The burrito, like Cesar salad, is an incredibly popular dish whose origins are sometimes disputed between the United States and Mexico.
These sort of giant-sized taco is tasty, convenient and, as the United States have shown to the world, an amazing way to have breakfast. But who invented it?
Let’s begin our journey with some basic definitions. A Burrito (“little donkey” in Spanish) may look like a taco, but there’s an important distinction to make: while a taco is made with a corn tortilla, a burrito is made with a flour tortilla. This fact is important, as it may provide hint about its origin.
It (likely) Started in Northern Mexico
In fact, flour tortilla is typical of northern Mexico, so much so that for some this is enough evidence to prove that the burrito was created there. And they may be right. Theories about the specific individual who created the burrito abound, although most of them have one fact in common: It would have happened in northern Mexico.
Although there’s a partial agreement about the origins of the burrito, some perplexing questions remain. Why, for example, while the flour tortilla is an indisputable product from northern Mexico, the filling of a burrito (rice and beans) is more closely associated with Caribbean cuisine? No one knows for sure.
As with many other culinary mysteries, the answer may lie in our continual quest for taste. At some point someone decided that rice and beans in a flour tortilla were great (they were right) and they went for it, without regard for future inquiring minds.
United States and Global Stardom
One of the most exciting chapters in burrito history is its adoption by the United States. Here, the burrito became a breakfast food, a twist unthinkable to many Mexicans. Burritos have appeared in series and movies and now they’re associated all around the world with deliciousness and a laid-back attitude.
At the end of the day, the burrito as we know it is the end result of a collaboration of sorts between Mexico and the United States. This dish may have been created in Mexico, but the finishing touches that hurled it into global stardom happened in America. That’s teamwork. Delicious, tasty teamwork.
At El Pollo Norteno we know everything about burritos. We prepare them with fresh tortillas, rice, beans, onions and cilantro. They’re delicious! In fact, in 2017 we won the OC Weekly Reader’s Choice as the best burrito.
Visit any of our four locations (in Anaheim, Santa Anna and Garden Grove) , contact us by email, or call 866-MI-POLLO today to enjoy our burritos and all the other delicious options we have available for you!