BEST BURRITOS IN OMAHA
My Personal Mount Rushmore
There’s something magical about having a meal encased in a tortilla. Whether it’s starting your day with a wrapped breakfast, enjoyed a carbified BBQ feast, or wacky ingredients you’d never expect to be rolled together, burritos provide a craveable, one-of-a-kind experience.
And Omaha has fantastic options all over the burrito spectrum. Below you’ll find the ones you absolutely need to try.
This is all, of course, just one man’s opinion, and I haven’t eaten every burrito in the city (I wish!). My personal tastes heavily influence my choices—I’m a breakfast burrito fiend, and that impacts my picks. Regardless, I think if you choose any burrito on this list, you’re going to crush your burrito cravings with one heck of a rolled meal. Without further ado, my personal Mount Rushmore of Omaha burritos (with honorable mentions, of course).
***Note: Just one dish per restaurant is included on this list. I wanted to showcase many restaurants rather than shower all praise on a few elite joints.***
Poutine Burrito (Block 16)
On paper, this burrito is pure insanity. Who in their right mind would think to roll the contents of poutine, a Canadian delicacy consisting of french fries, cheese curds, and gravy, inside a tortilla? In most restaurants’ hands, this burrito crashes before it gets off the runway.
But this is Block 16 we’re talking about. They don’t just make this burrito a success; they turn it into one of the best single food items in all of Omaha.
Block 16 doesn’t rely on rice filler to construct this burrito. The dominant presence is the delicious shaved steak, which is accented by crispy, salty tots. Cheese curds add pops of gooey creaminess, while the gravy and malt vinegar aioli provide moisture and salt. There may be a day’s worth of calories in this tortilla, but this burrito is worth running a few more miles for. There’s simply nothing like it, and the flavor somehow surpasses the absurd novelty.
Corned Beef Hash Burrito (Wonton Jon's)
Though you might not realize it by the name, Wonton Jon’s is Omaha’s breakfast burrito king. And while it’s signature offering, the G.O.A.T. (Greatest Of All Time) is a crowd favorite, I’m going to argue the Corned Beef Hash Burrito deserves the most praise.
It all starts with the salty, beefy brisket, which is cooked sous vide to achieve a buttery tenderness. Caramelized onions add sweetness and fried potatoes bring crisp and starch, then a tangy Omaha sauce (think a smoky 1000 Island) arrives to wrap everything up with a brilliant creaminess. That whole package is griddled in a 12-in. tortilla, ensuring it stays together and has a nice crispy exterior.
Breakfast Burrito w/ Brisket (Muchachos)
As any epic burrito does, it all starts with the protein. Muchachos owner Nick Maestas has become a meat-smoking maestro, as his pork, chicken, and especially the brisket can rival just about any BBQ restaurant in Omaha.
The brisket is the best of the trio, with a rich smoky flavor and tons of crispy, caramelized bark. The bold, powerful flavors of the meat make for a delightful partner with the rich, buttery eggs along with Muchachos’ house salsas. The burrito is massive (I’d guess at least a pound), and it’s available all day long, not just in the AM.
Chorizo & Egg Burrito (Saddle Creek Breakfast Club)
Little about Saddle Creak Breakfast Club is over the top or complicated. The restaurant uses modern techniques to cook breakfast food extremely well, and this exquisite mastery extends to its breakfast burrito.
Though the proteins inside change by the updating menu, you can feel confident the meat will pair beautifully with the buttery scrambled eggs, Spanish rice, bright pico de gallo, and salty, tango queso fresco. If the smoky, slightly spicy chorizo is on the menu, don’t hesitate. The house salsas are both delicious additions to boot.
Honorable Mention Omaha Burritos
Bacon Breakfast Burrito
Fluffy, cloud-like scrambled eggs. Crispy, salty bacon. Crispy homes fries. Melty, gooey cheese.
Drooling yet? Those elements alone are enough to achieve breakfast burrito nirvana.
But Sunnyside’s green chili adds freshness and acidity, giving a vibrant pop that separates this from the traditional breakfast burrito. Combine it with one of the crispy, greasy hash brown patties and you have one heck of a breakfast.
Jalapeno Popper Burrito
Remarkably true to its namesake, this burrito has a pleasant balance of heat, creaminess, and savory elements. An army of chopped grilled jalapeños, diced bacon chunks, and a gooey cream cheese bring to mind the flavors of a traditional jalapeno popper, but tender grilled chicken and tater tots (which should be in every burrito) take this burrito to the next level.
Burrito Envy doesn’t have the largest burritos, but they’re usually well-grilled and packed with flavor, and the Jalapeno Popper is (to this palate) the best of the bunch.
Smoked Chili Breakfast Burrito
When it comes to breakfast, WD Cravings is best known for its breakfast sandwiches, which are among the best in the city. But its burritos, and this take in particular, deserve some shine as well.
The smoked chili provides an unusual but welcome addition to the usual breakfast burrito, imparting a rich, savory note with just a touch of sweetness into each bite. Crispy home fries and a cooling pesto crema are delicious additions, but the sneaky MVP here is the pickled onions, which add an unexpected but welcome acidic pop.
Lengua Burrito
Every time I dine at El Alambre, I’m blown away by how distinct and flavorful its proteins are. While many Mexican restaurants bury their meats in cheese, sour cream, and veggies, El Alambre empowers their meats to star; and star, the lengua does.
Lengua (cow tongue) may be an unfamiliar protein to some diners, but it’s delicious when prepared right. El Alambre’s version contains a rich, umami flavor similar to steak, but with a soft, springy texture. Roll this meat up with sour cream, cheese, sour cream, and one of Omaha’s best guacamoles, and this is a burrito worth branching out for.
These may be my favorite burritos in Omaha, but I’m always looking for more greatness rolled in a tortilla. Let me know what I need to try next and add to my list! Comment below, tweet at me @danhoppen, or message me on Instagram @dan_hoppen.