Have you ever had a burrito stuffed with french fries? If not, you are missing out. At Brick Street Burrito in downtown Valparaiso, the star of the show is the San Diego style burrito. It is big, warm and packed with flavor. In this post, you will learn what a San Diego style burrito is, where the famous California burrito came from, why people love it so much, and what you can order at Brick Street Burrito today.
What Is a San Diego Style Burrito?
A burrito is a flour tortilla wrapped around a filling. That part is simple. But not all burritos are the same. Different cities make them in different ways.
In San Diego, California, the most famous burrito is called the California burrito. Locals often just call it a “Cali burrito.” According to San Diego Magazine, the classic version has four main parts:
- A flour tortilla
- Carne asada, which is grilled, seasoned steak
- Cheddar cheese
- French fries
Yes, french fries go right inside the burrito. Many places also add guacamole and sour cream.
How It Is Different From a Mission Burrito
You may know the big burritos from San Francisco. Those are called Mission burritos. They usually have rice and beans inside. A San Diego style burrito is different. It skips the rice and lets the meat, cheese and fries take center stage. The result is a burrito that is hearty and full of rich flavor in every bite.
The Story of the California Burrito
So who came up with the idea of putting fries in a burrito? The honest answer is that nobody knows for sure. San Diego Magazine looked into this question. Here is what it found.
A Food With More Than One Origin Story
Everyone agrees the California burrito is from the San Diego area. But a few places have been named as the first to make it.
- Lolita’s: One story says a worker at Lolita’s in the 1980s saw a regular customer add his own fries to a carne asada burrito. That small idea may have started it all.
- Santana’s Mexican Grill: This El Cajon restaurant calls itself the “home of the California burrito.” Some people say Santana’s added fries first, around 1987.
- Roberto’s: Food writer Gustavo Arellano told the magazine that Roberto’s deserves credit for making the burrito popular, even if we do not know who invented it.
Most people point to the 1980s as the time when the California burrito was born. It grew from a fun local idea into a food that San Diego is now famous for.
Why the Fries Work So Well
At first, fries in a burrito might sound odd. But think about it. Steak and fries are already a classic pair. Fries add a soft, salty, potato bite. They soak up the juices from the meat. They make the burrito feel filling and comforting. Add melted cheese and cool guacamole, and you get a bite that is warm, creamy and salty all at once.
Why People Love San Diego Style Burritos
There are many reasons this burrito has so many fans. Here are a few big ones.
- It is filling. One burrito can easily be a full meal.
- It is easy to eat. Everything is wrapped up, so you can eat it with your hands.
- It has great contrast. You get warm meat, cool toppings, crispy and soft textures together.
- It is fun. Fries inside a burrito is just a happy idea.
- It is flexible. Cooks can swap the steak for chicken, shrimp, fish or veggies and still keep the spirit of the dish.
Meet Brick Street Burrito in Valparaiso
Now let us bring the story home to Indiana. Brick Street Burrito is part of Costas Restaurant Group, a locally owned group of restaurants in Valparaiso. The restaurant is located at 3 Napoleon St in Valparaiso, close to the heart of downtown. Its focus is simple: San Diego style burritos made for Northwest Indiana.
That means you do not need to travel to the West Coast to try a real Cali style burrito. You can walk downtown and grab one for lunch or dinner.
Burritos on the Menu
Brick Street Burrito’s online ordering menu lists a wide range of burritos. Here are some you can find:
- California: carne asada, fries, cheddar, guac and sour cream. This is the classic San Diego style burrito.
- California Chicken: shredded chicken with fries, cheddar and cotija, guac, pico and sour cream.
- Surf & Turf: carne asada and grilled shrimp with fries, cheddar, guac, pico de gallo and chipotle aioli.
- Carne Asada: carne asada, cheddar, lettuce, guac and pico.
- Mahi Mahi: grilled mahi mahi with cotija, lettuce, jalapeño slaw, chipotle aioli and pineapple salsa.
