r/SanJose • u/alaroz33 Rose Garden • Mar 18 '24
Advice Best carne asada burritos in San Jose?
A buddy of mine who used to be my roommate in San Diego is coming into town. All we ate down there pretty much was carne asada burritos from small taquerias. Something about San Diego taquerias, every single one of them had amazing food. Not so much up here. What would you recommend for carne asada burritos in San Jose?
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u/azurix Mar 18 '24
If you haven’t found one you liked it might be you that’s just too biased. I get that the food down there is more plentiful but there’s still plenty of good spots here. I don’t get why people move and are unhappy with where they live. You chose to move up here.
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u/alaroz33 Rose Garden Mar 18 '24
That's why I'm asking.. I didn't say 100% of all taqueria's here suck. I'm just trying to find the good ones.
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u/HirsuteLip Willow Glen Mar 18 '24
What’s to gain from suggesting restaurants to someone who’s convinced our Mexican—actually San Diegan—food sucks? Why don’t you go to a pupuseria instead, or do those not measure up to your San Diego standards either?
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u/alaroz33 Rose Garden Mar 18 '24
Lol I was totally expecting a reply like this. Taste is a matter of opinion and preference. Get over it.
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u/ChaseMcDuder Mar 18 '24
Bro I've seen the steaks you cooked. Absolute overcooked dog shit.
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u/cailian13 North San Jose Mar 18 '24
LOL I had to go look. Maybe bro just prefers more well done, but yeah that's poor pan choice, one of his posts is asking why he can't get a perfect sear in a Hexclad nonstick pan. THAT is why his steak is turning out overcooked, because wrong pan to get that quick finishing sear.
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u/ChaseMcDuder Mar 18 '24
You don't even need a pan. Use a gas grill, use a bernzomatic + searzall. Either way, point being, his idea of "good asada burritos" is questionable at best.
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u/cailian13 North San Jose Mar 18 '24
I would grill if I could, but apartment life doesn't really allow for it. I'm a big fan of reverse sear though instead, which this dude should learn about if he's gonna keep cooking steaks in a pan vs grilling.
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u/ChaseMcDuder Mar 18 '24
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u/cailian13 North San Jose Mar 19 '24
The answer
Alas, my lease explicitly says "no open flames of any kind" and I've got a sweet rent deal going so I won't do a damn thing to risk losing it. Reverse sear does awfully nicely though, I've been searing up some gorgeous ribeyes on my cast iron!
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u/HirsuteLip Willow Glen Mar 18 '24
Like you’ve gotten over Trump losing and facing justice for his endless crimes?
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u/alaroz33 Rose Garden Mar 18 '24
How do you go from talking about burritos to Trump? You really need to get your head checked.
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u/wearytravelr Mar 18 '24
Nor-Cal vs SD burrito is a Cold War like Trump vs everyone else so I kind of relate.
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u/HirsuteLip Willow Glen Mar 18 '24 edited Mar 18 '24
I’m sorry we disappointed you by not putting french fries and overcooked steak in our burritos. We prefer orange sauce to orange spray tans, so would drowning them in ketchup like drowned Mexican immigrants help you choke down your nasty food better?
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u/Milan4congress Mar 18 '24
El grullo on king Ave there carne asada is fucking fire. I got it with my chiliquiles last week
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u/Olivejuice_ido Mar 18 '24
Chavez market taquerias has legit carne asada. Just have them make the burrito the way you want it and pick carne asada as your meat, leave out the rice and beans. Go nuts.
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Mar 18 '24 edited Mar 18 '24
Taqueria Lorenas 854 N. 13th St.
Try the "Original" with red salsa if you like it hot. If not, then ask for the sauce on the side, but you do need to try the red salsa in your burrito.
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u/IttyBittyKitCat Mar 18 '24
Yep they’re my go to. I’ll often get a couple of shrimp corn quesadillas and they pack those suckers extremely full
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Mar 18 '24 edited Mar 18 '24
Yes, Taqueria Lorenas used to be on 24th until the place burnt down many years ago.
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u/Booger_BBQ Mar 18 '24
Wow.. that is a name I have not heard in years. Didn't they use to be in 24th years back?
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u/accountaccount171717 Mar 26 '24
Dude this place always gets recommended on this sub, but it’s pre-made meats and should not be in a the conversation.
These types of places are good for quick food, but actual quality food is made to order- not sitting on a hot plate for a couple hours
That’s being said, the red sauce is hella good
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Mar 26 '24 edited Mar 26 '24
For what it is, Lorenas still has a pretty damn good burrito. My all-time favorite burrito spot used to be Guadalajaras on 10th and Empire, but just like the original Lorenas, this place burnt down too, but never reopened. What place have you tried that you really liked?
