Burrito Facts: Origins, Variations & Mexican Traditions

Burritos are flour tortilla wraps filled with beans, meat, rice, and other ingredients that have become a staple of Mexican and American cuisine. While burritos originated in Mexico, they transformed into something distinctly different in the United States, sparking debates about authenticity and creating regional variations that bear little resemblance to the original.

The Mystery Behind Why Burritos Are Called Little Donkeys

The word burrito means little donkey in Spanish, but nobody knows exactly why this wrap got that name. One theory suggests street vendors in northern Mexico carried food wrapped in flour tortillas on donkeys. Another claims the rolled shape resembles a donkey's ear or the bedrolls donkeys carried. The true origin remains a delicious mystery that Mexicans and food historians still debate.

How Mexican Burritos Differ from American Giants

Traditional Mexican burritos from northern states like Chihuahua are modest 6 to 8 inch wraps with simple fillings like beans, meat, and chile. American burritos grew into massive 10 to 14 inch cylinders stuffed with rice, beans, meat, cheese, sour cream, guacamole, and lettuce. Many Mexicans find American style burritos unrecognizable and overwhelming. The San Francisco Mission burrito exemplifies this American supersizing phenomenon.

The Mission Burrito That Changed Everything

The Mission District in San Francisco revolutionized burritos in the 1960s when taquerias started making enormous foil wrapped burritos stuffed with rice, beans, meat, salsa, cheese, and sour cream. These overstuffed creations became cultural icons. The Mission burrito introduced the concept of customization where customers choose every ingredient. This format inspired chains like Chipotle and became the blueprint for American burritos nationwide.

Why Breakfast Burritos Were a New Mexico Innovation

The breakfast burrito emerged in New Mexico during the 1970s, combining scrambled eggs, potatoes, bacon or sausage, cheese, and chile in a flour tortilla. New Mexicans adapted the traditional burrito format for morning meals. Multiple restaurants claim invention, but the concept definitely originated in New Mexico. Breakfast burritos now appear on menus nationwide as a portable morning meal.

The Wet Burrito That Needs a Fork

Wet burritos are smothered in chile sauce or enchilada sauce and topped with melted cheese, creating a dish that requires a fork and knife. This variation likely originated in Michigan among Mexican American communities adapting burritos to local tastes. The sauce prevents the burrito from being portable, transforming it into a sit down meal. Wet burritos remain popular in the Midwest but puzzle traditionalists.

How Burritos Became a Multi Billion Dollar Industry

Burritos evolved from humble street food into a massive American industry. Fast casual chains like Chipotle, Qdoba, and Moe's built entire business models around customizable burritos. The burrito bowl, which omits the tortilla, became popular for health conscious diners. Frozen burritos fill supermarket aisles. Despite debates about authenticity, burritos remain one of America's most beloved foods.