- Carnitas: carnitas with guac, pineapple salsa, lettuce and jalapeño slaw.
- Flamin’ Hot: carne asada, pico, sour cream, guac, cheddar and Flamin’ Hot Cheetos.
- Buffalo Chicken: shredded chicken, bacon, fries, cotija, sour cream and buffalo sauce.
- 2 in 1: carne asada plus two chicken rolled tacos, with fries, cheddar, cotija and guac.
- Vegan: cabbage, grilled onion, red pepper, corn, lettuce, rice, pico and fries.
The menu has also featured a Burrito of the Month, such as a Cali Birria burrito with slow cooked brisket birria and fries.
Breakfast Burritos
Brick Street Burrito opens in the morning, so breakfast is a big deal here. The breakfast burritos include:
- Classic: eggs, bacon, sausage, hashbrowns, cheddar, pico and sour cream
- Steak & Egg: eggs, carne asada, hashbrowns, cheddar, guac and pico
- Veggie: eggs, caramelized onions, red pepper, hashbrowns, chipotle aioli, cheddar and cotija
- Chorizo: chorizo, eggs, hashbrowns, pico, sour cream and cheddar
More Than Burritos
Not in the mood for a burrito? There is plenty more. The menu includes tacos, rolled tacos, quesadillas and bowls. You can even try Birria Ramen, which mixes ramen noodles with birria and a rich consommé broth. For snacks, there are chips with salsa, guac or queso, nachos, carne asada fries and an elote cup. Kids meals are also on the menu, so the whole family can eat together.
Menus and prices can change, so check the online ordering page for the latest list.
Tips for Your First San Diego Style Burrito
Trying a San Diego style burrito for the first time? Here are some simple tips.
Start With the Classic
Order the California burrito first. It is the best way to taste what this style is all about: steak, fries, cheese and guac.
Bring a Big Appetite
These burritos are hearty. If you are not very hungry, think about sharing or saving half for later.
Add a Side to Share
Chips and salsa or an elote cup are great for the table, especially with friends.
Come Back for Breakfast
Once you love the lunch burritos, try a breakfast burrito on a weekend morning. It is a great way to start the day downtown.
Eat It the Smart Way
Big burritos can get messy. Here is a simple trick. Keep the foil or paper wrap on and peel it back a little at a time as you eat. This holds everything together, so the fries and fillings stay inside the tortilla and not on your shirt.
Bringing a San Diego Style Burrito to Indiana
San Diego Magazine notes that the fries filled version of the burrito has mostly stayed close to Southern California. That makes it a fun find in the Midwest. Brick Street Burrito gives Valparaiso a taste of that West Coast favorite without the long trip.
The menu also shows how a classic idea can grow. You still get the true California burrito. But you also get new spins like the Surf & Turf, the Flamin’ Hot and Birria Ramen. This mix of old and new is part of what keeps people coming back.
Hours, Location and Ordering
Brick Street Burrito is at 3 Napoleon St, Valparaiso, IN 46383. The phone number is (219) 510 1100. At the time of writing, its online ordering page lists hours of 9am to 8pm Sunday through Thursday, and 9am to 9pm on Friday and Saturday. Hours can change, so check before you go.
You can order online for pickup through the restaurant’s Toast ordering page. That makes it easy to grab lunch on a busy work day or pick up dinner for the family.
Part of a Local Restaurant Family
Brick Street Burrito is one of several restaurants run by Costas Restaurant Group in Valparaiso. The group also runs Le Peep Valparaiso, Burgerhaus, Lenny’s Coal Fired Pizza, and Birdie’s & Nextdoor. When you eat at Brick Street Burrito, you support a locally owned business that cares about downtown Valpo.
Come Taste the Story
The California burrito began as a simple idea in San Diego: put fries in a carne asada burrito. Decades later, that idea is loved far beyond California, and now it lives right here in Valparaiso. Stop by Brick Street Burrito at 3 Napoleon St, or order online for pickup. Bring a friend, grab a San Diego style burrito, and taste the story for yourself!
