If you are a food lover—or specifically, a Mexican food lover—you must be familiar with burritos. Burritos are a staple menu item in many Mexican-American restaurants as they are versatile, portable, and oh-so-tasty! They make for a nourishing and wholesome breakfast, lunch, and dinner and are loved by children and adults alike.
Are you curious to learn more about burritos? Here we’ve covered interesting facts that you may not know about this popular Mexican dish. So, here we go!
1. “Burrito” Means “Little Donkey”
The reason why “burrito” has this meaning of “little donkey” is unknown. However, the most widespread theory behind it is that it was served out of the back of the donkey cart. There are several other theories for why burrito means a “little donkey.” According to a popular theory, a burrito resembles a donkey’s ear. Another theory suggests that burritos look like the bedrolls which donkeys used to carry around.
2. Burrito Originated in Northern Mexico
Burritos originated in Northern Mexico as wheat was exclusively grown there then. As farther you go in Mexico, more toward Southern areas, the fewer traces you will find of this epic Mexican dish.
The mention of burritos was first recorded in The Dictionary of Mexicanisms, also known as the Diccionario de Mexicanismos, in 1895. The glossary describes a burrito as “a rolled tortilla with meat or other ingredients.
3. Some Suggest Burritos are a War Food
It is widely believed that in the early 1900s, during the Mexican Revolution, Americans were introduced to burritos as a “war food.” In order to keep the food warm, it was wrapped into a cylindrical-shaped flour tortilla instead of a corn tortilla.
FYI, a flour tortilla is longer and wider in shape and higher in fiber, vitamins, and minerals than a corn tortilla.
4. The U.S Menu First Introduced Burritos in the 1930s
The first U.S. restaurant that featured burritos was the El Cholo Spanish Café in Los Angeles. California is still known for its mouth-watering burritos, especially the Mission burrito. It happens to be the most popular type of burrito in the United States.
5. The Term Burrito First Appeared in the English Dictionary in the 1950s
Once burritos made their way to the U.S. menus, they soon appeared in the Oxford English Dictionary in 1958.
6. Chipotle is the Best Place to Fulfill Your Burrito Cravings
Several Mexican restaurants serve delicious burritos, but what makes Chipotle the best of all is its incredible burrito deals. For example, you can get a discount on a burrito on Halloween if you visit the eatery all dressed up.
According to Business Insiders, a burrito bowl with a tortilla on the side serves you a massive amount of food, smashing your hunger pangs straight away.
7. Burritos Aren’t a Traditional Dish in Southern Mexico
Unlike Northern Mexico, Southern Mexico doesn’t consider the burrito as their traditional food. Why is that so, you wonder? It is because this part of Mexico doesn’t grow wheat.
Wheat is cultivated only in Northern Mexico, which is why burritos are far more famous there. However, in Southern Mexico, you will probably find burritos in some American-Mexican restaurants.
8. They Are Also Referred to as “Tacos de Harina”
A burrito in Central and Southern Mexico is commonly known as “tacos de harina”. The traditional ingredients for “tacos de harina” are flour tortillas, meat, and beans.
9. Breakfast Burritos Started to Catch on in the 1970s
History shows that the breakfast burrito originated in a Mexican café – Tia Sophia’s, in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The burrito was invented in 1975 by filling a rolled tortilla with bacon, potatoes, chile, and cheese. The breakfast burrito became famous to the extent that it made its way into mainstream food chains such as McDonald’s, Hardees, and Sonic by the 1990s.
10. A Deep-Fried Burrito is Called “Chimichanga”
If you deep-fry a burrito, it becomes a Mexican dish known as chimichanga. Unfortunately, chimichangas are not so popular in Mexico. However, they are sold in some touristy places. Like burritos, chimichangas can include any type of filling. You can go with meat and cheese filling or chicken with beans and veggies.
You can also use leftover meat or chicken to prepare chimichanga, but make sure that the chicken or meat you use is finely chopped. Mix it with cheese, sour cream, avocados, or any other flavorful ingredient you like. Spread it on a tortilla, roll it, secure it with a toothpick, and fry it!
