The California burrito guide for CDMX
The California Burrito in Mexico City.
Carne asada, fries inside, melted cheese. Born in San Diego. Hand-rolled in Roma Sur. This is the complete guide.
What is a California burrito?
It's the burrito that changed everything. Born in San Diego in the late '80s, in a hole-in-the-wall taquería near the Tijuana border. The rule is simple and non-negotiable: carne asada and french fries inside the burrito. Everything else (cheese, guacamole, pico, crema) builds around those two things.
It's not just a "big burrito." It's not a Mission burrito (those carry rice and beans). It's not Tex-Mex. The California burrito has its own identity, an inherited recipe, and a texture that only works when the fries stay crispy and the asada keeps its charred edges from the plancha. Nobody served it the way it should be served in Mexico City — until now.
The rule: papas adentro. No fries, no California burrito. Period.
Anatomy
The 6 layers of a California burrito.
Every layer counts. Every layer has a reason.
Flour tortilla
Large, soft, warmed on the plancha. Not corn. The flour tortilla holds the weight and keeps the heat in.
Carne asada
1/4 kilo of marinated picaña, slammed onto a hot plancha. Charred edges. The smoke is the seasoning. No microwave. No steam.
Papas a la francesa
The rule. Crispy outside, soft inside. They absorb the asada juices without losing texture.
Melted cheddar
Melted right on the plancha next to the asada. Binds everything. Cheddar works because it holds up to heat without turning to oil.
Guacamole
Smashed, not blended. Avocado, salt, lime. No onion. No tomato inside. Clean guacamole is the contrast.
Pico de gallo + crema
Pico diced that morning — tomato, red onion, cilantro, serrano. Crema goes in last to soften everything.
The origin
Why it took so long to reach Mexico City.
The California burrito has existed since the '80s in San Diego, invented by Mexican cooks who crossed the border every day. The recipe never crossed south — it stayed on the I-5 side, between Chula Vista, Imperial Beach and Tijuana. In Mexico City it was known only by reputation, or by road trip.
The problem is that the California burrito isn't easy to do well. The fries have to be freshly cooked (you can't pre-batch them). The asada has to be a specific cut and marinated for hours. The tortilla has to be the right one — not just any flour tortilla works. And everything has to be assembled in under 90 seconds so the fries don't soften.
Juanberto's was built to solve that problem. We learned the recipe in San Diego, imported the technique, and opened on Coahuila 192, Roma Sur, in 2026. One shop. One rule: papas adentro. The line went out the door on day one. It still does.
The menu
Six California burritos. One rule.
Every one of them has fries inside. You pick the protein.
the originalCalifornia
$250The original. ≈800 g. A quarter kilo of USDA Choice picaña, cheddar, fries, guacamole, pico, crema.
Porkbelly
$2301/4 kilo of crispy pork belly, cheese, fries, pico.
Ensenada
$265300g of Pacific grouper, beer-battered Ensenada style.
Pollos Hermanos
$2191/4 kilo of grilled chicken breast, rice, beans, guacamole.
all dayBreakfast
$180Three scrambled eggs, cheddar, fries, pico. Served all day.
veggiePortobello
$170Portobello mushroom, cheese, fries, guacamole, pico. Meatless.
Where to eat it
One shop. Coahuila 192.
Roma Sur, three blocks from Centro Médico metro.
Coahuila 192, Roma Sur, CDMX, 06760
Hours
- Monday
- Closed
- Tuesday – Saturday
- 10:30 – 21:30
- Sunday
- 10:30 – 19:30
How to order
Five ways to put a California burrito in your hands.
Walk in
Fastest way. Fresh off the plancha.
Get directionsWhatsApp
Send us a message. We'll have it rolled and ready.
Open WhatsAppRappi
Delivery across CDMX in 30 minutes or less.
Order on RappiDidi Food
Track the burro from the plancha to your door.
Order on Didi FoodUber Eats
Now live. Order from the app you already have open.
Order on Uber Eats
What people say
4.9 stars across 80 Google reviews.
Real Google reviews. Word for word, nothing edited.
“Excellent spot if you are looking for California-style burritos or just burritos in general! They are very attentive to customers and even to delivery drivers.”
Patrick R. · Google
“Super nice owners and delicious burritos! The sauces were fantastic too”
Spencer F. · Google
“It's almost impossible to find burritos in CDMX… Ordered the California burrito and it was delicious.”
Samir N. · Google
“2 Mexicans who lived in California run it so they know the best of both worlds when it comes to burritos.”
Hunter · Google
Frequently asked
What people ask us.
What is a California burrito?
It's a burrito originally from San Diego that carries carne asada and french fries inside, plus cheese, guacamole, pico de gallo and crema. The main rule is: fries inside. No fries, no California burrito.
Where can I buy a California burrito in Mexico City?
Juanberto's is the only taquería in Mexico City specialized in California burritos made with the original San Diego recipe. We're at Coahuila 192, Roma Sur. Open Tuesday through Sunday.
How much does a California burrito cost in Mexico City?
The original California at Juanberto's costs $250 MXN. The full menu starts at $99 MXN (Bean & Cheese) and goes up to $340 MXN (Surf-N-Turf). All prices include VAT.
Where was the California burrito invented?
The California burrito was born in San Diego, California, in the late 1980s. It was invented by Mexican cooks working in taquerías near the Tijuana border. The recipe didn't reach Mexico City until very recently.
Do you have a vegetarian option?
Yes. The Portobello burrito swaps carne asada for grilled portobello mushroom. It carries cheese, fries, guacamole and pico. It costs $170 MXN.
Do you deliver in Mexico City?
Yes. We deliver via Rappi, Didi Food, and Uber Eats across all of CDMX, usually in 30 minutes or less. You can also order by WhatsApp at +52 56 1309 6835 for pickup.
What's the difference between a California burrito and a Mission burrito?
The Mission burrito (from San Francisco) carries rice and beans inside. The California burrito (from San Diego) carries french fries instead of rice and beans. They're two distinct traditions, both born in California, but with very different identities.
Do you accept card or only cash?
We accept cash, debit card, credit card (Visa, Mastercard, AMEX) and CoDi terminal payments. We also accept SPEI bank transfers.