The Burrito (or “little donkey” in Spanish) is one of the great foods of the world. When you’re hangry and on-the-go, nothing will fill you up or travel as well as the burrito. Thankfully, their greatness isn’t locked into a specific locale, so here are the best burritos every man should try in America.

First a little history. The burrito’s predecessor dates back to the pre-colonization of Mesoamerica in the 15th century, when native peoples were already wrapping local fruits and vegetables in corn tortillas, while their neighbors (in what is now the American Southwest) were rocking meat and beans wrapped in flatbread. And there are quite a few modern burrito origin stories, the most famous of which is the folk history of Juan Méndez, a Mexican Revolution era street vendor who used donkeys to transport his tacos. Eventually he decided to wrap these tacos in large flour tortillas to keep them warm, and these burritos - i.e. “little donkey foods” - grew in popularity until the term was adopted ubiquitously.

So there’s your history lesson. Here are the burritos.

The Shed’s “Green Chile”, Sante Fe, New Mexico
This Santa Fe staple has been serving up tasty burritos since they first opened their doors in 1953, maintaining a reputation for excellence that is matched by their long lines. Their Green Chile Burrito comes in toward the top of many foodie lists, and is definitely worth checking out if you’re in the area. The burrito is simple, made with quality ingredients, with a zesty flavor teased to perfection by their famous sauce. The Red Chile Enchilada is also highly recommended.

La Taqueria Carnitas Burrito, San Francisco, California
You can’t get far in an aficionado's burrito conversation before you end up talking about the La Taqueria. Seated in the heart of San Francisco’s tasty food offerings, La Taqueria Carnitas Burrito is truly unmatched. I can attest to this one personally. The carnitas somehow have both that “meat falling off the bone” texture and taste, while also maintaining a perfected crispiness.

L’Patron’s Carne Asada Burrito, Chicago, Illinois
This bright green Logan Square staple proves you don’t have to travel all the way to America’s Southwest to get some of the tastiest burritos America has to offer. L’Patron’s famous carne asada burrito swooped in at #6 on the Daily Meal’s 50 Best Burritos in America and here’s what they had to say: “Grilled to order, still a little pink, expertly seasoned, not overly greasy, it’s carne asada perfection. When partnered with lettuce, tomato, sour cream, homemade refried beans, and avocado (and roasted poblano chiles if you’re feeling adventurous), it’s a masterpiece.”

King Burrito, Portland, Oregon
King Burrito has long been a treasured haunt of the Northwest’s Mexican cuisine. David Canales is the founder and still the head chef, while his wife and grown children help run the rest of the joint. Definitely poke around the menu to find what suits your fancy, but I recommend the King Burrito: “chile relleno with re-fried beans and steak picado, with our homemade avocado sauce, served in a huge flour tortilla.”

Tito’s Taco’s Bean and Cheese Burrito, Los Angeles, California
While Tito’s Tacos has been “a longtime favorite for people from all walks of life and cultural backgrounds looking for a traditional south of the border eating experience” since 1959, the food world still viewed it as a relative underdog. That is, they used to, until it topped a bunch of the “best burrito” charts in the last two years. The Bean and Cheese burrito consists of refried beans and freshly grated cheddar cheese, wrapped in a hot off the grill flour tortilla, and is truly one of a kind (not to mention, cheap).

El Zarape’s Lobster Burrito, San Diego, California
We’ve gotta include at least one slightly-left-of-field burrito, so here’s El Zarape’s hit lobster burrito. Complete with tomatoes, cilantro, crema, and salsa verde, it’s definitely a unique experience worth trying in a city known for its seafood-related Mexican cuisine.

There you go! Git on out there and enjoy yourself.