Cholula Hot Honey Chicken is the special summer treat at Boojum, Leeds’ most vibrant burrito bar.
It’s been a dank, dreary July, so visiting Boojum turns out to be a great way to brighten your mood. You cannot miss the electric blue building on Merrion Street. The restaurant has a feeling of Mexican authenticity. It is an oasis of Mexican flavours, aromas and colours in the heart of the City, with an offering that has become ever brighter with the addition of Cholula Hot Honey Chicken as a filling for burritos, bowls and tacos.
Cholula Original Hot Sauce is a Mexican staple, made from blended arbol and piquin peppers and selected spices. The Cholula Company has collaborated with Boojum to develop this new filling, resulting in a sauce with heat that never overpowers flavour, with the addition of honey to the chicken softening the flavour with a slight sweetness. Adding sauce to the chicken makes it more succulent. The original Boojum chicken filling is still available, but staff told me that once diners have tried the Cholula Hot Honey Chicken they tend to come back for more. Different Mexican sauces are always on hand as condiments, including Cholula Original Hot Sauce and Cholula Chilli and Garlic Sauce. Boojum is just along Merrion Street from the Leeds Chilli-Shop, so you can always call in and buy your own Cholula to take home.
The drinks on offer are also Mexican brands. There are Mexican beers if you want an alcoholic option, but I really enjoyed my bottle of Jarritos. I hadn’t previously tasted the popular soft drink outside Mexico and had forgotten how refreshing they are. Slightly less fizzy than most British soft drinks and they have great fruity flavours. I savoured the lime; my friend went for mandarin and the staff tell me guava is popular.
There’s a range of fillings to accompany the Cholula Hot Honey Chicken. At each stage of the burrito making process there are options. Rice, beans and salsa all come in different forms. Cheese, sour cream and lettuce can be added as standard, but you can pimp your burrito with additions, including guacamole, queso sauce, jalapenos, onion pickle, chorizo and chickpeas.
I was impressed by the skill of the staff as burrito builders. I had serious doubts that everything I had decided to sample could be wrapped. Somehow everything was stretched, wrapped and rolled to make an impressive foil-coated package. For those tempted to remove the foil, eating instructions were fixed to the roll. Such bulging burritos require containment.
My burrito was a full meal. Starting at £7.49 for a vegetarian option, there are three vegan choices, or £8.99 for the Cholula Hot Honey Chicken, which I think are all reasonably priced. I can see why Boojum is popular with students. There are often queues at lunchtime, when young people are drawn across from the universities.
Leeds is currently the only Boojum outside Ireland, where the company originates, although they are looking at opening branches in other cities with large student populations.
With students starting their summer vacation and the Cholula Hot Honey Chicken summer special on offer, now is a great time to visit Boojum.
Located in: The Merrion Centre
Address: 92 Merrion St, Leeds LS2 8NG
Hours: Opens 11:30 am until 10 pm 7 days a week
Phone: 0113 513 3670
Menu: boojummex.com
Main image by Gemma Bridge.
