Phoenix Burrito Bracket 2026: Vote for Your Wild Cards!

The Arizona Republic’s third annual Burrito Bracket competition is underway, inspired by March Madness. Fourteen contenders have been selected from the Republic’s list of 100 essential restaurants, and now it’s up to the readers to decide the final two “wild card” spots.

A History of Burrito Supremacy

The inaugural Burrito Bracket in 2023 saw family-owned Rito’s Mexican Food emerge victorious after a closely contested championship round against The Original Carolina’s Mexican Food. In 2025, Carolina’s fans rallied, securing the crown for the long-standing Phoenix establishment. The Original Carolina’s Mexican Food was opened in 1968 by Carolina Valenzuela and her husband, Manuel.

New Rule: Former Winners Ineligible

To give new restaurants a chance to shine, a new rule has been implemented: previous Burrito Bracket winners are no longer eligible for the competition.

How to Vote for the Wild Cards

If your favorite burrito spot isn’t already among the 14 contenders, you can nominate it for a wild card position at azcentral.com/things-to-do/food-dining. Submissions should include the restaurant’s location, your go-to order, and what makes it special. The submission deadline is 9 p.m. On Sunday, March 8.

Meet the Current Contenders

Fourteen restaurants are already in the running, including Asadero Norte de Sonora, Phoenix, which offers affordable burros de carne asada, barbacoa, pastor, pollo, cabeza and lengua, and Beach House, Phoenix.