WOW! This is awesome

Found the ultimate today.
There was a recommendation for a Mexican restaurant, but it was much more than what we were thinking of trying for a burrito.
They make them, they are big, but the one recommended is a "corporation" and we were determined to find one of the smaller independent types.
The day was getting on, so we headed to Old Town, knowing full well there had to be something close by. About the 1800-1900 block of San Diego Avenue, there is a little place called Dos Brasos. It is everything we had in mind. Small. Just an independent little guy serving tradesmen and neighborhood people.
Didn't make any judgments, but this place looked promising.
I ordered the rolled tacos with guacamole since I didn't want to intrude on the searcher's special tastes.
First bite into the carne asada burrito promted a bit of a statement which indicated we'd hit the mother lode. "This is incredible." Just enough of the pico to make it really special. The burrito is huge and the taste was very good.
So, for the money and the taste and the location, this is, so far the best in San Diego. Of course there are another hundred; i.e., so many burritos and so little time, but we think we have found the best burrito in San Diego.
We'll continue tomorrow to locate others for comparison. There is, on the other hand, the "maybe" we'll be distracted to Phil's for barbeque. Now that's a mean place for a meal.
Drooling already.

Ahhh, the thrill of the burrito trail

Today was the next trip out on the trail of the elusive best burrito.
Yesterday we thought about a foray to a really nice Mexican restaurant and did it. Betty's in the 1400 block of University. Grandson Roy and I had just had an ice cream cone and were pretty much not very hungry, so when we picked up Sam, my publisher, we headed to Betty's for lunch - it was early afternoon and we decided to get something, even if it was just a little bite. Sam ordered the chicken burrito, but Roy and I had quesadillas. His was a 'shroom and mine was shredded chicken. Both were excellent. Sam said his chicken burrito was very good, but huge!, so he took half of it home for a meal later or today.
This afternoon Roy and I were a little hungrier than we'd been for a while, so off we went. Had to drop off a pair of sandals to get them repaired at John's shoes on Clairemont Drive. Across the street is a Cotijan fast Mexican food place. Wasn't sure, but at least I knew they had burritos and Roy was really hungry. I ordered my usual, a variety on the nacho plate. The chips were crispy and the guacamole was abundant. They put a lot of cheese on top. I would have preferred if they would have broiled the cheese to melting, but it was fine as they served it.
Roy's burrito was gigantic and he said, "It's a 9. Damn good." WOW! High praise. When we left he said it was the best burrito he'd had since we started the search. It was full to overflowing and he had a leak in the tortilla and carne asada dripped enough to split the side; he had to use a fork to finish, but that made little difference in the quality. Damn good.

Ahhh, the search continues

Talked with our nephew yesterday and had a long conversation regarding several things. He has advised the Sombrero has a good burrito. When grandson and I are hungry mid-afternoon, he sleeps late and gets up to the bright light of day about 11ish, the burrito does sound interesting to him. Me? Still a favorite with the nacho crowd. We know right where the Sombrero is: corner of Hwy 52 and Convoy at the Shell station. Usually crowded since, as nephew suggests, the food is pretty good. We wandered up that way and were waited on by a nice cashier, ordered the carne asada burrito pico.
I ordered, oh how I ached and drooled for this one, french fries with carne asada, cheese, guacamole, and sour cream. The burrito and the fries came in pretty short order. I dug in to the fries and knew quickly that I would not be able to finish them. Mmmphing along, I got about 1/2 through and went to the lady and asked for a take-out box. Whew, that was good stuff.
Back to the burrito. "How is this one?" Roy nodded while chomping away at a mouthful. When he paused I asked, "One to ten?" He smiled and said, "Good 9." However, he did it mostly because of the pico. However, he added, "They put it only on one side."
Okay, so one side. Is that a problem? He said he felt it ought to have been put on the burrito so he got some with each bite -- he eats a bit from the left side, then the right side, then the center, since they are usually so big you can't get the whole thing in one bite.
That's the day. We waddled out of the Sombrero and went shopping. Not grocery shopping, I'm afraid, since full is not a good way to scout for menu items.

