The Frontier Restaurant ★ 4.8
The Frontier on Central Avenue across from UNM in Albuquerque runs daily 05:00 to midnight since 1971, with green chile breakfast burritos and sweet rolls.
Try: Green chile breakfast burrito and the Frontier sweet roll
History
The breakfast burrito originated in 1970s New Mexico when home cooks combined Mexican burrito form with New Mexican green chile. The Frontier Restaurant opened in 1971 across from UNM and made the green chile breakfast burrito a daily 05:00 to midnight Albuquerque institution. The dish spread statewide and is now codified as the New Mexico breakfast.
Common allergens: Gluten, Dairy, Egg
Make it at home
Ingredients
- 2 large flour tortillas (25 cm)
- 4 eggs
- 200g hash browns or diced fried potatoes
- 100g cooked bacon or chorizo
- 100g shredded cheese (cheddar or Monterey Jack)
- 1 cup roasted green chile, chopped
- Salt, pepper, oil
Method
- Cook the bacon or chorizo in a skillet. Drain on paper towels.
- Fry the hash browns or potatoes in the same pan until crispy and golden, 6 to 8 minutes. Season with salt.
- Beat the eggs with salt and pepper. Scramble softly in butter or oil.
- Warm the tortillas in a dry pan 20 seconds per side until pliable.
- Build each burrito: hash browns, eggs, bacon, cheese, green chile down the center of the tortilla.
- Fold in the sides and roll up. Serve immediately, or wrap in foil for travel.
Tip from the editors. Order it smothered the New Mexican way: skip the foil wrap and pour red OR green chile sauce over the top, served on a plate with a fork.
Where to eat breakfast burrito
Breakfast burrito in Albuquerque
Garcia's Kitchen Fourth Street ★ 4.3
Garcia's Kitchen on Fourth Street in Albuquerque is the family run New Mexican counter since 1975, with six city locations and Christmas plates that never.
Signature: Huevos rancheros, Carne adovada burrito
Cervantes Restaurant and Lounge ★ 4.3
Cervantes on Gibson Boulevard in Albuquerque is the longtime South Valley New Mexican family room with carne adovada burritos and a separate bar lounge.
Signature: Carne adovada burrito, Red chile enchiladas
Java Joe's ★ 4.3
Java Joe's on Park Avenue SW in downtown Albuquerque is the Breaking Bad filming cafe with chai, breakfast burritos and the morning brunch line on weekends.
Order: Breakfast burrito Christmas and the chai
Breakfast burrito in Los Angeles
Al & Bea's Mexican Food ★ 4.4
Al & Bea's in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles has wrapped bean and cheese burritos since 1966 from the same walk-up window. Closes by 17:00 daily.
Try: Bean and cheese burrito
Cofax Coffee Shop ★ 4.3
Cofax Coffee Shop on Fairfax, Los Angeles updated the LA breakfast burrito with chorizo verde and house-fermented hot sauces. A reliable Mid-City stop.
Order: Chorizo verde breakfast burrito and a flat white.
Tip: Counter and patio only; queue at 09:30 weekends, walk-in fine weekdays.
Burritos La Palma ★ 4.6
Burritos La Palma in East LA, Los Angeles wraps birria de res in handmade flour tortillas from Jerez, Zacatecas. James Beard finalist since 2018.
Order: Birria de res burrito wrapped in Zacatecas flour tortilla.
Tip: Open 09:00-17:00; the burritos sell out by 14:00 on weekends. Eat in the car.
Lucky Boy ★ 4.4
Lucky Boy in Pasadena, Los Angeles serves a foil-wrapped breakfast burrito that locals queue for from 06:00. At 640 S. Arroyo Parkway. Booking recommended.
Try: Breakfast burrito
Breakfast burrito in Santa Fe
Tia Sophia's ★ 4.5
Tia Sophia's lays claim to coining the term "breakfast burrito" on a menu; the Plaza counter has fed Santa Fe under-budget breakfasts since 1975.
Try: Breakfast burrito with red or green chile
El Chile Toreado ★ 4.7
El Chile Toreado is a trailer parked on early street that has fed santa fe locals breakfast for two decades; the plaza tourist current rarely reaches it.
Why locals love it: A trailer parked on Early Street that has fed Santa Fe locals breakfast for two decades; the Plaza tourist current rarely reaches it.
Tip: Arrive before 09:00 on weekends; the carne asada burrito with green chile is the order.
Palacio Cafe ★ 4.3
Palacio Cafe runs one of Santa Fe's most generous breakfast burritos at the eastern edge of the Plaza; the kitchen leans hot on the green chile.
Order: Smothered green chile breakfast burrito
Tune-Up Cafe ★ 4.5
Tune-Up Cafe runs brunch from 07:00 with pupusas, banana-leaf tamales, breakfast burritos and Salvadoran horchata; the patio fills early on weekends.
Order: Pupusas revueltas or a smothered breakfast burrito
The Pantry Restaurant ★ 4.2
The Pantry has plated Cerrillos Road diners since 1948; chile-laced eggs, pancakes and chicken-fried steak from a kitchen that has not lost its rhythm.
Order: Carne adovada breakfast burrito
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