De Asellis

A Casual Observation of California Burritos in San Diego

[burritosofsandiego]

JUAN BERTO'S MEXICAN FOOD

11JUL17 Miramar 6.10 USD 8.5"

Tortilla

Extremely hot. Not greasy on the outside, but you could tell that the heat was coming from somewhere.

Meat

Thick chunks of heavily seasoned carne. Good, and a good amount, but that taste was almost lost in the heat.

Ingredients

Fries, cheese, guac, and pico de gallo. There are two main branches of California burritos: the Roberto's with a light, fluffy tortilla, crunchy, clean fries smeared with a dollop of cool sourcream and maybe a little Pico; and then there's the Santana's/MXN variety, denser, tightly rolled tortilla that's too hot to handle filled with wet, greasy meat, fries that are only party skinned and soaked in their own oils, accompanied by a biting tomatillo Pico mix full of seasoning and spice, and with little guac and no sourcream to temper the ensemble. Juan Berto's falls squarely with the latter.

Salsa

Stock green and red in bottles at the counter; hot carrots come for an extra 45 cents.

Other

Shit, Miramar in July is hot as Satan's grundle. Juan Berto's is a dip spit away from the MCAS front gate and so it shares a strip mall with more than a few skivy bars, handjob parlors, dry cleaners that specialize in same day uniform alterations, and rent-to-own furniture warehouses. However, inside is colorful and cheery enough with plenty of seating. Most or the artwork is on the menu or appears as signage reminding Marines not to sit on the tables.

Pairs with:

Jarritos mandarin.

Overall Score

6.5. Perfectly made for those who think this is the perfect burrito.

[burritosofsandiego]

HILBERTO'S MEXICAN FOOD

10JUL17 National City 5.65 USD 8"

Tortilla

Warm, not too hot. Some fries were poking out from the folds, but it was easy to hold and not att all greasy.

Meat

Pretty normal carne asada that was a good half of the bulf overall. Maybe a little on the dry side, but since it was so hot outside that was fine.

Ingredients

Fries, cheese, guac, sourcream, and pico de gallo. The guac was thoroughly mixed in with the sourcream which did make for a little extra room overall in the flavor palate. The perfectly crunchy fires were augmented by the crisp, fresh tomatoes in the pico. The yellow cheese was great, albeit off the the side for most of the burrito.

Salsa

A few to-go ramekins of standard red sauce.

Other

Iconic barn style drive-thru with red and yellow pinstripes. You order in a small ante room bug enough for about two people, and then all of the seating is outside on tables; thankfully, a few of them were in the shade. It's located almost in the heart of National City, and seems to be a prime spot for doctors and nurses from the nearby hospital to grab lunch.

Pairs with:

Orange Crush, can.

Overall Score

7. Not many places to eat in this part of the inland South Bay, and even fewer that have burritos as good as these.

[burritosofsandiego]

CESSY'S MEXICAN FOOD

07JUL17 Carlsbad 6.79 USD 7"

Tortilla

Not too hot, wrapped neatly without bunching. There were a few fries poking through, but this wasn't a problem at all.

Meat

Good strips of carne asada. Hearty and calm in flavor.

Ingredients

Fries, cheese, and guac. It was a little off-normal to have guac without sourcream or even pico, but it worked well because it was in moderation. It may also have been that the blend of cheese was very prominent and even stringy in places. The fries were an ever-s-slightly undercooked krinkle cut that benefited from the guac flavor to carry it.

Salsa

Orange and green; the former was a pleasantly hotter-than-normal chipotle blend.

Other

If Carlsbad village had a proper beach, this would be the quintessential boardwalk taco shop. Although a block inland from the cliffs andalmost directly under the Carlsbad sign, it's clearly a local favorite that also appreciates their patrons. It's a degree cheaper than many of the boutique bistros and cafes in the upperclass shopping district, so it invites the rich highschoolers coming from the surf as much as the tradesmen who work around town during the day. A sunny, cozy spot.

Pairs with:

Fountain Coke, no ice.

Overall Score

8. This was a good burrito at a good burrito shop.

[burritosofsandiego]

PACIFIC BEACH CANTINA

06JUL17 Pacific Beach 7.00 USD 7"

Tortilla

Served halved on a plate of chips gratuitously seasoned with Cajun spices. They obviously used a burrito press and didn't fry the tortilla before wrapping it.

Meat

Was chorizo, mushy chorizo that was spiced ungodly overmuch with non-mexican flavors. No bueno.

