Downtown Burritos

"Refried beans and melty cheese. It’s a gas station classic, and Downtown Burritos makes the best version. This tiny East Village counter is known for their breakfast and smothered burritos, but we only have eyes for this simple combination. The super flaky tortilla gets a once-over on the grill, and if you’re feeling extra indulgent, you can upgrade it with a swipe of sour cream. These are best eaten on a bench in Tompkins Square Park, where you can reload each bite with more hot sauce. " - neha talreja, willa moore

"Morphing from an Italian bakery to a Mexican bakery and finally to a taqueria, this venerable bare-bones institution open since the early ’90s ( recently closed for a year and with a name change from Downtown Bakery to Downtown Burritos) was founded by Pueblan immigrants Olivia Marin and Manuel Marmolejo. It produces some of the most wallet-friendly eats in the neighborhood. My favorite is the chicken enchiladas with chile guajillo sauce, but the breakfast tacos and humongous burritos are similarly compelling." - Robert Sietsema

"When Downtown Bakery closed — retaining the name of an Italian bakery that occupied the same real estate in the last century — we thought it would never reopen. But lo and behold, it finally did, with nearly the same menu chalked on the wall over the counter, with a couple of additions like steak chilaquiles and a vegan tamale that’s one of the better offerings. Still, the new name reflects the most popular dish: burritos, both breakfast and regular." - Robert Sietsema

"The former Downtown Bakery has reopened under a new name, and its roster of breakfast and luncheon tacos, both made on white-corn tortillas in the Pueblan fashion, remains gloriously intact. Note that the wonderful chorizo breakfast taco features Italian sausage rather than Mexican chorizo, as a result of the place’s origins as an Italian bakery." - Robert Sietsema

"After closing earlier this year, Downtown Bakery Cocina Mexicana has reopened as Downtown Burritos Cocina Mexicana. The little breakfast burrito spot is back to nursing the hangovers of East Villagers, and the rebrand should lower any confusion for people wandering in for a concha. We checked out Downtown Burritos Cocina Mexicana. Read our first thoughts here." - Will Hartman, Willa Moore