There are a couple of places up here that offer a “California Burrito” which has french fries in it… not a fan. And as someone who has grown up and lived in California for decades, I have no idea where they got this from.
With that said, a breakfast burrito with hash browns, scrambled eggs, sausage or bacon, salsa, and crema or guac is to die for.
Chip butties were a working class/Depression staple in the UK. That said, we long ago came across a potato salad sandwich that had us going back for more.
I remember when Taco Bell first opened in St Petersburg. My Dad who had live a good part of his youth in Mexico City was thrilled that a fast food Mexican franchise had opened. We would drive from Clearwater to St Pete to feast on those hard shelled tacos. It was the only Mexican game in town
Fast forward to today, authentic Mexican food can be found easily. Taco Bell is just a memory as well my Dad. He would love what’s available now even in Tampa Bay
Fries it various pita sandwiches is pretty common in NYC. My understanding is that its started with the Israeli street vendors here in NYC. There’s a truck by my office that stuffs the fries into falafels, gyros, shawarma. I’m not a fan of it so I ask for no fries in the pita.
I don’t know if anyone else has discovered them yet, but I have started buying the mini flour tortillas at Trader Joe’s. I then make what I call either Chinese tacos or Korean tacos.
For Chinese tacos, I basically make a moo shu style stir fry. Lots of veg, usually including red cabbage, bean sprouts, mushroom, green onions, along with anything else I need to clear out of the fridge. Protein can be pork, beef, chicken or just veg. I then make a sauce with hoisin and toasted sesame oil and thin with water. Put everything on the table and the family makes their own tacos.
Korean version is made using bulgogi style meat that I chop up and then make a quick pickle with cucumbers, usually have takuan in the house along with some chopped up kimchi and shredded lettuce. Also gone in a flash.
I dunno, man… Koji’s short rib taco was my goto whenever they were around Burbank, and they were a true blessing when they had a spot at LAX.
What I REALLY miss is the White Rabbit truck, which had Filipino tacos. The tocino and the sisig tacos were just mindblowingly good, and my introduction to Filipino food.