Looking for the Best Burritos in the Bay A

Paul N. wrote:
>Someone wrote:
>: In article ,
>Chadkk wrote:
>: >T&B's in Belmont has the goos stuff
>
>Address?
>
>: I know this has been mentioned before, but since you brought up
>: Belmont I think the Guadelajara Grill, which is just a hop, skip and
>: jump from T&B's, has tastier food (especially buritto's).
>
>Address?
>
This is located in a small strip mall (Laurie Meadows shopping center) which is on Old County Road and Laurie Meadows Blvd.  It is very close to the 42nd Street underpass---San Mateo/Belmont border.

George W. wrote:

>     Okay folks, being a native from Pittsburgh, I wouldn't know authentic
>Mexican food if it jabbed me in the eye with a jalapeno.  So, how about a
>discussion of what makes a burrito a "Best in Bay Area."
>
>     Bearing in mind my aforementioned roots, my favorite burrito comes
>from much further south than here: Tito's in Marina del Rey.  Tender chunks
>of long-simmered beef and thick stew-like juices full of flavor from the
>simmering make most of the runny bundles I get up here seem like they came
>from . . . Pittsburgh.  (Well, okay, that's overly harsh - at least the
>meat usually isn't boiled hamburger.)

For me it's not quantity. La Cumbra comes to mind and a number of other mass-production burrito locations. Nor is it rice, avocado, sour cream, etc.

I'd say it's the care take in the preparation of the individual ingredients and the freshness of those ingredients.

A simple burrito of meat, beans, cheese and salsa  -- all well spiced and prepared, can beat any 1 pound monstrosity that serves primarily to fill empty space.

My favorite location for a long time was La Taqueria near the corner of 26th and Mission. The burritos were small by most folks standards. but the ingredients were the best. Then the original owners sold out, and the quality suffered. I've heard rumors that the old owners returned, but I can't confirm that.

There was a little hole-in-the-wall on 23rd(?) (near the dance studio and produce market) that served great Mexican food of all sorts. It had 3-4 tables and a small counter with 4-5 stools facing the street.

The woman who ran the place cooked everything on a commercial-size stove in home-size pots and pans. I think this place seved as close to home-cooked mexican food as you could find, even in the Mission. Don't know if it's still there -- this was circa 1988-1990.

jd

Some of the best burritos (and Mexican food) I've had in the Bay Area and LA are from the "roach coaches".  To boot, they are usually very affordable.

Three I like in particular in the Bay Area:
1.  Usually parks near Harrison and 18th in SF (Mission District).
2.  Usually parks near Harrison and 22nd in SF.
3.  Usually parks west of the High St. exit on 880, just off to the south of High heading towards Alameda.

Despite what my mother always told me, I've never gotten sick from any of these.  As well, they have my favorite drink horchata!  Enjoy!