Flour tortilla rolled around scrambled eggs, hash browns, melted cheese, salsa fresca, and a choice of bacon, chorizo, machaca or carne asada. The pre-surf San Diego ritual, eaten one-handed at 7am.

The breakfast burrito is a Southern California invention from the 1970s, but San Diego made it the signature morning dish through its taco-shop network (Roberto's, Adalberto's, the -erto's chains). The defining San Diego touches: a big-format flour tortilla, hash brown potatoes (rather than rice), and the option of machaca (shredded dried beef rehydrated with eggs and onions, a Sonoran tradition). The burrito is wrapped in foil and eaten standing in the parking lot before the morning surf. La Posta del Pacifico, Lola 55, Lucha Libre and Oscar's all serve canonical versions.

6 editor picks for San Diego breakfast burrito in San Diego, ranked by editorial score. All San Diego signature dishes · San Diego breakfast burrito across every city.