National Burrito Day Date in the current year: April 4, 2024

A burrito consists of a wheat tortilla stuffed with various ingredients, such as meat (chicken, beef or pork), rice, beans or refried beans, vegetables, cheese, and condiments (for example, salsa, guacamole, sour cream, or pico de gallo). Burritos are wrapped tight to keep the ingredients together inside the tortilla and are typically eaten by hand because of this.

The indigenous peoples of southern North America (present-day Mexico and the Southwestern United States) used corn tortillas to wrap various foods thousands of years ago. Common fillings included avocados, chili peppers, mushrooms, squash, and tomatoes. However, these tortilla wraps are generally considered the predecessors of tacos rather than burritos.

The precise origin of the modern burrito is unclear, but it dates back to the late 19th century. The word burrito is translated from Spanish as “little donkey”. There are several theories about the origin of the name, ranging from elaborate folk stories to a simple explanation that burritos are similar to bedrolls and bundles carried by donkeys.

Although burritos are generally associated with Mexican cuisine in general, they are mostly popular in northern Mexico, especially in the city of Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua. Authentic Mexican burritos usually consist of a small flour tortilla containing only one or two of popular fillings: meat or fish, rice, potato, cooked beans (whole or refried), some kind of cheese, chile relleno (stuffed chili peppers), and various condiments.

In addition to traditional burritos, there are several burrito variations. For example, a wet burrito is topped with a spicy sauce and shredded cheese. Unlike regular burritos, wet burritos are eaten with a fork and knife. A chimichanga is a deep-fried burrito that originated either in Mexico or in Arizona.

Outside Mexico, burritos are a staple of Southwestern US cuisine, especially Tex-Mex and New Mexican cuisine. An unusual burrito variety popular in the American Southwest deserves a special mention; we’re talking about the breakfast burrito. It is composed of breakfast foods wrapped in a flour tortilla. Breakfast burritos may include scrambled eggs, bacon, ham, chorizo or other type of sausage, potatoes, cheese, onions, peppers, sour cream, salsa, and other breakfast items and condiments.

In some American cities, local varieties of burrito have emerged. For example, the Mission-style burritos of San Francisco are larger than other burritos, contain more filling, and are wrapped in aluminum foil. San Diego-style burritos are smaller and more austere; they are usually stuffed with carne asada (grilled and sliced beef), french fries, guacamole, cheese, and sour cream. Los Angeles is known for its unique fusion burritos, such as Korean burritos filled with bulgogi (Korean grilled meat) and sushi burritos filled with tempura or spicy tuna.