burrito

A burrito is more than just lunch—it's a warm, hand-held meal in a flourish of flavor. At its core, it’s a flour tortilla folded and rolled around a filling, then usually served warm. That filling can be anything from a simple mix of beans and rice to a more ambitious combo of seasoned meat, cheese, vegetables, salsa, guacamole, and more.

Think of it as portable deliciousness. You might grab a breakfast burrito on your way to work or share a giant one with friends at the end of a night out. The word "burrito" means "little donkey" in Spanish; the nickname is widely attributed to how the wrapped form was jokingly likened to a small bundle. If you hear the term used, chances are you’re talking about food, not animals.

The burrito is a staple of Mexican and Mexican-American cuisine: a flour tortilla wrapped tightly around a variety of savory fillings. While its exact origins are debated, this style of rolled wrap became especially associated with northern Mexico and border-region cooking, then spread widely through restaurant and fast-casual culture. Traditionally, burritos were simple and practical—often beans, rice, and a small amount of meat—meant to be hearty and easy to eat on the go.

Today, the burrito has exploded in variety. You’ll find giant "Mission-style" burritos packed with rice, beans, meat, cheese, sour cream, guacamole, and sauce—sometimes wrapped in foil to keep things tidy. Other versions include the burrito mojado ("wet burrito"), where the rolled tortilla is drenched in sauce, as well as breakfast burritos filled with eggs, potatoes, and chorizo.

The word "burrito" literally means "little donkey" in Spanish, which likely began as a playful nickname rather than a literal historical explanation. The exact reason for the name is disputed, and there is no single source everyone agrees on.

Beyond food, "burrito" can occasionally be used playfully to describe someone or something tightly wrapped: "She was swaddled up like a burrito." But in most cases, it refers to the layered meal in a folded tortilla, usually packed with a flavorful filling.