Can you finish the 4-pound burrito at new GR-area restaurant?

BYRON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) — A new metro Grand Rapids restaurant offers authentic Mexican food and a giant, 4-pound wet burrito.

Tacos Don Jose opened late last month at 430 68th St. near US-131 in Byron Township. It offers everything from tacos and tostadas to rice bowls and wet burritos.

Its biggest item is the 4-pound Don Jose Wet Burrito, a menu item close to 60 people have had but only three have finished, owner Jose Castro told News 8.

The menu item started as a bet between Castro and his friend, when Castro made a 6-pound burrito for the friend to try. He ultimately brought it down to 4 pounds to make the wet burrito more balanced.

“It’s not only a giant burrito, but it tastes very good,” Castro said.

If a customer is able to finish the burrito, they’ll get a T-shirt and their photo posted to social media. One of the three people who have finished it is a competitive eater, Castro said.

“He’s eaten a lot of big burritos,” Castro said, adding the competitive eater told him he had never had a giant burrito that tasted so good.

Castro has worked in the restaurant industry for more than 26 years. After the company he had worked at for the past eight closed down, his wife, Heather Castro, encouraged him to open up his own spot.

“My wife inspired me and pushed me to do my own thing. She says, ‘It’s time. You’ve been doing this for a long time for other people, … you do a great job, go ahead. Let’s just do it for us. Let’s put all our chips in, get it together and show people our passion for Mexican food,'” Jose Castro said.

He and his wife were high school sweethearts who met in ROTC class at Union High School. They recently celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary.

“She keeps me grounded,” he said.

“He’s a great chef and he’s got a great heart for what he does,” Heather Castro added. “We’re appreciative that he did take this risk.”

Jose Castro said his goal is to bring his passion for good Mexican food to the community the couple has lived in more around 15 years.

“I love eating, I love serving people. … It’s not about making money or getting rich out of this. I mean, I’m probably not,” he said with a laugh.

He added that hearing from people who enjoyed his food, like the competitive food eater, is “worth more than any money that I can make.”

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