The highly debated story of the classic, deep-fried burrito known as the chimichanga begins in Tucson, Arizona. In the 1920s, Monica Flin, owner of the long-running family restaurant El Charro, is said to have accidentally dropped a burrito into a fryer. Upon realizing her mistake, she almost shouted a Spanish curse word, but caught herself and blurted out “chimichanga.” The phrase was nonsense, but it was funny enough to stick. The name stuck around, and so has this infamous Tex-Mex dish.
The chimichanga’s origin story is the perfect recipe, including accident, ingenuity, and a moment of colorful language. It is clear that the chimichanga was not a meticulously planned dish, but stumbled into its signature existence — a culinary slip-up no one is mad about. The burrito accidentally dove into hot oil and created one of the Southwest’s most delicious and adored foods. The chimichanga legend isn’t airtight, though, and many people still argue about who really deserves the credit.
Lingering Food Myths Of The Southwest
Many historians agree that the chimichanga is not an authentic Mexican food, but they disagree on its exact origins. Macayo’s Mexican Kitchen in Phoenix, Arizona, claims that the chimichanga was the result of a fried burrito experiment in their kitchen. Maybe it happened by accident. Maybe a bit of tequila was involved. Maybe it was a late-night Tex-Mex experiment. No matter what chimichanga tale is true, a fried burrito was born, and no one is complaining about it.
The common thread of the chimichanga’s story is that it came from a happy accident or improvisation. No one can prove the exact location of the chimichanga’s birth, but this crispy, hearty burrito became a restaurant staple capable of carrying just about any filling. Beans, chicken, carne asada, lettuce, potatoes, guacamole, you name it, the burrito can pack it in. Rather than pinning down the exact origin story of the chimichanga, this food myth is a great reminder that the history behind the most beloved foods is often playful, coincidental, and a mysterious yet flavorful celebration of cultures…