Look, we’ve all had our Chipotle phase. Everyone’s been there, so we won’t knock an obsession with that particular chain too badly. However, it’s still a chain, and we at Scene love supporting local restaurants. From breakfast burritos to more traditional ‘burros’ to new wave Mexican fusion, there are tons of different styles of delicious burritos to be had in Cleveland.
Look, we’ve all had our Chipotle phase. Everyone’s been there, so we won’t knock an obsession with that particular chain too badly. However, it’s still a chain, and we at Scene love supporting local restaurants. From breakfast burritos to more traditional ‘burros’ to new wave Mexican fusion, there are tons of different styles of delicious burritos to be had in Cleveland. Take a big bite.
Zocalo
2071 East Fourth St., Cleveland
Most people know Zocalo as the East Fourth joint that always seems like there’s a party going on there, whether it’s before a Cavaliers game or Cinco De Mayo. Don’t sleep on their burritos though. So next time you stop in for a margarita, get their grande burrito or burrito bowl to fill your stomach.
Photo via Zocalo Tequileria/FacebookEl Torito Taqueria
1572 West 117th St., Lakewood
El Torito occupies an unassuming storefront in Lakewood, but its burritos are anything but unassuming. They’re huge, and delicious so get out to El Torito and try one.
Photo via El Torito Taqueria/FacebookEl Señor’s at La Mexicana Grocery
170 East Washington St., Painesville
We promise your trip to be Painesville will be well worth the drive when you get your hands on El Señor’s tacos. A small restaurant attached to a supermarket, seating here is limited but flavor is plentiful. Choose from pork, beef, beef tongue and pork stomach. For a little refreshment, cool down with a Jarritos.
Photo via Scene ArchivesTapatias Taqueria
12501 Lorain Ave., Cleveland
The great thing about this relatively new west side taqueria is the amount of different meat offerings available for your burrito. Choose from chicken, steak, chorizo, carnitas, tripa, lengua, barbacoa or pastor. There’s something for everyone, including a vegetable burrito as well.
Photo via Tapatias Taqueria/FacebookPuente Viejo
1220 Huron Rd., Cleveland
Designed for the downtown crowd, this Playhouse Square eatery that opened in 2017, shuns the classic Mexican restaurant motif in favor of one that could just as easily dispense sushi or steak. The renovated warehouse-style space features exposed brick, industrial lighting, marble-topped bar, and a tastefully understated line-drawing mural of the puente viejo, or old bridge. The burritos are big and tasty and if you’re really hungry, try the super burros for a couple more bucks.
Photo via @PuenteViejoCle/InstagramOhio City Burrito
Multiple Locations
Ohio City Burrito is best known for its Mission-style burritos, those tightly constructed torpedoes filled with meat, rice, beans, guacamole, sour cream, cheese, lettuce and salsa. Priced around only $7, the Cal-Mex missiles are bonafide hunger snuffers.
Photo via Scene ArchivesLucky’s Cafe
777 Starkweather Ave., Cleveland
Lucky’s Cafe has won Scene’s best of brunch award so many times, we can’t keep count. And one of their stars of brunch? You guessed it, a breakfast burrito, made with scrambled eggs rolled into flour tortillas, covered with guajillo pepper sauce and cheddar cheese, baked in a casserole and drizzled with sour cream and cilantro cream sauce. It’s as good as it sounds.
Photo via @LuckysCafe/InstagramLuchita’s
3456 West 117th St., Cleveland
One of the oldest Mexican joints in town, this place has been serving up food from south of the border since 1982. If you like spicy, their Burro de Tabasco is the way to go. Filled with steak, white rice, black beans, cactus, potatoes, chile chipotle, chile ancho, salsa tomatillo, it has the perfect mix of spice and flavor to be one of our favorite burritos in town.
Photo via @ScottBeNimble/InstagramLos Arcos
2175 South Green Rd., University Heights
This east side spot located in University Heights has a fun atmosphere with weekly trivia. Trivia and burritos are always a great combination for us, and their shredded chicken is really good and juicy.
Photo via Los Arcos Mexican Restaurant/FacebookLa Plaza Supermarket
13609 Lakewood Heights Blvd., Lakewood
All it takes to get your hands on what many deem the best tacos in Cleveland is venturing to the far back corner of a supermarket. While they are best known for their tacos, the burritos are just as good.
Photo via Scene ArchivesEl Jalapeño’s
1313 W. 117th St., Cleveland
If you’re looking for an elevated version of traditional Mexican-American food, this spot on the Lakewood/Cleveland border is where to go. Try the camarones del pacifico, a dish of jumbo shrimp stuffed with jalapenos and chees all wrapped in bacon. Yum.
Photo via Scene ArchivesJack Flaps
Multiple Locations
This breakfast and lunch joint is one of our favorite spots in town. Pancakes and waffles are as big as your head here. And their breakfast burrito is one of the best in town. Their “Real F-ing Breakfast Burrito” comes stuffed with adobo-braised beef, hash, sunny egg, crema, pico de gallo and Manchego cheese. Yum.
Photo via @JackFlapsCle/InstagramGrumpy’s Cafe
2621 West 14th St., Cleveland
Grumpy’s Cafe has been a Tremont staple since 1976. Current owner and longtime employee Kathy Owad took over ownership in 2004 and after a fire, turned the new space into a laid-back, comfortable eatery that embraced the local art scene. Grumpy’s is known for having one of the best brunches in town, and the breakfast burrito is a star of the menu.
Photo via Scene ArchivesBoca Loca Burrito Factory
1 Berea Commons #1, Berea
Owner Heather Doeberling was a huge Chipotle fan, but she thought she could make a burrito that was better and locally source the ingredients and keep everything in Northeast Ohio. So she opened the Boca Loca food truck in 2013 to roaring success, which followed with a freestanding restaurant, and she definitely accomplished her goal.
Photo via Scene ArchivesEl Señor’s at La Mexicana Grocery
170 East Washington St., Painesville
We promise your trip to Painesville will be well worth the drive when you get your hands on El Señor’s burritos. A small restaurant attached to a supermarket, seating here is limited but flavor is plentiful.
Photo via Scene ArchivesDon Ramon
Multiple Locations
This Mexican joint has probably the most extensive burrito menu in town. From the Burrito Tapatio, with shrimp and pineapple, to the Cheese Steak Burrito, which is exactly as it sounds, there’s no excuse not to fill your belly here, especially since they have locations all over town.
Photo via Don Ramon Mex Lyndhurst/FacebookChili Peppers
869 East 185th St., Cleveland
There’s really no place in town like this build-your-own burrito joint in North Colinwood. With over 30 items, you can customize your burrito exactly the way you want. So if you don’t like it, you’re probably to blame because all the ingredients are fresh and delicious.
Photo via Chili Peppers Mexican Grill/FacebookCamino Taco and Tequila Bar
1300 West Ninth St., Cleveland
This contemporary taco and tequila bar, that opened in 2014, fits right into the Warehouse District neighborhood it calls home. The carnitas burrito, with guacamole, pico de gallo, melted cheese, lime crema is our favorite. You can also get the filling in a bowl if that’s your thing.
Photo via @CaminoCleveland/Instagram
