Meet the owners of Burrito Shak, David & Kara Longo

“You know you love Burrito Shak when you walk in the doors and the cooks start making your order before you even say anything!”

You have probably heard that at least a dozen times. Burrito Shak is a local favorite with a dedicated following, and for good reason.  It’s delicious!

Conception

The idea for this fresh-mex eatery was a long time coming.  Professionally trained chef, David Longo, had been musing on the concept for a decade before it came to fruition.  He was raised here and watched Hampstead grow from fields and forests, to a bustling town with a variety of small businesses.  Finally, Hampstead was ready, and so was the Longo family.

Open for Business

In July of 2015, Burrito Shak opened to the public.  Anyone who has experience in the restaurant world or small business ownership of any kind, knows what a daunting task it is to start a business from scratch.  Besides the many licenses, state and county requirements, and all the money, the time it takes in the first few years is incredible.

In the beginning, David was working 70-90 hours a week.  At least he had excellent food on hand to keep him going.

“We felt pretty supported by the community the whole time,” David reflected.  

He’s laid back and unpretentious, most often seen in a t-shirt and a grey or black cap, sporting the Burrito Shak logo, shiny gold wedding band and a clean shaven face.  His ensemble matches the fast, casual style of the restaurant, but the food is far from simple.

The complexities of the different flavors are mouth watering.  Prior to Burrito Shak, David was a chef at Beauchaines 211, a fine dining establishment in Surf City.  He has both the experience and natural talents for creating mouth watering menus. In fact, it wasn’t until just two days before the grand opening that David created the entire Burrito Shak menu.  All his experience, skills, education and artistry culminated in an award winning menu, casually written on a chalkboard, but complex enough to bring the same people back to eat there multiple times a week.

What’s so special about the menu?  You need to taste it to understand.  

“I think a lot of the different flavor profiles set us apart. Our slaw – sweet chili slaw – is very popular.  We have several signature sauces. Our products are made in house so it’s fresh and we use high quality products.  And of course, we try to give it a fun atmosphere,” David shared with a smile and a proud nod.

Clean Beach Vibes

Patrons clad in business suits and swimsuits sit side by side, scooping salsa and crunching tacos.  Tin walls, bright colors, and beach photos give off a cheerful, casual vibe. Just because it’s casual though, doesn’t mean their standards are any lower than a five star establishment.  One of the first things you’ll notice about Burrito Shak, is how clean it is. The 18 person staff does a great job keeping it up, and Kara’s sharp eye for the details ensures it stays spic-and-span.

Hang Ten

David is an avid surfer, first paddling out at just 8 years old.  Though his beach time has decreased as his family and restaurant time increase, he found a way to integrate his love for the water with his restaurant.

“I haven’t gotten out there as much as I want anymore. A lot of the menu items are names of surf breaks that I’ve traveled to,” he shared.

For example:

The Lane is a burrito or bowl with rice, beans, cheese, pico de gallo, lettuce, and your choice of meat.
It’s a surf break in Santa Cruz, California

The Ricon is a burrito or bowl with rice, beans, cheese, pico de gallo, lettuce, guacamole, sour cream, and chipotle sauce. Add your choice of meat.
It’s also a surf break in Puerto Rico where David and Kara were married.

The S-turn is a burrito or bowl with rice, beans, cheese, roasted poblano creama, roasted peppers and onions, queso, and lettuce, with your choice of meat.
You may recognize that name from a surf break in the Outer Banks.

Secret Menu

Yes, their menu has it all: incredible, complex blends of mouth watering flavors, healthy dishes, quality products prepared fresh daily, and interesting names. And it also has a secret.  The California Burrito!

Southern Californians and all the military who were stationed around Camp Pendleton knows about the soul satisfying comfort that is a California Burrito.  What you thought was lost to you here in the South, can be found again!

The California Burrito is featured periodically on the special board, but it can be ordered any time from their secret menu.  They keep a handful of french fries on hand for this delicious burrito that’s comprised of queso, guacamole, french fries, carne asada, lettuce, and sour cream.  Don’t want one of those ingredients? Just tell them.

Specializing in Specialties

“Our goal – the answer to every question – is yes. If there’s any way possible for them to have a specialized dish, we’re going to do that for them.  It’s also really important for them to know what they are ordering,” David stated, referring to the way his staff will patiently and thoroughly explain what each sauce and ingredient is, no matter how long the line is. 

Sure, it might add a whopping 60 more seconds to their order, but understanding the menu and not feeling pressured or rushed, is one of the many ways Burrito Shak stands apart from its competitors.

Exceptional Crews & Repeat Customers

Their staff is well above the average restaurant crew.  They recognize faces and remember orders for many of the regulars, which is even more impressive if you knew they serve roughly 600 people a day.  Of course, it helps that many people frequent the restaurant four or five times in the same week.

“We try to make it a fun environment for them,” David said enthusiastically. “Whenever you treat them well and create a fun environment, that’s going to show through to the customers.  They can come here and kinda get away and have fun. I would say that’s true for our customers as well. We have great customers and we don’t really get people coming in here with bad attitudes. I think our employees also feed off of our great customers.”

