Burrito is a dish consisting of a wheat flour tortilla that is wrapped in such a way that it is possible to fully enclose the flavorful filling on the interior. The filling consists of a combination of various ingredients such as meat, beans, rice, lettuce, guacamole, and cheese, among others.
Its name means little donkey in Spanish, and a popular theory suggests that it stems from the way the bedrolls and packs appeared on the donkeys that carried them. Some claim that the dish originated in the 19th century by either the vaqueros in Northern Mexico, farmers in California, or the miners from Sonora.
VARIATIONS OF Burrito
MOST ICONIC Burrito
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MAIN INGREDIENTS
Carne asada burrito is a type of burrito that originates from San Diego. The dish consists of a large flour tortilla topped with carne asada meat, pico de gallo, and guacamole. The carne asada parts is made with a combination of beef (skirt or flank steak), lemon juice, lime juice, salt, pepper, and onions.
The pico de gallo consists of tomatoes, onions, jalapenos, cilantro, lemon juice, lime juice, garlic powder, oregano, chili powder, and cumin, while the guacamole is made with avocados, pico de gallo, lemon juice, lime juice, and a dash of hot sauce.
MOST ICONIC Carne Asada Burrito
View moreThe first Mission burrito was made either at El Faro taqueria in San Francisco's Mission District on September 26, 1961 or at La Cumbre taqueria on September 29, 1969. The burrito is quite large and consists of a big, press-steamed tortilla that is usually filled with baked beans, rice, sour cream, guacamole, salsa, shredded lettuce, and jalapeños.
It should always be served wrapped in tin foil, ensuring that the tortilla doesn't break due to its size. There is also a popular practice of adding some salsa to the burrito in between bites to make it even juicier.
MOST ICONIC Mission Burrito
View moreChimichanga is a wrapped, deep-fried flour tortilla filled with a variety of ingredients such as shredded chicken, beef, rice, beans, onions, and cheese. Although the dish is especially popular in the Mexican regions of Sinaloa and Sonora, most people believe that chimichanga was either invented in a Tucson restaurant or in a Phoenix restaurant in the early 1920s.
Regardless of its origins, chimichanga is a widely known favorite throughout Mexico and the United States up to this day, with numerous regional variations. It is recommended to serve chimichangas with salsas, sour cream dips, or guacamole.
MOST ICONIC Chimichanga
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French dip is a Californian sandwich that, despite its name, doesn't have much to do with France, except for the fact that it is served au jus, a French expression meaning with juice/broth. The sandwich consists of thinly sliced roast beef (alternatively, roast pork, leg of lamb, turkey, or ham), black pepper, mustard, and horseradish on a long white French roll (or a baguette) that has been dipped into pan juices or gravy.
Sometimes, Swiss, American, Monterey Jack, or blue cheese is added to further enhance its flavors. The usual accompaniments include coleslaw, potato, and macaroni salad, hard-boiled eggs, sweet or sour pickles, black olives, and yellow chile peppers.
MOST ICONIC French Dip Sandwich
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Green chile cheeseburger is New Mexico’s variation of the classic burger, made with green New Mexico chile-topped beef patty inside a burger bun. A slice of melted American cheese on top of the patty is mandatory. The dish has been popular at least since the 1950s, and nowadays it is practically a symbol of New Mexico.
This cheeseburger typically also contains other toppings such as onions and lettuce.
MOST ICONIC Green Chile Cheeseburger
View moreAvocado toast is a dish consisting of a piece of toasted bread topped with a combination of mashed avocados, salt, pepper, and (sometimes) citrus juice. There are many varieties of this dish, so it can be enriched with ingredients such as salmon, tomatoes, onions, eggs, garlic, cheese, olive oil, or red pepper flakes.
Although the dish is quite simple and straightforward, the location of its origin is not – some claim that it is an Australian invention, while others proclaim that Los Angeles is the place where it was born. Regardless of its origin, avocado toast started its modern-day revival on Instagram, and it has been trending across the globe ever since.
MOST ICONIC Avocado Toast
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Monte Cristo is an American sandwich consisting of two sliced of white bread filled with a slice of cheese, and ham, turkey, or chicken meat. The combination is dipped in beaten eggs and fried in butter, resulting in a delicious, calorie-packed concoction that is crispy on the exterior while tender and custardy on the interior.
It is believed that the first Monte Cristo was served in the 1950s in southern California, but some people claim that the sandwich is just a variation on the classic French Croque Monsieur.
MOST ICONIC Monte Cristo Sandwich
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The United States of America is famous for many creative recipes consisting of a succulent meat patty placed inside of a bun, and elk burger is Montana’s spin on the nation’s beloved dish. The state of Montana is widely known for its game meat, especially elk, and juicy elk burgers made with tender, dark-red meat are among the most popular local dishes.
They are leaner and higher in protein than those made with beef, yet equally tender and delicious. Elk’s delicate, slightly sweet flavor pairs nicely with pretty much any classic burger topping, but it is important not to overcook it - due to its low-fat content, elk meat dries easily, so medium rare is the best way to go.
MOST ICONIC Elk Burger
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California burrito is the specialty of San Diego, which is also the place where it was invented. It was originally made as a way to feed the city's hungry surfers, because there is a dominant beach culture in San Diego. The burrito usually consists of a flour tortilla stuffed with carne asada, large amounts of cheese, french fries, sour cream, and guacamole.
It is believed that the potatoes and avocados were added to the burrito in order to mask or neutralize the intense Mexican spices. Interestingly, the earliest mention of California burrito was found in an article from the Albuquerque Tribune, published in 1995.
MOST ICONIC California Burrito
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TasteAtlas food rankings are based on the ratings of the TasteAtlas audience, with a series of mechanisms that recognize real users and that ignore bot, nationalist or local patriotic ratings, and give additional value to the ratings of users that the system recognizes as knowledgeable. For the “Top 17 Western American Sandwiches and Wraps” list until February 13, 2025, 3,591 ratings were recorded, of which 3,083 were recognized by the system as legitimate. TasteAtlas Rankings should not be seen as the final global conclusion about food. Their purpose is to promote excellent local foods, instill pride in traditional dishes, and arouse curiosity about dishes you haven’t tried.