ISO: the Best BEAN burrito

Like an elegant hiaku, the bean burrito consists of three simple lines : tortilla, beans and cheese in a stunning combination. Growing up in West Texas, the bean burrito was a staple of my childhood. In fact, I've probably eaten more bean bs than anything else in my life. This continued until I moved to Chicago a few years ago. While there is great mexican food to be found here, the Tex-Mex options are lacking (with the exception of Uncle Julios - a decent Tex Mex outpost of a Dallas based chain.) Despite the multitude of good taquerias, I still haven't found a good bean burrito. So for the past 4 years, I've been gorging on these burritos when I go home (sorry, fellow airplane passengers) and sneaking a few in my bag to enjoy later. But I can't take it anymore! I must find a good version of this treat in Chicago! Despite hours spent searching the LTH forum archives, the only mention of refried beans is as a forgotten side dish as some of the more well honored places. Can it be possible that noone on this board has commented on the beauty that is the bean burritto?

Though simple, a good bean b is hard to find. My criteria;
1. soft, mild flavored beans that are silky smooth and on the more liquid side of the spectrum. Must be pinto and usually squashed to a pasty like consistency.
2. Thin flour tortilla, it is not necessary that these are artisanal or even homemade. But no cakey-flour taste that mercilessly affects the mass produced store brands.
3. Cheese. If I were a Tex-Mex purist, I'd insist on the orange stuff - colby, or cheddar and not the slightest bit Mexican. But I'm willing to take anything at this point...
4. Accoutrements: It can be a sauce, salsa, even a chili type thing, but it has to be spicy, and complement the relative plain-ness of the beans.

So far, my search has been fruitless, but I am willing to try any recommendations and report back to LTHForum community for comments. I am also happy to share my recs for Dallas, West Texas, and even St. Louis...

best,

Veeral

You're right about the lack of Tex-Mex joints in Chicago. I'm not sure I've ever seen a hand-made flour tortilla in this city. I have nothing to suggest, but I am interested to see what turns up in this discussion.

David Hammond wrote:I'm not sure I've ever seen a hand-made flour tortilla in this city.

Nuevo Leon.

Kennyz wrote:

David Hammond wrote:I'm not sure I've ever seen a hand-made flour tortilla in this city.

Nuevo Leon.

Thank you for reminding me. I knew there had to be one somewhere, and now that I think of it, I "the other" Nuevo Leon serves hand-made flour tortillas, too (if the place is still open).

Nuevo León
3657 West 26th Street
773.522.1515

It's with a bit of trepidation that I suggest a place as bad as North Center's Brownstone Tavern. It's basically a post-college fraternity-sorority party place (if you clicked on the link, you saw that the photo on the home page pretty much tells the story), but it also happens to be run by and cater to a University of Texas crowd. It's the only place I've seen true texas queso featured on the menu, dreadful as that stuff is.

Now I have to think of a way to explain to myself why I've been to this place at least a half dozen times.

Brownstone Tavern
3937 N. Lincoln Ave
773.528.3700

Kennyz wrote:[size=85][/Now I have to think of a way to explain to myself why I've been to this place at least a half dozen timessize]

You've been because Brownstone is not a terrible place to hang out. I don't hold it against you.

I would imagine you would be more inclined to find something of this....this....girth and breadth closer to Wrigley Field than you ever would might around Pilsen / Little Village / Near Northwest taquerias.

Kincades? Hog Head McDunna's?
-----------------------------------------
All kidding aside, my friend Chach just the other night had a good looking, clean rolled, nice sized one in his hand and I inquired where he got it. (I hope that doesnt sound TOO ehhhhh......ah well.......one flashes to a Seinfeldian Kramer Cigar episode meets Cheech and Chong Big Bambu album)

Chach replied "Behind the K Mart. Over on Ashland"

"You mean Leon or Guanajuato?"

"Ah no way. They dont know how to roll properly." Gave some name and said 'twas behind the K mart.