11. Mission Burritos Are Super Burritos
Why is that so? Because mission burritos are enormous in size and weigh up to nearly 1 kg. Due to their size and weight, mission burritos are considered the largest type of burrito. However, the making of a super burrito is quite simple. It is made from a soft tortilla with fresh ingredients such as meat, rice, veggies, chicken, beans, cheese, sour cream, salsa, etc.
12. California Burrito Has French Fries in It
The California burrito is prepared with chicken or beef marinated with Mexican spices. The addition of crunchy French fries takes the Mexican dish to a whole new level.
Roberto’s Taco Shop is regarded as the primary mind behind adding French fries in the 1980s. Rumor has it that a local surfer suggested the idea of adding French fries into a burrito to make the dish heartier.
13. Smothered Burrito Is Also Known as the “Burrito Suizo”
In many Mexican restaurants, the Burrito Suizo is referred to as a smothered or wet burrito. Suizo can be roughly translated simply as “Swiss.”
The lavish burrito was invented in California in the 19070s. It is best prepared with traditional ingredients – meat, rice, tomatoes, lettuce, cheese, and sour cream. The dish is smothered in green and red chili sauce and melted cheese. This type of burrito is also called a wet burrito.
14. Kogi Burrito Is the Latest Type of Burrito
The Koig burrito is an Asian-flavored burrito as it is packed with Korean flavors such as kimchi (a type of fish). This is considered to be a modern variety as it was invented in 2008 by Los Angeles-based Chef Roy Choi. He was the man behind Chef Roy’s truck in the USA. It is believed that Chef Roy served up 400 lbs of Kogi burritos daily.
15. Burritos Are Not Made the Same Everywhere
Burritos made in Mexico largely differ from the ones prepared in the United States. Mexican burritos are plain and simple. The tortillas are thin and small, packed with a lighter filling. Usually, the burrito wrap consists of one or two primary ingredients.
On the other hand, American burritos are bigger and contain a wide variety of ingredients such as meat, chicken, beans, and veggies (tomatoes, jalapenos, etc.).
16. Duane Roberts Invented a Frozen Burrito
Duane R. Roberts – a philanthropist and an entrepreneur in California – created frozen burritos in 1956. He prepared a beef and bean burrito with red chili powder and put it in a blast freezer. In this way, burritos remained in their top condition during travels.
He took them to various restaurants that liked the concept of a frozen burrito. That’s how frozen burritos gained nationwide popularity.
17. 1st Thursday of April Is Celebrated as National Burrito Day
National Burrito Day is observed on the first Thursday of April every year. This is the day to make the most of burritos, as most restaurants offer amazing deals and discounts on burritos.
For example, this year, Taco John’s offered two beef burritos for $4 only! On the other hand, Chipotle celebrated the special day by offering free burritos delivery.
18. Burrito Bowl Is Often Mistaken for a Burrito
Burrito Bowls are often considered the same as a burrito. However, they both are two different Mexican dishes. The essential ingredient of a burrito is a wheat tortilla which is missing in a burrito bowl. Due to the lack of tortillas, a Burrito bowl (despite its name) is not a burrito.
This burrito-like dish is made similarly to a burrito. Burrito filling is placed in a bowl, with a layer of rice and beans on top and bottom.
19. Sushi Burrito Is a Rising Food Trend
The sushi burrito is a delightful fusion of Japanese cuisine – sushi and Mexican cuisine – burrito. The coming together of these poles-apart dishes offers unique flavors that are hard not to fall in love with.
Prepared from a wide variety of ingredients – sushi rice, chili sauce, veggies, smoked salmon, baked tofu, etc., sushi burrito is the healthiest burrito choice out there. This burrito is a rising food star due to its distinctive taste and health benefits.
20. Visit Sushirrito for the Best Sushi Burrito
Sushi burrito-based restaurants and shops have been increasing in numbers across the world-wide. Asia’s most treasured cuisine, the sushi burrito, can be enjoyed in several well-famed restaurants.
