What Is the California Burrito?

The California Burrito (also: Cali Burrito or Cali B) is a tortilla-wrapped mound of carne  asada, cheese, Mexican salsa, guacamole, sour cream and-—most importantly—French  fries. 

Sure, but that’s the simple version. To us Southern Californians it’s more than that. It’s a mad science experiment gone horribly right, a Frankensteinian creation of unorthodox deliciousness. It’s a painting of gustatory greatness on the canvas of your taste buds that you never saw coming. 

It’s greater than the sum of its parts. Philly has cheesesteaks, Chicago has pizza and New Orleans has gumbo. Well, we’ve got our burrito, and it’s as Californian as bikini tan lines and guitar riffs. 

If you find yourself in San Diego with a $5 bill, there’s only one reasonable next move. Hightail it to one of the countless Mexican restaurants (even if it’s 3:00am) and order the Golden State Special: The California Burrito.