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It’s time to celebrate and enjoy this simple but delicious food on National Burrito Day! 

History of National Burrito Day

The history of the burrito is couched in mystery because the concept of meats and cheeses rolled in tortillas is hard to trace! A variety of different types of foods that originate from Mexico include the tortilla with meat and cheese, such as the taco and the enchilada, taquitos, chimichangas or even quesadillas. But the burrito is a bit unique because it is larger than others and its history has grown out of the culture of Mexico but made its way into the southwestern portions of the United States where it became even more popular.

Burritos can be traced back at least to the 19th century, when these recipes were developed. In fact, one of the oldest mentions of the word “burrito” came in 1895 when it was mentioned in a book called the “Dictionary of Mexicanisms”.

Originally created with simple meat and cheese inside of a tortilla, and then probably sold by street food vendors, the burrito evolved into something more as the years went on. Sometimes called mission-style burritos the idea came for adding beans and rice as fillers, and then guacamole and sour cream for toppings. It was after this that the burrito developed into something more akin to what it is today, with some restaurants like Chipotle offering a huge range of options for preferred ways to fill a burrito.

In any case, the burrito is a hearty and delicious meal that is certainly worth celebrating! And that’s where the tradition of National Burrito Day, whether old or new, finds its place in the world.

National Burrito Day Timeline

16th Century

Ancestors of burritos appear 

Food wrapped in tortillas becomes a Mexican tradition.[1]

1930s

Burritos first appear on US menus 

In the US, the first restaurant to put burritos on the menu was El Cholo Spanish Cafe in Los Angeles, California.

1940s

A Ciudad Juárez street vendor sells burritos

The story goes that this Mexican street vendor portioned meat out in tortillas, perfect for children, whom he called “burritos”.[2]

1961

Mission-style burritos evolve 

The Mexican food scene in San Francisco produces an extra large burrito that adds rice, guacamole and sour cream.[3]

1993

First Chipotle Mexican Grill opens 

Famous for their freshly made burritos, Chipotle opens its first store in Denver, Colorado.[4]

How to Celebrate National Burrito Day

Getting in the spirit of National Burrito Day can be loads of fun and a tasty adventure. Get involved with the day by implementing some of these ideas for celebrating:

Try Making Burritos at Home

One super delicious way to celebrate National Burrito Day is to hang out with family or invite a group of friends over for a burrito bar. In fact, burritos are some of the easiest foods to serve when hosting a crowd! Those who have a quick cooking instant pot may choose to cook some pork or chicken with seasonings in just about an hour. A slow cooker or roasting in the oven are viable options as well.

Friends can be invited to bring the fixings such as large flour tortillas, black or red beans, rice with cilantro, guacamole, cheese sour cream, salsa, tortilla chips, jalapenos, hot sauces, and so many other yummy toppings! Line everything up and let each guest make their own burrito by piling on everything they love. It’s a fun way to serve a great meal without a lot of fuss.

Go Out for Burritos

One superb way to celebrate National Burrito Day might be to grab a friend or family member, head on over to a restaurant that serves burritos and order a delicious plate full. Perhaps this would be a locally owned and operated Mexican restaurant that serves up beef, chicken or bean burritos on a bed of rice. Or maybe it would be a quick lunch at a fast and fresh food burrito restaurant.

Don’t forget to ask if that favorite Mexican kitchen is offering any special deals or discounts in celebration of National Burrito Day!

Try out one of these Mexican restaurant chains that serves burritos:

  • QDOBA Mexican Eats. With more than 700 locations in the United States, it’s easy to find a delicious burrito nearby. Try the specialty chicken burrito that is customizable to each individual’s desired tastes and preferences.
  • Chipotle. One of the largest and most accessible burrito joints, this chain boasts almost 3,000 locations not only in the US, but also in Canada, Germany, France and the United Kingdom.
  • Moe’s Southwest Grill. This one is perhaps not quite as well known, but Moe’s is still a viable option that has up to 700 locations throughout the US.
  • Taco Bell. Sure, it gets a bad rap (or wrap?!) sometimes, but there’s no arguing with the fact that 7000 locations worldwide is nothing to overlook. And it’s probably the quickest service for burritos and other Mexican fast food around.

Enjoy a Tex-Mex Themed Day

Whether at work or at school, National Burrito Day brings with it many opportunities to enjoy and show appreciation for the culture behind this delicious food. In addition to eating burritos, don’t forget to stay connected through fun aspects such as festive music, delightful decorations, cultural dress and even some fun games.

One fun activity might be to grab a blindfold and play Pin the Tail on the Donkey. After all, the word for “burrito” really translates to mean “little donkey” in the Spanish language. Another fun game for a National Burrito Day party might be to have a cute pinata filled with candy and treats.

Create a Burrito Themed Playlist

Have tons of fun creating a festive playlist of songs celebrating the home culture of the burrito. Get started with some of these fun ideas for songs that give a nod to National Burrito Day:

  • How Do I Feel (The Burrito Song) by Hoku (2000). The songwriter penned this one in honor of a boy she liked who worked at a burrito stand. Sure, it’s a little silly, but it’s also rather fun.
  • Burrito by Pete Yorn (2003). Known for his ability to play the bulk of the instruments on his albums, Pete Yorn sings this song where he offers the listener a bite of his burrito.
  • O Burrito by Fernando Corriera Marques (2009). This tribute is sung as it should be – in Spanish!
  • The Burrito Song by Creed Fisher (2022). A strange but compelling song by Creed Fisher, this one is more of a kids’ song but certainly shows its love for burritos too. 

National Burrito Day FAQs

How to fold a burrito?

Fold a warm tortilla by folding in on the sides, folding the bottom up, and then rolling up.[1]

Are burritos from Mexico?

Burritos may have gotten their start in the northern regions of Mexico, but they crossed the border to become “Tex-Mex”.[2]

Can burritos be healthy?

Burritos made with low fat meat, beans, rice, and a small amount of cheese can be healthy.[3]

Do burritos have rice?

Though original burritos would not have included rice, many people make them with rice now.[4]

Are burrito bowls healthier than burritos?

People who choose burrito bowls instead of wraps can save on calories, carbohydrates and also be gluten free.[5]

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