David and his family love the food and the atmosphere too.  You’ll find him working there most days, and always with a sunny zest.  David eats 8-10 meals a week at Burrito Shak. His family is close behind at 4-5 meals enjoyed there, weekly.  Monday is a standard family Burrito Shak day. That says something very positive about the restaurant and the quality of the food.  

If you think the Longos only eat there so often because they own it, you would be mistaken.  One customer named Billy, comes in so frequently, they named a taco special after the way he orders his meal.  The Wild Bill taco special will have you wishing you could stop in daily as well.

As for David, his favorite item on the menu is the Shaka Burrito and the S-turn.  He likes The Shak Fish Tacos too, but The Jolly Roger Fish Tacos are the most popular for customers in general.  Kara is a big fan of the TI but they aren’t afraid to mix it up with the unique daily specials.

Community

The Longos don’t just operate a business in the community.  They are actually a part of the community, and they believe in getting involved and giving back.  From sponsoring sports teams to hosting fundraisers, you have likely seen their name associated with numerous community events.  Most recently, Burrito Shak became a Diamond sponsor of the Surf City Elementary School PTA.

Not everyone has excellent taste.  With the hundreds of great reviews you can find online, there’s a few negative ones too, and it’s the bad ones that stick with David.  

“As much as they hurt, I think it brings a balance to where we may need to improve and we’re always striving to improve.”

That right there is the reason why Burrito Shak is so incredible.  If you ever have a negative experience, simply send them an email. The management team, David, or Kara will respond to you directly.  If you have a great experience, then share it on Facebook, Yelp, or other public forums. Let’s build up the small businesses in our community.  Their success is only to our benefit.

“My favorite thing about owning a local restaurant is that you get to see the community every day. One fun thing that happened is when we were at  Disney World and someone recognized our hat. They used to live in Sneads Ferry and now they live in California, I believe.” David Longo.

The Longo Family

The grandson of a Master Gunnery Sergeant in the Marine Corps, David has been working in restaurants since the ripe ol’ age of 12, even earning a degree in Culinary Arts & Food Service Management from Johnson and Wales in Charleston.  A brief venture into real estate reminded David of his true passion – food.

“They say once you’re in, you’re in. Like fight club, I guess,” David chuckled.

Luckily, David found a beautiful Buckeye who supported his dreams.  Kara Longo was a graduate of Ohio State University and moved here with her family after college.  The kindergarten teacher was introduced to David through her sister and the sparks flew. Nine years of marriage and three energetic daughters later, they make a great team.  At Burrito Shak, Kara helps with the accounting and marketing, among other things.  It’s a pretty incredible thing with a husband and wife team can successfully run a business together.  Sure, Chip and Joanna Gains make it look easy, but we know it’s hard! And yet, we see several family owned and operated businesses in Hampstead and we love it! This includes Holly Ridge Veterinarian, Ecological Marine Adventures, and Topsail Island Trading Company. 

But Burrito Shak isn’t just a family business for the Longos.  It’s all about families – your family, my family, friends that are family.

“I created Burrito Shak because of families, like my own.  I wanted to take my experience as a chef and apply it to a quick service.  Appeal to a broader audience I guess you could say,” he explained thoughtfully as he sat in the booth at his restaurant, twisting a straw wrapper back and forth.

It’s clear that David is always on the move.  His energy is contagious and his charm is sincere.  He greets people with a genuine enthusiasm, thanking patrons for choosing his business, expressing cheerful gratitude to his vendors, and talking about his employees with pride.

When he’s not feeding the Hampstead population, he’s with his family.  Three daughters under the age of six are a handful. Dance, gymnastics, and soccer take up much of their free time.   They also enjoy the water with a little skiff that the kids just love, and a brand new baby, little Amelia (who is very chill, by the way).  With two English Springer Spaniels as well, you know their house must as loud with laughter, play, and chatter, as Burrito Shak is on a Sunday after church.

Get Shak’d

Now, there are more ways than ever to get Burrito Shak inside your mouth.  Ways to order include:

• • Traditionally – in line in the restaurant

• • Phone – call in your order, then go pick it up

• • Online – order on their website, then pick it up
    • Order online in Hampstead (make sure you check the correct location! Now there are 3!)

• • App – You can order through the ChowNow app
    • Android
    • iPhone

Special events can get Shak’d too.  Burrito Shak offers catering for any type of event.  They have catered weddings, luncheons, office meetings, gender reveal parties, graduation parties, birthday parties, and more.  

If your hunger for Burrito Shak still isn’t satisfied, you may just need to own a franchise yourself.  For the first time, Burrito Shak is available to franchise in certain markets. In 2019, two new franchises have opened: Burrito Shak Swansboro and Burrito Shak Monkey Junction. Plans are in the works for a Surf City location as well.

A Hampstead Staple

Fan voting awarded Burrito Shak the title of “Best Tacos in North Carolina” by travel website, Strange Carolinas.  We think it’s an accurate award, but you’ll have to try it out for yourself.

It was a leap of faith for his family, but the Longos don’t regret it for second.  And neither do we!