#140 of 162 Panama City Beach Restaurants

Barberitos Southwestern Grille & Cantina

Barberitos Southwestern Grille & Cantina - Quick and Healthy Burritos Made with Love
Local Expert's Rating:
4 / 5
The Bottom Line:

Barberitos Southwestern Grille & Cantina in Panama City is known for its mission burritos, though they do have a number of other menu items to choose from. Fast, healthy, and fresh, the Southeast chain has strict standards for preparing everything on the same day. Patrons are impressed by the high standards and authenticity of the quick-serve restaurant and its food.

- The FloridaPanhandle.com Local Expert Team

Barberitos Southwestern Grille & Cantina was founded by Downing Barber after his travels throughout the Southwest. He loved the unspoiled beauty in nearly every corner, but he was most impressed by the quality and variety of the food. Specifically, he wanted to learn everything there was to know about the mission-style burrito: how it was made, how it could be customized, and what preparation yielded the best results. He wanted to bring the flavors of the Southwest everywhere, which was how he ended up opening his first Barberitos in Georgia. Today, he has locations throughout the Southeast. 

Fast Food, Slow Prep 

Barberitos Southwestern Grille & Cantina in Panama City starts early in the day. The staff devotes the time to smashing the avocados for the guacamole, chopping the vegetables for the burritos, and grating the cheese for every dish. They also fry every chip and prepare every salsa fresh for customers. This is the only way they can run a quick-serve restaurant while keeping the same standards as a full-service one. All that attention to detail is evident in the first bite of your order. From nachos to tacos to the signature burrito, Barberito’s isn’t known for compromising. 

Healthy Choices

Anyone who wants to eat a little better already knows the struggle of making daily decisions. While it’s certainly easy in theory, the actual sacrifice is far from simple. In addition to the complex flavors, Barber was also drawn to mission-style burritos because they were as tasty as they were healthy, which is not an easy combination to find. At Barberitos Southwestern Grille & Cantina, there are seven meals on the menu that top out at under 300 calories and 6 grams of fat. Plus, patrons will be pleased to find gluten-free choices, including salads and burrito bowls.

When you’re at Barberitos Southwestern Grille & Cantina, we recommend the following:

Chicken Burrito 
The all-natural white meat of Barberito’s is both marinated and grilled daily. Dress it up with rice, corn salsa, black beans, tomatoes, and anything else your heart desires. Salsa choices include Smoked Chipotle, Heavy D (made with onions and jalapenos), Tomatillo, and Roasted Poblano. 

Two Jerk Fish Tacos 
The jerk-style tacos pack a punch of flavor in every bite. While they may not rate very high on the Scoville scale, that doesn’t mean they’re bland. This option from Barberito’s is only available on Fridays, but it’s definitely worth it if you happen to stop in on the best weekday there is. 

Mini Veggie Burrito 
Sometimes when you’re in Panama City, you just want a little pick-me-up. The mini-veggie burrito is light and bright, giving you just enough energy without being weighed down. It’s a great way to refuel quickly if you’re in the middle of a jam-packed vacation. 

Char-Grilled Chicken Salad 
This simple salad contains lettuce, chicken, salsa, beans, and balsamic vinaigrette. However, it’s the quality of every ingredient that brings the meal over the top. 

Barberitos Southwestern Grille & Cantina prioritizes people, community, and food, and you’re likely to see these qualities while you’re here. The staff is friendly, the meals are made with care, and the chain is known for investing in its neighbors. The staff is also big on larger initiatives, such as efforts to protect and promote the honeybee population. Franchise owners and executives work with local farmers and suppliers to cut down on transportation costs and support the small businesses that surround them. 

Insider Tips:
-Tilapia is an optional protein available only on Fridays. 
-Use the Barberito’s app (available on Google Play and the App Store) to order your meal ahead. 
-Gluten-free options are available, but we recommend letting the staff members know that you’re gluten-free as some equipment is shared.
-Barberito’s has a children’s menu plus amenities (e.g., coloring sheets, crayons, etc.) for kids.