who invented burritos

The burrito's invention is attributed to multiple theories, mostly pointing to its origins in Mexico in the early 20th century. One popular theory credits a man named Juan Méndez, a street vendor in Chihuahua or Ciudad Juárez during the Mexican Revolution period (1910s), who wrapped his food in large flour tortillas to keep it warm and conveniently transport it on his donkey. This portable meal of rolled tortilla filled with food gradually became known as the "burrito," which means "little donkey" in Spanish, possibly referencing the food's transportation method or the donkey's role as a travel companion. Another theory suggests the burrito originated in the northwestern Mexican state of Sonora as a practical, portable food for travelers, with the name linked to donkeys used for travel. There is also a story about a vendor in Ciudad Juárez who created the burrito for schoolchildren in the 1940s, nicknaming the kids "burritos," which influenced the name of the food. The burrito as it is known today, especially the large, stuffed versions popular in the United States, evolved over time from these early Mexican roots and was later popularized in American cuisine, with innovations like the frozen burrito introduced in 1956 by Duane R. Roberts. In summary, while there is no definitive single inventor, Juan Méndez is a frequently cited figure linked to the early creation of the burrito, and it most likely evolved from Mexican traditions of wrapping food in tortillas for portability and ease of eating by hand.