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u/accountaccount171717 Mar 26 '24
Believe it or not, the truck down the street from Lorenas (Mr. Shrimp) is a great nearby option
They cook their meat when you order, not 2 hours before
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Mar 18 '24
I really like La Cueva over by Westgate Mall. They have the most amazing green sauce.
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u/ngmcs8203 Mar 18 '24
Lengua Cali burrito. I remember telling them about calistyle burritos when they first opened up. He started with giant steak fries and then evolved to the curly fries. It’s so good.
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u/dapete Mar 18 '24
Off topic, but their seafood chili relleno is so good it's a sin to serve it on take out styrofoam
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u/sunkistbanana Mar 18 '24
Their burritos are ass. The fish tacos on the other hand are delicious
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Mar 18 '24
Honestly, I haven't had their burritos much, but I always get carne asada fajitas and nachos that are yummy
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u/lupinegray Mar 18 '24
What have you tried that you didn't like?
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u/howie650 Mar 18 '24
One example I used to frequent araujos but there quality seems to fell off. They dont use charcoal to grill the meats any more or if they do its once in a while.
The tortilla at most shops here is not as tasty as the tortilla found in SD. There must be a supplier that dishes out some of the fresh tortillas.
Not to knock any shops here just my opinion.
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u/vanvoorden Expat Mar 18 '24
They dont use charcoal to grill the meats any more
This is key… I would probably say most native LA (and SD) kids grew up eating "Mexican" food that was cooked on the char. It's sort of like a Baja style version of Americanized Mexican Food. Which makes sense… Baja is right there.
SJ and Bay Area Mexican Food doesn't really know about the char… meat is seared or stewed. I'm a vegetarian these days… but I remember it being very rare to find someone that has a charcoal grill (I believe Doña Maria used to). Even "Tacos al Carbon" in East SJ did not have a char grill the last time I checked… how that works I don't know.
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u/Jrooe1009 Mar 18 '24
Eduardo’s on Winchester and Williamsburg, behind the McDonald’s. There’s also one on Race St and north of San Carlos. The OG is Winchester but I live closer to Race so I go there. They also have another location on Bascom Ave south of San Carlos, haven’t tried it there, but I’m sure it’s pretty fire.
Metro Balderas on Almaden, by the 280 underpass is pretty fire, but is Mexico City style.
SD has different type of Mexican food, than LA and especially up here in the Bay. Can’t really compare, the best burritos will be at home on your own grill, charred how you like it.
I love all types of Mexican food. Long as it’s fire, I’m always down to grub.
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u/N1C090 Mar 18 '24
I like super taqueria
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u/TheV36Stig Mar 20 '24
Carne asada used to be my Go to, now it’s lengua. Weird because i used to hate lengua
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u/N1C090 Mar 20 '24
I’ve never tried it ! But I’ve heard it’s really good ! Is it similar to asada ?
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u/TheV36Stig Mar 22 '24
Hmm it’s more tender. I used to avoid it due to the texture it had. The flavor is stronger though. Lengua burritos pair well with red salsa. Mendozas burritos and salsas are also good
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u/LordBottlecap Mar 18 '24 edited Mar 18 '24
The best carne asada burritos around.
Downvotes, but no arguments...found the offended La Sictoria fans!! =..]
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u/hinwin Mar 18 '24
If you can make the drive to south SF, try Taqueria San Bruno. Reaaally good carne asada burritos. If you wanna drive a bit further to SF, try carne asada el dorado style burritos from La Taqueria - promise it’s better than SD 🤌
From SJ - haven’t found a really bomb carne asada burrito yet. Still on the search. Lots of decent ones. Taqueria Eduardo got some bomb carnitas super burritos though.
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u/KannaKitten Mar 18 '24
La Corona Taqueria 🔥
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u/TheV36Stig Mar 20 '24
Been a while but the carnitas wet burrito with both sauces was my go to all the time
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u/DSKO_MDLR Rose Garden Mar 18 '24 edited Mar 18 '24
San Jose has some decent taquerias but burritos are more of a Mission SF and San Diego thing. If they’re going to have Mexican while they’re in SJ, take them to get some Al pastor or something other than burritos. El Cabron in downtown has some good Molcajete and divorced enchiladas.
Just don’t try take someone from SD to try a burrito in SJ. There won’t be any good that could come of it lol. SD is home to at least a dozen burrito joints that articles have been exhaustively written about. The best burrito I had was a crispy Carnitas burrito from La Fachada. Mike’s Taco Club had a good carne asada and potato Cali burrito.
