Welcome to the fourth installment of “The Winner Is…!” You may be wondering what I’m ranking this time, considering I’ve already covered the three main food groups: boba, bagels and ice cream.
Well, I’ve turned my attention to a Bay Area classic: the burrito. I’m a little nervous to make people upset — I was recently reprimanded by an entire family for ranking Main Street Bagels last place, two issues ago. Seriously, I’m thinking it’s time to hire some bodyguards.
To make sure I’m dividing the backlash, I brought along media managing editor Carissa Lai and sports editor Alanna Grier to share their opinions as well. Together, we scarfed down chicken super burritos with guacamole, sour cream, salsa and extra base ingredients from three different restaurants within striking distance of campus: Chipotle, Lulu’s and Tacos al Vapor.
Chipotle Mexican Grill, Mountain View
Because Chipotle didn’t offer a super burrito, we added sour cream and guacamole to a regular one, bumping the price from $11.20 up to $14.50.
“There isn’t enough sour cream in this,” Carissa said. “I want my rice to be soaked in it.”
Interesting take, Carissa. Chipotle’s signature cilantro-lime rice is iconic and perfectly tangy — I wouldn’t want anything to distract from that flavor. Ironically, my part of the burrito was actually drenched in sour cream, leading us to our biggest critique: an uneven ingredient distribution.
You could argue that it makes each bite a fun mystery: will I choke on sour cream, strike gold with three pieces of chicken or miss the meat all together?
“I feel like a hack would be if they gave you an open burrito because then you could distribute the ingredients yourself,” Alanna said.
That’s called a burrito bowl, Alanna. They’re very popular.
But I agree — I much prefer Chipotle’s bowls to their burritos because it’s easier to mix or add more ingredients. Maybe with a bowl, Carissa would finally be satisfied with the amount of sour cream (though I doubt it).
Lulu’s Mexican Food, Los Altos
I know a surprising number of people with vendettas against Lulu’s. But are these grudges warranted?
We had a super burrito and three hungry talonites ready to find out. Actually, four talonites because Features Editor Shannon Chiang jumped in despite claiming to not like burritos. The things people will do for a taste of my fame.
Right off the bat, we were taken aback by the abundance of rice and beans. But still, it was a tasty first bite with evenly distributed fresh ingredients. So tasty that Alanna and I shared aggressive head-nods while chewing.
Unfortunately, the more we ate, the more we wondered if we were misled by that first bite.
Carissa put it eloquently: “This is dry as heck, bro.”
Three bites in, you’re scanning the hall for a water fountain. By bite five, you’re gasping for air. But that doesn’t have to be a deal breaker! To continue what could be an enjoyable burrito-eating experience, I beg of you: bring water! Buy lemonade!
Alanna had an alternate solution.
“Order a regular burrito and ask for sour cream and guacamole,” Alanna said. “That way, you get more bang for your buck without getting overpowered by all the rice and beans they put on the super burrito.”
Our Lulu’s burrito was $16.50, which was $2.35 more than Chipotle and $3.51 more than Tacos al Vapor, so “bang for your buck” feels… debatable.
Let’s conclude our review of Lulu’s with a wise takeaway from Shannon (who did not try the burrito and was rating based on vibes alone): “Lulu’s gives Los Gatos mom after pilates, but Chipotle is like high schooler during lunch on a Wednesday.”
Tacos Al Vapor Michoacán, Los Altos
We may have accidentally doomed Tacos Al Vapor from the start. Because we were sharing one burrito, I thought it’d be more hygienic to take a bite from its side. Then Alanna bit its other side, and Carissa bit the top. The burrito suffered attacks from all fronts and became structurally compromised.
But now with a full view of its insides, we were able to share our thoughts.
“It definitely looks the most well-balanced,” Alanna said. “It’s also the creamiest.”
I can confirm — it was very creamy. They didn’t drain their beans and chicken as much as other places, and after adding sour cream and guacamole, you’re no longer eating so much as wading through.
“It really just depends on whether you like your burrito creamy,” Alanna said. “It’s my least favorite tortilla, but I do like what’s inside.”
Considering I was already two burritos down, a dense, creamy burrito was not what I needed. But I will give props to their generous amount of cilantro — I loved it!
That opinion was, unfortunately, not mutual.
“I cannot get over how much cilantro is in this, and the pieces are huge,” Carissa said. “It’s really ruining it for me.”
Maybe she has that variation in her ORA6A2 gene that makes cilantro taste soapy. Look it up!
I also can’t end this section without giving Tacos Al Vapor a proper shoutout! They’re a welcoming place in downtown Los Altos with a salsa bar and low prices — their burrito was our cheapest option, costing only $12.99.
Don’t let this review deter you from trying their amazing non-creamy, non-cilantro-heavy tacos for only $3 each. They’re called Tacos Al Vapor and not Burritos Al Vapor for a reason.
Final Thoughts
This was not an easy decision — all restaurants had their good, bad and ugly.
If you need a refresher before the ranking, Shannon (who, again, did not try a single burrito) has one for you: “Lulu’s equals dry, Tacos al Vapor equals wet and Chipotle equals moist.” Sure, Goldilocks.
Now, all opinions taken into consideration — and mine weighted the most heavily, of course — this is how the three stack up…
- Lulu’s — Carissa disagrees with Alanna and me on this one. But what can I say? We’re Los Gatos pilates moms at heart.
- Chipotle — Carissa wanted to put Chipotle in first place, and I see why. Reliable. Celebrated. The root of the dent in my bank account. But I think their bowls — Alanna’s million-dollar idea — are where they really shine.
- Tacos Al Vapor — This is not personal at all; we LOVE your tacos. Please keep offering free chips and salsa.
See you all next time!
