Need burrito advice from someone who knows Boston and LA!

[jwrose79]

Hi folks,
I relocated from Boston (where I'd been about 10 years) to Los Angeles about 2 years ago. One thing I really miss is the burritos from Anna's Taqueria. I have not yet found a burrito place in LA that has a similar style. Does anyone who's experienced Anna's found something similar out here?
Thanks!

[Mattapoisett in LA]

I saw from their Website They use a Fresh-o-matic to steam their burritos. that most times is considered a Mission (SF) style Burrito they are hard to Find here in LA since most places grill the Tortilla rather than Steam. But if you search the boards you might find something which will do in a Pinch.

For an interesting thread on Fresh-o-matic and Burritos Check out this thread

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/316243

Take Care

- P.

[Bandini]

i know burritoblog.com came out to LA a couple years ago(They eat at anna's alot) . I don't think they found a burrito similar to Anna's.

LA is a taco town.

[JeetJet]

This is great news to see your name again on Chowhound. Bandini, bandito, from “The Great Taco Hunt” is back.

The Great Taco Hunt is retired
http://tacohunt.blogspot.com/

Long Live Bandini and the Daily Taco
http://www.dailytaco.org/

[Bandini]

hey thanks

yeah i'm blogging at dailytaco.org now

trying to get a little taco community blog going :)

[Peripatetic]

I'm from the Northeast originally (Boston and NYC). Most places "back East" base their burritos on Mission burritos. Because of the vagaries of food style migration paths, Mission burritos seem to have spread to much (most?) of the rest of the country but not to LA, maybe because LA's Mexican food culture is so much more directly influenced by Mexico.

I was surprised to learn this when I moved out here. Lack of Mission burritos is a frequent lament on this board. This thread (started in 2002, but lots of updates from last year) mentions places you can get burritos that kind-of-sort-of are like Mission burritos, but I've yet to hear of anyone finding the real thing out here.

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/51970

[fool for chow]

i am from Boston but moved out here in 99 so my memory of Anna's is somewhat dated. However, the Habanero Grill in the food plaza behind the CAA building in Century City is as close as it's going to get out here. They are big, soft and fantastic. You can stuff them with whatever you want. The rice definitely smacks of Anna's. I work in century city and eat there at least 3 times a week. I'm not proud of this, I'm just telling you because I may be a little biased because it is part of my routine. Again - not proud of it.

[Alex250]

I lived in Boston for many years, and loved burritos from Anna's Taqueria (especially at their original location on Beacon St, near Coolidge Corner)... In LA, I get burritos from:

La Playita
3306 Lincoln Blvd
Santa Monica

Give it a try.

[aventinus]

I think the burritos in Boston--at Anna's and Boca Grande--are better than those in LA. I haven't found any place like those places here. You could try Gallegos at 12470 Venice Blvd.

[a_and_w]

I agree re the superiority of Anna's and Boca. If you haven't already, you should give Eduardo's Border Grill and Baja Bud's a try. The spicy chicken border burrito at Eduardo's, in particular, is as good as some of my favorite Mission places (e.g., Papalote). I've also heard good things re Senor Fish downtown, but have yet to try them myself.

I finally tried Gallegos the other day with mixed results. On the plus side, I really liked the size and construction of the burrito, which was rolled tight and wrapped in paper. Unfortunately, the chicken was dry and unmarinated, and the cheese was unmelted. I'll try the barbacoa when I'm in the area again, but these aren't really Mission-style burritos.

On that note, I think I've finally figured out the main failing of LA burritos -- the lack of melted cheese. The Jonathan Gold's of the world mock how Mission places steam their tortillas. But they completely miss the purpose, which is to melt the cheese. Many Mission burrito joints now grill their tortillas -- again, to melt the cheese.

Melted cheese makes a HUGE difference in terms of taste and structural integrity. In the majority of LA taquerias I've encountered, cold cheese is simply dumped in the burrito with the rest of the ingredients. Eduardo's and Baja Bud's are superior, imo, because they defy standard LA practice in this regard.

[jwrose79]

You guys are awesome, thanks for all the info! I will definitely give Habanero Grill, La Playita, and Gallegos a try. And thanks for the info on Mission-style burritos vs. others. Interesting theory, Peripatetic, on why they're hard to find in LA --fascinating stuff.

[joshekg]

Make sure to try the shrimp cocktail when at la playita.

[Peripatetic]

I haven't been to Habanero Grill, La Playita, or Gallegos. Please report back if you go -- would love to hear of a decent Mission burrito place in the area.

[rocktheglobe]

If you're still checking this thread, I'd be interested to hear what you thought of those places here... I also lived in Boston for 8 years and have spent a lot of time trying to find an equivalent to Anna's out here in L.A. -- both of my apartments were right up the street from the Anna's outposts, and it was a regular habit to get off the T, grab a burrito and walk home from there. It's kind of funny, but of everything in Boston, I think I miss Anna's the most.

[aventinus]

One more burrito I like is at Casa downtown.

[mc michael]

Casa seems overpriced to me--unless you are trying to impress someone. Paying for atmosphere, not good food (nothing wrong with that, but you oughta know).Their guac was nothing special.