By Allison Russo 

When you’re searching for cheap, fast and made-to-order Mexican food in Manhattan, look no further than Burrito Box. Nestled on 9th Avenue and 57th Street, this tiny eatery is just steps from Fordham’s Lincoln Center campus. Whether you’re looking for a bite in between classes, waiting for a Ram Van or just craving amazing guacamole, Burrito Box is your new best friend.

Its extensive menu offers a range of vegetarian options including seitan, tofu and portabellos. It also has healthy replacements like brown rice, soy cheese, tofu sour cream and wheat tortillas. Everything is totally customizable and affordable. With a menu overflowing with options for nachos, quesadillas, wraps and salads, there’s definitely something for everyone.

Though the name of this establishment suggests that burritos are the main attraction, my go-to order says otherwise — I almost always get tacos. You get two per order, hard or soft shell, stuffed with your choice of filling, plus housemade pico de gallo. I usually keep things simple with rice and beans, but I’ve heard great things about their ranchero chicken.

Every order comes with three different kinds of salsa, so you can bring as much heat as you want to your Tex-Mex. A side order of chips and guac is definitely worth the four dollars and don’t forget to grab a Jarritos on the way out. If you’re lucky enough to get one of the six seats inside, there are self-serve chips and salsa up for grabs.

Regardless of how bustling Burrito Box is, it rarely takes more than five minutes to make your food. Since it so close to Central Park, this is the perfect place to get take out and then skip over to Sheep Meadow for a springtime picnic.

Bonus tip: they’re open until 11:30 p.m., seven days a week, so check it out for a late night bite.