The taco and the burrito are both extremely popular food items which originated in Mexico. Though the initial ingredients and methods of preparation have metamorphosed over the years with significant American influence, the basic crux of these items still remain the same.
Comparison chart
Burrito versus Taco comparison chart  | Burrito | Taco |
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| - current rating is 3.84/5
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- 5
(294 ratings) | - current rating is 3.82/5
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(315 ratings) |
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| Wrapper | Flour or Corn tortilla | Flour or Corn tortilla |
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| Origin | Twentieth century, Mexico | Much older, Mexico |
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| Garnishing | No specific garnishing | Salsa, sour cream sauce, onions, cilantro |
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| Purpose | Full meal | Light snack |
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| Main ingredients | Tortillas, refried beans or meat. Cheese is often added, especially in the U.S. | Tortillas, meat, vegetables, cheese. |
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| Size | Large | Small |
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| Style | Mexican food | Mexican food |
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| Filling type | Meat, beans, veggies, rice, etc | Only single variety of meat |
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| Filling quantity | Double | Single |
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A taco
The nomenclatures too are pretty intriguing. The word "burrito" literally means "little donkey" which in turn comes from the word "burro" meaning "donkey". The dish probably got its name because a finished wrapped up burrito remotely resembles a donkey’s ear or the bedrolls that they carried. In comparison to the burrito, the taco has a far more reasonable name to it. The word "taco" means "light snack" which quite explains it. Because of their vaguely similar appearance and structure, the taco and the burrito are often confused with each other. However, there are distinctive differences between the two. Some of them are listed below:
A burrito
Origin
The taco is a more of a traditional and ethnic snack whereas the Burrito is a twentieth century innovation.
Differences in Size
Essentially, the burrito is never considered to be a light snack. The size of the burrito is much larger than that of a taco. Whereas the former is eaten more as a whole meal, the latter is simply a snack and you need to consume several of them to substitute for full meal. Hence, there is a distinct difference in the size.
Ingredients and Recipe
The basic constitution of both the taco and the burrito is roughly the same. They are both made up of fillings wrapped up in tortillas. However there are distinct differences in both these constitutive parts:
- The wrap: A taco is smaller and trimmer in size, and will have a soft corn tortilla for the wrap. The burrito on the other hand is much thicker and larger; therefore a corn tortilla will not serve the purpose. Corn tortillas are soft and tender and are liable to crack due to chunky double fillings. Thick flour made tortillas are used for burrito wraps instead. They are also often flavoured, like tomato, spinach etc. The tortillas in a burrito are often so large that they almost substitute for a plate.
- The Filling: The filling of both the taco and the burrito are essentially different. Firstly the quantity of stuff that is wrapped differs. The taco is essentially a single filling item making it a truly light snack to munch on. The Burrito is a whole meal supplement and provides huge double fillings massy enough to completely fill up the large wheat tortilla. The ingredients of the filling are also essentially different. The taco generally has some kind of a meat filling, wrapped up in a warm corn tortilla. There could be pulled pork, or chicken or anything else, but it’s essentially only one kind of meat. The burrito on the other hand offers a healthy mix; there can be rice, beans, meat, vegetables, cheese, all wrapped up in a huge flour tortilla.
- The Garnishing: The taco is often garnished with onions, cilantro, salsa, sour cream and other sauces. The burrito has no such apparent garnishing.
Though, both the taco and the burrito are similar in the way they are assembled (fillings wrapped in tortillas), the differences are too many for any confusion to arise. You can never mistake one for the other.
References
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Comments: Burrito vs Taco
FAQs
If you're unsure whether what you're eating is a burrito or taco, look at how it's wrapped. Burritos have cylinder-shaped wraps, while tacos are folded in half to hold the stuffing in place. Also, look at its shell size. Tacos are generally a lighter snack or meal, so they have a smaller tortilla shell.
How does Taco vs Burrito end? ›
When the Draw Pile is empty, you continue playing but skip the draw-a-card part of your turn until one player is completely out of cards. Once one person is out of cards, the game is over, and the person with the highest points wins.
