A perfect burrito is a beautiful thing. A tender tortilla and flavorful fillings add up to more than the sum of its parts. Here in metro Phoenix, we’re blessed with some seriously talented burrito makers rolling everything from a classic bean-and-cheese to steak-filled Sonoran burros and modern takes stuffed with sweet potatoes and shishito peppers. Whether your go-to order is a carne asada or a cheese chile relleno, there’s no doubt you have a favorite spot to get your fix.
There are high-end burritos made with seafood and ribeye and epic chile verde burros sold from hole-in-the-wall shops. They’re all good. But which one is the absolute best?
Over the next four weeks, we want you to help us find out as we launch the Phoenix Burrito Bowl, a bracket-style runoff where you can vote for your favorite burrito destinations to see what restaurant comes out on top.
We will present the contenders in two conferences — Eastern and Western — with Central Avenue serving as the dividing line between the two. And it’s up to you, our community of burrito lovers, to choose which wrap reigns supreme.
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How to vote in the 2023 Phoenix Burrito Bowl
Voting for each bracket will begin Monday morning and end Sunday at midnight. Come back to this page to vote each week between now and April 2. The burrito champion will be announced on Monday, April 3.
Before casting your vote, let’s meet the teams.
Meet the teams in the Phoenix Burrito Bowl’s Eastern Conference
Representing the east side from Calle 16 in Phoenix to downtown Chandler. These burritos are easy to roll with.
Chula Seafood
Chula Seafood is arguably the best place for fresh fish in the Valley and the Uptown location uses the haul to make a burro stuffed with grilled fish or shrimp, french fries, guacamole and a tangy Baja sauce The only burrito on the Chula menu is enough to earn it a place on the team. Simply put, it’s the finest seafood burrito this side of Central Avenue.
Details: 100 E. Camelback Road, Suite 172, Phoenix. 602-354-3599, chulaseafood.com.
El Super Taco
The pile of mesquite wood in front of this tiny restaurant is the first sign that you’re in the right place. You can taste the smoky goodness in the carne asada, chicken, carnitas and birria burros that come generously stuffed with meat, rice, beans, guac and pico with a side of grilled jalapeño and onions. Don’t skip the condiment bar, filled with essentials like shredded cabbage, cilantro, chopped onion, radishes and salsas.
Details: 14620 N. Cave Creek Road, Phoenix. 602-585-2150. Search El Super Taco on Facebook.
Rito’s Mexican Food
This old-school Mexican restaurant has been making absolutely iconic bean and cheese and green chile beef burritos near downtown Phoenix since 1977. One juicy bite and you’ll understand the staying power.
Details: The original Rito’s Mexican Food location is at 907 N. 14th St., Phoenix. 602-262-9842. Find other locations at ritosmexicanfood.com.
Casa Corazon
Al pastor at Casa Corazon is prepared on the flattop in the northern Mexican style rather than the spit, but that only makes the chile-glazed pork that much juicier. Order it stuffed in an expertly made al pastor burrito, then head to the expansive salsa bar.
Details: 2637 N. 16th St., Phoenix. 602-334-1917, casacorazonrestaurant.com.
Tacos Chiwas
Tacos Chiwas is the Mexican place everyone talks about, and who can blame them? There’s little not to love about their burritos, which come splashed with lush refried beans and a scattering of raw onions and cilantro, bundled in a perfect flour tortilla toasted on the griddle.
Details: 127 W. Main St., Mesa. 480-590-7163. Other locations at tacoschiwas.com.
Asadero Norte de Sonora
Asadero Norte de Sonora is, first and foremost, a grilled meat destination. And while the obvious choices are mesquite-licked grilled chicken, carne asada, cabeza and barbacoa burros, they also make a simple, but outstanding, bean and cheese. It’s a true burrito ringer.
Details: 122 N. 16th St., Phoenix, 602-253-4010 asaderonortesonora.weebly.com/menu.html.
The Original Carolina’s Mexican Food
Carolina Valenzuela opened her namesake restaurant with her husband, Manuel, in 1968, and the slogan “best tortillas in town” continues to live up to the original hype for the army of zealous fans who stand by the claim. The best way to enjoy the epic flour creations is the burritos — chorizo-stuffed breakfast or amped up three ways with red chile, green chile and beans.
