Burritos La Palma – Santa Ana
Alberto and Lauren Bañuelos have turned their small chain Burritos La Palma into a Southland legend with locations in Santa Ana, Costa Mesa, El Monte, Highland Park, and Boyle Heights. Here, legions of longtime and new fans can find slender burritos filled with guisos (stews), nachos, and a dessert quesadilla stuffed with membrillo (quince paste) — a dish formula that has helped it become one of the most acclaimed Mexican restaurants in Southern California. The stars of the menu remain soft, buttery homemade flour tortillas and birria de res, a Zacatecan-style beef take on the classic goat stew — the recipe concocted by Alberto’s dad, José, 46 years ago in their hometown of Jerez, Zacatecas, where the original Burritos La Palma stands. Order a mixed dozen if you’re dining with friends because everyone will inevitably want another frijol y queso or the slow-cooked deshebrada beef before the meal is over. The Santa Ana and Costa Mesa locations maintain the same stripped-down charm, where the focus stays squarely on craftsmanship and not flashy distractions. First-timers shouldn’t skip the classic birria or chicharrón burritos, both of which demonstrate just how much flavor can fit inside something that disappears in a few bites.
Insider tip: Takeout travels exceptionally well for a road-trip snack, a Disneyland lunch, or an effortless family dinner that tastes far greater than the sum of its parts.
Matthew Kang
Dining and Cooking