California Burrito from Pokez in San Diego | Photo credit: Krista

Have you ever had a real-life experience where the phrase “You can’t judge a book by its cover” came true? I had one, actually two, recently here in San Diego involving my first taste of a California burrito and a local Mexican restaurant called Pokéz in downtown. It all started when I saw a link to a 10 minute video from Facebook called “Burrito on the Border” which featured the origin of the California burrito.

Are you familiar with the California burrito? Growing up in California and now living in San Diego, I was surprised that I had never tried a California burrito. I’ve seen it on menus at Mexican food places, but hadn’t ordered one – or even thought about ordering one – until I watched this video. How had I never realized what yumminess was hiding inside a California burrito?

So what’s inside a California burrito? The ingredients are simple – carne asada, fries, cheese, guacamole, and sour cream all wrapped inside a tortilla. In the “Burrito on the Border” video, four San Diego Mexican eateries were featured, including Pokéz at the corner of 10^th and E Streets in downtown. When you first see Pokéz, you may not realize the delicious Mexican food that is offered inside.

Pokez at the corner of Tenth and E Streets in San Diego, CA | Photo credit: Pokez official website

For the past couple of years, I’ve driven past Pokéz on numerous occasions and have wondered about it was like inside. The first thing that caught my eye is the large sign on the roof that says “A Vegetarian Mexican Eatery.” The next thing I noticed about Pokéz was all of the stickers that cover the glass front door and the windows surrounding it. Pokéz is down the street from Sweet Bricks Toffee, which is a local San Diego establishment that makes amazing toffee. You can read more about Sweet Bricks here and be sure to visit its online store to order toffee and have it delivered right to you wherever you happen to live.

Previous to watching the California burrito video I had been reluctant to step foot inside Pokéz. After watching the video, I decided I wanted to check out Pokéz and planned a time to visit. As you step inside, the décor is homey, rustic, and a little “kitschy”. There are basic tables and chairs, including a table for larger groups, and some booths that seem to have been DIY furniture projects. The walls have wood paneling and the artwork includes several Virgin Mary paintings and a south of the border/Tijuana motif.

Official Pokez Greeter | Photo credit: Pokez Instagram account

My friend and I sat in a booth and reviewed the menu. Chips and salsa were brought to our table while we looked over the choices. Obviously, I ordered the California burrito on a flour tortilla. At Pokéz you can top any burrito with salsa ranchera and melted cheese for no extra charge so that’s how I ordered mine. Also, whole wheat tortillas are available.

According to the official website, the Pokéz menu offers a “wide array of delicious plates, all of which are easily adjusted for vegetarian and vegan diners.” My friend ordered a tostada tofu salad and the server made sure to ask her some questions so her food would be prepared just as she wanted. Our food arrived and we enjoyed our dinner.

California Burrito | Photo credit: Krista

My first impression of a California burrito was it was tasty overall and I would definitely order one again. The combination of the carne asada and fries with the other ingredients was a delicious blend of flavors and textures. If you’d like to try making a California burrito at home, this recipe from Food.com may be helpful. The recipe is for one burrito and the cooking time does not include preparing the carne asada.

Several places in San Diego County are known for their California Burritos. In June 2014, Thrillist.com published a post about the “12 Best California Burritos, Ranked by San Diego Surfers”. Some of the locations tied for their position and there was one honorable mention. Most of the places mentioned in this post are different from those featured in the video. Now I feel compelled to try the California burrito at other Mexican eateries in San Diego.

What about you? Have you ever had a California burrito? If so, what did you think? Where is your favorite Mexican eatery for California burritos?

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”