El Charrito
122 W. Market St., Salinas
(831) 424-9446
483 Calle Principal, Monterey
(831) 884-5143, elcharrito.com
There was a time not that long ago, that what we know as the American West today was part of Mexico. And the burrito has long been a culinary icon of the region, with origins in Mexico and now ubiquitous throughout California and Monterey County. The story of El Charrito starts with Teresa and Jose Moncada, who immigrated from Mexico to Salinas in the 1960s with their idea of the American Dream – and some serious know-how when it comes to making a buttery, stretchy flour tortilla. It’s not the secret sauce that makes these burritos the best (although we like the salsas too!), but the base: Start with a tortilla good enough to devour alone, and you have the perfect portable meal for a long ride on horseback.
