It's official: This historic, family-run Mexican restaurant makes best burritos in Phoenix
Corrections & Clarifications: The location of the upcoming fourth Rito's Mexican Food restaurant was incorrect in an earlier version of this article. The new location will be in Mesa.
Over the last four weeks, readers voted in a bracket-style runoff to decide which restaurant makes the best burrito in metro Phoenix. Of the 16 contestants Rito's Mexican Food, known for their green chili burritos, was named the winner of the 2023 Phoenix Burrito Bowl.
The restaurant's first location opened in 1977 inside the home of Rosemary and Rito Salinas. Rosemary passed down her green chili recipe and the restaurant to her daughter Charlotte Hansen in 2012.
Charlotte grew up working at the restaurant, ever since the first location opened when she was in eighth grade. She eventually left the restaurant for an office job in Phoenix, but when her mom was getting ready to retire, she said she was happy to become the restaurant's new owner. And now her own son, Daniel Hansen, is the general manager.
Both mother and son expressed their deep gratitude for being named the winner of the 2023 Burrito Bowl.
"We're very thankful, very appreciative," Daniel said. "From the staff to the customers and all people (who have) taken the time to vote."
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Rito's has a lot of history for people in Phoenix
Rito's has been passed down through multiple generations — general manager Daniel and his brother Matthew, the kitchen manager, are grandchildren of the original owners — but the restaurant is also an important intergenerational space for its loyal customers.
"We had our 40th anniversary, gosh, six years ago now," Daniel said. "We had a thing asking people to tell us your favorite Rito's story, and a lot of couples had their first date, they met for lunch there instead of coffee."
Daniel said one of his favorite things about Rito's is talking to customers who started going to the original location as kids, and now take their own kids to the restaurant.
"I think that's one of the coolest parts," he said. "You see that whole family tree."
Customers are at the heart of Rito's
Daniel also expressed his gratitude for customers who not only voted in the Burrito Bowl, but who have continued to show support for the family-owned and operated business over the years.
The pandemic in particular was a difficult time for restaurants, Rito's included, and Daniel said it was their customers that got them through it.
"They were dropping in 50s, 20s, 10s, whatever they had, in the tip jar, and that all goes to the staff and the servers," Daniel said. "They came and placed to go orders, they waited longer for their food, they did whatever they could to show that they were with us still. And I think that's a huge thing."
Since then, the restaurant has not only survived, but they plan to open a fourth location in Mesa in May.
"This is the legacy I want to leave my kids," Charlotte said.
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Visit Rito's Mexican Food for the best burrito in Phoenix
Rito's has three locations and a fourth currently under construction in Mesa that is expected to open by the end of the year.
The original and Surprise locations remain takeout only, but the location on north Seventh Street is full service and includes a full bar.
The signature dish remains the green chili burrito ($9.90), which can be served four ways — on its own, with beans, with red chili or all three.
Rito's Mexican Food (Garfield) : 907 N. 14th St., Phoenix. 602-262-9842, ritosmexicanfood.com.
Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Monday; 9:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m., Tuesday to Friday; 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Saturday. Closed Sunday.
Rito's Crown location: 5813 N. Seventh St., Phoenix. 602-368-6726, ritosmexicanfood.com.
Hours: 10:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m., Monday to Wednesday; 10:30 a.m. - 9:30 p.m., Thursday to Saturday; 10:30 a.m. - 8:00 p.m., Sunday.
Rito's Surprise location: 15643 N. Reems Road, Surprise. 623-546-3835, ritosmexicanfood.com.
Hours: 10:30 a.m. - 8:00 p.m., Tuesday to Thursday; 10:30 a.m. - 8:30 pm, Friday and Saturday; 10:30 a.m. - 8:00 p.m., Sunday. Closed Monday.
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Reach the reporter at endia.fontanez@gannett.com. Follow @EndiaFontanez on Twitter.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix Mexican restaurant Rito's makes the best burrito. Here's why
