To get free burritos for a year, 25 locals camped outside Freebirds World Burrito in Folsom for close to 48 hours.

Freebirds, the “fast casual” burrito joint with the rock ‘n roll attitude, opened Thursday, Jan. 19, in the Palladio shopping center.

“This is amazing, we are so happy to be in Folsom,” said Payman Khania, director of operations. “This is a beautiful location. It’s the beginning of a great story.”

As guests get in line, they are partnered with a team member, known as a “Roller,” who helps them choose from four sizes of burrito made from four possible flavors of tortilla, Khania said. Burritos are hand-rolled with the guest’s personal selection from more than 40 freshly prepared ingredients including grass fed beef, hormone-free chicken, or all natural slow roasted carnitas topped with hand cut veggies, signature Death Sauce, queso and guacamole.

The restaurants have a free-spirited ambiance with a rockin’ soundtrack, reminiscent of a late-’60s rock ‘n’ roll roadhouse, Khania said.

Vista del Lago seniors Josh Darilek, 18, and Brian Tran, 18, were lucky numbers seven and eight in line for their free burritos.

“We got here at noon (on Jan. 18) to get in line,” Darilek said. “The line filled up by 5 p.m.”

The guys said to keep the contest fair, Freebird staff would take roll-calls randomly.

“We only got like 50 minutes of sleep,” Tran said. “They let us in an hour early to get our burritos. We feel good, we feel accomplished.”

What did they get for their effort? They each receive one free burrito per week for one year.

“The Freebird burrito is big,” Darilek said. “It has a lot of options. It’s a friendly, nice atmosphere.”

The burrito shop is also helping locals find work.

Kasey Morris, 19, of Citrus Heights, is one of Freebirds’ newest employees.

“Right now I’m doing a little bit of everything,” Morris said. “It’s a fun place to work. It’s relaxing. I love that everything is literally fresh. We truly care about how the food comes out. It’s nice to work somewhere I can be proud.”

The many options available to customers are also something to be proud of, said Khania.

“There are (many) combinations with 40 different items to choose from,” Khania said. “This is a reasonable price, a great experience and a fun atmosphere.”

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Know and go

What: Freebirds World Burrito

When: 11a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday through Saturday.

Where: 310 Palladio Pkwy, Suite 713, Folsom

Info: (916) 984-6972