Barberitos

Barberitos makes burritos its order of business, impressing with fresh, natural ingredients and an adherence to accountability.

The Southwestern-styled restaurant posts its menu's nutrition facts on a large poster-board, engendering trust, and likely loyalty, from its diners.

They're not trying to scoot anything past you. A flour tortilla has 310 calories, 70 fat calories; 3 ounces of rice 140 calories, 0 fat; a soft taco shell 90 calories, 20 fat calories. A cheese quesadilla has 24 grams of protein — didn't know that.

The strategy has helped the chain make inroads into the South with almost 20 stores overall, including locations in the Carolinas, Tennessee and Georgia.

Just make no mistake — the food's the draw.

The grilled chicken taco salad ($6.29) is a favorite. It comes in a taco shell with the requisite extras, lettuce, beans, cheese and salsa. But you've gotta add some flair, a sauteed veggie medley (99 cents) with green peppers, onions, spinach and mushrooms. Good stuff.

Enjoy a burrito or taco with grilled chicken or steak, or try the Super Vegetarian ($5.79) with sour cream, guacamole and lettuce, or the Vegan Burrito ($5.99) with rice, beans and tofu.

On Fridays, Barberitos sells its popular jerk fish tacos, grilled fish, cheese, guac, cilantro and lime. The California burrito's also a good bet: rice and beans, freshly sliced avocado and a Southwestern vinaigrette on a whole-wheat flour tortilla.

Address: 1739 Maybank Highway

Phone: 406-4955