Burritos in Oakland?

[grow_power]

Hi:

It seems like while there is a huge amount of taco trucks in fruitvale, none of them are especially well known for their burritos. Searching the forum for oakland burritos mainly brings up discussions of taco trucks. Does anyone have suggestions for a GREAT burrito place in oakland? The SO wants burritos like pancho villa ( I know, I know, but he has other great qualities).

-thanks
_A

[daveena]

I've randomly tried burritos here and there from different taco trucks and haven't really liked any of them, but had a really good one today from Taqueria Reynoso (near the International and Foothill intersection). They're not gigantic, but the rice was excellent, and the whole thing was generally tasty. It's now my go-to East Bay burrito.

[eldub]

I third the rec for La Calaca Loca. I usually order the baja fish burrito, a rich burrito with beer-battered sustainable fish, guacamole (included, I think) and a mildly spicy cream sauce, called baja sauce. It's not low fat but it's good. I also enjoy their vegetarian burrito. If you like rice on your burrito, you need to ask them to add it (costs extra).

Cactus on College was my favorite - the flavorful garlic/red wine marinated grilled veg burrito with guacamole add-on or the plato with beans, rice, salsa, guac and grilled veg or shrimp - until I discovered La Calaca.

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La Calaca Loca
5199 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, CA 94609

[Chuckles the Clone]

Almost all the taco trucks have burritos on their menu. They are invariably huge and
if you get a "super" burrito you will not need to eat for the rest of the week.

Favorite non-truck burritos over here:

Taqueria La Familia -- Four or five filling choices that tend toward various stewed meats.
also good fish tacos.

La Calaca Loca -- Big hefty mission-style burritos. I've only had the carne asada. Pretty ok.

Cancun -- Little more expensive than the others. Great salsa bar.

Los Cantaros -- They have several locations. I like the one on San Pablo and 54th.

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La Calaca Loca
5199 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, CA 94609

Taqueria La Familia
2971 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94705

[Chuckles the Clone]

Wow. Screwedup CH software ate all my place links. Let's try again ...

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La Calaca Loca
5199 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, CA 94609

Los Cantaros Restaurant
5412 San Pablo Ave, Oakland, CA

Taqueria La Familia
2971 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94705

Cancun
2134 Allston Way, Berkeley, CA 94704

[oaktowngirl]

Also, can anyone mention if a burrito is grilled/griddled or steamed? I prefer grilled and they seem to be few and far between. Usually end up at Baja Fresh out of desperation.

[ML8000]

Are you looking for a Mission Burrito with rice (being the key), choice of beans and a meat? The ones that are usually wrapped tightly and as big as your head.

Los Contaros on Grand in Oakland does an okay job but it can be bland. If you're willing to go to Berkeley you can go to Cancun Taqueria or Picante. You'll be able to get a Mission Burrito at any of these places although Cancun and Picante might have better quality ingredients. At Cancun you have to ask for rice.

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Los Cantaros Restaurant
336 Grand Ave, Oakland, CA 94610

[pockyjunkie]

Seconding the trip to Cancun as they have nopales - I love their nopales burrito with the crema.

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Cancun
2134 Allston Way, Berkeley, CA 94704

[ML8000]

The nopales con queso salad is very good too. Great salsa selection as well.

[Robert Lauriston]

Picante's bland and relatively expensive, a very Berkeley version of Mexican food.

[majordanby]

agreed.

i like cancun, although pricier than most burrito places in the area. la palmita on san pablo offers a cheap, solid burrito. monte cristo on university is decent, but dont get their mole burrito...nasty. some people like casa latina just a few blocks down from palmita on san pablo. Cheap and big, but not that tasty. Although their bakery goods and tacos are pretty good. avoid la cascada on center....and la burrita in south and north side of campus is a cheap burrito place that draws in a lot of students...they are average in my book (nice to have if you are around and need something to eat, but not somewhere i would go out of my way to eat at). something unique? hot shop on the border of albany and berkeley on san pablo offers a tropical burrito...it's basically curry chicken/lamb in a burrito. It was enormous and had taste...but couldnt get myself to really like it because i couldnt get my taste buds to mix curry with tortillas and black beans.

[JasmineG]

He might like Cactus Taqueria on College -- they have some really good grilled meats, and other good meat options (I like the pollo con mole rojo especially), and great salsas.

[wolfe]

Which Pancho Villa?
http://www.epicportions.com/2009/04/2...

[a_and_w]

That picture reminds me of when small people are walked by large dogs.

[Robert Lauriston]

What style are Pancho Villa's? What's his preferred filling?

El Taco Zamorano (the restaurant, not to be confused with the truck) is worth a try. http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/533518

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El Taco Zamorano Restaurant
4032 Foothill Blvd, Oakland, CA 94601

[abstractpoet]

My wife really likes the burritos from the Ojo de Agua taco truck. She usually gets it with chicken. They are quite large. Their breakfast burritos are quite good too, but too gigantic to actually eat for breakfast. I like the "American" breakfast burrito (which has potatoes) and then ask them to substitute chorizo for the ham.

[abstractpoet]

Link.

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El Ojo de Agua Taco Truck
Derby St and International Blvd, Oakland, CA

[Melanie Wong]

You might enjoy this discussion.
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/478752

[abstractpoet]

Heh. I'll admit (and probably should have mentioned) that my success rate in procuring said American breakfast burrito con chorizo is maybe 60%. Occasionally I've gotten the straight-up Mexican (which isn't great) instead, and one time I did end up just with ham.

I think maybe it depends on who's taking the order and/or doing the cooking? If they don't understand what I'm saying right away, I usually just opt for a torta instead. Pretty good tortas at that truck.

[wolfe]

This place makes very large burritos. It's near Everett and Jones.
Las Palmas Super Burrito

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Las Palmas Super Burrito
2682 Fruitvale Ave, Oakland, CA 94601