Downtown spot makes Merced County’s best burritos, Sun-Star readers say
What’s the key to a great burrito?
Is it the meat and beans? Or are the tortilla and salsa the key? Or, maybe, it is finding the perfect mix of ingredients.
Whatever the secrets, Tony’s Tacos & Catering in Merced apparently has found it. That’s according to voters in the Sun-Star’s latest Best of Merced County online poll.
The food cart and caterer at 1619 I St. was the runaway winner in the poll. Tony’s Tacos & Catering won with 50% of the 506 votes.
Panaderia Guadalajara of Merced and Atwater finished second with 18%. Taqueria Los Gordos of Livingston was third at 6%. Ten other spots earned votes in the poll.
What makes it Merced County’s best burrito spot?
When you pick up a burrito — or any other Mexican favorite — at Tony’s Tacos & Catering, you can expect more than just great-tasting food.
Owner Tony Guzman prides himself on providing great customer service, too.
Guzman opened the truck in 2024 after years of cooking, starting when he was a teenager working at taco stands in Mexico. He continued to work at a variety of stands and restaurants while also working in construction.
Two years ago, he was ready for something different, so opened his own food truck.
“I like it because I’m my own boss,” Guzman said. “I really like to socialize with people.”
The truck is open from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, and from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Fridays. It’s closed on Wednesdays and Saturdays but also provides event catering.
According to one Yelp reviewer, it’s a “great place to go for lunch or late-night dinner.”
Said Guzman, “Everything I do, I do with love.”
Merced/Atwater, Livingston spots also popular
Panaderia Guadalajara, at 1339 W. 18th St. in Merced and 1125 Bellevue Road in Atwater, is known for its pan dulce, a Mexican pastry. But it also makes burritos, including popular breakfast burritos. One Yelp reviewer wrote, “They are lip-smacking good.” It received 92 votes in the Sun-Star’s poll.
Taqueria Los Gordos, at 690 Hammatt Ave. in Livingston, is a brick-and-mortar restaurant serving traditional Mexican food. It’s open seven days a week and is known for its affordable prices. “I love this place!” one Yelp reviewer said.
Here’s who won previously in our Best of Merced County series:
- Best Happy Hour: Joystiq
- Best Doughnuts: Rollen Donuts
- Best Pizza: Lover’s Deli
- Best Coffee Shop: Hola Cafecito