Some hidden stand? Someone's house? A bastard cousin of the infamous northside yup-bar tamale guy?

Dunno. Good Luck though. The thing looked positively Hindenburgian and thin flour rolled tight.......

La Condesa
2230 S Ashland Ave,
Chicago 60608
They'll make just a bean burrito, homemade tortilla. Queso fundido w/ chorizo is fantastic.

And everyone knows I'm a fan of
http://www.elpaisanotacos.com
El Paisanos
2429 W. Division
Chicago, IL
They make a bean burrito however you want it, plus you can just order beans and cheese and chips, or beans, cheese and chorizo. BYO too.

What about El Famous? I don't know if they serve with orange cheese or not, but they all have beans - I guess the closest to what you describe would be the chile relleno flavor. I haven't tried one in years, but we used to live on them back in the day. I think they have a competitor in Rogers Park, but I don't remember the name.

I appreciate the comments and look forward to trying out these places in the next couple of weeks. But i think I need to make one clarification.

A true Tex-Mex burrito is not a giant, football sized behemoth that is advertised as being "bigger than your head." Those monstrosities are not what I am after.

I am looking for a svelte bean burrito - think taco bell size - not chipotle. One might make a good snack, but you'd need two or three to really make it a meal.

Thanks again and I will have some data points this week!

Right - El Famous ain't it, then. I wonder if you'd be better off looking in pub-grub type places, though I can't for the life of me think of one that has burritos on the menu...at least that didn't come out of the microwave...

I am sorry to say that I don't think you will find it, in this scary bigger-than-your-head burrito era we are so sadly in. Even seemingly authentic places now make their burritos well, as big as burros. I grew up in California practically reared by a Mexican family and the burrito was a thing to carry in your hand if you were in a hurry or needing a snack. It was never, ever meant to be sliced into with a knife and fork. I ate many chorizo con huevos burritos in the back seat of my friend's beater Cadillac on the way to school. And even as "recently" as '90, all of the 24 hour burrito joints in So-Cal (San Diego for me) served 6 inch slim but tasty burritos. And none of them had a salad bar in them. (Lettuce! are you joking! Tomatoes what the heck is the salsa for?) And my favorite burrito was always a bean and cheese burrito. And never did any of the guys at Alberto's or Roberto's look at me oddly when I ordered them. Here, they look at me like I am ordering for someone sick or maybe a child.

Anyhow, the only thing I can think of is, you go to a place like El Milagro in Little Village or Pilsen, and plead them into making you one. They might be game and remember how it used to be, the burrito thing. They have good beans and they make tortillas so it is so close. Or do as I do and just buy a big thing of beans, a stack of tortillas and grab some cheese at a market nearby. And um, roll your own. But it always tastes better when someone else rolls it for you.

Good luck.

ps do they have burrito guys that come into bars with burritos like they do in Colorado? they still do the smaller size simpler burritos . . .seems like a regional phenom. I always liked it when I lived there. There is something about um, drinking and a burrito that just makes sense.

bjt

ps do they have burrito guys that come into bars with burritos like they do in Colorado? they still do the smaller size simpler burritos . . .seems like a regional phenom. I always liked it when I lived there. There is something about um, drinking and a burrito that just makes sense.

No - but Chicago is home to the Tamale Guy(s).

http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-tamale-guy-chicago

David Hammond wrote:

Kennyz wrote:

David Hammond wrote:I'm not sure I've ever seen a hand-made flour tortilla in this city.

Nuevo Leon.

Thank you for reminding me. I knew there had to be one somewhere, and now that I think of it, I "the other" Nuevo Leon serves hand-made flour tortillas, too (if the place is still open).

Nuevo León
3657 West 26th Street
773.522.1515

I had hand-made flour tortillas yesterday at Birrieria La Barca Jalisco (4304 W 26th St); I think flour 'tillas work well with birria because they seem to absorb the broth more completely.