While far from many other points on the map, El Jefe’s next-level pollo ranchero makes it worthy of the ultimate burrito pilgrimage. El Jefe’s team grills chickens over a huge charcoal fire throughout the day, giving it a smoky flavor that can be hard to find at other burrito spots. For those not in the mood for chicken, El Jefe also has options like birria, al pastor, and lengua.

Since 2000, Tienda Santa Cruz’s carniceria and bakery has been a cornerstone of the St. Johns’ community. People flock here to eat some of Portland’s favorite tacos, but the burritos are similarly obsession-worthy, gargantuan and creative. Whether it’s a chile relleno, vegetarian, or one of a dozen meat-filled burritos, the taqueria’s avocado salsa is a mandatory addition.

A Lombard street staple, King Burrito has been serving its famous burritos for more than two decades. The ingredients vary from burrito to burrito, but all of the menu’s extensive options come without rice. The namesake burrito is one of the most popular options, and contains a chile relleno and loads of juicy steak.

With several locations scattered around Portland, La Bonita has become synonymous with quality fast-casual Mexican fare. The burritos here are famous for being almost as large as a newborn baby, with all the classic burrito ingredients and a short list of proteins and veggies to choose from. While the size is the main draw here, seasoned customers know that you can also choose to make it “A La Bonita” by smothering it with cheese, salsa, and queso fresco.

With a solid reputation for amazing tacos in tow, Tight Tacos also brings the heat to the burrito scene. While the normal burrito offers an impressive variety of meat and non-meat options, it’s entirely overshadowed by the showstopping Hellarito. This burrito is next-level, housing nacho cheese and house-cut fries. Diners looking for maximum indulgence should try the Hellarito with the juicy al pastor.

At this cozy, covered burrito-and-beer cart, owner Oswaldo Bibiano (former chef at Autentica and former owner of Uno Mas) stuffs meats like green adobo marinated-chicken, Guerrero-style beef barbacoa, and Michoacan-style carnitas into tortillas. The Portland-friendly El Hipster burrito is a produce-heavy wonder, stuffed with red cabbage and kale braised in apple cider and red wine vinegar. Stop by between 3 to 5 p.m. or 8 to 9 p.m. for happy hour, when selected burritos run about half price.

Inside this no-frills Cully taqueria, hulking burritos arrive in tortillas as large as 14 inches. The chile relleno burrito is stuffed with two fluffy chile rellenos, oozing with melty cheese, providing a satisfying cheese pull. Alternatively, the namesake Pinche Burro burrito is packed with chorizo refried beans and a choice of carne asada, carnitas, pastor, tinga de pollo, or birria. Aguas frescas in flavors like tamarindo, jamaica, and horchata come bottled for easy takeaway.

A small Foster-Powell hangout, Nayar Taqueria offers a massive array of combinations that can become tacos or burritos. While the number of options can be daunting, the rare burrito stuffings like machaca and salmon are an exciting change of burrito scenery. Patrons feeling in the mood for seafood can even get the Burrito San Blas, a burrito made of grilled cod or prawn in a white wine cream sauce.

Yucatecan specialties like panuchos and salbutes come topped with pulled chicken, asada, or carnitas at this restaurant opened by former Angel Food and Fun chef Manny Lopez and his wife. They may be the stars of the menu, but for a more portable option, don’t discount the restaurant’s equally tasty burritos, in which perfectly cooked asada, cochinita, pollo, or veggies are swaddled with guacamole, black beans, and cool sour cream. 

Breakfast burritos were not included in this map — except for the ones at La Osita. La Osita’s burritos teeter the line between breakfast and lunch, serving a combination diners will likely want to eat past noon. Choose between the breakfast-y Osita Burrito filled with eggs and chorizo, or the more lunch-like La Maria Burrito that’s filled with carne asada and sauteed vegetables.

When deep in the weeds of East Portland and Gresham, this bright orange and green burrito shop is the place to be for burritos. Located right in the heart of Gresham’s downtown, Gresham Burrito Shop has a wide variety of different seafood and meat fillings, ranging from tiger shrimp to chile verde to cabeza. With burritos under $9 on the menu, this may be the best value burrito spot on the map.