Here's The Best Burrito In Austin

When you think about it, the burrito might be the world's most perfect food. All the food groups are covered with nearly endless combinations of ingredients, and best of all, the whole dish is handheld and doesn't even require, well—a dish.

For our second-annual ranking of the best ones found in America, we looked at burritos from all across the country and applied several strict criteria: Are all the ingredients fresh? Is there a good selection of meats and add-ons? Can you customize your order, right down to the amount of crema squeezed on top? Is it renowned by critics and locals alike in its city? We didn't set out to rank the places to buy a burrito; we ranked the burritos themselves, but we know that you don't buy a burrito in a void. So when you drive by this place does your mouth immediately start to water, forcing you to impulsively pull over and, before you know it, you're diving face-first into the burrito of your dreams?

Those are the burritos we went looking for, and after compiling an extensive list, sent a survey to journalists and food writers across the country, as well as renowned chefs that are a part of our Culinary Council. Chefs who participated in the survey and will allow their names to be used include Jonathan Waxman (a native Californian with extensive burrito experience) and Cesare Casella (who brings an Italian-rustic viewpoint to the subject). Although there could only be one winner, we found plenty of delectable specimens being made across America, including in Austin.

Cabo Bob's brings a taste of Baja California to Austin without being tacky or gimmicky, and with a real commitment to high-quality food. All tortillas are cooked to order (try to find that at other burrito shops), and all sauces are scratch-made in-house daily. While their Baja fish taco is certainly the real deal, and there's always the option of customizing your burrito and loading it up with fillings, go for the #5: the pork burrito. An ancho chile tortilla is filled with shredded pork, brown rice, pinto beans, grilled onions and peppers, cheese, lettuce, cilantro, and their 66 Red Sauce, and it's a wonder to behold.

It's so good it snagged the #12 spot on our list, beating out their only local competitor also named on it, Changos Taqueria's Maximo burrito (#30). That means, according to our panel of experts, that Cabo Bob's Burritos is the proud home of the best burrito in Austin.