The Worlds Best Burrito: Anna’s Taqueria of Boston vs. Gordo Burrito of San Francisco
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I dig burritos. Especially super steak burritos (w/ SC, franks red hot sauce and extra guac, and a medium diet coke).
During my stint in Boston, I housed many a burrito at Anna’s Taqueria, a local Mexican food hot spot. If I had to guess, I probably ate about 160 burritos over three years (159 of which were super burritos). This high level of consumption was facilitated by the fact that I lived 3 minutes away from Anna’s.
When I was deciding to move to the west coast, there were three elements in my life that made the decision extra difficult: 1) leaving my family, 2) leaving my friends, and 3) leaving my burritos. (note: list not necessarily in order of importance).
I took the leap of faith and moved to the west coast, and low and behold, my first living situation was located within 5 minutes of a Gordo Burrito. I had conceited the fact that Gordo’s would not be nearly as good as Anna’s, but I was pleasantly surprised at the robust and generous portions offered at Gordo. If Anna’s was an A+, then Gordo’s was an A+-. But then Gordo’s started growing on me. Thusly:
Anna vs. Gordo: The Duel
1) SPEED- Edge: Anna’s. They are effectively the burrito nazis. a lot of mini-side steps left while making sure to keep silent. (my friend and I clocked ourselves one time from the moment we entered the door until we exited.. 2 minutes and 7 seconds).
2) ENJOYMENT IN SAYING NAME- Major edge: GORDO’s
3) BURRITO SIZE- Slight Edge: Gordo’s.
4) GENEROSITY WITH STEAK- Edge: Anna’s. It is documented that Gordo’s has a tendency to overload the rice and beans and skimp on the steak. A serious problem.
5) GENERAL RESTAURANT AMBIANCE & DECOR- Edge: Anna’s.. Honestly, what do you expect from a restaurant named Gordo’s.
6) THE BAG THEY COME IN: Push. (One uses a form fitting paper bag with no handles and the other uses a baggy plastic bag with handles. It’s only a matter of time before technology allows us to create a form fitting paper bag with handles..)
7) PRICE- Edge: Anna’s. ($5.05 vs. $5.98) San Francisco is more expensive than Boston.
Final Verdict in one man’s opinion: ANNA’s.
ps. I’ve heard rumor that there are better burrito places in the SF Bay Area than Gordo.. If so, PLEASE elaborate (with directions).
4 responses to The Worlds Best Burrito: Anna’s Taqueria of Boston vs. Gordo Burrito of San Francisco
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Jenais Zarlin said on December 27, 2006
Interestingly enough, El Farolito was just featured on Burrito Eater. http://www.burritoeater.com/main.php (Scroll down to December’s first entry).
Stuart Poole said on December 26, 2006
It was the steam machine that revolutionized the burrito experience for me. Much like 8th grade dances.
Jenais Zarlin said on December 26, 2006
My brother, who once lived on College near Alcatraz and thus mere blocks from Gordo was quite fond of a Gordo burrito. I give my brother a lot of credit in the burrito-loving department. This is a kid who generously survived on two burritos a day for approximately two years while he lived on that corner in Berkeley. These days he resides in Columbus, OH and has been trying to convince me to move out there with the express purpose of opening a burrito shop. (Apparently the only burrito purveyor is Chipotle which ranks somewhere alongside waterboarding as a preferential way to be tortured.) With the intention of counteracting this dearth, he’s mapped out the first three locations of my shop and has gone the distance of researching why the Bay Area has a notably superior burrito– it’s the tortilla steamer. In short, this is an issue in which he is highly invested.
During his Bay Area tenure, his kindred spirit in the burrito realm was El Farolito on 24th and Mission. El Farolito is often caught in a duel with neighborhood rival La Taqueria. I’ve heard both places have their merits– though La Taqueria appears to shine brighter for it’s tacos (an aptly named location). With respect to hygiene, Gordo’s is a cleanish burrito while El Farolito walks a finer line with health codes– although some folks use that as a sign of authenticity. And, not insignificantly, El Farolito gets kudos for staying open long after more mortal burrito spots have flipped their signs to close.
To conclude: when you find yourself hungary after a long night of moderate to heavy boozing and the thought of carne asada is making your heart skip, head to 24th and Miss. where you will likely find a whole band of brothers and sisters with the same idea, lingering on the street; their fingers and faces a mess with guac. and white hot action. It’s a good scene and one that (in sobriety) might remind you of how fortunate we are to exchange banter about ratios of beans to meat and whether a proper burrito need match the length of your forearm.
Evan Thoreau Heigert said on December 21, 2006
Anna’s is the Bomba! ‘Nuff said. Used to munch out at the Somerville locale on the weekly.
-eth