Mack Shack makes a hearty burrito

Why: Owner and operator AndraLea Mack opened the Mack Shack in August. Mack had worked in the food industry for five years prior to opening her burrito cart, where she offers four gourmet burrito options suited for breakfast or lunch.

What I tried: I tried the Couve Delish, and my dining companion had the ABQ. The Couve Delish has eggs, bacon, sausage, hash browns, onions, garlic, spinach and either homemade rosemary steak sauce or the Shack Sauce, whichever you choose. I settled on the Shack Sauce, which is made with Sriracha, sour cream, cilantro and lime sauce. The first thing I noted when I unwrapped the hefty burrito was the melted and fried cheese that clung to the flour tortilla. What a nice touch! I knew this was going to be a treat. The combination of ingredients was tasty, and the Shack Sauce added a bit of spice, not too much, with a delicious, one-of-a-kind flavor that would complement a number of foods. I also loved the fresh spinach combined with the breakfast mixture within the burrito. It is a common practice of mine to toss fresh spinach atop a scramble in the morning.

The ABQ is filled with eggs, sausage, hash browns, pepper jack cheese, onions, jalapeños, green chilies, sweet corn, cilantro and homemade tomatillo sauce. It also had a cheese crust on the flour tortilla. My dining companion was equally impressed with the quality and flavor of the burrito and found it to be a delightful start to the day.

The tortillas were appetizingly fresh, and we thought the size of the burritos were perfect for a morning appetite.

Menu highlights beyond what I tried: The Bleuy Gooey combines eggs, bacon, bleu cheese, sautéed mushrooms, onions, garlic and spinach, and the vegan bean burrito is made with chipotle-style black beans and quinoa with sautéed onions, garlic, bell peppers, sweet corn and spinach with a hummus spread on a flour tortilla.

Atmosphere: The cart is located in what is called the Columbia Food Park, which consists of a multilevel courtyard with a covered area at the entrance. The burrito cart is situated at the entrance under a large picnic umbrella. A chalk menu board sits atop a chair at one end of the cart, and a crate of old LP vinyl records is on the other end next to a record player. Available beverages are displayed and condiments are accessible on the front of the cart.

Other observations: Coffee, orange juice and a select variety of bottled beverages are available. The courtyard does not have seating, but there are plenty of places to sit if you want to eat on site. During my weekday morning visit, there was plenty of parking along the street, which accommodated a quick, easy stop. AndraLea is friendly and very efficient at making her delicious burritos.

Cost: Burritos are $9 and $9.50.