Looking for great, fast-casual Mexican on the east coast? Look no further than the fresh, Baja-inspired burritos, bowls, and tacos of California Tortilla.
The restaurant offers fast, filling, and refreshing Mexican fare that will leave you feeling ready to take on the rest of your day.
| Item | Size | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Beverages | ||
| Bottled Water | $1.79 | |
| Bottled Soda | $2.49 | |
| Fountain Drinks | $1.99 - $2.49 | |
| Soup and Chili | ||
| Turkey Chili | Ground turkey, onions, garlic, tomatoes, green chilies, beans and spices. Topped with tortilla strips. Spicy. | $3.49 - $5.19 |
| Chicken Tortilla Soup | Rich tomato and cheese broth with chunks of chicken and spices. Topped with tortilla strips. Spicy. | $3.49 - $5.19 |
| Salads | ||
| With your choice of dressing on the side | ||
| Caribbean Mango Salad | Crisp greens, blackened chicken, mango salsa, avocado slices, crunchy tortilla strips, cilantro and tomatoes drizzled with Caribbean mango sauce. | $8.39 |
| Southwestern Salad | Your choice of protein served on top of crisp greens with Jack cheese, tomatoes, corn, guacamole, cilantro and tortilla strips. | $8.39 |
| Burritos | ||
| California Screaming Burrito | Blackened chicken, rice, queso, fajita veggies, California Screamin' sauce and salsa. Spicy. | $6.59 - $7.39 |
| Chicken Fajita Burrito | Grilled Mesquite chicken, rice, fajita veggies, sour cream, guacamole and salsa. | $6.59 - $7.39 |
| Steak Fajita Burrito | Grilled steak with rice, fajita veggies, sour cream, guacamole and salsa. | $7.19 - $7.99 |
| Honey Lime Burrito | Grilled Mesquite chicken, rice, honey lime sauce, romaine lettuce and salsa. | $6.59 - $7.39 |
| No-Meat Burrito | Sauteed fresh veggies, rice, black beans, guacamole, spicy sunset sauce, leaf spinach and salsa. Spicy. Vegetarian. | $6.59 - $7.39 |
| Blackened Chicken Caesar Burrito | Warm flour tortilla with blackened chicken, rice, black beans, Jack cheese, Caesar dressing, romaine lettuce and salsa. | $6.59 - $7.39 |
| Korean BBQ Burrito | Choice of meat, rice, fajita veggies, swete and spicy Korean BBQ sauce, crisp slaw, sriracha chili sauce and cilantro. Spicy. | $6.59 - $7.39 |
| Carnitas Verde Burrito | Pork carnitas, rice, Jack cheese, sour cream, enchilada sauce, crispy tortilla strips and salsa. Spicy. | $6.59 - $7.39 |
| Bacon Chicken Club Burrito | Grilled chicken breast, bacon, rice, jack cheese, jalapeno ranch sauce, fresh roma tomato chunks and romaine lettuce. | $6.59 - $7.39 |
| Crunchy BBQ Ranch Burrito | Grilled Mesquite chicken, rice, black beans, barbecue sauce, ranch dressing, tortilla strips, romaine lettuce and salsa. | $6.59 - $7.39 |
| More Creations | ||
| Fish Taco Fresh Deal | Two blackened fish tacos with cabbage slaw, lime, cilantro and chipotle sour cream. Served with a drink and any side item or dessert. | $8.97 |
| Special-Dilla | Jack cheese with Blackened chicken, black beans and spinach. Served with sour cream and salsa. | $7.59 |
| Bowls | ||
| Tortilla-less meals served in a bowl | ||
| California Sunset Bowl | Grilled Mesquite chicken and fresh veggies on a bed of fresh spinach, rice and black beans with low-fat spicy sunset sauce, salsa, cilantro and sliced avocado. Spicy. | $7.79 |
| Enchilada Bowl | Choice of meat served over rice with Jack cheese, sour cream, guacamole, cilantro, enchilada sauce, tortilla strips, lettuce and salsa. Spicy. | $7.79 |
| Mixed Grill Bowl | Grilled Mesquite chicken and steak served over rice and black beans with fajita veggies, scallions, barbecue sauce and salsa. | $8.19 |
| Quesadillas | ||
