Best Burrito
El Charrito
122 W. Market St., Salinas, (831) 424-9446
483 Calle Principal, Monterey, (831) 884-5143
98 General Stilwell Drive, Suite 10, Marina, (831) 901-3617
elcharrito.com
The humble burrito can be elevated with attention to any component. Simmer the beans to a perfect texture, soft but not mushy, well seasoned but not too salty. The rice should be fluffy and buttery, the salsa packed with flavor but not too overpoweringly hot or vinegar-forward. The meat is tender – delicious enough to stand alone, but complementing all the other ingredients. And of course, the tortilla that holds it all together is not to be overlooked. El Charrito is beloved for its attention to all of the components, but those tortillas are a sensation (if you’re lucky, the original Salinas location may have a bag available for sale, but they go fast). Family matriarch Teresa Moncada immigrated from Mexico to Salinas and made these recipes into a perfect formula and now, 45 years later, her grandchildren are operating three locations.