San Francisco Burrito (San Diego, San Jose, Oakland: moving, bars, places)

[Gentoo]

Originally Posted by tstieber

Yeah, generally true. I have yet to find good Chinese places in SD. Any recommendations? I'm here for three months. And my favorite Mexican food is actually Miguel's in San Diego (several locations, but not a taco stand but a sit-down place), which makes some killer crispy tacos. I actually prefer tacos and enchiladas to burritos anyway...

We do have some decent places for Chinese in Chula Vista. It's kind of hit and miss though. We have quite a few Chinese buffets but my favorite is Ocean City buffet on Broadway and I think Naples. It doesn't look all that impressive but the food is really good for a buffet. What I like most about it, it's not greasy. Lots of flavor too.

There's another place on third ave. in CV but I cannot for the life of me remember the name now. They actually have dried fried ribs which are next to impossible to find in SD.

[Fontucky]

I just checked my Yelp review: it's Los Jilbertos.

[CAVA1990]

Originally Posted by Gentoo

If the fries are in a Burrito, then it's called a California Burrito. Carne Asada fries are just fries covered in Carne Asada and cheese

Interesting, been gone 20 years and you guys come up with new kinds of food. I suppose another variation has a fried egg on top?

[Gentoo]

Originally Posted by CAVA1990

Interesting, been gone 20 years and you guys come up with new kinds of food. I suppose another variation has a fried egg on top?

I wouldn't doubt it. Where are you now?

[Fontucky]

HINT: CA to VA.

[CAVA1990]

Originally Posted by Fontucky

HINT: CA to VA.

Next door to George and Martha Washington. You've heard of New Mexican cuisine? I'm in the land of No Mexican cuisine.

[TVC15]

Originally Posted by mini_cute

Hi guys,

I am trying to find a good place to get Mexican carne asada burritos like the ones they have in Los Angeles. I am not referring to Mission Burritos per se- I am looking for ones that are just like the ones in LA- namely Albertos. Hopefully someone on here knows what the ones in LA are like and knows of a place in SF I can get ones just like that or very similar. Here is a link to what I am talking about: Alberto's Authentic Mexican Food - South El Monte, CA

I prefer clean places too- not too dirty hole in the walls. Thanks!

I don't know what kind of burritos they make at Don Pico's but it is a good Mexican restaurant that I discovered in my search for Mexican food when I first moved to the Bay Area. It is in San Bruno on El Camino on the street behind the Avenue. I have always enjoyed a good meal there!

Welcome to Don Pico's Mexican Restaurant - San Bruno, CA

[rah]

Originally Posted by tstieber

Thanks for the tips, Rah! But it is funny that there are Alberto's and Adalberto's locations in the Bay Area anyway, so why would people complain about not finding the same food? Yeah, maybe it's a hike to San Jose or Fairfield, but surely people pass those places on occasion.

I do wonder one thing: If Mission style burritos, as I've read in Sunset Magazine as well, are the ones with rice, beans, cheese, and all the fixins, while the SoCal ones are simpler and without rice or sour cream for example, then why don't people just "hold the rice and sour cream" when ordering and make it a SoCal style burrito?

Yeah, your typical SF/mission burrito is huge, and is filled with rice, beans, meat, and salsa, with other optional stuff like cheese, hot sauce, cilantro, onions, jalapenos, sour cream, and guacamole or avocado slices. Some places add lettuce too, but i personally hate that. A few places have no rice as well, with the aforementioned La Taqueria being one of them. The lack of rice is one reason i love that place so much (rice too often seems like cheap, bland, filler...that said, I do sometimes like rice in my burritos), along with the great quality/freshness of the food, and the fact that none of it sits around in heated buckets for hours like many average SF taquerias. Their green hot sauce is like liquid crack too.

I never knew that lack of rice and sour cream is what defines So cal burritos though....i've had some like that in Southern California, and i've also had some burritos down here that contained nothing but meat, onions, and peppers. It's all good though...just don't put lettuce in there or try and force rice on me, and i'm ok

[Bulldogdad]

Originally Posted by Gentoo

Real Mexican? Burritos were actually invented in the US.

There is a difference in Burrito styles which is why mini was asking. There is a distinct style in the Bay Area:

San Francisco burrito - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sorry burritos were invented in Northern Mexico and are actually a variation on the types of snack food the Aztecs were making when the Spanish landed in Central Mexico.

A burrito means little donkey. Burritos are actually morphed versions of tacos. You can look up the history if you like. My relatives were making burritos in the 1930's/1940's when they were working on the Southern Pacific Railroad.

[Bulldogdad]

Originally Posted by Fontucky

Awwww who cares about auténticos when it comes to carne asada fries? They are just flat frikkin GOOOOOD. One of the best inventions ever to come out of SD.

I agree, carne asada con papas fritas is out of this world. Especially with some Pico Pica on top. However Albertos would not be my first choice, 2nd, 3rd, 4th.....