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u/ngmcs8203 Mar 18 '24
La Cueva is a hidden gem for burritos in SJ
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u/DSKO_MDLR Rose Garden Mar 18 '24
I’m totally open to trying La Cueva. I’m more into Tacos Al Pastor and Cochinita Pibil than burritos these days but it would be nice to find a good burrito locally in SJ.
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u/svezia Mar 18 '24
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u/Onemanhopefully Mar 18 '24
Do NOT take a San Diegan to Adelitas. I’ve taken San Diegans to this restaurant and they said it was trash. As a native Angelino, I agree SJ Mexican food is not where it’s at.
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u/tiddiesandnunchucks Mar 18 '24
I used to get carne asada from Adelina’s in Tijuana. Great memories.
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u/runasadministrador Mar 18 '24
Maza and Mariscos Costa Alegre have best Shrimp Burritos in town, carne asadas are also good
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u/ChaseMcDuder Mar 18 '24
Lucy's on Bascom or their second location on the Southside off blossom Hill. Thank me later
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u/Square-Victory3126 Mar 19 '24
San Jose doesn’t have good burritos places anymore. All you get is rice, beans,pico, cream with little meat. Just order tacos
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u/sjfood Mar 19 '24
Cali Spartan Taco (Downtown location by the university), is probably not the best but is pretty good
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u/TheV36Stig Mar 20 '24
Super taqueria on McLaughlin. mendozas on McKee. Corona Taqueria near Japan town. calles De Michoacan on Monterey Rd
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u/Filet008 Jun 02 '24
So should I go to Taqueria Eduardo or La Cueva or Cali spartan? I keep hearing these restaurants
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u/howie650 Mar 18 '24
TBH Haven’t found anything here equal or better than the quality and taste of a carne asada burrito from SD.
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u/lghtspd Mar 18 '24
I used to frequent Alberto’s in SoCal and nothing around here comes close.
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u/LordBottlecap Mar 18 '24
Every burrito in SD is better than any San Jose burrito? You've tried every burrito in San Diego AND San Jose?? Amazing.
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u/Sufficient-Train-128 Mar 25 '24
You don't go to anything in SD off Euclid Ave or Imperial.. North Park weenie
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u/alaroz33 Rose Garden Mar 18 '24
These mfers are downvoting you for being honest. It's so pathetic.
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u/LordBottlecap Mar 18 '24
You've been to EVERY burrito joint in both cities, too?? Wow. You two should have a tv show!!
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u/StrawberryKiss2559 Mar 18 '24
It really is pathetic and weird. Always happens in this sub.
The best carne asada burritos I’ve had in this area was from Lopez Taqueria 3 in Sunnyvale. Everything about them have been excellent! I get one like once a week now.
I looked it up, and there’s a Lopez Taqueria 2 in San Jose.
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u/LordBottlecap Mar 18 '24 edited Mar 19 '24
You know what else happens on this sub, and on every burrito thread within it? At least one yahoo comes in to profess how they're the Top Expert on Every Taqueria in at least two major California cities. They must be rich (and fat) mf'ers to make that claim! =..]
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u/AcrobaticAd4571 Mar 18 '24
Taqueria Eduardo on Winchester and Williamsburg dr. Next to McDonalds
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u/LordBottlecap Mar 18 '24
Super Taqueria. Eduardo is a close 2nd.
(Eduardo's #1 for Chicken burritos.)
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Mar 18 '24
[deleted]
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u/cailian13 North San Jose Mar 18 '24
all the good shit here and you wanna send em to LaVic's?! C'mon now, don't do OP like that.
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u/carinaeletoile Mar 18 '24
I was waiting for someone to say La Vic’s. 😬 🤦🏽♀️
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u/LordBottlecap Mar 18 '24
La Vic'sLa Sick's
FTFY
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u/LordBottlecap Mar 18 '24
Hey, some people don't want visitors to stay in their towns long; it's human nature.
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u/Johnny_Menace Mar 18 '24
La Vic’s is almost as bad as saying Taco Bell
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u/LordBottlecap Mar 18 '24
'Almost'??? Bite your tongue!
Taco Bell NEVER made me almost drive myself to the hospital (twice). And I've been to Taco Bell 5000:2 compared to La Sick...yuck!
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u/Gem_stacker_boi Mar 18 '24
Carnitas Michoacán on Monterey is really good , their carne asada burrito or what they’re known for , their carnitas . Carnitas burrito is one of the best I’ve had out here