The 10 Best Burritos In Chicago

By Staff in Best Of on Mar 12, 2015 9:10PM

Rolled up in a warm tortilla and bursting with deliciousness inside, a burrito can often be your best friend, especially during a late-night or morning-after meal. They're not the most authentic option by a landslide, but burritos can still be close to perfection when done right. However, disaster can strike if you end up with a poorly constructed abomination with wilted lettuce and dried-out meat, which has happened to the best of us in our quest to find the best burritos across the city, which we have faithfully compiled for you here.

This isn't the first time we've shared a few favorites, but it never hurts to spread some more burrito love. Our staff has selected the cream of the crop at some of our favorite establishments around town. So unwrap that tin foil, grab some napkins and dig in.



The steak burrito at La Pasadita./ Photo: Facebook

Carne Asada Burrito at La Pasadita

Some burritos include everything but the kitchen sink—or at least provide that option. Others are an exercise in restraint, like La Pasadita’s carne asada burrito that includes only grilled skirt steak, onions and cilantro. It's the same holy trinity that makes La Pasadita’s tacos so good, but in burrito form you just get more of it. And who wants beans, cheese or lettuce taking up space when you could have more steak? Just don’t forget to add some green salsa as you eat. — Benjy Lipsman

The original La Pasadita is located at 1140 N. Ashland Ave.



Poblano Rajas Burrito at L’Patron

The tacos at this Logan Square taqueria are among the best in Chicago, but their burrito menu is also worth exploring. My favorite, the veggie poblano rajas burrito, is rich with caramelized onions, roasted poblano peppers, roasted tomato sauce and cheese. The poblanos are smoky with a spice that slowly builds in intensity but never becomes overpowering. You can always fill your burritos here with a choice of meat but, for my taste, it’s okay to eschew that in favor of some peppers now and again. —Chuck Sudo

L’Patron is located at 2815 W. Diversey Ave.



Picadillo Burrito at El Taco Veloz

One of the best places in the city for burritos is West Town's El Taco Veloz. Delivering solid and traditional Mexican fare til 3:00 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, late-night cravings are always satisfied and for a reasonable price. Their picadillo and pollo burritos are among the very best I have had in Chicago and are large enough to easily become two meals for the incredible price of $4.00. There’s nothing like heading over here after a night at Beauty Bar to nosh and enjoy the Mexican karaoke that goes into the wee hours on the weekends. — Carrie McGath

El Taco Veloz is located at 1745 W. Chicago Ave.



Lamb Gyro Burrito at Big & Little’s

Big & Little's has created the specialty burrito you never knew you needed. Stuffed burritos and loaded gyros have always been distant cousins, and the Lamb Gyro Burrito brings them together in a deliciously harmonious package. Packed tight with gyro meat, feta cheese, tomatoes, onions and French fries, the Mexican-Greek fusion substitutes salsa with a delectable tzatziki sauce. If it’s true that Chicago was the first city to serve gyros in the United States, then Big & Little’s has done a superb job of expanding on that tasty legacy. While the restaurant has two locations in the city, the Gyro Lamb Burrito is only offered at Big & Little’s on Belmont in Lakeview. — Robert Martin

Big & Little's Lakeview is located at 1034 W. Belmont Ave.



Cechinita Burrito at Don Pepe

Few foodstuffs are as exquisite as perfect slow-roasted pork, and the little piggy stuffed into the tortilla at this Little Village pit stop is one of Chicago’s best-kept secrets...until now. It isn’t fancy with just beans, lettuce, tomato, cheese and sour cream, but it is amazing. Get it to go and eat while doing your own walking tour of La Villita. —Chuck Sudo

Don Pepe is located at 3616 W. 26th St.



An inside view of the burrito at Irazu./ Photo: Facebook

Chorizo Burrito at Irazu

Fans of Costa Rican food have been long-time customers at this little BYOB, cash only spot in Bucktown. During the warmer months the patio is hopping, and there is usually a line out the door for a table. Their oatmeal shakes are on point, their chicharrÃ³n is some of the best in the city and the vegetarian menu has a cult following. But if you are sleeping on their burritos, you are missing out. Although I love the vegetarian burrito (add on sweet plantains for a special treat), I always come back to the chorizo burrito that is super fresh and with just enough grease to make it delicious (not drowning in it like some versions around the city). I always add avocado to mine and love the hot peppers that are tucked inside for an added crunch. Make sure to get yours with a side of salsa lizano, a Costa Rican condiment that is slightly sweet and spicy. — Lisa White

Irazu is located at 1865 N. Milwaukee Ave.

Burrito Vegetariano at El Cid 2

In my experience, solidly-executed vegetarian burritos are not easy to find, so I am delighted that I live so close to El Cid 2 where they have two excellent versions. The Burrito Vegetariano is filled with rice, beans, lettuce, cheese, onions, sour cream and avocado while the Grilled Vegetable Burrito contains grilled vegetables, rice and beans. Their salsa verde is a perfect companion to both, so ask for extra. And if you’re dining in, be sure to grab a lime margarita, another highlight of this Logan Square staple. — Carrie McGath

El Cid 2 is located at 2645 N. Kedzie Ave.



Tortilla-Encrusted Tilapia Burrito at Carbon

The delicately fried, fall-apart tilapia burrito at Carbon is a tested and approved version of the original Baja style taco popular today—but in burrito form, it's truly a one-of-a-kind. It's a much lighter option than those brimming with fine heaps of skirt steak, though I suppose burritos remain an inherently over-sized American indulgence regardless of meat. The Stelote (steak and elote) is actually Carbon's favorite house burrito combo, but I can never pass up this spot's fish. So I up the ante by pairing the tequila lime sauce with a scoop of creamy, rich elote, which complements the crunchy romaine lettuce and sweet white fish. Dip it in the thin but flavorful salsa verde for a little zip and don’t forget to add a mixed bag of corn and the greasy, crunchy homemade flour chips. — Kristine Sherred

Carbon Mexican Fire Grill is located at 300 W. 26th St. and at 810 N. Marshfield Ave.



Steak Lindo Burrito at Tacos Tequilas

Located between Logan Square and Avondale on Milwaukee Ave., Tacos and Tequilas offers a bomb burrito. Wrapped in a large flour tortilla, theirs is soft like you’re biting into a cumulus cloud over the Tex-Mex border. Chewy chunks of steak (and not itty bitty pieces) encapsulate the body of the burrito from top to bottom, but it still leaves enough room to taste the black beans, pico de gallo and sour cream. With a solid serving size, it probably doesn’t matter whether you’re getting steak, chicken or pork because they treat the meat so well. (Vegetarians fear not, they also offer a veggie version!) Folks who find themselves in Logan Square often should take the chance and venture to no man’s land for this bodacious burrito. — Ben Kramer

Tacos Tequilas is located at 2919 N. Milwaukee Ave.



Breakfast Burrito at Nana

There used to be a time in my life when I believed the spicier the chorizo, the better. That time has passed as my waistline expanded and shrunk and my cholesterol levels rose and fell. But there are still moments where I’ll want to test myself to see if the cast iron constitution of my youth can still handle a spicy breakfast burrito. The one offered here at Bridgeport’s brunch destination keeps me honest. The chorizo is made in-house and mixed with scrambled eggs, home fries, refried beans and served with sour cream, salsa verde and an arugula salad. It is a carbo bomb but that chorizo cuts through all the starch and announces its presence with authority. —Chuck Sudo

Nana Organic is located at 3267 S. Halsted St.