But we recommend you try this wholesome meal at Sushirrito – a popular food chain in San Francisco. The sushi burrito eatery offers huge rolls with a tasty blend of classic sushi and burrito flavors.
21. Burritos and Tacos Are Different
Burritos and tacos are often interchangeably used, but they differ from one another in many ways. Tacos are prepared from a soft corn tortilla, while burritos are made from a large flour one. This fact makes tacos a light snack. Since burritos are heavier and larger in size, they are usually served for lunch or dinner.
22. The Largest Burrito Weighed Over 2 Tons
This massive burrito was prepared by Canirac La Paz, in La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico, on 3rd November 2010. To be precise, the burrito weighed up to 5799.44 kg and was prepared from a single flour tortilla. It included fish, onion, chile, and refined beans.
Over 50 restaurants and 3000 volunteers participated in the making of the largest burrito in the world. A special machine, specially designed by Blas Avila, was used to make this impressive burrito.
23. The Quickest Time to Eat a Burrito is 44.20 Seconds
A UK-based competitive eater, Leah Shutkever, made an official Guinness world record of devouring an entire burrito in just 44.20 seconds. She achieved this feat on 1st May 2019 in Birmingham, UK.
The 29-year-old competitor is the fastest burrito eater and the fastest Terry’s chocolate orange devourer.
24. Justin Bieber Look-Alike Was Caught Eating Burrito in the Wrong Way
In 2018, a photo surfaced on Reddit that showed the Canadian singer’s lookalike eating a burrito from the middle instead of from one of the ends. The pink-hoodie-clad man was sitting on a park bench and was gorging down the burrito.
People mistook the guy for Justin Bieber, and the photo became viral on the internet. However, it was clarified later that the man wasn’t Justin Bieber but, in fact, his look-alike.
25. Burrito Is Nutritious and Fulfilling
Burritos are packed with excellent nutrients – protein, carbs, and minerals. The reason why it is so popular and satisfying is because of its large size and wholesome fillings.
So which one of these burrito facts surprised you the most? We bet many!
FAQs
How many calories are in McDonald’s breakfast burrito?
McDonald’s breakfast burritos have 296 calories each.
How many calories are in a Taco Bell bean burrito?
Taco Bell bean burritos have 386 calories each.
How many calories are in a Chipotle burrito?
The average Chipotle burrito has 900-1000 calories.
What is the difference between a burrito and a taco?
A burrito is typically a large, flour tortilla filled with various ingredients and completely wrapped, while a taco is smaller, usually made with a soft or hard corn tortilla, and folded around the fillings, not enclosed.
How can you make a burrito bowl at home?
To make a burrito bowl at home, layer cooked rice, beans, your choice of protein, and additional toppings like lettuce, cheese, and salsa in a bowl, similar to what you’d find inside a burrito but without the tortilla.
How do I reheat a Chipotle burrito?
To reheat a Chipotle burrito, first remove any cold fillings, then wrap it in aluminum foil and place it in a preheated oven at 350°F for about 10-15 minutes or until heated through.
What can I do with leftover burrito filling?
Leftover burrito filling can be used in various ways: as a topping for nachos, as a filling for quesadillas, in salads for added protein, or even as an omelet filling.
What is a suizo burrito?
A suizo burrito is a Mexican dish where the burrito is topped with a tomato-based sauce and melted cheese, often served in a hot skillet or baking dish.
What is the difference between a burrito and a chimichanga?
A burrito becomes a chimichanga when it’s deep-fried, resulting in a crispy exterior. Chimichangas are often garnished with cheese, sour cream, or guacamole on top.
What should I serve with burritos?
Accompaniments for burritos can include Spanish rice, refried beans, a fresh salad, or chips with guacamole and salsa to complement the flavors of the burrito.
What is a poke burrito?
A poke burrito, also known as a sushi burrito, combines ingredients commonly found in poke bowls or sushi, like raw fish, rice, and vegetables, wrapped in a nori sheet resembling a burrito.