Choosing between a burrito, a bowl, or tacos comes down to how much you want to eat and how you like your ingredients delivered: a burrito wraps everything into one handheld package, a bowl serves the same fillings loose and fork-ready, and tacos split them across smaller portions you can mix and match. A burrito is a warm tortilla folded around meat, beans, rice, and toppings. Read on to find your perfect order.
The three formats, explained
At Cafe Mexicali, everything starts with the same scratch-made building blocks: sauces, meats, beans, and tortillas all made fresh daily, each one good enough to eat on its own. What changes from format to format is the delivery method, not the quality. Here is how the big three stack up.
| Format | Best for | Eat it with | Customization |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burrito | Big appetites, eating on the go | Your hands | Everything wrapped in one tortilla |
| Bowl | Skipping the tortilla, tasting each layer | A fork | Loose ingredients, easy to see and mix |
| Tacos | Variety, sharing, lighter portions | Your hands | Different fillings across each taco |
Burrito vs bowl: the classic showdown
This is the question most people wrestle with when they search for mexican food near me, so let us settle it. The choice really is that simple: it is the same fresh ingredients, just packaged two different ways.
Choose the burrito if
- You want a full, filling meal you can carry and eat with one hand.
- You love a warm tortilla (ours is made from scratch, and yes, it is delicious all by itself).
- You are eating in the car, at your desk, or on a hike.
- You want every bite to blend the flavors together.
Choose the bowl if
- You want to skip the tortilla but keep all the good stuff.
- You like tasting the rice, beans, meat, and sauce as distinct layers.
- You want a slightly lighter meal without giving up portion size.
- You plan to eat at a table with a fork rather than on the move.
The best-kept secret: a burrito and a bowl are basically the same order. If you love your burrito but want to lose the wrap, order it as a bowl and you get everything else exactly the same.
When tacos are the right call
Tacos are the move when you want variety or you are sharing. Because each taco is its own little portion, you can order one of this and one of that and turn a single meal into a tasting flight. They are also a natural fit when you are with a group and everyone wants something slightly different.
Tacos work great for:
- Sampling more than one meat without committing to a whole burrito of it.
- A lighter lunch when a full burrito feels like too much.
- Sharing a table where everyone grabs and mixes.
- Trying our scratch-made sauces across different fillings.
Whatever you land on, you can see every option side by side on our full menu.
How to order Mexican food like a pro
If you freeze up at the counter, here is a simple, repeatable way to build any order. Follow these steps and you will never second-guess yourself again.
- Pick your format. Burrito, bowl, or tacos, based on the guide above.
- Pick your protein. Choose the meat (or veggie option) that sounds best today. Every one is made from scratch, so you cannot go wrong.
- Pick your base. Rice, beans, or both. This is where a lot of the heartiness comes from.
- Add your toppings and sauce. This is your chance to build the flavor you want, mild to bold.
- Decide dine-in or to-go. Burritos and tacos travel well; bowls are perfect for eating right there.
Because we build everything fresh, you get to steer the whole thing. That is the heart of our promise: As Fresh As It Gets. If you want the full story on what scratch-made actually means in our kitchen, we broke it down in What Scratch-Made Mexican Food Actually Means.
Ordering for a crowd or with dietary needs
Feeding a team, a classroom, or a party? The format question scales up beautifully. A spread of build-your-own bowls and burritos lets everyone customize without a dozen separate orders. For the logistics of feeding a group, our catering page walks you through it, and you can also check out Mexican Catering: How Feeding a Crowd Works.
Cooking for someone with allergies or specific needs? Because we make things from scratch, it is easier to know exactly what is in your food. Our allergen-friendly guide explains how to navigate the menu with confidence.
Where to find us
Ready to put your new ordering skills to work? We started in Fort Collins, Colorado back in 2005 and have grown to multiple locations since. To find the spot nearest you when you search mexican restaurants near me, check our locations page or read our quick guide, Cafe Mexicali Locations: Find Your Nearest Spot.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a burrito and a bowl?
A burrito wraps your meat, beans, rice, and toppings inside a warm tortilla so you can eat it with your hands. A bowl serves those same fresh ingredients loose so you can eat them with a fork. The fillings are the same, so it really comes down to whether you want the tortilla.
Which is the healthiest option?
A bowl is a popular choice for anyone who wants to skip the tortilla while keeping all the same scratch-made fillings. Beyond that, you control the outcome by choosing your protein, base, toppings, and sauce. Every order is built to your preferences.
How do I order Mexican food for a group?
Build-your-own bowls, burritos, and tacos let everyone customize without complicated separate orders. For larger events, our catering option handles the quantities for you. Visit our catering page to get started.
Is everything really made from scratch?
Yes. Every sauce, meat, bean, and tortilla is made fresh daily using the freshest ingredients we can get. Our goal is for each component to be so good you would happily eat it all by itself, which is what As Fresh As It Gets is all about.
