Burrito Quest 3: Don Carlos' Clairemont Burrito

On Quest number 3, I decided to travel out of South San Diego and into the La Jolla area for Don Carlos' Taco Shop. I discovered this place about a year ago through my brother, who boasted that they have good ass burritos. At the time, I had low expectations for this place, thinking that any taco shop located in a rich area couldn't produce a quality burrito, because lets face it, the best burritos come from the ghettoist areas. One year later, I consider Don Carlos one of my favorite places to eat at.

First off, ever since I first went here, I referred to Don Carlos simply as "The Dong". Saying Don Carlos takes long, so I decided to drop the Carlos and add a G. The Dong is located in the middle of La Jolla. I don't know the area of La Jolla too well, but I do know that it's right next to Dick's Liquor. A block or two down, I recall there being a Maserati and Lambo dealership, which is fun to look atwhen heading towards The Dong. The Dong is also pretty close to La Jolla shores and La Jolla Cove, so I recommend bringing your meal to the beach and munching out there.

When he brought me to Don Carlos one year ago, my bro recommended the Clairemont Burrito. Since then, I've been to The Dong 3-4 times and the Clairemont is all I've ever ordered. The Clairemont is similar to the California burrito, consisting of french fries, cheese, guac, and sour cream, all wrapped into a tortilla. The difference from the Cali however, is the meat. Instead of Carne Asada, the meat inside the Clairemont is Carnitas, or pork.

I'm going to have to check the price again, but I remember it being close to the $5 mark. That price was pretty reasonable, considering the size. While the length was about an inch shorter than most burritos, it made up through thickness.

What makes The Dong different than other taco shops is how they wrap their burritos. Traditionally, shops wrap their burrito with wrapping paper. The Dong also does this, but after they first wrap the burrito in foil. I'm guessing doing so insures your burrito stays hot and fresh.

The first bite was amazing. Nice blend of Carnitas, cheese, and sour cream. Second bite consisted of a mixture between fries, guac, and sour cream, which was equally as good. After my first two bites, I usually apply the hot sauce. The Dong offers two different hot sauces: the green one, and the dark red one. I know the dark red one is chipotle, and I believe the green one was salsa verde. I prefer the green hot sauce over the dark red one, cause I'm not too big on chipotle, not that it's hot or anything. Rather, the taste is a bit too bold for me to enjoy with a burrito.

Anywho, bite after bite was consistently delicious. The freshness was all there. The cheese was perfectly melted. The Carnitas was cooked tender and just right. The french fries were of the thicker-sized fries, and cooked to a crisp. The sour cream and guac enhanced the taste even more.

What makes your meal eating experience at Don Carlos even better is that they sell Coke in glass bottles. Usually, I order horchata with my burrito. In this instance, I had to order a bottled Coke. Its fresher than plastic-bottled Cokes, and hard to find elsewhere in San Diego.

For a taco shop in a rich area, Don Carlos doesn't disappoint. In fact, I'd rate this place ✭✭✭✭☆. As stated on my first post, I'd give most taco shop burritos 3 stars. I deducted a star from the Clairemont, because while the taste was all there, the size wasn't that big. When I eat burritos, I like demolishing a burrito and feeling full. Finishing this burrito, I was barely satisfied. In fact, I probably could have eaten another one. Still, what lacked in size, the taste made up for. La Jolla might be a bit too far, but for The Dong, it's all worth it.



Got a taco shop that serves a goodass burrito I should try? Leave a comment.