Two Local Burritos Make it to ‘Top 10’ in Nation

According to a new ranking by a food website, The Daily Meal , San Diego has seven of the top 50 burritos in America. Wow!

On top of that, two local OB and Point Loma burritos made it to their “Top 10”.

Here is what they say:

 #8 California Burrito, Ortiz’s Taco Shop, San Diego, California

“The traditional San Diego burrito contains French fries, and one of the finest places to experience this style for yourself is the family-owned Ortiz’s, located inside a Point Loma strip mall. Order your burrito “California-style,” and your flour tortilla will be filled with fries, cheese, sour cream, and your choice of meat. Protein options include carne asada, carnitas, chicken, beef, pastor, cabeza, buche (pork stomach), fish, and shrimp, but you really can’t go wrong.”

Local media added: “For the quintessential California burrito, Ortiz’s in Point Loma (number 8) is the best in the state – and the country for that matter – according to the listing. The family-style restaurant hides inside a strip mall just a couple of blocks from Point Loma High School.”

#5 Carne Asada, Nico’s Mexican Food, San Diego, California

The burritos at this critical darling are the perfect size — not too large or unwieldy but still big enough to not to leave you hungry — and there’s carne asada, French fries (this is San Diego, after all), cheese, guacamole, lettuce, and tomato rolled all together inside. The widely popular recipe is a local specialty, and Nico’s does theirs just right.

Added: Finally, taking the top San Diego spot (and number 5 on the list) is Nico’s Mexican Food’s carne asada burrito. The local favorite has been serving hungry surfers in Ocean Beach since 1982.

Congrats Nico’s – that’s awesome and amazing. I’ve been going to Nico’s since at least the early 80s.

What were the other San Diego “best” burritos?

• The carne asada burrito at Taco Surf in Pacific Beach came in at number 47.
• Coming in at number 34 on the list is another carne asada burrito – this time at La Perla Cocina Mexicana in Pacific Beach.
• The Surf & Turf burrito at Lucha Libre Taco Shop in Mission Hills lands at number 27 on the list.
• Lolita’s Tsunami Burrito in Chula Vista came in at number 24 on the list.
• El Zarape’s lobster burrito in University Heights makes it in at number 21, which comes with tomatoes, crema, cilantro and salsa verde.

What was the “best” burrito in the country? According to the list:

#1 Carnitas, La Taquería, San Francisco, California

La Taquería is a regular stop for food-lovers in San Francisco, a city already famous for its Mexican offerings. Either keep it simple and just stick with meat and beans — no rice filler in the burrito here — or upgrade it with all the classic burrito extras and watch your pants tighten with each bite. We suggest you go all the way and load yours up with their unique style of carnitas, which are somehow both crispy and moist, and nothing short of delicious. All the praise that this perpetually packed institution receives is well worth it: It really is that good, and — what do you know — it’s also home to some of America’s best tacos.