very quick and famously intimidating to first time customers.
The restaurant has become a cult favorite for many who eat there every day of the week, and some customers have gone so far as to develop their own series of rituals and mythology regarding the restaurant. Primary among these is the desire to achieve "Flawless Victory": the completion of a meal without spilling one piece of food.
Anna's has locations in Brookline (on both Harvard and Beacon streets), Cambridge (in Porter Square and at MIT), and Somerville (in Davis Square). A sixth location near Mass General Hospital in Boston's Beacon Hill district is said to be in the works, and the chain's owner has publicly stated his interest in Kenmore Square.
A good deal of the chain's business comes from students at Boston's many colleges and nearby high schools.
The name "Anna's" comes from no girl in particular, but was chosen because it is easy to remember, sounds motherly, and would promise prime placement in alphabetical restaurant guides.
History
The first Anna's was founded by Michael Kamio and located in Brookline's Coolidge Corner in 1995. Over the next several years, he opened the second Brookline restaurant and the locations in Porter and Davis Squares. In February 2005, Anna's opened its fifth location at MIT's Stratton Student Center.
Competition
Anna's competes with both Boston-area taquerias such as Picante, El Pelon Taqueria, and Boca Grande, as well as national chains including Qdoba Mexican Grill.