PrintDos Toros, the popular taqueria in downtown Manhattan, is opening an uptown branch. Until they do, here are some other places, both near and far, where you can score a tasty burrito.
1. Chipotle. Good for a quick fix—sure. But true burrito enthusiasts scoff at the use of white rice, the burrito’s disproportionate girth and the lack of hole-in-the-wall ambiance.
2. Calexico Cart. Gets credit for being served out of a truck by people from Southern California, which definitely adds authenticity.
3. Texas. Supposed to be good.
4. Anywhere in Mexico. A burrito is basically the KFC Famous Bowl of Mexican food. In Mexico they serve food on a plate; a burrito may have a few ingredients inside but rarely the entire meal. The American way is to wrap every Mexican dish ingredient into a single tortilla and wolf it down.
5. Taqueria La Bamba, Mountain View, CA. You are probably saying to yourself: “I don’t have the time or money to fly round-trip to California just for a burrito, even if it is the BEST BURRITO I WILL EVER EAT IN MY ENTIRE LIFE… I’ll just go to Chipotle.” Well, the price of guacamole at Chipotle can get you at least half-way there. At that point you will probably start to smell the superior ingredients, and this desire will fuel you the rest of the way.
Note: Even the worst burritos in California are by definition better than any in New York.