A State-by-State Guide to the Most Iconic Foods in America

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California: Mission Burrito

In California, the reigning food icon is the mighty Mission burrito – a foil-wrapped behemoth born out of San Francisco’s Mission District in the 1960s. Shaped by Mexican-American culture, the Mission burrito is known for its gigantic size (often as big as your forearm) and tightly packed, grilled tortilla wrap. Inside, it’s loaded with layers of rice, beans, and meats like carnitas or carne asada, plus fresh salsa, guacamole, cheese, and sour cream. This style of burrito set the standard for burritos across the country: the tortilla is lightly steamed or grilled to be pliable, then wrapped around an overstuffed filling and wrapped in foil to hold everything together. Cheap, portable, and incredibly filling, Mission burritos became an epitome of California street food culture. From San Francisco taquerias to food trucks in Los Angeles, Californians proudly claim this oversized burrito as a delicious symbol of their state’s Mexican-influenced cuisine.