The Grand Rapids Food Guide: The best burritos of 2025

In Grand Rapids, we don’t play around when it comes to burritos, and we especially don’t mess with tradition. If you’re from here, you know all about the wet burrito. For those who are new to the area or just visiting, this local culinary invention has been a part of our history since the 1960s, when the Beltline Bar reportedly served the first one. 

Grand Rapids locals: expect the unexpected. This year’s reader poll stirred things up in a big way. The competition was spicy — pun definitely intended.

READ MORE: The best new Grand Rapids restaurants of 2025

So who earned your love (and your votes) this year? Your top three picks for the best burrito in Grand Rapids are a glorious mix of nostalgia, flavor, and local history. But who climbed all the way to first place? Let’s dig in.

Courtesy of Lindo Mexico

3. Taco Boy

This local Mexican restaurant has quite a remarkable history that spans nearly six decades, making Taco Boy a true Grand Rapids institution.

Taco Boy was launched in 1967 by Juanita Baltierrez, who was part of the Grand Rapids community until she passed away at age 92. The restaurant remains family-owned and is now operated by her daughter. This kind of generational continuity is rare in the restaurant business and reflects the quality of the food, particularly the burritos.

Speaking of burritos, Taco Boy has quite a reputation for their burrito offerings, particularly their signature items. The taco meat burrito reigns supreme on the menu, closely followed by the tantalizing wet burrito, “that never fails to impress,” according to Experience Grand Rapids. Wet burritos, for those unfamiliar, are typically smothered in sauce and cheese, creating a more fork-and-knife dining experience compared to traditional hand-held burritos. The restaurant also offers what they call a “super burrito,” a larger offering for larger appetites. 

Whether you like your burrito extra large, handheld, or smothered in goodness, Taco Boy’s burrito recipes have been refined to perfection over decades, taking customer feedback while adhering to family traditions.

The rest of the menu focuses on homemade Mexican food and includes tacos, enchiladas, quesadillas, chips and cheese, taco burgers, and more. One standout feature that locals consistently praise is their famous hot sauce, which has apparently developed quite a following. The restaurant operates as a fast-food style establishment, making it accessible for quick meals while still maintaining that homemade quality that has kept customers coming back for generations.

If you’re craving a burrito in Grand Rapids, don’t sleep on this neighborhood staple.

2. Beltline Bar

Shocked that this legend didn’t get the number one spot? You’re not alone. But they only slid into second by a handful of votes.

Beltline Bar is one of Grand Rapids’ most legendary dining establishments, with a fascinating history that stretches back over seven decades. The restaurant was opened in 1953 by George Wilkinson, and its name has special significance to the community since 28th Street was commonly referred to by Grand Rapidians as “The Beltline.” 

When Tony Rutkowski acquired the restaurant in 1964, he transformed what was initially a modest establishment. That transformation began in earnest when a liquor license was acquired in 1966 and Tony’s son Jerry developed recipes for a number of Tex-Mex specialties, including the World Famous Wet Burrito. It was a pivotal moment not just for the restaurant, but for Grand Rapids’ culture as a whole.

The wet burrito is undoubtedly the crown jewel of Beltline Bar’s menu, and they have every right to be proud of their innovation. And the numbers back up their success with this signature dish. They have now served over 6 million wet burritos (and counting), according to their website.

Beltline Bar has found their signature burrito on more than just our readers’ choice list—accolades have poured in over the years, and the signature wet burrito has been featured on Travel Channel’s Man vs Food and in Food & Wine, according to Grand Rapids Magazine. 

Beyond their famous wet burrito, the menu encompasses a full range of Tex-Mex offerings, including traditional tacos and other Tex-Mex specialties that have been refined over their decades of operation.

Beltline Bar has maintained its reputation and popularity over the years, earning solid reviews from customers who appreciate both the historical significance and the consistent quality of their food. 

1. Lindo Mexico

What an absolute delight to see this local, woman-owned restaurant at number one! Lindo Mexico is the brainchild of Gricelda Mata, and the menu at Lindo Mexico showcases Gricelda’s commitment to authentic flavors and quality. 

If you love spice like I do, then you know that the Burrito la Diabla is fire. It delivers potent flavor profiles and a whole lot of punch. I love to get it served wet with rice and beans. But personal preferences aside, every single burrito on Lindo Mexico’s menu is wonderfully made. Wet or dry, each combination offers tons of flavors and customability to fit dietary restrictions and fussy palates.

Lindo Mexico’s other offerings include margaritas, tacos, enchiladas, guacamole, sopes, fajitas, mojarra, quesadillas, fresh salsas, homemade chips, tamales, and even desserts like cheesecake chimichanga and flan.

The atmosphere at Lindo Mexico sounds absolutely magical! The restaurant has clearly become a community gathering spot, and their secret formula combines authentic Mexican flavors, great customer service, and live music. You can feel the passion and love that Gricelda has poured into creating a restaurant that’s a true cultural experience in Grand Rapids.

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