My Hunt for a California Burrito in the Bay Area.
ahh the california burrito: a mess of carne asada, cheese, guac, and...french fries. yes, i said french fries. having been born and raised in the bay area, french fries in my burrito just seems flat out wrong and i really have no desire to try one of these SoCal creations. so why am i on the hunt for one, you ask? my new love interest is from southern california and recently moved to s.f. he misses many things from southern california: his parents, his dog, but mainly his california burrito. he talks about this damn burrito every time i see him. i'd love more than anything to find a place that makes these up here so i can gift him with one for his birthday (romantic-right?) which is in february. the clock is ticking and i need help. thanks!
radikalbandit
Jan 09, 2008 01:49PM
Take him to Giordano Brothers, add guac. He won't miss the tortilla.
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I think your best bet is to grab some good fries and take them to your favorite burrito joint and ask them to add them to the burrito. The places that I know that have fries do not have good burritos. Best of luck!
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I never found California Burritos in the bay area. But really, there is not much difference between the mission style burritos and the California Burrito you find in San Diego except the french fries. Maybe I am forgetting something about the California Burrito, but I just remember it being a big carne asada burrito with french fries in it.
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that is a good idea and a funny one. I would go to either Taqueria Guadalajara on 24th at shotwell...for very good a super pastor burrito and they get points for having a hot salsa good.
Or Taqueria San Francisco for their carnitas or pastor at
24th at York
Stop at the McDonalds first on Mission and 24th pick up some fries..
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Catering/Taco Trucks will often make a the burito you are looking for.
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Yeah, there are some (usually the ones that are all-around catering trucks, rather than specifically taco trucks) that have fries, and I'm sure they'll be happy to throw them in a burrito for you. Oh, wait -- I know a place that has good Mexican food and good fries: Araujo's in Alameda, which recently started serving dinner again. I bet they'd put one together for you (the owner, Arturo, is very nice). Plus, they have the best refried beans I've ever eaten (the fact that I eat them at all says something, because I usually don't bother).
1635 Park St., Alameda, CA
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My suggestion is just crass and utilitarian, but they have fries *and* burritos at Del Taco...and I bet you could "handshake" the cashier a little cash to make sure they came together just right...
Other than that, you probably have to pave your own way at a place like Chili's (or any place that has both fries and mex). Not the real thing, but then again, this is not the real SoCal. It could be extra-romantic if you called ahead and arranged it with the staff! I'm sure many a NorCal line cook has unwittingly made himself a California burrito for his quick break meal.
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I heard of a place in Fremont/Milpitas(?) before that did the Carne Asada fries (think nachos, but w/ fries). I'm sure they could easily put fries into the burritos.
Can't think of the name right now. If anyone else has heard of it, please chime in.
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You may be thinking of the Las Vegas Taqueria. I have had carne asada fries there. (And enjoyed them, but I'm not sure my cholesterol level could take a repeat.)
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Thanks.. where is LV Taqueria located? Did you enjoy the food there?
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I did enjoy the food, yes (answering belatedly, sorry). The one I went to is on Milpitas Boulevard -- I've heard that they have another branch in Fremont.
1417 N Milpitas Blvd Milpitas CA
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my bf is also from SD and i asked the same question a few weeks ago, the response i got was the the burritos in SF are nothing close to what you can get in SD, being so close to the boarder. good luck and let me know which one he likes, and id love to take my bf when we visit next weekend!
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I think it is the guac and hot sauce combo they do so right.
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I am not a big fan of the big burrito here. But when I have a craving for the So Calif. El Castillo on Church near Market makes a good Carnitas, Carne Asada ok, you must order with pinto beans and no rice..ask for the verde salsa.. I also ask for the super hot sauce when I do so in Spanish they know that I mean it. You can add the guac as well. It serves the purpose but I guess there is no place like home. Sorry about the dog, I could not imagine. You are very sweet.
Also, this might be fun and helpful for your quest-http://www.burritoeater.com/
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But do they ask "Would you like fries with that?"
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no fries but close to the burritos in SD and I would say some parts of Orange County like Laguna Beach.
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San Francisco is where the burrito gained its popularity. The best burritos are in the mission district S.F. with or without french fries.
check this out
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Californ...
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Sound kind of Peruvian to me -- a Lomo Saltado Burrito, anyone?
I bet Eat Nopal has a secret source for California Burritos, though.....
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There was a recent thread on yelp about a place that serves carne asada fries called Los Olivo's on Larkin between Post and Sutter. I've never been there but you could always check it out or read the thread to see what people said.
http://www.yelp.com/topic/san-francis...
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If you don't mind going a little out of the way, how about Adalberto's in Fairfield?
