Yep…you’re thinking of La Bamba. Those aren’t lunch burritos. Those are drunk-off-your-arse burritos. Chipotle’s a lunch burrito but not d-f-y-a burritos. 
How about burrito’s north of the 49th?
There’s a place here in Toronto, Burrito Boys. Awesome. They carve the meat themselves, which allows them to afford better cuts of meat.
Seriously good stuff.
Freebird’s World Burrito. The original is in southern California somewhere. The rest are in College Station, Houston, Austin, and Dallas TX. Nothing else even comes close.
Anna’s Taqueria, Brookline, MA
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wonder what McDonalds (or was it Burger King that owns them … anyway its one of them – not kidding in case you didn’t know) put into the Chipotle burritos that everyone thinks that their fast food, white rice and slapped together in seconds burritos are better than a quality burrito from a local place ???
Maybe it’s similar to the beef flavoring they used to put on their fries …
BLEEECH!!!
For you Chicago folks or visitors, you gotta go to Burrito Express on Halsted (nextdoor to Kington Mines THE best blues club around) about a block north of DePaul. Get the steak burrito with the red sauce. Oh man! Actually everything is good. The Burritos are stupid though. Great sober (don’t drink) so I imagine they are crazy when drunk. It’s usually packed after the club. I expected bomb burritos when I moved to Cali and have found no contenders. If anyone has suggestions send them up.
BTW did you chipotle lovers catch the buy one get one free burrito last week? http://www.chipotle.com/email/05-090/soulstice.htm
Let it play all the way though & click the dances to make Joe act a fool.
Thank you. Gordo’s is the best burrito in the World! (there are actually 3 in the city). His brother owns a shop called Puentez in San Rafael (Montecito shopping center) that is just as good but a bit smaller and more expensive as is typical for Marin.
Honorable mention go to: San Jose Taqueria in San Rafael and Santa Rosa Taqueria.
As chains go its High-Tech, then Baja Fresh, then Chipotle IMO. Burritos!
wonder what McDonalds (or was it Burger King that owns them … anyway its one of them – not kidding in case you didn’t know) put into the Chipotle burritos that everyone thinks that their fast food, white rice and slapped together in seconds burritos are better than a quality burrito from a local place ???
Maybe it’s similar to the beef flavoring they used to put on their fries …
BLEEECH!!!
Why do I have the feeling you haven’t the slightest clue as to what you’re talking about? Have you ever been to Chipotle? You think local places are fundamentally that different?
As chains go its High-Tech, then Baja Fresh, then Chipotle IMO. Burritos!
Is High-Tech a Bay Area chain? I haven’t heard of it… might have to check it out next time I’m in town.
Las Montanas Taqueria in Pacheco, CA. Super burrito is mammoth and they have 5 salsas to choose from at the salsa bar. Priced right and in my opinion, way better than Pancho’s a block away.
I once had a “burrito” in South Dakota and almost died laughing. Their idea of filling is ground beef with some Lawry’s taco seasoning in it. Growing up in the Los Angeles are spoined me big time for autentico Burritos.
Gilbert’s, at Pico and 25th, in Santa Monica get’s my second place vote.
Cheers, Karma
chipotle is a chain? all this time I thought you guys were talking about the peppers?
On the topic of local places vs. chains, the main difference is the in chains the food generally arrives pre-cooked in a big bag and the assembly workers just need to re-heat it and put it together whereas a local place might actually make their stuff on the premises the same day you eat it.
My vote for mexican food is for Carta de Oaxaca in Ballard, Wa. You can sit at the counter and watch the ladies make the tortillas you just ordered.
You guys all suck! I can find a 1/2way decent burrito in Vancouver, but nothing that even approaches Chipotles - let along “the best burrito ever”.
Bastards!
Chains like High Tec or Una Mas are OK. Baja Fresh / La Salsa? or Chipotle? Not so much.
That being said, for non-Californians who go to a Chipotle for the first time, they will be amazed at how good the food is. Growing up here, I am a bit more spoiled. I can drive 4 minutes and get a better burrito than most people in the country can - and there are probably 30 taquerias in a 15 mile radius where I can get a better burrito than any joint in Illinois, Michigan, Florida or - god knows - Virginia.
This is only one of the many reasons we pay $400/foot for houses out here.
Dude, you are bordering on heresy. You sport the title “Gator” and yet eschew the greatest burrito establishment that side of the Rio Grande, located in none other than the land of the Florida Gators (University of Florida)??? What are you thinking brotha? Burrito Bros. Rules! Hole in the wall, ground beef and guacamole served out of trash cans. Long lines. Tiny. And tasty. People come for miles. Alumni dream of Burrito Bros. We make pilgrimages just to pay homage to the trash can burritos. The training food of choice for the cycling and tri teams is BB. No one will ride behind them.
Filibertos, Albertos, Robertos, Alberticos, Juanbertos… Am I missing any?
Just get a carne asada. Filibertos in Encinitas is my favorite though. Open 24/7, 365. Have’t closed in years. I had a couple of Christmas and Thanksgiving dinners there!
Mike
On the topic of local places vs. chains, the main difference is the in chains the food generally arrives pre-cooked in a big bag and the assembly workers just need to re-heat it and put it together whereas a local place might actually make their stuff on the premises the same day you eat it.
At Chipotle the meats are cooked in plain view constantly. It’s far and away the best chain burrito place I’ve been to, and beats many of the Mom and Pop places too (at least the ones in Chicago…)
I eat at chains occasionally over local places b/c they are (generally speaking) less greasy. That is why I like Gordo’s so much. I can handle a Gordo’s burrito for lunch and go on with my day. Most of the “authentic” places around here are loaded with lard and grease. They taste incredible but they sit like a rock.
Definitely check out High-tech next time you are around, pretty healthy and definitely fresh.
Then there’s always Sombrero’s, Los Primos, Los Pinos, and Marietas (sp) who has kick ass Carne Asada.
Chipotle makes me laugh. Although I do crave it in the same way I occasionally crave Taco Bell or a Quarter Pounder with Cheese. It is good, but it’s just a chain burrito.
Steamrollers: http://www.steamrollers.com/index.html. A few locations in Van now, one close to Yaletown for those folks watching the crits on Canada Day
Dammmmnnnn fine stuff. Love the #5 on non-training days, or the big-ass #14 (“The Big Wet”) after big volume days.
I’m with Holden – since my wife and I left Texas, we have never had a burrito as good as Freebirds!
mark