Third day testing

Grandson and I have many many choices to attend to before we declare a best burrito in San Diego. There were several recommendations which we intend to follow up and those include some which are quite a distance away. Oh, no, nothing like Phoenix or El Paso, but south to San Ysidro and even as far away as Spring Valley. Makes a burrito cost a lot of money when you think of how much gasoline costs and distance involved in the search.
The one we devoured yesterday was really quite good. When grandson was small, somewhere between 5 and 7 years old, we used to go to Don Mario's at Mt. Etna and Genesee. The restaurant then was quite "intimate" (read: a hole in the wall), but Don increased the size quite a bit and the food was excellent. Grandson did like that place and even asked if he could have one of the Don Mario tee shirts. Don got sick and sold the place though; the lady who ran the new place was quite nice, but both grandson and we moved and lost contact.
I had thought this might be a good place to re-visit in any case.
Now, it's Nieto's Mexican Food and though recently opened he's working hard to make it successful.
We introduced ourselves and grandson ordered the test burrito: Carne Asada.
Tavo Carrillo, the owner, brought it to the table and was very cordial. Grandson began his meal. I had ordered a carne asada tostada.
When the burrito looked to have been about 1/2 finished I asked, "Okay, how's this one." Grandson, with a mouth full of the dripping giant thing, nodded. When he got the opportunity to speak, he indicated this was the best so far. "I'd give it a 10 just for the service, but a 9 was for the food, the extra was because the guy is so nice," he said.
The tostada was great too.
So, this one is the best at this point. I did say, 9.5 would be a good number for the burrito.
Today we foray again. There are so many Mexican food places and so little time.
We eschew the corporate places as they have very little personal attitudes about their portions. They mete out the lettuce, there are a certain number of diced tomatoes, the chicken or beef is pre-set at 3 oz., and the staff only smiles because the food is often not taste specific, ie., they get the "average" and serve to that level and not to the best they can do.
Therefore, only small and lively Mexican restaurants or those on the corner will do.
OB next? We'll try them either today or maybe Thursday. Friday we have a LOT to do and likely won't be on the trail of the best burrito again until Saturday.

Oh those burritos

Today we went to Roberto's on Convoy in Kearny Mesa. I was sure it would be a good place for burritos. I had the three rolled tacos with guacamole and cheese. Roy ordered a carne asada burrito. After two bites he said, "This is the best." I'm not sure he meant as good as the one he experienced in Illinois, but it was, to him a full 10. I had warned him of the heat from Habenero sauce. He's wanted to try it. Got a SMALL amount and he decided it was rather hot, so that solved his curiosity quotent for the day.
But, this, so far, is the best burrito in town. Tomorrow or Wednesday we'll head for that place that used to be Don ??'s and is now someone else's place. We'll try that and also I've had a good feeling about the burritos and taco salad at Carl Jr near our house. Roy would also like to test Taco Bell, but I don't think they'll come even close.
Nice day today. He got his guitar fixed and restrung. The whammy bar will be in on Wednesday and he'll be very happy about that.

More burritos

After the last blog we went to do somethings and ended up searching for the big burrito for the best in San Diego. We have been using the Clairemont and Kearny Mesa area for the search until now. Last check was at El Portal on Genesee at Mt. Alifan. Turned in and found it lots busier than the last Mexican restaurant there. We ordered. I asked for nachos, just cheese and guacamole. Seems they were fairly ordinary. The burrito Roy ordered was chicken. He was after it pretty good, but I wondered if it was all That good. "One to ten, how is it?" He merely shrugged and said, "About a six." Ooopsy.
Today we went to gym and afterward to the store for tickets to the county fair. We had passed an IHOP and he wanted pancakes. So, we slipped in there and forwent the burrito today.
Came time to leave and we just hustled up to find some fruit for his "breakfast" since he got a bit low blood sugar at the gym. Maybe a nice choco muffin will work for him next time.
Missed the burrito massacre.
We'll work on that one on Wednesday.
That's what happened today. Nothing special and nothing happening for the rest of the day unless he comes up with a deep and burning desire to find a burrito for dinner.

10 best burritos in San Diego

Grandson comes to visit each year during the summer. This time he came and decided he'd experienced the very best burrito in Chicago last year. I don't think they come any better than those made in San Diego. SO, we are on the trail of the best burrito in San Diego.
The first, June 13, 2007, was at Las Panchitos on Clairemont Mesa Boulevard at the Smart and Final site; and he rated it 1-10 as a 7 or 7.5. The next day we went to Cotixa's on Clairemont Mesa at the Diane Shopping Center. He said that burrito was an 8. I think he was base line the Chicago burrito. The damn thing was HUGE and from my point of view, no rice, only solid carne asado with salsa, guacamole, and drooling goodness. Today, June 15th, we went to Sergio's on Convoy by the Home Depot Expo. He rated that a 9, but wanted a little less sour cream, but said it was very good.
Frankly, I'm a nacho guy. The nacho selection at Cotixa wasn't awesome, but mostly that was my fault. Partly because I didn't select the upgrade. I figured it would be a huge thing anyhow and I didn't need that much. Got the canned nacho cheese and unimpressive.
Today, however, went to Sergio's and they made the best nacho plate I'd seen for a long time. Usually I'll accept almost anything with a pile of sour cream and big blob of guacamole. Even Carl's Jr has a decent one; not great, but I get by with it. Grade? Oh, I'd say a 5 or 5.5. The best I've ever had was the mejor plate at Nati's in Ocean Beach. Just a huge amount of food and had to bring home a box of it. The next best was at Sergio's where they use only shredded cheese and not the canned junk. The chips were fresh and hot and just out of the frier. The carne asada was tender and very well done. I'm sure the guacamole was from Costco as I've not had much better than what they have. Yummers.
Tomorrow we'll have to try another place and there are so many we'll have no trouble finding The Best in San Diego before he leaves July 17th.
So, stand by for another post.