How many tacos equal a burrito? ›
Depends who is making them. Small street style tacos don't have a lot of meat in them at all. A big burrito might have double or more the meat in 4 tacos. But I've had overstuffed tacos where 2 of them is a solid meal, too, and there is as much meat as there is in a burrito in the two tacos.
What's healthier, a burrito or tacos? ›
Best: Tacos
They're smaller than most of the other things on the menu, so you can keep calories in check. Order the grilled chicken, lean steak, or grilled fish on a baked corn tortilla. Those have 70% more fiber and less than half the fat of their white flour counterparts.
Do Mexicans eat burritos or tacos? ›
The Mexican burrito may be a northern variation of the traditional taco de Canasta, which is eaten for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Although burritos are one of the most popular examples of Mexican cuisine outside of Mexico, they are only popular in the northern part of Mexico.
Are soft tacos just burritos? ›
The main difference between a burrito and a taco is the shell size. Tacos are generally a lighter snack or meal, while a larger burrito is a hearty, full meal. For a taco, it can either be a soft or hard corn shell, while a burrito is generally a larger flour tortilla, as corn tortillas tend to fall apart more easily.
What are the rules for Taco vs Burrito? ›
On your turn
INGREDIENTS are placed in any Taco or Burrito to increase the value of the meal. TUMMY ACHES are placed in any Taco or Burrito to reduce the value of the meal. Hot Tip: You can play Ingredients, Tummy Aches, and Hot Sauce Bosses in any meal, not just your own!
What came first taco or burrito? ›
Logically tacos had to have come first because corn was an indigenously developed staple food crop and tacos are made with corn tortillas any filling, usually meat. Burritos are usually made where I live in México with wheat flour tortillas that the same size as corn tortillas.
Why do tacos always have 2 tortillas? ›
Mexicans fondly refer to this as 'la copia' (literally: the copy). If you ask around, you'll be given many reasons for this. But a popular explanation is that the second tortilla can be used to make another taco with any fillings that spill out the side.
Can I use taco seasoning for burritos? ›
Stir in taco seasoning mix and salsa. Cook until hot. Spoon chicken mixture onto tortillas. Top with lettuce, cheese and bell pepper strips.
How many tacos do you serve per person? Our taco algorithms show that people will eat approximately 4-5 tacos. Keep in mind that some will eat less, and some will eat more, but it will average out to approximately 4-5 tacos per person.
What is the most unhealthy Mexican food? ›
Mexican food by nature can be a trap for calories, fat, and sodium. The fried tortilla chips, high-fat meats, sour cream, cheese, guacamole, refried beans, and deep-fried combo dishes can really pack on the pounds.
What is unhealthy in a burrito? ›
Sometimes, burritos are high in saturated fat due to ingredients like beef, cheese, or sour cream. As you can see in the nutrition information of the two different burritos above, the bean and cheese burrito has half as much saturated fat as the beef and cheese one since beans don't have saturated fat but beef does.
What is the healthiest Mexican food to order? ›
10 Healthy Orders at Mexican Restaurants, According to Registered Dietitians
- Cactus. ...
- Seafood. ...
- Salsa. ...
- Guacamole. ...
- Tacos. ...
- A Margarita (Yes, Really!) ...
- Agua Fresca. ...
- Ceviche or Salad.
burrito, a common cylindrical food item of Mexican and American origin consisting of a tortilla wrapped around a mixed filling of such ingredients as meat, cheese, beans, and vegetables. The burrito differs from the taco in that the circular tortilla in the latter case is simply folded, not wrapped.
What qualifies as a taco? ›
A taco (US: /ˈtɑːkoʊ/, UK: /ˈtækoʊ/, Spanish: [ˈtako]) is a traditional Mexican dish consisting of a small hand-sized corn- or wheat-based tortilla topped with a filling. The tortilla is then folded around the filling and eaten by hand.
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