Burritos should be celebrated, because they are ingenious inventions that wrap deliciousness in a handy tortilla for extra convenience. National Burrito Day (today, Thursday, April 2, 2026) was created to do just that.
Here’s a little history about the origins of the yumminess before we dive into the freebies and deals to observe this glorious unofficial holiday.
A brief history of burritos
Burritos hail from Northern Mexico and were invented in the early 20th century. The region’s climate was ideal for wheat, so larger tortillas were made out of the crop.
This bigger vessel set the scene for a new culinary delight. The first burritos contained meat, beans, and cheese.
The word “burrito” in Spanish literally means “little donkeys.” In Northern Mexico, donkeys were used to carry people and important cargo, much like the tortilla carries the filling of the burrito. It is believed that this is where the name comes from.
The burrito was especially popular in California. America put its own stamp on the dish, adding ingredients such as sour cream, guacamole, rice, and more.
In 1960s San Francisco, the “mission burrito” was popular among workers. Decades later, this same dish would inspire Steve Ells, founder of Chipotle Mexican Grill, to open the first store in Denver, Colorado, in 1993.