| Quesadilla | Large, grilled flour tortilla with melted Jack cheese and your choice of protein or veggies. Served with a side of sour cream and salsa. | $7.19 |
| Cheese Only Quesadilla | Large, grilled flour tortilla with melted Jack cheese. Served with a side of sour cream and salsa. | $5.39 |
| Taco Fresh Deal | ||
| Taco Fresh Deal | Two soft flour tortillas with your choice of protein or veggies, Jack cheese, lettuce and salsa. Served with a drink and any side item or dessert. | $8.97 |
| Taco Singles | ||
| Beef Taco | $2.99 | |
| Mequite Chicken Taco | $2.99 | |
| Veggie with Beans Taco | $2.99 | |
| Steak Taco | $3.29 | |
| Black Bean Taco | $2.99 | |
| Pork Carnitas Taco | $2.99 | |
| Blackened Fish Taco | $2.99 | |
| Blackened Chicken Taco | $2.99 | |
| Fajitas | ||
| Chicken Fajita | Three soft flour tortillas served with chicken, fajita veggies, rice and beans, guacamole and salsa. | $8.29 |
| Steak Fajita | Three soft flour tortillas served with steak, fajita veggies, rice and beans, guacamole and salsa. | $8.89 |
| Combo Fajita | Three soft flour tortillas served with half chicken and half steak, fajita veggies, rice and beans, guacamole and salsa. | $8.59 |
| Nachos | ||
| Nachos | Corn tortilla chips topped with queso, jalapenos, sour cream, guacamole, scallions and salsa. | $5.29 |
| Nachos with Protein/Veggies | Corn tortilla chips topped with queso, jalapenos, sour cream, guacamole, scallions, salsa and your choice of protein or veggies. | $7.04 |
| Personalize Your Burrito | ||
| Personalized Burrito | Tortilla, black beans, Mexican rice, lettuce, Jack cheese and salsa. | $6.59 - $0.60 |
| Personalized Burrito Bowl | Burrito bowl, black beans, Mexican rice, lettuce, Jack cheese and salsa. | $6.59 - $0.60 |
| Sides | ||
| Chips and Salsa | $1.59 - $3.09 | |
| Chips and Queso | $2.39 - $4.79 | |
| Chips and Guacamole | $2.69 - $5.89 | |
| Mexican Rice | $1.59 | |
| Black Beans | $1.59 | |
| Rice and Beans | $1.59 | |
| Side Salad | $2.69 | |
| Kids Stuff | ||
| Kids-A-Dilla | Grilled flour tortilla with melted cheese. Served with chips and queso and your choice of drink and dessert. | $5.29 |
| Kid's Cheeseburger Taco | Taco beef and cheese in a soft flour tortilla or crispy taco shell. Served with chips and queso and your choice of drink and dessert. | $5.29 |
| Kid's Mini Burrito | Grilled chicken, rice and cheese in a warm flour tortilla. Served with chips and queso and your choice of drink and dessert. | $5.29 |
| Kid's Make Your Own | Grilled chicken strips or taco beef with cheese and two flour tortillas. Served with chips and queso and your choice of drink and dessert. | $5.29 |
| Desserts | ||
| Cookie | $1.69 | |
| Brownie | $1.69 | |
History
Despite its name, California Tortilla got its start in Bethesda Maryland. Pam Felix and Alan Cohen set up the first location there in August 1995.
In 2014 and 2015, Washingtonian Magazine readers declared that California Tortilla’s 51 locations served the best Mexican food in the Washington D.C. area.
Review
California Tortilla initially seems like a typical fast-casual Mexican joint. But the little things, from the wall of hot sauce to the quarterly newsletter, add a local touch.
In addition to the ambiance, the food doesn’t disappoint. The ingredients are fresh, and the wide variety of menu options will keep you coming back until you try them all.
In addition to the classic burritos, you won’t want to miss the salads and quesadillas. The nachos are also perfect to share with your table.
The friendly (and often quite funny) staff will make your food quickly and with a smile. No need to worry about reservations here.