# Burritos: Rice and/or beans? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 26, 2015, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burritos-rice-and-or-beans/728902 "2015-08-26T01:31:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2015, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burritos-rice-and-or-beans/728902/1 "2015-08-26T01:31:43Z")
I found this description in an article on ‘the best burritos in the U.S.’ > [@](#): > > You know a burrito means business when it requires a knife and fork. The Burrito Grande (or “Baby burrito”) at Gordito’s Healthy Mexican Food (good one, guys) is so stuffed with meat, beans, rice, lettuce, sour cream, salsa, and guacamole that it requires two large tortillas. It also requires an iron stomach and fierce determination, because it’s legit the size of a fat baby. If I order a carnitas burrito, or an asada burrito, or whatever burrito, I want it to be filled with carnitas, asada, or whatever. I don’t want the wonderful flavour of dead animals diluted by cheap fillers such as rice or beans. I’m fine with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, cilantro (of course!), sour cream, guacamole on occasion, and depending on the filling (ground beef), even cheese. _But no rice or beans!_ So here’s the poll: Do you like rice and/or beans in addition to the stated filling? Obviously I am excluding bean burritos, rice burritos (which I’ve never heard of), cheese burritos (which would basically be ‘rolled quesadillas’), and such. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2015, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burritos-rice-and-or-beans/728902/2 "2015-08-26T01:34:56Z")
I’m not sure whether you left out the option of stated filling plus rice AND beans on purpose, so I chose “I’ll start my own poll.” ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2015, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burritos-rice-and-or-beans/728902/3 "2015-08-26T01:36:28Z")
> [@OneCentStamp](#): > > I’m not sure whether you left out the option of stated filling plus rice AND beans on purpose, so I chose “I’ll start my own poll.” That was an oversight on my part. Is this fixable by a mod? If not, I’ll ask that the thread be closed and try again. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2015, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burritos-rice-and-or-beans/728902/4 "2015-08-26T01:40:11Z")
I don’t get into face-offs with left-coasters over burritos. The NYC burrito is a red-headed stepchild. That said, my personal preference – from Rachel’s Burritos, 5th Avenue, Brooklyn – is _al pastor_, grilled chicken thighs, rice, refried beans, guac, sour cream, and cheese on the inside, and _salsa verde_ and a little more melted cheese over the top. Definitely needs a knife and fork, and sliced pickled jalapeños on the side. I don’t even KNOW how to order a burrito in SoCal. Are you supposed to eat them out of hand? ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2015, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burritos-rice-and-or-beans/728902/5 "2015-08-26T01:42:55Z")
No rice! Jeez. Rice does NOT belong in a burrito. Neither does lettuce. Ick. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2015, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burritos-rice-and-or-beans/728902/6 "2015-08-26T01:43:08Z")
Californian. Beans, yes. Beans are delicious. Half the time, I just want a bean burrito anyway. Rice, though, is an abomination. You can’t have two starches. It doesn’t even make any sense. People who put rice in burritos are bad people, and their restaurants should be shut down. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2015, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burritos-rice-and-or-beans/728902/7 "2015-08-26T01:43:32Z")
Oh, and “lettuce and tomatoes” seems a little weird to me. A small scoop of _pico de gallo_ would be all right, though. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2015, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burritos-rice-and-or-beans/728902/8 "2015-08-26T01:46:25Z")
> [@even\_sven](#): > > Rice, though, is an abomination. But…but…the rice sucks up all the delicious GOO. And makes for a fine last couple of forkfuls, with a jalapeño plopped on top. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2015, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burritos-rice-and-or-beans/728902/9 "2015-08-26T01:52:02Z")
[I have…strong opinions on the subject…](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=211444) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2015, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burritos-rice-and-or-beans/728902/10 "2015-08-26T01:56:23Z")
> [@kayT](#): > > Neither does lettuce. Ick. > [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > Oh, and “lettuce and tomatoes” seems a little weird to me. A small scoop of _pico de gallo_ would be all right, though. See, I grew up with Naugles and Del Taco, so vegetables are normal. They also appear on burritos from taco trucks. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2015, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burritos-rice-and-or-beans/728902/11 "2015-08-26T01:58:17Z")
