The Top California Burritos in San Diego
The California burrito was born in Los Angeles in the early 1950s, but there are plenty of debates over which place serves the best one today. You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone in San Diego who doesn’t have an opinion on the best California burritos in town. However, deciding which of these spots are deserving of this honor can be difficult since everyone has their own idea of what makes the perfect version of this local specialty. Let’s take a look at some of the top contenders to determine who makes the best CA burritos in San Diego.
Photo Credit: santanas-mexican-food.business.site
Santana’s Mexican Food
291 W Main St, El Cajon, CA 92020
(909) 593-7641
Santana’s has been family owned and operated since 1978, and their outstanding commitment to customer service and high-quality food has not changed. Santana’s signature burrito supreme is a must-try: marinated beef, cheese, lettuce, beans, guacamole, pico de gallo salsa and sour cream. Get it with carne asada steak for an extra buck! And don’t miss out on our personal favorite – shrimp tacos with creamy ranch dressing! Now that you know where to get your next mouthwatering California burrito, don’t forget that Santana’s Mexican Food offers dine-in or drive-thru options.
Photo Credit: doordash.com
Saguaro’s
3753 30th St., San Diego, CA 92104
(619) 291-7746
Located on 15th and Washington, Saguaro’s has been serving up homemade California burritos since 1994. Their commitment to only using fresh ingredients and cooking their signature dish to order earned them a spot as one of Yum’s top burrito joints. Not sure what you want? Don’t worry, they’ll help you decide—just ask. And yes: no matter how hungry you are or how long you stand in line (which could be upwards of 30 minutes at peak times), your food will always be worth it!
Photo Credit: Yelp
Lolita’s
7305 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., San Diego, CA 92111
(858) 874-7983
If you’re a fan of California burritos, you may not be surprised to hear that we list Lolita’s as one of our favorite places to get them. Here, they come two ways: with steak and chorizo or with shredded chicken and bacon. Both options are delicious, but if we had to pick just one, it would probably be their shredded chicken burrito. With plenty of juicy pulled chicken, chorizo, melted cheese, pico de gallo, sour cream and guacamole on top—plus fresh tortillas—it doesn’t really need anything else to make it taste good.
Photo Credit: usarestaurants.info
JV’s Mexican Food
1112 Morena Blvd. San Diego, CA 92110
(619) 276-0758
This 40-year-old landmark serves up tasty and juicy steak, chicken, and shrimp burritos at some of the cheapest prices you’ll find downtown. They also run a Taco Tuesdays promotion. You can even get vegan food here! If your big appetite needs an excuse to hit JV’s, know that they give back to homeless shelters with their donations. Donations + delicious food = definitely one of our top picks for California burritos in San Diego.
Photo Credit: foursquare.com
Sarita’s
9906 Campo Rd (at Bonita St)San Diego, CA 91977
(619) 589-0146
If you want a burrito that won’t disappoint, head to Sarita’s. Their California burrito has been voted best in town time and time again; it’s packed with rice, beans, cheese, guacamole and carne asada (perfect for us carne asada lovers). Their service is quick and efficient—you’ll be back to work before you know it.
Photo Credit: Yelp
Roberto’s Mexican Food
7710 Hazard Center Dr, San Diego, CA 92108
(619) 491-0059
If your idea of California burritos involves carne asada, beans, cheese and avocado (but no rice), Roberto’s is for you. The best part about these old-school (and pretty cheap) burritos? Just like in TJ, they come with complimentary spicy pickled carrots and radishes. There are lots of places to get a California burrito in San Diego, but none will match up to Roberto’s without compromise—and that makes them our #1 spot for anyone looking to get their hands on one.
Photo Credit: usarestaurants.info
El Azteca Taco Shop
8306 Parkway Dr (at Jackson Dr) La Mesa, CA 91942
(619) 466-4113
Open since 1959, El Azteca serves up San Diego’s best California burrito. Served on a big homemade flour tortilla stuffed with steak, rice, beans, sour cream and guacamole along with lots of Pico de Gallo salsa. As well as shrimp and chicken burritos that are just as tasty. All kinds of Mexican food dishes at great prices with fast service.
Photo Credit: Yelp
Rudy’s
524 Stevens Ave, Solana Beach, CA 92075
(858) 755-0788
Southern California has changed a lot over its storied history, but one thing that hasn’t is Rudy’s. Serving up California burritos since 1946, Rudy’s knows how to keep things classic and delicious. If you find yourself near Downtown SD with a craving for a good ol’ Southern California burrito, take a pit stop at Rudy’s and enjoy what has been, and continues to be, a staple of SoCal culture.
Photo Credit: usarestaurants.info
Don Bravo
5504 La Jolla Blvd (at Midway St) La Jolla, CA 92037
(858) 454-8940
When it comes to California burritos, there’s one spot that reigns supreme. If you ask any local, they’ll tell you it’s Don Bravo. For nearly 20 years, people have been flocking here for their award-winning burritos. The secret is in their pinto beans—always cooked with lard and topped with melted cheese, they add an extra richness to each bite of salsa-drenched beef or chicken.
Photo Credit: usarestaurants.info
Lucha Libre
1810 W Washington St (at India St) San Diego, CA 92103
(619) 296-8226
If you’re looking for a great California burrito, make your way to Lucha Libre. For 20 years, Lucha Libre has been making best in SD lists for good reason. Serving up monster meals since 1997, it doesn’t get more traditional than their $7.99 lunch special: a meaty burrito stuffed with rice, beans and salsa verde wrapped up and ready to eat. Don’t expect frills or modern cuisine here—this is as true as blue as true gets. It might not be fancy, but there’s a reason why locals have been packing Lucha Libre time after time year after year.
Featured Blog Posts
The Coolest Christmas Bars & Pop-ups in San Diego, CA
Welcome to the season of peppermint shots and parties! While San Diego may not be the place to see snow at Christmas, the fun piles up with help from San Diego’s collection of Christmas bars and holiday pop-up bars. While some of the best Christmas bars in the city simply “pop up” overnight with help from elves, other top spots for holiday libations are actually existing bars that transform into holiday havens for the season. Are you feeling festive? Don’t miss this list of the best Christmas bars and holiday pop-up bars in San Diego, CA!
12 Michelin Star Restaurants That Are Actually Worth The Hype in San Diego, CA
There’s no mincing words when you’re putting in the time and money to visit a Michelin restaurant. 9 times out of 10, you’re going to be spending a pretty penny, so you want to make sure everything about the experience is impeccable. So which prestigious San Diego eateries are actually worth it? Get your money’s worth on the SoCal dining scene with these 12 Michelin star restaurants that are splurge worthy in San Diego, CA!
The Best Restaurants in Downtown San Diego
Downtown San Diego is a location for a constantly evolving and suddenly very lively food scene with options for all. Let’s take a look at just some of what Downtown San Diego has to offer!
12 Incredibly Fun Restaurants in San Diego, CA
San Diego has so many fun restaurants! In a choosey city like this one, no restaurant can get by on gimmicks alone. That’s why these lively restaurants also offer premium food, drinks, and ambiance. Why let dinner be dull? Check out these 12 fun San Diego restaurants for an epic meal out on the town.