Ingredients

Fries, cheese, sourcream, and pico de gallo. The fries were alright per se, but had they been crunchy, at all, they would have helped the chorizo. The three-blend cheese was surprisingly molten and good. The sourcream was technically extant.

Salsa

A weird house blend came with the chips on the plate.

Other

Shitty, brotastic "cantina" with obnoxious Dos Equis and Corona signage spewn all over the faux palapa over the bar. The music is just a little too loud and the margaritas too sweet to be cozy even without other people in the middle of the weekday. It's exactly the same as Fiesta or Cabo Cantinas, except here they have burritos. There is a permanent fixture beer pong table.

Pairs with:

CBC Mermaid Red, pint.

Overall Score

5. Did not finish. Neither this burrito nor this establishment brought me joy.

[burritosofsandiego]

LOURDES MEXICAN RESTAURANT

05JUL17 Escondido 7.99 USD 9"

Tortilla

Large for a regular burrito but smaller than most burritos that have this much inside. Wasn't too hot, either, despite being cooked until crispy in bits; the guac probably cooled a lot down.

Meat

The carne asada was almost physically lost amid the guac and sourcream, but although the taste was subtle, it was definitely filling afterwards.

Ingredients

Fries, cheese, guac, sourcream, and pico de gallo. The guac and sourcream were the mainstays of the burrito (and were used thoughtfully and evenly), and the rest seemed to be there for garnish and mouthfeel. The fries did add weight, however, which was nice. The cheese was floating in and out.

Salsa

Red, green, and orange with more hot carrots at the bar. Both the red and green said that they were got, but they were not hot.

Other

Probably the most popular taco shop in Escondido. Apparently they're known for their chicken soup, as evidenced by the large cartoon chicken toting a cannabalistic broth of his brethren on the mural outside. Inside is a open but dim counter order with table service seating area. There are many faux arches with scenes from Mexico (?), or Spain, or nowhere in particular. The service was very friendly and even confirmed that I did indeed want everything that comes in a california burrito.

Pairs with:

Fountain Coke, no ice.

Overall Score

8. In no way would I ever advocate going to Escondido, but if you find yourself there, Lourdes will ease the pain little.

[burritosofsandiego]

VICTORIA'S MEXICAN FOOD

03JUL17 Imperial Beach 5.80 USD 8.5"

Tortilla

Nigh scaling to the touch. The greasy fries prevented even holding it for quite a while.

Meat

Again, almost too hot to taste, but it was pretty standard carne asada and seasoned well.

Ingredients

Fries, cheese, and pico de gallo. Very cookie-cutter MXN type fare. How greasy fries with a little skin still on, molten yellow cheese and fresh pici. At least this pici was light on the onions and cilantro so it let the rest of the burrito taste through.

Salsa

Bottle of red and green, definitely more homemade than other places. Both were hot and even the green was spicy enough.

Other

Inland Imperial Beach, only a block away from the South Bay Drive-in. It seemed like more than a few families had the idea to fill up here rather than wait in line for churros before the double feature. Inside is modest but not small; the whole room is almost the open kitchen, which is surrounded by a low tiled retaining wall. The people are friendly enough, and the traditional Mexican playlist in the background was fine ambiance.

Pairs with:

Jarritos Mandarin.

Overall Score

6. I think that there are plenty of better taco shops in IB, but this is a fine utility meal.

[burritosofsandiego]

TIVOLI BAR AND GRILL

29JUN17 Gaslamp 10.00 USD 8"

Tortilla

Served halved and seemed to be of dubious construction given its width and copious sourcream, but it in fact held up nicely.

Meat

Solid skirt steak, the same that would come in a Philly cheesesteak far from Philly or a rather good fajita nowhere near Mexico.

Ingredients

Fries, cheese, pico, and sourcream. The sourcream was all over in a good way, providing cover for the fries and meat. The fries were run of the mill pub chips, and were welcome both in taste and consistency. The cheese formed a solid, but warm, ring around the entirety on the inside of the tortilla, touching every bite.

Salsa

Small red ramekin, not that good.

Other

No one is coming to Tivoli for a burrito. Most people don’t even know it was a kitchen, even though it takes up one of the three bars on the relatively modest space. People come to Tivoli (the oldest bar in San Diego, if you ask people who say it’s the oldest bar in San Diego), for one drink, maybe two, before a Padres games; and people only go to Padres games for one drink, maybe two, before going back out in the Gaslamp. Nevertheless, it’s got a chiller vibe than those closer to the stadium, so it’s an optimal place to rendezvous, collect, and pregame without insane Dodgers fans harshing the buzz.

