Freebirds World Burrito to Replace Empty Boston Market

Welcome to Sprouts and Shutters, Foster City Patch’s newest column, where we bring you the latest news on new businesses coming to town, and businesses that are leaving.

Foster City will soon be gaining a new business—a Freebirds World Burrito will open Feb. 29 in the old Boston Market building at 1000 Metro Center Boulevard.

Reflected in its name—inspired by the iconic Lynyrd Skynyrd song—the company says it “exists to feed the belly and the soul,” and represents “a world view, encapsulated in a burrito.” The company gets that philosophy across through bold and spirited rock-and-roll-inspired store décor, and a seemingly endless array of topping and flavor combinations on its menu.

At Freebirds, the chefs and food preparers feel customers should be free of restrictions and prescribed recipes. Therefore, each and every burrito is prepared exactly as the customer wants.

Though customers are free to design their own burrito choices, the company is known for some of its signature menu items, like the Freebird Burrito, which comes stuffed with a whopping five ounces of meat; its Corn Salsa, which they describe as “spicy, sweet, tangy and crunchy,” all at the same time; other menu items like their Freedom Salads, quesadillas, nachos and tacos; and their infamous Pot Brownies—which they describe as “addictive, but not illegal.”

Freebirds’ more than 40 topping options include hand-cut veggies, hot peppers, house-made guacamole, queso, tomatoes, pico de gallo, jalapenos, cilantro, lettuce and roasted garlic, to name just a few.

Freebirds also boasts a “Little Monsters” menu for kids; several vegetarian, low-fat, low-carb and gluten-free options; and the fact that all their ingredients are of the freshest quality.

“We bring in fresh product every day. We use fresh, all-natural chicken and grass-fed beef, and in 90 percent of our restaurants, it’s grilled right in front of the customer,” says Freebirds’ corporate chef, Steve Byrne. “We make our own guacamole, chips, salsas, beans and dressings on premise every day. We take the time, to drive the suppliers insane.”

Firebirds started in Santa Barbara back in 1987, and has grown to a little over 60 locations throughout California, Texas and Oklahoma since. The company just recently started offering franchising opportunities in 2011.

“[Foster City] will be our first Bay Area location, so we’re very excited,” said company spokesperson Sara Barker.

Barker said the company is planning a host of grand opening festivities.

“We will be giving away free burritos for a year to the first 25 people in line!” she said.

So, look for Foster City’s new Freebirds World Burrito location, at 1000 Metro Center Blvd., by the end of this month—and maybe you can be a proud recipient of a year’s worth of free burritos.

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