Living in the Southwest city of Phoenix, a town heavily influenced in culture and cuisine by our southern neighbor Mexico, burritos are considered the 5th food group. Oh, the praise I can heap on these tortilla-wrapped cylinders of scrumptiousness is only matched by the myriad of ingredients to be found within them! One of the most delicious variations of this portable food fare is the breakfast burrito. If you are craving your eggs in a style different than sunny-side up with a side of toast, try these tasty breakfast burrito spots in Phoenix:
SCRAMBLE
9832 N. 7th Street, Phoenix; (602) 374-2294
Besides a double espresso, the best way to wake up in the morning is with one of Scramble’s spicy Southwest breakfast burritos ($7.99). The mix of eggs, chorizo sausage, cheddar cheese, avocado and jalapeno cream cheese will put pep in your step, and the fast-casual restaurant even has the option to pre-order the food online in case you need those extra couple of minutes to get out of bed!
CAROLINA’S
2126 East Cactus Road, Phoenix; 602-275-8231
Consistently great food, low prices, and a line that usually numbers at least 10 people long are all hallmarks of a great local Mexican joint. I mean, if people are willing to wait in line for 20 minutes while the weather is in triple digit territory to purchase a package of famous fresh-made tortillas, the restaurant better be awesome…and Carolina’s is indeed! The hefty a la carte machaca, egg, potato and bean breakfast burrito ($3.50) is filling enough to keep you going until well past lunchtime, when you can come back to Carolinas and line up all over again!
TRYST CAFÉ
21050 North Tatum Boulevard #108 , Phoenix; (480) 585-7978
Some days, it’s so hard to get up that you don’t get around to eating breakfast until later in the day. Fortunately for us, Tryst Café in the Desert Ridge area of Phoenix serves breakfast until 2:30 pm. The organic café’s strives to use local ingredients in all their food and drinks. Tryst’s breakfast burrito ($11) contains two scrambled eggs, chorizo, black beans, pepper jack, and fresh pico de gallo wrapped in a tomato basil tortilla, and is served with roasted red potatoes on the side. Healthy never tasted so good.
LUCI’S HEALTHY MARKETPLACE
1590 East Bethany Home Road, Phoenix; (602) 773-1339
The packed parking lot on the corner of two of central Phoenix’s main streets is the first clue that something special will be found in Luci’s Healthy Marketplace. The hipsters and Lululemon-wearing moms waiting in line for their morning lattes and healthy breakfast options is the second. Luci’s is a café/market/gift store that deals in all things organic and delicious. Order the Buritto Bomb ($8.49) which contains scrambled eggs, your choice of ham, turkey, sausage, bacon or natural chicken chorizo mixed with country potato medley that is stuffed into your choice of a sun-dried tomato, spinach or whole wheat wrap.
AMERICA’S TACO SHOP
2041 North 7th Street, Phoenix; (602) 682-5627
Although it’s a tortilla folded in half that gets top- billing at America’s Taco Shop, one would be foolish to overlook about the restaurant’s burrito selection. The Carne Asada Breakfast Burrito ($4.99) contains my personal favorite breakfast burrito filling, carne asada, scrambled with eggs, jack cheese, onions, tomatoes, and jalapeños all wrapped up in a hot flour tortilla. Order it “America’s Way” with roasted jalapeños, and it’ll be the best quarter you’ve ever spent.