Pairs with:

Alesmith .394 Pale Ale.

Overall Score

7. Like it said, you’re not here for the burritos, but it’s hella cheaper and easier here than inside Petco.

[burritosofsandiego]

TACOS EL GORDO

27JUN17 Pacific Beach 8.49 USD 7"

Tortilla

Hot and wide. Not exactly rolled in a gentlemanly fashion as some guac was peaking out of the fold even to start.

Meat

Good meat, hot meat; however, there's a non-zero chance that it was dyed seagull meat.

Ingredients

Fries, cheese, guac, and sourcream. Definitely heavy on the guac, and what sourcream there was pocketed up in some places. The fires would have done more to balance these spots if there had been more. The cheese did, however float nicely throughout.

Salsa

One giant squirt bottle of what Texas Pete at the counter.

Other

A few yards away and at least two or three steps closer to the water from Lahaina beach house. Any closer and you'd be eating sand. It's a small shack that shares two or three tables with burger stand, an ice cream guy, and a hula-hoop rental and instruction shed. That's about it, with minimal shade from the palms around noon.

Pairs with:

Fountain Coke, no ice.

Overall Score

6.5. Not exactly worth the extra rays compared to eating somewhere else better inside.

[burritosofsandiego]

AMORCITO CORAZÓN MEXICAN BISTRO

22JUN17 North Park 8.99 USD 7.5"

Tortilla

Very thick and thoroughly ensconced in tortilla, maybe even more so than was necessary. The plate garnish was two green tortilla chips.

Meat

Quality carne asada but only about one quarter of the bulk. Not heavily seasoned.

Ingredients

Fries, cheese, guac, and sourcream. The fries were mostly skinned and left a lot of flavor. The guac was a solid avocado kick without much else. Pockets of sourcream existed unevenly, but all in all was pretty balanced with the location of the fries and meat.

Salsa

Green and red with full salsa bar with additional carrots and radishes. The green was great on the parts with sourcream, but there was so much guac it was sometimes redundant.

Other

Now the best place for gourmet tacos in southern North Park now that Tacos Perla is closed. It has an atmosphere that if were one floral skull more, would seem tacky and inauthentic, but as-is feels sweet and cozy. The dark accent wall contrast with the bright sun and fills the small seating room almost as much as it does the wide patio under awning outside. The staff is friendly and accommodating, offering a great selection of lunch combo deals; apparently the California is so big that it does not come with rice and beans in the meal deal.

Pairs with:

Coca-Cola, can.

Overall Score

8. Hopefully this place can stand it's ground once The Taco Shop moves another location into Tacos Perla's former stall.

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[burritosofsandiego]

EL CAMINO SUPER COCINA MEXICANA

17JUN17 Little Italy 14.00 USD 6.5"

Tortilla

Wrapped tightly and then pressed thoroughly. Served halved on a small bed of cabbage with a side of equites, a street-corn dish.

Meat

Fantastic meat although not quite spiced as much as other carne asada. It made up a good portion of the burrito and I feel like any more would have unbalanced it.

Ingredients

Fries, cheese, pico de gallo, guac, sourcream, and a black bean spread. The fries weren't crunchy enough to feel, but they tasted alright among the mix. The mozzarella cheese was a gooey and noticeable divergence from the usual jack mix. The guac was pretty great and the bean spread was enough to taste without adding too much unwanted texture or bland mouthfeel.

Salsa

A stoplight served with picked hot veggies on their own block. The chipotle mayo was addicting so much that a whole bowl of chips was water on it alone. The green sauce was very heave on the cilantro for a guac mix and the red was nothing but pepper flakes without the sweet taste.

Other

Almost too hipster to function; it's a restaurant open a 5pm and then a bar/nightclub as the sun sets. The whole aesthetic is a Mexican spin on the recent "exposed wood and bare metal rooms with signature dishes and over-thought cocktails" with its Dias de Los Muertos motifs, bright pink and green color splashes, and multiple spray painted Virgin de Guadeloupe votives. The bathroom was sky-lit and every inch was cover in intention graffiti and band stickers, including the mirror. All in all, it was a pleasant experience,  but the familiarity shown by the waitstaff made it all look like they were trying an inch too much.

Pairs with:

Straberry Margarita. In a highball glass, very alcoholic, and expensive. They went out of their way to explain that the strawberries were "hand-muddled".

