A burrito from Tacos Tamix. Farley Elliott
How did one state get blessed with so many delicious burritos?
The burrito is a fairly modern invention. While its exact origin story is a matter of debate, the dish started to appear in Mexico sometime in the 19th or early 20th century, with cooks filling thinly pressed or stretched flour tortillas with stewed or grilled meats before folding them into appetizing handheld packages. Over the following decades, burritos made their way north. And while the dish eventually spread to all corners of the United States, California is the burrito’s spiritual home in this country.
Arguably the perfect food vessel, today burritos are one of the most popular meals in California, showing up splashed with salsa roja or mole negro, griddled with cheese on the plancha, and stuffed with eggs and crisp potatoes. Across the state, specific regional burrito styles have emerged. San Francisco has the famous Mission burrito, with its deeply griddled tortilla filled with rice, beans, guacamole, and pico de gallo, which became the template for numerous national chains, including Chipotle. In LA, the overstuffed, saucy bean-and-cheese Chicano burrito is a local favorite, while San Diego has its french fry-packed beauties, known simply as California style.
Beyond the most famous burritos in a given city, the California burrito scene of 2023 also encompasses the flavors and ingredients of the Golden State’s great immigrant cultures. Lebanese, Indian, Filipino, and Korean flavors meld within the tortilla, pushing the dish into exciting new territories and showcasing the innovation of a new generation of chefs.
This series is a celebration of the burritos of San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego, in both their traditional and genre-pushing forms. Here you’ll find stories of legendary local spots, explanations of unique regional styles, as well as anatomies of each city’s most iconic burrito. Peel back the foil and dig in. — Matthew Kang, editor
Kimberly Motos
The Maggi burrito at Carnitas Uruapan.
Essential Styles
There’s no one right way to serve a burrito, but California cities have a few strong preferences
Patricia Chang
The wet burrito at El Castillito.
The Definitive Burrito Styles of San Francisco
There are, in fact, more than just Mission-style burritos in the city by the Bay
Matthew Kang
The Burrito 2.0 from Sonoratown.
The Definitive Burrito Styles of Los Angeles
From bean-and-cheese Chicano combinations to thin norteña, these are the main ways Angelenos cook and eat burritos
Matthew Kang
The California Burrito at Ortiz’s.
The Definitive Burrito Styles of San Diego
From the homegrown California burrito to classic carne asada, these are the most popular types of burritos in San Diego
Matthew Kang
The Mar y Tierra Burrito from Sonoritas Prime.
Anatomy of
Take a peek inside the tortillas wrapping some of California’s most iconic burritos
Omar Mamoon
The Mission District outpost of Taqueria Cancún in San Francisco
The Mission Burrito at Taqueria Cancún
How the Mission District late-night dining standby makes its legendary burritos
Matthew Kang
Platillo especial from Burritos La Palma in Los Angeles.
The Platillo Especial at Burritos La Palma
How Alberto Bañuelos makes his father’s Mexican American-inspired wet burrito
Matthew Kang
The mighty surf and turf burrito at JV’s Mexican Food in San Diego.
The Surf and Turf Burrito at JV’s Mexican Food
How this enormously popular taco shop builds its massive, best-selling burrito
Patricia Chang
The steam tray counter at El Charrito.
Local Legends
Beloved neighborhood institutions whose burritos stand the test of time
Patricia Chang
An employee at El Charrito flattening tortilla dough.
How El Charrito in Salinas Became a Statewide Sensation for Burritos
El Charrito built up a cult following for its tortillas and burritos, drawing lines before 6 a.m.
Matthew Kang
Epifaniko “Epy” Garcia of EK Valley in Culver City.
There’s Nothing Quite Like the Smothered Mole Burrito at EK Valley
The Mexican American classic wet burrito finds a Oaxacan twist
Matthew Kang
The California burrito at Super Sergio’s.
San Diego Gem Super Sergio’s Makes a Textbook California Burrito
Why this drive-thru makes a straightforward but killer version of the classic San Diego burrito
Matthew Kang
The walk-up counter at Lupe’s Burritos is a favorite of Los Angelenos.
Highly Opinionated
The best burritos in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego, as determined by highly biased Eater editors
Patricia Chang
The Super Shrimp burrito at Chuy’s Fiestas with chunky pico de gallo, rice and black beans.
Editors’ Favorite Burritos in San Francisco
Matthew Kang
Lolita’s is lauded for the extra crispy, golden fries that make up the backbone of this exemplary California burrito.
An Editor’s Favorite Burritos in San Diego
Matthew Kang
Mar y tierra burrito from Sonoritas Prime.
An Editor’s Favorite Burritos in Los Angeles
Wonho Frank Lee
Fanny’s in Redondo Beach makes griddles breakfast burritos stuffed with hash browns, eggs, avocados and a variety of breakfast meats.
Handy Maps
Maps to the finest burritos in California
Wonho Frank Lee
The shawarma wrap from Fatima’s Grill.
Even in Taco-Loving LA, These Burritos Reign Supreme
From carne asada to grilled shrimp, where to get the good stuff
Patricia Chang
A burrito from Señor Sisig.
San Francisco’s Most Super-Sized Burritos
From Mission-style staples to vegetable-forward favorites
Matthew Kang
Super Sergio’s California burrito.
San Diego’s Best French Fry-Packed California Burritos
Where to find this San Diego classic
Patricia Chang
Super Sergio’s serves a textbook example of San Diego’s iconic California burrito.
Credits
Editorial Lead: Matthew Kang
Creative Director: Nat Belkov
Project Manager: Jonathan Smith
Designer: Lille Allen
Contributors: Paolo Bicchieri, Farley Elliott, Bill Esparza, Dianne de Guzman, Mona Holmes, Matthew Kang, Omar Mamoon, Lauren Saria, Candice Woo
Editors: Cathy Chaplin, Matthew Kang, Lauren Saria, Jonathan Smith, Candice Woo
Photographers: Patricia Chang, Matthew Kang, Wonho Frank Lee, Kimberly Motos
Copy Editors: Nadia Q. Ahmad, Rachel P. Kreiter, Catherine Sweet
Audience: Kaitlin Bray, Avery Dalal, Frances Dumlao, Kristen Kornbluth, Mira Milla
