Did you think we were finished? We’ve still only scratched the surface of Tucson’s burrito bounty. While there’s no alligator burrito (yet), there’s no shortage of talent and creativity in local tortilla food delivery vessels. For reference, here’s Burrito Bucket List, Volume 1.
Aqui Con El Nene
4415 North Flowing Wells Rd
This hidden-but-renowned joint has one of the most bountiful salsa bars. If you want a little extra smoke in your grilled meats and veggies, this is the place for you.
Visit Aqui Con El Nene on Facebook
Blanco Tacos + Tequila
2905 East Skyline Drive #246
Short rib is among the tastiest of fatty cuts of beef. This premium cut gets the respect it deserves with a slow, gentle cook in the braised short rib burrito.
Visit Blanco’s website
Crossroads Restaurant
2602 South 4th Avenue
The campechano burrito’s carne asada, beans, cheese, and guacamole will stick to your ribs. Brighten it up with some of the devilishly hot salsa that comes with the chips.
Visit crossroadsfinemexican.com
El Indio Restaurant
3355 South Sixth Avenue
A glass of tart jamaica serves as a refreshing counterpoint to the luscious chunks of pork in the carnitas burro. The handy salsa squirt bottle will provide some extra spice.
Visit elindiorestaurant.com
El Sur Restaurant
5602 East 22nd Street
If you want to get it wet, roll with the beefy red chile burrito. If you want a ticket to crunchy town, get fried bits of steak and fat in the chicharron burrito and squeeze some of the house salsa into each bite.
Visit elsurrestaurant.com
Frank’s Restaurant
3843 East Pima Street
This neighborhood joint has a separate identity at night (Francisco’s de la Noche) that makes dastardly gargantuan burritos. Get it Francisco’s style and add bacon and peppers.
Visit franksrestaurant.com
La Botana Fresco Grill & Cantina
3200 North 1st Avenue
Crispy fried pork and tangy green salsa harmonize in the joint favorite chicharron verde burrito. The percheron burrito is overflowing with steak and queso blanco, but the avocado and pico de gallo keeps it fresh. You can BYOB (in this case, build your own burrito) if you want more veggies. You know what would balance it further? One of their humongous micheladas or margaritas.
La Mesa Tortillas
3923 East Pima Street
Drippingly-juicy beef with mild aromatics such as tomatoes and green chiles will saturate your taste buds. You’ll daydream about it then realize you were napping on these pillowy tortillas.
Visit lamesatortillas.com
Mr. Baja Fish
1905 West Grant Road
If you can’t remember where you left your trident or harpoon (probably where your remote control is), get a fish burrito at Mr. Baja Fish. The grill fish burrito is saucy with peppers, while the fried fish burrito is surprisingly light and delicate.
Visit mrbajafish.com
Street Taco and Beer Co.
58 West Congress Street
If you want crispy and moist bits of red pork roasted on a vertical spit, order the al pastor burrito. The tortillas are griddled to order in front of you as well. Take advantage of the impressive beer list to wash your burrito down with a brew from down the street or from across the border.
Visit Street Taco and Beer Co. on Facebook
Taco Shop Co.
1350 East Broadway Boulevard
You may not recognize this photo in daylight because it’s the Taco Shop Co. by campus and downtown. Steak and potatoes will help you feel better after a good night. Or good bad night, depending on your perspective.
Visit Taco Shop Co. on Facebook
Taqueria El Pueblito
1800 East Fort Lowell Road #A156
Looking for an excuse to sneak bacon into a carne asada burrito? Don’t need one? Get the Zacatecas burrito and realize you haven’t put bacon in as many things as you thought you did.
Visit Taqueria El Pueblito on Facebook
Taqueria Y Raspados Jason
6041 East 22nd Street
Hidden under the red tent on 22nd is the glorious cabeza burrito. Demonstrate your foodie prowess with often-unexplored meats by getting some head meat that has been slowly simmered into lip-smacking status.
Visit Taqueria Y Raspados Jason on Facebook
Tucson Tamale Company
2545 East Broadway Boulevard • 7159 E Tanque Verde • 7286 N Oracle Rd
Sometimes you want to fight the establishment by ordering something that’s not in the name of the establishment. Well, you rebel, get the breakfast burrito (not tamale) with soft cubes of bacon. A side of Mexican slaw helps keep things light in your belly.
Visit tucsontamale.com
Zivaz Mexican Bistro
4590 East Broadway Boulevard
The creamy poblano sauce and cheese in the burrito poblano helps the veggies and chicken breast taste wonderfully moist. It almost feels like cheating. Almost.
Visit Zivaz on Facebook
Know about a must-have burrito that wasn’t included? Let us know in the comments.
Article written by:
Jackie Tran
More about JackieJackie Tran is a Tucson-based food writer, photographer, culinary educator, and owner-chef of the now-closed food truck Tran’s Fats. Although he is best known locally for his work for Tucson Foodie, his work has also appeared in publications such as Bon Appétit, National Geographic, and the New York Times.
An adventurous foodie, he enjoys culinary experiences ranging from seasonal omakase to sloppily devouring green chili patty melts in his car afterhours. His favorite foods include aguachile, garlic noodles, and leftover fried chicken illuminated by the fridge light. His favorite drinks include morning micheladas, fireside imperial stouts, candle-lit negroni, and grassy mezcales.
Outside of food, he also loves playing musical instruments, karaoke, Tetris, Super Smash Bros. Melee, and petting Addie’s dog Spaghetti.
If you’d like to stalk him, visit his Instagram @jackie_tran_ or jackietran.com.