Overall Score

7.5. It'd be higher if this is your scene more than mine.

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[burritosofsandiego]

LAHAINA BEACH HOUSE

15JUN17 Pacific Beach 8.50 USD 8"

Tortilla

Very hot with he exception of cool patches where the guac was hiding. It held up very well until the end, when it kinda leaked from the carne asada.

Meat

Almost a ground beef quality, which wasn't bad, but was very greasy and hot.

Ingredients

Fries, cheese, guac, and sourcream. The fried were a cross between true fries and tater tots. It would have been fine to just use the tater tots that they srrve alongside most of the breakfast dishes. The cheese was a solid, yellow casing in the inside if the tortilla and the guac was flavorful but sporadic.

Salsa

A small ramekin of house chipotle with chips on the side. Honestly, it wasn't as good as the Tapatio on the tables.

Other

Iconic beach hangout on the water in South PB. Shirts and shoes are definitely not required as most here are just stopping for a quick bite and drink before heading back into the surf. Most of the morning and lunch crowd seem to be the bikini-and-boardshorts crowd and the older, fatter patrons who like to gawk at the beachgoers from a safe distance. Although the porch is they mainstay if the establishment,  it fills up before the breakfast menu is over. Inside, there's ample room in both the back and at the bar. Like most of the boardwalk, it's cash only.

Pairs with:

Ballast Point Pale Ale.

Overall Score

7. It's a great  venue on the sand that just happens to have burritos on the menu, not a fantastic stop for burritos per se.

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[burritosofsandiego]

TU TACO TACO SHOP

12JUN17 Chula Vista 5.25 USD 8"

Tortilla

Perfectly flaky; served halved but with no degradation to structural integrity.

Meat

Solid strips of lightly seasoned carne asada. About one third of the bulk.

Ingredients

Fries, cheese, and sourcream. Fries were compact yet crispy and not too heavy. The cheese was a shredded yellow not quite melted and mixed with the conservative portion of sourcream well.

Salsa

Red, green, and chipotle bottles. The green was very good and chipotle had a unique heat without the burnt taste.

Other

Literally in the middle of fuckin nowhere Chula Vista. Unfortunately it's pretty easy to drive by it without notice. However, inside is a clean, relatively sleek small shop. Two simple walls, one red, one yellow, and a counter that opens directly to the small kitchen behind it. No frill in decoration apart from the window decals of menu items and the Sombreroed mascot on the welcome mat. It appeared to be staffed only by a young couple who were polite, friendly,  and informative.  They said that they were trying to up their Instagram game, @tutacotaco and built a following with their secret menu. They sold me on their take on a double-wrapped flaming hot burrito. This was definitely not you abuelita’s taco shop, and it looks like they're doing the best they can in the hinterland of Chula Vista.

Pairs with:

Orange Fanta, can.

Overall Score

8. Would not be surprised to see great things from this shop in the future.

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SUPER OSCAR'S MEXICAN FOOD

01JUN17 La Mesa 6.50 USD 7.5"

Tortilla

Wrapped tight and hot with a little spongyness to the touch.

Meat

Heavily seasoned carne asada that made up half of the bulk.

Ingredients

Potatoes, cheese, and pico de gallo. The potatoes were partly skinned and heavy from grease. The pico was spread well throughout. The cheese, a yellow Jack blend, formed a solid brick layer.

Salsa

A salsa bar with veggies also had an allotment of green and red bottles resting on ice.

Other

A large compound on University, plenty of parking and a full 24/7 drive-thru.  Inside has a quick countertop that opens to a large L of seating, but most of the structure seems to be kitchen. The only art on the pale, guac-green walls is a decorated painting of the Virgin of Guadalupe,  cheap caracature of Poncho Villa, and a few plastic Christmas ornaments hung either way too early or way too late. Every O on the branding is complete with a mustache and Sombrero.

Pairs with:

Fountain Coke, no ice.

Overall Score

6. And industrial, not whimsical, burrito and burritoteria.

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YESENIA’S MEXICAN & SEAFOOD

31MAY17 Kearney Mesa 6.35 USD 6"

Tortilla

Tight and soft without being doughy. Very hot in patches but cold over the sourcream.

Meat

Longer strips of carne asada. Very yestegul when not smothered in sourcream.

Ingredients

Fries, sourcream, pico de gallo, and cheese. The fries were few and far between, but that was ok; the meat was good enough on its own. I had doubts, in fact that there was any sourcream or cheese for the first half of the burrito. Then I came upon it all at once. The back end was like the well of a communal fleshlight; all sourcream, all the time, with a giant, congealed rock of shredded cheese sinking ever faster within. Much of the sourcream had to be jettisoned in the interests of good taste and my ability to continue.

