or, How to Keep Your Mitts Warm in a New Mexican Winter
As the leaves fall and the morning air cools to a chill, most people rely on hot beverages and gloves to keep their mitts warm. In Albuquerque, the handheld breakfast burrito is the preferred (and tastiest) way to stay warm in the winter.
When I was growing up, my dad would make chorizo and egg breakfast burritos on the weekends, instilling a love for savory Sunday mornings in me at a young age. To my delight, New Mexico takes this culinary form very seriously. Stuffed to the brim with potatoes (papas), scrambled eggs, Hatch chile and cheese, a breakfast burrito can be augmented with additional yum such as bacon, beans, carne adovada and of course, chorizo.
Many say New Mexico is the birthplace of the original breakfast burrito, but no one has been able to pinpoint its originator with any certainty. Legend has it that the first one was rolled at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta in the 1970s. Dee Rusanowski, owner of Saveur Bistro in Santa Fe, claims to have invented the handheld breakfast burrito around 1976. “Breakfast burrito” appeared as a menu item at Tia Sophia’s restaurant in Santa Fe around the same time in 1975. Then again, my father has been eating breakfast burritos since he was a little boy in 1970s California and Mexico. Is it possible that a few people had a great idea all at the same time?
What we can agree upon is that the breakfast burrito is a cornerstone of New Mexican cuisine, with an immeasurable impact on cravings all over the Southwest. After all, the why is less important than the where and how you order your breakfast burrito. Trusted colleagues offered their takes on the matter and we assessed the results a posteriori (aka, observational analysis with my taste buds).
The wait is over – here are seven places you can munch on a classic New Mexican breakfast burrito in Albuquerque:
Golden Pride
Golden Pride opened in 1972 as “Golden Fried Chicken,” with a few locations dotted throughout the burgeoning city east and west. Fans of Frontier Restaurant on Route 66 can enjoy some staple offerings at Golden Pride, including a delicious breakfast burrito wrapped in their signature flour tortillas that taste like home. According to NM Gastronome, Golden Pride patrons consume about 160,000 burritos every month. The data speaks for itself!
A Golden Pride breakfast burrito. Image courtesy of The Food Network.
Baca Boys
Tucked away on 4th Street in downtown Albuquerque, Baca Boys is a cozy, family-owned New Mexican café with all of your favorite comfort foods. The breakfast burrito platter, complete with crisp papas and green chile, has become something of a cult favorite. Our Director of PR & Communications gets the handheld breakfast burrito, no meat with red chile.
102 4th St. NW
Monday-Friday: 7 a.m.-3 p.m.
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
Baca Boys' neon sign and a smothered breakfast burrito plate. Image courtesy of Peter Kennett.
Blake’s Lotaburger
New Mexico’s very own burger stop offers warm breakfast burritos for your morning munchies. Catch the drive-thru before 11 a.m. for a variety of breakfast burritos loaded with the classics and some more. My personal go-to is the #7, with refried beans, bacon and red chile.
Blake’s boasts over 35 locations in Albuquerque, so their burritos are great in a pinch no matter your destination.
Blake's breakfast burritos. Image courtesy of Blake's Lotaburger.
Twisters
New Mexico doesn’t have tornadoes, fortunately, but it does have Twisters – a classic local chain known for its reliably cheesy burritos. Breakfast burritos aren’t the chain’s only claim to fame: the South Valley location was featured in AMC’s Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul as "Los Pollos Hermanos". We must admit – the handheld #8 burrito with bacon and green chile is criminally good.
Twisters - South Valley
4275 Isleta Blvd. SW
Open Daily: 6 a.m.-8 p.m.
A stacked breakfast burrito pyramid. Image courtesy of Twisters.
Barelas Coffee House
Barelas Coffee House is a staple brunch spot just south of Downtown in the tight-knit Barelas neighborhood. The patio seating is brightly lit and intimate. Here, you can see people from all walks of life sharing breakfast burrito reverie. The burritos are hearty and made with love, available handheld or smothered in your chile of choice.
1502 4th St. SW
Monday-Friday: 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
Saturday: 7:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Sunday: Closed
Barelas Coffee House exterior.
Burrito Express
Crispy potatoes plus crispy bacon with a helping of delicious chile is a formula for greatness. Burrito Express’ breakfast burritos are a crowd favorite, no matter the time of day. For over 30 years, Burrito Express has continued to offer authentic New Mexican food made with homemade ingredients, from the tortillas to the salsa. Our insiders recommend the smothered red chile asado breakfast burrito.
Burrito Express - North Valley
141 Osuna Rd. NW, Suite A
Monday-Saturday: 6:30 a.m.-8:00 p.m.
Closed Sunday
A breakfast burrito from Burrito Express. Image courtesy of Burrito Express.
Duran’s
Duran Central Pharmacy (est. 1942) is a pharmacy, gift shop and Route 66 diner, all-in-one. Try the breakfast burrito smothered with Christmas (red and green chile) and chorizo for a meal that heals the soul. A flour tortilla the size of your head dressed with melted butter is complimentary with every meal – an authentically Mexican addition to any meal, which always takes me back to Sunday breakfasts with my dad.
1815 Central Ave. NW
Saturday-Thursday: 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Friday: 9 a.m.-7 p.m.
A smothered breakfast burrito with red and green chile. Image courtesy of Duran Central Pharmacy.
