A soft shell tortilla is the perfect vehicle to transport eggs, onions, green and red peppers, and cheese on a flavor journey. In a prior life I spent weekends traveling Southern California from Malibu to Pasadena to Seal Beach in search of the perfect breakfast burrito. This was peak Jim Hamill in my life. I woke up a 7am and drove down traffic free California coastal highways in search of breakfast burritos. My life has been all downhill from here.
There are three breakfast burrito places that stand above the rest: Frank's, Lucy's, and Lucky Boy. There is a definitive drop off from these three places with everyone else battling for fourth. Let me tell you the mistake all the fourth place finishers make - they go too big and add too many potatoes (Snug Harbor would be 4A and everyone else is 4B). I want to pick up my burrito and eat it without it falling apart. I don't want a dry mouth from eating a ton of potatoes. Is that too much to ask? Frank's and Lucy's nail that breakfast is an essential meal but shouldn't make you lethargic and Lucky Boy, hey well Lucky Boy is the exception to my "too large, too potato-y" complaint (and there's thousands who would agree that Lucky Boy is a worthy exception.
There are three breakfast burrito places that stand above the rest: Frank's, Lucy's, and Lucky Boy. There is a definitive drop off from these three places with everyone else battling for fourth. Let me tell you the mistake all the fourth place finishers make - they go too big and add too many potatoes (Snug Harbor would be 4A and everyone else is 4B). I want to pick up my burrito and eat it without it falling apart. I don't want a dry mouth from eating a ton of potatoes. Is that too much to ask? Frank's and Lucy's nail that breakfast is an essential meal but shouldn't make you lethargic and Lucky Boy, hey well Lucky Boy is the exception to my "too large, too potato-y" complaint (and there's thousands who would agree that Lucky Boy is a worthy exception.
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Frank's - 363 S Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036 - 4.7 rating
There's a psychological reason I love Frank's - it's a hole-in-the-wall place, hiding in plain site, on Fairfax, in central LA, near The Grove. There's something about finding a place like Frank's (although it's well known among burrito aficionados), buried among LA's glitz and glamour, and enjoying what feels like a true, locals only experience. I used to work less than a five minute drive from Frank's and I only discovered this place during my last month of work...if only! Someone with a more sophisticated palette than mine could pinpoint why Frank's is so great - for me it has everything every other breakfast burrito has, it just has the ingredients in the right proportion and doesn't overwhelm. I leave here ready to take on the world. |
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Lucy's Drive In - 1373 South La Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90019 - 4.0 rating
I've made many, many a drive up La Cienega, across Stocker, then up La Brea, where I'd always see Lucy's but never stop. Man! If it was only on the northbound (east) side of La Brea, I would have stopped here every morning.
I'm not going to tell you that Lucy's is the best breakfast burrito in Los Angeles. I have it in my top three because at a certain point, value becomes a major criteria when evaluating breakfast burritos. And let me tell you something - somebody charging $9 or more for a breakfast burrito is ripping you off. Lucy's breakfast burritos cost $5.25. And they don't skimp on the ingredients. And it's not some stomach bomb of a burrito. And they've got great outdoor dining. And it's located in a "real" part of Los Angeles. So, Lucy's becomes the de facto burrito upon which all other burritos are judged. I won't argue that there's better breakfast burritos than Lucy's. Snug Harbor is a better burrito. It's my 4A. And I looooooove the diner style seating a Snug Harbor. But their burrito costs $13.95. I'll take Lucy's six days a week and save Snug Harbor for Sunday.
I've made many, many a drive up La Cienega, across Stocker, then up La Brea, where I'd always see Lucy's but never stop. Man! If it was only on the northbound (east) side of La Brea, I would have stopped here every morning.
I'm not going to tell you that Lucy's is the best breakfast burrito in Los Angeles. I have it in my top three because at a certain point, value becomes a major criteria when evaluating breakfast burritos. And let me tell you something - somebody charging $9 or more for a breakfast burrito is ripping you off. Lucy's breakfast burritos cost $5.25. And they don't skimp on the ingredients. And it's not some stomach bomb of a burrito. And they've got great outdoor dining. And it's located in a "real" part of Los Angeles. So, Lucy's becomes the de facto burrito upon which all other burritos are judged. I won't argue that there's better breakfast burritos than Lucy's. Snug Harbor is a better burrito. It's my 4A. And I looooooove the diner style seating a Snug Harbor. But their burrito costs $13.95. I'll take Lucy's six days a week and save Snug Harbor for Sunday.
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Lucky Boy - 640 S Arroyo Pkwy, Pasadena, CA 91105 - 4.5 rating
I noted at the top that Lucky Boy was an exception. The reason it's an exception is because they do their potatoes right. I get that cooking potatoes takes a long, long time. Chefs precook a stack of potatoes then dump then in a burrito order is placed because otherwise it'd take fifteen minutes to complete the order. I get all that. That means in most cases you get overcooked potatoes. Lucky Boy is busy enough that they must have some clockwork top cycle where the potatoes cook for the proper amount of time and then, woomf, they are dropped into the burrito. The burrito is massive and yet I somehow walk away and don't feel lethargic. I have no idea how Lucky Boy pulls this culinary miracle off but they pull it off every time I eat here.
I noted at the top that Lucky Boy was an exception. The reason it's an exception is because they do their potatoes right. I get that cooking potatoes takes a long, long time. Chefs precook a stack of potatoes then dump then in a burrito order is placed because otherwise it'd take fifteen minutes to complete the order. I get all that. That means in most cases you get overcooked potatoes. Lucky Boy is busy enough that they must have some clockwork top cycle where the potatoes cook for the proper amount of time and then, woomf, they are dropped into the burrito. The burrito is massive and yet I somehow walk away and don't feel lethargic. I have no idea how Lucky Boy pulls this culinary miracle off but they pull it off every time I eat here.
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INLAND BURRITO EXPLORATION
When I explored the LA breakfast burrito scene in a past life I used Manhattan and Hermosa beaches as my launching ground. I ventured as far north as Malibu, as far south as Seal Beach, and as far east as Pasadena. There wasn't a place in a "top 25 breakfast burritos" of Los Angeles I hadn't tried. Tacos Villa Corona? Come on. Been there, done that. The lists have changed over the years but I feel safe with the three I've mentioned above. These days when I come to California, Highland, CA is my launching ground and the breakfast burrito search is limited to the Inland Empire area, which still has quite the offering.
Abelino's - 652 E Redlands Blvd, Redlands, CA 92373 - 4.4 rating
This place is nothing to look at...but...like Lucy's it's a good burrito at a great price upon which all others may be judged. It beats cooking it at home.
This place is nothing to look at...but...like Lucy's it's a good burrito at a great price upon which all others may be judged. It beats cooking it at home.
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Ester Burrito - 1466 E Foothill Blvd Q, Upland, CA 91786 - 4.4 rating
Ester has what is considered one of the best breakfast burritos in the Inland Empire. I went and royally fouled up my order by deciding to be creative and get chorizo instead of bacon and wow, what a mistake. I need to head back here and just order an ordinary burrito. Maybe this was a great chorizo burrito, there's just one problem specific to me...I don't like chorizo. And I have no idea why I ordered a chorizo burrito. Probably so I could return in the future.
Ester has what is considered one of the best breakfast burritos in the Inland Empire. I went and royally fouled up my order by deciding to be creative and get chorizo instead of bacon and wow, what a mistake. I need to head back here and just order an ordinary burrito. Maybe this was a great chorizo burrito, there's just one problem specific to me...I don't like chorizo. And I have no idea why I ordered a chorizo burrito. Probably so I could return in the future.
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