I grew up in Cleveland in the '60s and '70s with no burritos AT ALL. You kids today, you have it so soft. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2015, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burritos-rice-and-or-beans/728902/12 "2015-08-26T02:03:19Z")
I’ve come to appreciate burritos with no stated filling, just beans and rice, with some cheese and hottish red sauce for flavor. Not plain, white rice; something with some character. I like to savor the delicate flavors. But those things the size of footballs are not burritos. ---
**Author:** ![Alpha\_Twit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alpha_twit/32/265_2.png) [@Alpha\_Twit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpha_Twit)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2015, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burritos-rice-and-or-beans/728902/13 "2015-08-26T02:04:24Z")
Beans I’ll take or leave. No really strong opinion on that subject. Rice is another matter entirely - bring on the rice! As noted, the rice makes for wonderful soppage and just help to tie thing together. If you don’t want rice in your burrito then no problem, I’ll happily take your share and thank you for your kindness. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2015, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burritos-rice-and-or-beans/728902/14 "2015-08-26T02:09:17Z")
> [@kayT](#): > > No rice! Jeez. Rice does NOT belong in a burrito. Neither does lettuce. Ick. [quote=“even\_sven, post:6, topic:728902”] Californian. Beans, yes. Beans are delicious. Half the time, I just want a bean burrito anyway. Rice, though, is an abomination. You can’t have two starches[li]. It doesn’t even make any sense. People who put rice in burritos are bad people, and their restaurants should be shut down.[/li][/QUOTE] Quite right! Rice in a burrito is disgusting. Beans and rice together as a separate dish, _a la_ red beans and rice, or black bean soup (with sour cream and onions, yum) is perfectly fine; a treat to the senses, in fact. But in a burrito? No way, _yanqui_. \*_Three_ starches, actually - the rice, the beans and the tortilla. Wrong, just wrong. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2015, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burritos-rice-and-or-beans/728902/15 "2015-08-26T02:10:59Z")
And tacos that are just barbacoa beef, onions, and cilantro on double soft corn tortillas that were quickly passed over an open flame, with a pepper sauce out of a bottle. No beans, rice, cheese, lettuce, tomatos, or nuttin’. Daughter adds cheese, but I think she’s channeling one of my Minnesota forebears and puts cheese on everything. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2015, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burritos-rice-and-or-beans/728902/16 "2015-08-26T02:14:20Z")
Why the dickens did you leave out the option of rice and beans! ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2015, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burritos-rice-and-or-beans/728902/17 "2015-08-26T02:15:53Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > Why the dickens did you leave out the option of rice and beans! See post #3. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2015, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burritos-rice-and-or-beans/728902/18 "2015-08-26T02:35:57Z")
> [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](#): > > \*_Three_ starches, actually - the rice, the beans and the tortilla. Wrong, just wrong. Surely, beans count as protein? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2015, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burritos-rice-and-or-beans/728902/19 "2015-08-26T02:36:02Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > [I have…strong opinions on the subject…](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=211444) Yeah, I had the same reaction when I moved to the Bay Area, and everyone was raving about the burritos at La Cumbre. (The topic comes up here every once in a while, and I think it’s been speculated that’s where the practice started–though I could be wrong.) Anyway, it has unfortunately spread, as owners of taco shops up and down the state realized they can save money by using rice to make a burrito seem bigger. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2015, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burritos-rice-and-or-beans/728902/20 "2015-08-26T02:36:46Z")
Plus beans. Plus rice. Plus lettuce. Plus damn near anything. Burritos can (and do) contain everything and the kitchen sink. Rice is standard at my [go-to spot](http://www.yelp.com/biz/el-burrito-redlands). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burritos-rice-and-or-beans/728902.md?page=2)