Watch CBS News

Boston Area's Best Tortas

torta
(Photo Credit: Tenoch Mexican/Facebook)

Fluffy, yet crispy bread filled with spiced meat, fresh veggies and a delicious sauce; what's not to love about a torta? A Spanish-style sandwich with a flair of originality, a torta is a perfect blend of cultures, giving your taste buds some Mexican spice in a delectable combination of ingredients. While it traditionally comes from Spain, the torta is more commonly seen in Mexican-themed restaurants, paired with items such as tacos and burritos. Though they can be a challenge to find, especially if you're avoiding chains, the torta is worth the wait for its contained explosion of flavor.

Olecito
12 Springfield St
Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 876-1374
olerestaurantgroup.com/olecito

Whether you like your sandwiches spicy, vegetarian or simply fresh and delicious, Olectio has a torta for all tastes. If you're a sucker for pickles, try the Cubano with ham, braised pork, prosciutto and chipotle mayo. If you'd rather have a kick of spice, sample the Oaxaqueňa with jalapeño cheese, chile relleno (a stuffed spicy pepper) and chipotle sauce. For those less carnivorous, La Milpa is the vegetarian option with large portobellos, zucchini and tomatoes. Have one or have one of each, your stomach is sure to leave happy.

Related: Best Places To Grab A Slice Late Night

Andalé
125 Summer St
Boston, MA 02110
(617) 737-2820
andaleboston.com

These tortas are only available for lunch or catering, so come and get them while they are hot and being made before your eyes. The freshly-sliced avocado provides the perfect boost to these sandwiches. The Torta de Pollo al Carbon with grilled chicken breast, pickled jalapeños, orange salsa, cheese, lettuce and of course, avocado and the Torta de Pollo Mole (pronounced mo-lay) with a chocolate-chile mole sauce, shredded chicken, cheese, tomatoes, lettuce and avocado are both sweet and savory options. Make friends with either one and you will be satisfied.

Burritos Express
86 Bedford St
Boston, MA 02228
(617) 482-8899
burritosexpress.com

The best part about this express location is not only the quick service and delivery option, but also the unique style in which the food is paired into meals. For a Mexican restaurant to serve French fries with the Spanish tortas is definitely a special twist, which can be especially enjoyable for those more picky eaters who are dining out. The fresh pico de gallo, beans, lettuce and guacamole top the torta, with your choice of chicken, steak or sliced spit pork.

Tenoch Mexican
24 Riverside Ave
Medford, MA 02155
(781) 395-2221
tenochmexican.com

Although it might be more of a drive from the standard Boston locations, Tenoch is worth the trip - just for the telera bread that encompasses its tortas. In either vegetarian or ham and pork styles, this torta also comes with chipotle mayo, beans, avocado and cheese. The fresh telera is fluffy and warm, sliced and filled with an array of delicious items. This torta may not be the closest, but it is certainly worth the adventure. With five specialty tortas to choose from, you will find yourself back here in no time.

El Pelon Taqueria
92 Peterborough St
Boston, MA 02215
(617) 262-9090
elpelon.com

The toasted roll gives a nice crunch to this torta. Add in a meat, refried beans, the delectable limed onions and guacamole, and you have a great meal. But the true star of the sandwich has to be the spicy mayo. A nice kick of flavor to end the ideal bite, this condiment gives your taste buds exactly what they need. These tortas are best with the chicken, but don't be afraid of the steak or braised pork. Any option is a good one for this zesty dish.

Related: Boston Area's Best Cheesesteaks

Kat Webber is a graduate of Bentley University. Her random interests include reading, writing short stories, traveling, mythology, beers (especially microbrews), poetry, shoes, dessert, fuzzy socks and scrapbooking. Kat currently resides in Somerville, MA. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.