Benitos - The Answer to My Breakfast Burrito Quandry?
Wednesday, July 13, 2005 14:31
I have mentioned my quest for breakfast burritos before in my write up of Cinco De Mayo Tacos, now I turn my sights on another 24hr taco shop, Benitos.
I have literally driven or walked by Benitos over one thousand times and didn’t walk inside until now. Benitos calls themselves “L.A.’s Original Taco Shop” and the “Home ot the Rolled Taco”, I wasn’t hunting for tacos though, my target was a breakfast burrito.
Although the Benitos Menu (pdf) lists three different iterations of breakfast burritos, there are actually more options available because of their “Huevos con…” selection.
I didn’t know what those last three dots could be, so using my fledgling high school Spanish, I tried to root out what I could get with my huevos. “Con pollo?” I asked. “No, con papas, con queso, con frijoles…”, she answered. “Con papas y frijoles”, I responded.
I sat at one of the three tables and waited, wondernig if I had found my breakfast burrito salvation. I reviewed my requirements:
Open Early? Yes, 24hrs
More than just eggs in the Burrito? Yes, bonus points for the option to add potatoes, the BB secret ingredient.
Accessible? Yep, right on my way to work
Cheap? Not really, at $3.29, plus some random 50 cent charge, I would call it mid range.
I was pretty excited about the drink options, in addition to Horchata (no, I don’t get excited about Horchata), there was a deliciously refreshing tamarindo drink. The slightly sour and fruity drink is a great treat.
I did have to wait a while for the burrito, but it’s worth it when you get cooked to order eggs, they don’t age well. When I did finally get to sink my teeth into the soft flour tortilla wrapped around the breakfasty goodness, I knew that I had finally found my pot of gold. The potatoes were soft, the eggs were fluffy, the beans were, well, beany and the total combo came together beautifully.
Unless I want to pack on a dozen pounds every couple of months, I wont be making a regular stop at Benitos, but you can bet that when I’m feeling like a breakfast that will hold me until dinner, the “Huevos Con…” will be in my hand… until I put it in my mouth, then it will be in my stomach.
Benitos Taco Shop
11614 Santa Monica Blvd
Los Angeles, Ca 90025
By Jonah (see more of his posts). Jonah is the founder of la.foodblogging and also created Digesty, a food blog aggregator and Cheww.com, a spam free foodblog search engine.
Rene says:
July 13th, 2005 at 11:09 pm
I drive by that place all the time too and haven’t been in until tonight because of this post! I had 3 rolled tacos which were pretty good and I noticed the drink options… whitish (horchata), reddish (hibiscus?) and brown (tamarindo). I had the hibiscus!
Rene says:
July 18th, 2005 at 3:13 pm
Don’t know if you have seen it or tried it.
It doesn’t meet your $ criteria but I had a breakfast burrito at Franks. It is a breakfast-lunch place with Mexican and American food.
Franks
363 S. Fairfax Ave
LA, CA 90036
M-F 6am-5pm
Sat 6am-3pm
dealinhoz says:
July 21st, 2005 at 12:35 am
i live up the street from benito’s. otherwise known as west LA’s drunk tank. i admit, i do frequent this place after a concert or morning jog, but it’s not bad. i ONLY get the 3 taquitos + rice/beans combo. it satisfies my hunger. i feel the food is quite bland, and honestly, i love del taco more. there is NO del taco nearby.
has anyone from the san gabriel valley/orange county ever been to Alberto’s? it is my stairway to heaven.
dealinhoz says:
July 21st, 2005 at 12:39 am
jonah, if you’re ever near rosemead/san gabriel… you will find your breakfast burrito. i personally like it without PAPAS, but this place gives a nice BB. they have a well decorated chip bar w/ all the fixins while you wait and i typically get full from it by the time my tumor tortilla arrives.
http://losangeles.citysearch.com/profile/32704489/south_el_monte_ca/alberto_s_authentic_mexican.html
Mike says:
August 20th, 2005 at 10:05 pm
Benitos is probably one of the closest to San Diego Mexican food that I have found in Los Angeles after recently moving here. It’s funny, but Los Angeles Mexican food and San Diego Mexican food are on two different calibers. Trust me when I say this, but San Diego blows LA out of the water. Maybe it’s because we are so close to the border and by the time Mexican food has hit LA it has truly morphed. There is just no comparison.
Benitos just recently added the California Burrito to the menu (thank god). This is truly a RARE gem in Los Angeles, as I was seriously surprised to hear that no one has ever heard of it. I find myself presented with total blank stares every time I ask anyone. In San Diego, California Burritos are part of your daily diet. It consists of carne asada, pico de gallo, cheese and french fries (or potatoes as Benitos does). Of course you can go all out and add sour cream and guacamole for that extra kick.
Next time you are at Benitos ask for a California burrito with pico de gallo (very important). For some reason they only put carne asada, cheese and potatoes. That’s like having a cake with no frosting! Just watch, the California burrito will slowly makes its way up to LA. It’s only a matter of time before you feel its wrath. As a matter of fact, I think I’m off to get one right now.
marc says:
October 24th, 2006 at 8:51 am
Benitos is great. Being from Canada Taco Bell is as close as we get to Mexican food. Get the California burrito. Thats my breakfast of choice whenever I am in Cali.
jack says:
February 9th, 2007 at 3:05 pm
IF Del Taco is what you love then you really don’t get Mexican food.
San Diego and LA mexican food I think that is some trifling biasjust because you think you have more mexicans doesn’t mean better food.
Nick says:
October 17th, 2007 at 7:45 am
I’m from Thailand I like breakfast burrito verry dilicious at South LA .