Salsa

Multiple greens and reds with carrots and peepers as well. Everything was hotter than average, which was nice.

Other

There's absolutely no reason to be in Kearney Mesa at all, let alone eat there, unless you're pathetically pregaming before Cheetah's or getting your recalled airbags replaced at the Toyota dealership. Even though this nice shop had a patio and it was overcast, the whole interior was sweltering and seating scare. However, the service was nice and friendly.

Pairs with:

Fountain Coke, no ice.

Overall Score

5.5. Without the sourcream it would be two points higher.

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MARGARITA'S KITCHEN &CANTINA

27MAY17 Seaport Village 8.95 USD 6"

Tortilla

Light, soft, rolled very well; ideal to take and walk in a place with extremely overcrowded seating.

Meat

Good, enough, but nothing to write home about.

Ingredients

Fries, sourcream, pico de gallo, and cheese. All the ingredients were slightly overshadowed bu the tortilla itself, but that was alright. The fries were crispy but not uniformly spread across the burrito. The guac was surprisingly generous considering the local, and the cheese was a refreshing balance to he guac and sourcream.

Salsa

A small ramekin of redish orange that was ok.

Other

Maybe a sunny Memorial Day weekend isn't the easiest time to eat at Seaport Village, but it wasn't too bad considering. Unlike the neighboring Greek place or a few others, Margarita's doesn't have an inside seating area or any designated tables outside of their own; patrons are left to fight in the Thunderdome of crying children and clueless tourists to get a stone table, only a few of which are in the shade. Other than that, the surroundings are rather clean, and the line moves quickly despite its appearance.

Pairs with:

Modelo Especial, poured into a plastic cup from the bottle.

Overall Score

7. If you want an easy lunch to take with you as you roam the wharfs, this is it.

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[burritosofsandiego]

SAYULITA'S MEXICAN RESTAURANT

23MAY17 Miramar 7.39 USD 11"

Tortilla

After over two years of these thibgs, i did not think I could be legitimately shocked by the size of a burrito anymore. 

I was wrong.

Meat

About  a third of the bulk was delicious meat, and it looked like some was still freshly pulled in stead of just chopped skirt steak. Very nice.

Ingredients

Fries, sourcream, pico de gallo, and cheese. Admittedly, the fires were spilling out of every hole in the burrito and already made up like half of the bulk. But they were greasy and good. The sourcream was fantastically muted and the pico was chuncky on the tomatoes and fresh as hell. The cheese was a powerful blend of uncoagulated jack and cheddar, which was very sharp onto of the sourcream.

Salsa

Red, green, and orange;  even the green was hot.

Other

Formerly D'Soto's, a name some of the window menus still display, it looks like atypical strip mall taco shop, complete with a single, loud tv across bare walls save for the cheap quincenera decorations. The menus is innovative with gyro burritos, burritos stuffed with tilapia, and Hot Cheetos carne asada fries. Nevertheless, the real shock was the sheer size of the burritos.

Pairs with:

Jarritos Mandarin.

Overall Score

8. Fuck, I was almost ashamed of leaving a quarter of it (the equivalent of one, normal-sized burrito) still literally standing, like an Ozymanian monument to failure, remorse, and gluttony on the tray; but I am an adult, and I don't need to eat all of my burrito if I don't want to.

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[burritosofsandiego]

BRIAN'S 24

21MAY17 Gaslamp 14.49 USD 6.5"

Tortilla

THICC. So much bunching on both ends from the over-wrapped, over-levened tortilla.

Meat

The meat was pretty much a well-done breakfast steak sloppily cut to fin on a tortilla.

Ingredients

Fries, guac, and cheese. Technically, there were fries (plural) within, but not many. Luckily there were many more on the plate. The guac was unabashedly avocado slices. I was told there was cheese but there was not cheese.

Salsa

Tapatio.

Other

To be fair, this is neither a taco shop nor a place that pretends to be one. It's a 24-7 diner in the heart of the Gaslamp attached to a nice hotel. It's got nice, stained wood tables, brass furnishings, and pseudo-artdeco glass ornamentation. They have a traditional, American diner menu for all meals, a whole laminated book with only two items under "South of the Border", this and a quesadilla. I'm sure that their burgers and Denver omlettes are all tastier and better suited to the setting than their California burrito. 

Pairs with:

A Pepsi when I specifically asked for Coke.

Overall Score

5.5. The same quality and expectations as if you were to order a Reuben at a taco shop in TJ.

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