Unlike all these other places, which might make one item that might be kind of like what you get in SD, this one is a real SD-style taco joint: California burritos, rolled tacos and guac, carne asada fries, the whole thing.
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That reminds me, they also have an Adalberto's in Stockton. They have the California burritos there as well.
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Menu says potatoes. California Burrito, can it be only with fries or may another another type of potato be used?
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While some shops may make it with potato, it's not conventional would be known as the "oregon" or "arizona" burrito (arizona also includes a reddish sauce with the potatos)
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Hey you forgot the shredded lettuce, orange cheese and sour cream. Any way, I've had a unloaded California burrito...my guess it was developed on request as stoner/surfer food. That's the only explanation I can think of.
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or just a hungry surfer, surfing makes you very hungry..I use to down two California burritos at Roberto's in Del Mar after being out in the water all morning.
Awe Roberto's I miss you.
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'Berto's! I haven't heard a reference to Roberto's in *years*! I had a slight preference to Alberto's but only because it was closer to my high school. Ah, fond memories of the orange hot sauce that could take the tarnish off a penny.
And now, I'm totally craving a carne asada burrito, 'Berto's style.
Thanks for the flash back!
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Perhaps you could just ask for carne asada fries and ask they wrap it in a tortilla ala
Jack Nicholson in Five Easy Pieces.
[Bobby wants plain toast, which isn't on the menu]
Bobby: I'd like an omelet, plain, and a chicken salad sandwich on wheat toast, no mayonnaise, no butter, no lettuce. And a cup of coffee.
Waitress: A #2, chicken salad sand. Hold the butter, the lettuce, the mayonnaise, and a cup of coffee. Anything else?
Bobby: Yeah, now all you have to do is hold the chicken, bring me the toast, give me a check for the chicken salad sandwich, and you haven't broken any rules.
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go to haight street. There you can either visit El Bolazo in the upper haight or Zona Rosa, also in the upper haight. Both establishments whip up great burritos with grilled streak or carne asado and all the fixings. no need to go to Fairfield.
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Sorry schemsy but I don't see fries, a prerequisite to the California Burrito, on their menus.
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i'm dying to find a california burrito around here. please let me know if you do. the best one i have found is from oscar's in sacramento. it is right off of freeport blvd., and it does do justice to the ones i have had from southern california. hit that up the next time you are on your way to tahoe.....just don't go when school's getting out, as it is right across the street from a high school.
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I'm both slightly intrigued and disgusted by this caloric cousin to the 'mission' burrito. I have nothing against potatoes in burritos (or even tacos) but adding 'guacamole' seems a bit much.
BTW will you Sandy Eggans PLEASE come up with a less presumptuous name than 'California' burrito? Gawd help us if these creations become popular in LA county.
Wait, isn't the 'spuderito' from Ricks in Pasadena something similar :-( ? http://myculinaryadventures.blogspot....
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Wow, I haven't had a CA Burrito in a while! My fiance is from LA and he loves CA burritos. I ran across this thread and decided to do a search of my own. El Supper Burrito in Millbrae (see their website http://www.elsuperburrito.com/) serves CA Burritos. I haven't been there, so I can't say whether it's good or not. I plan to go this weekend and will come back with a report.
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cal4ever-
i'm so stoked on your suggestion! this place actually has "california burrito" on the menu-fries and all! let me know if you approve and i will head out to millbrae to check it out! thank you to everyone who offered their own advice, as well!
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I haven't had the CA burrito but their other burritos are fantastic! I have seen the sign for the CA burrito advertised on the counter.
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Sorry for not responding sooner. We recently brought a puppy home and she's taken all of my free time!
We had the "california burrito" and I liked it! But, it was certainly not as good as the ones I've had in Southern California. I think it had something to do with the fries. The fries at El Super Burrito are sliced thicker than what I'm use to and are a tad bit soggy. I should have also asked for the tortilla to be placed on the griddle, not the steam press machine. I think that would have made a difference. Don't get me wrong, I would certainly go back.
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I've had the California burrito here many times and it's always very good. It's exactly as the menu says: carne asade, cheese, sour cream, a few slices of avocado, and curly french fries! None of the rice and beans business either.
About half the time I get it as a wet burrito since I figured the additional calories was just a rounding error. Well worth the collateral damage on the diet.
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I just saw this on the menu at Casa Lopez, a new Mexican place in Sunnyvale. Based on other posts here I guess this would qualify as a San Diego-style Mexican. I doubt I will be trying this particular dish any time soon, but the fish burrito was pretty good.
Michael
126 E Fremont Ave Sunnyvale CA
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