The popular notion is that the burrito is as staple in Mexico as burgers and hot dogs are in the United States. And if you’ve never been to Mexico, you’d imagine that if you head there and were sitting in a typical Mexican restaurant, you’d have in front of you a large plate of tortilla wrapped around Mexican-style rice, meat, guacamole, beans, salsa, cheese and sour cream. But if and when you actually get there and get yourself worked up for what you know is the real burrito that was originally concocted in this culinary wonderland of Mexico, you’ll most likely get a plate of disappointment and would want to head back to where you first got your taste of that apparently not-so-Mexican burrito. That’s because the real Mexican burrito is thin, has only two ingredients wrapped in tortilla, and isn’t as packed and as sloppy as its Americanized counterpart. Yes, America did that to the real Mexican burrito, and aren’t you thankful.
Legend has it that the first burrito was sold in a street stand, but it wasn’t known as that then. They were sold as tacos that were wrapped in homemade flour tortilla so that they were sold warm. Burrito literally means “little donkeys,” and the name is disputably derived from its vague resemblance with the animal’s ears.
Burritos are not a staple and are not commonly served outside northern Mexico. But the Americanized burrito is definitely popular in Mexican diners and restaurants in California. What is now called the San Francisco-style burrito is that stuffed and sloppy counterpart that was earlier described. Another sort that’s also been concocted is the wet burrito, a burrito smothered in enchilada sauce and cheese. Then there’s the breakfast burrito which has wrapped in tortilla a typical American breakfast. San Diego has the California burrito which is popularly known to be stuffed with shoestring fries in addition to the ingredients of the San Francisco burrito. From Arizona comes the chimichanga, which is basically a San Francisco burrito that’s deep-fried. These are the popular burrito variants you’ll find in restaurants and even fast-food joints outside Mexico that offer food from the Mexican and Tex-Mex cuisines.
So, if and when you do plan to head to Mexico, find something else to crave for and ask around to make sure the real deal is exactly what you thought it to be, or even better.
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