Details: 1202 E. Mohave St., Phoenix. 602-252-1503, carolinasmex.com.
Los Dos Molinos
For the heat-lovers, nothing compares to Los Dos Molinos. The carne adovada burrito brings the signature fire as the cheese-covered burrito is smothered Christmas style in red and green chile sauce and inside, the New Mexican-style pork chunks have been slow braised in blazing red chile, providing layer-upon-layer of scorching flavor.
Details: Los Dos Molinos, 260 S. Alma School Road, Suite 137, Mesa. 480-969-7475. Other locations at losdosmolinosmesa.com.
Meet the teams in the Western Burrito Conference
Representing the West Valley, from Grand Avenue in Phoenix to Peoria and Avondale. These burritos are the real deal.
Mochilero Kitchen
As big as your forearm, the short rib burrito is an elevated take on a classic that still keeps it real with a perfectly crisp, tender tortilla that tastes homemade. Keeping it veg? Go beyond bean and cheese with chunks of roasted sweet potato, shredded cabbage and slivered shishitos in the vegetable burro.
Details: 6791 W. Happy Valley Road, Peoria. 623-440-5588, mochilerokitchen.com.
Taqueria El Fundador
A West Side staple that’s been around since 1985, Taqueria El Fundador is known for its spinning trompo of achiote glazed al pastor pork crowned with a pineapple. Try it stuffed in burro. Or go rogue with a spicy beef chile verde burro.
Details: 3245 W. Van Buren St., Phoenix. 602-233-9818, tefphoenix.com.
Filiberto’s
Everyone has their favorite Filiberto’s. We’re partial to the chile relleno and Arizona burros from the location on Seventh Avenue and Indian School Road. Everyone also has their favorite late-night order, so don’t let us sway you. Vote for yours from any of the ‘berto’s west of Central.
Details: 4201 N. Seventh Ave., Phoenix. Other locations at filibertos.com.
Bacanora
It’s kind of fancy, but so are you. At this much-lauded restaurant, Nogales-born chef René Andrade goes all out with mesquite-grilled dishes, including the carne asada burrito, made with thick slabs of medium-rare skirt steak and his now-famous pinto beans wrapped in a bulging flour tortilla.
Details: 1301 NW Grand Ave., Unit 1, Phoenix. 602-612-4018, bacanoraphx.com.
Believe the hype: Bacanora is one of the best restaurants in America. Here’s why
Testal
Casual and saucy in all the best ways, this Grand Avenue spot makes its burritos in the style of Chihuahua, the largest state in Mexico. Rolled with the ends left open, most are filled with stew-like guisados ranging from chile colorado to rajas roasted peppers and onions in a rich cream sauce. The best part is the tortilla itself, made from scratch using owner Fernando Hernández’s mother’s recipe.
Details: 1325 NW Grand Ave., suite 1, Phoenix. 602-384-9993, testalphx.square.site.
Ta’ Carbon
If you’re a carne asada fan, you know Ta’ Carbon. If you don’t, you better ask somebody. The mesquite grill stays smoky as the restaurant turns out epic portions of grilled meat, best served in a golden brown, griddled flour tortilla.
Details: 5834 W. Camelback Road, Glendale. 623-463-8134, tacarbon.com.
Leo’s Tacos & Burritos
Leo’s birria burritos (both the lunch and breakfast versions) have won hearts and minds in Avondale. The breakfast adds cheese, potatoes and eggs, while the lunch piles on cheese, beans, pico and potatoes. In both cases, the slow-cooked beef birria remains the star.
Details: 10277 W. McDowell Road, Suite 100, Avondale. 623-292-3218, leostacosandburritos.com.
Taqueria El Sol
This woman-owned Glendale shop and food truck puts the carne in the carne asada burrito, but the pro move is to order the chile verde, which tops the grilled steak with chile verde, onions, cilantro and cheese.
Details: 5713 W. Glendale Ave., Glendale. 602-376-2280, soltacotruck.square.site.
Reach the food, dining and nightlife editor at [email protected].