It’s been a long time since I’ve had machaca. Near as I can figure it’s what a breakfast burrito should be. Well-cooked shredded beef with peppers, onions and eggs all scrambled up. While it’s not rare to frequent any one of San Diego’s 24-hour taco shops so late that dinner turns into breakfast, it is still a rarity for me to see beyond the holy trinity of carne asada, chicken or carnitas. However, in the name of science I knew I had to forage on.

Rather than mess with any late-night meal planning, I awoke this day with a mantra neatly ringing in my ear. Machaca…machaca…machaca. As I’ve always been one to obey the voices in my head, I hopped in the car and headed straight for my nearest Roberto’s.

Roberto’s is a classic. Cheap, fast, delicious and all night. The chain spawned a local phenomenon in which all-night taquerias sprang up all over town… seemingly all with a “-berto’s” tagged on to the end of the name. Royberto’s. Alberto’s, Gualberto’s just to name a few. There are many, many more. So many ‘berto’s, so little time. Anyways, THIS particular ‘berto’s was a main sustenance provider of BW formative years. Many late night orders of rolled tacos were consumed in the warm glow of the Area 51 video game. Even though I’ve been a stranger to machaca for all these years, I knew I was in for some deliciousness.

Cheap. So very cheap. How do they do it? Less than four bucks and the thing was huge. Stuffed to the gills with huge chunks of meat interspersed with the eggs and the pepper/onion combo, it made a hearty showing as the most important meal of the day. And not a hashbrown or tater-tot in sight. Delicious and satisfying, wrapped up in that San Diego style tortilla, (dryer and less chewy than their northern counterparts) this breakfast burrito shamed the pre-fab monstrosities that so many ‘merican’s seem to love to throw down their gullet.

But yes, it fell apart. Damn, but those tacos and tortas are starting to look good. Same food, different delivery device…
Roberto’s Taco Shop
6780 Miramar Rd.
San Diego
Machaca Burrito
$3.83