Stripes Burrito Co. – Albuquerque & Rio Rancho, New Mexico

A survey of the eating habits and lifestyle preferences of various burrito consumers was recently commissioned by a fast food chain.  The survey of than 1,000 respondents between the ages of 13 and 50 unveiled especially surprising revelations about the culinary habits of millennials.  As Mic, an online presence which purports to “help young people process the present” noted: “Millennials apparently don’t have a lot of sex or money, but boy do they make out well in the burrito department.”  For millennials, the burrito is not just a source of delicious sustenance.  It’s a panacea for dateless nights, awkward conversations and pockets with more lint than coins.  It’s also a buffer for some of the adverse effects associated with alcohol.  

A whopping 53% of Millennial respondents admitted they would rather indulge in the world’s most awesome burrito over a romantic date with their significant other.  64% of Millennials claimed a burrito is the best food to have before a night of drinking as well as for the morning after when the inevitable hang-over kicks in.  Gen X consumers have also fallen under the seductive sway of the burrito with more than 60% reporting a burrito has saved them from a sad sack lunch.  Nearly 50% of Gen Xers indicated they’d give up their favorite shirt for the world’s most awesome burrito.

The survey revealed that most consumers can’t go even a week without a burrito.  Millennial respondents were the dominant demographic with 72% of respondents admitting to enjoying an average of 2 to 3 burritos a week.   An overwhelming majority (90%) of Gen X consumers admit to eating burritos at least once a week. Not that one a week is enough as 75% claimed they would eat a burrito twice in one day if the burrito was good enough.  Others (43%) would eat a burrito twice a day if calories were not an object or their significant other wouldn’t judge them.

There are several “tells” about the survey results that shout New Mexicans weren’t invited to participate.  For one thing, survey results seem to indicate burritos are a “revelation,” something relatively new to the Millennial diet.  New Mexicans of all generations have been eating burritos all their lives.  An average of 2 to 3 burritos per week is a rather low-ball figure.  Make it 2 to 3 burritos per day and you’re closer to the New Mexico average.  Another tell is the preferred “topping.”  Survey respondents indicated sour cream is their preferred additive.  New Mexicans will argue “that’s a Texas thing.  We don’t do sour cream here.”  

Though I haven’t done a survey myself, anecdotal observations based on visits to Stripes Burrito Co. are a local testament to the continued popularity of the burrito in the Land of Enchantment.  You might think a parade is about to start based on the cavalcade of motorized conveyances waiting to place their orders.  The process is very efficient and doesn’t take as long as you might think though when you’re hungry and only a bulging burrito will do, it seems like an eternity.

Stripes is the brainchild of veteran restaurateur Gary Hines who is probably best known for having founded both Hurricane’s Cafe and Twisters Burgers & Burritos, two very successful concepts still thriving today. After selling Twisters several years ago, Gary enjoyed a short-lived retirement until his “no compete” agreement with Twisters elapsed. The Stripes concept isn’t something he dreamt-up at the spur of the moment. Over the years he conceived of and discounted several ideas, always with the realization that New Mexicans can’t get enough of our sacrosanct New Mexican cuisine.  As you may have surmised, the name Stripes is in tribute to the enlisted men and women of the greatest armed forces in the history of the world.  Hines continues to support the troops with ten-percent of the proceeds from his restaurants going to the Veterans’ Administration Hospital in Albuquerque.

There are five Stripes Burrito Co. restaurants throughout the metropolitan area, including one in Rio Rancho (Sarita and I are grateful for that).  Despite the name, it’s not all about burritos.  Stripes also offers a “famous buttermilk fried chicken sandwich” as well as chicken fingers and specialty street tacos.  If it’s burritos you’re craving, you can enjoy hand-held behemoths for breakfast and lunch.  Breakfast–eleven burritos with fresh scrambled eggs, fresh-cut papitas, cheese and your choice of red or green chile–is served all day long.  There aren’t quite as many lunch burritos, only eight, but they’re made with all the aforementioned ingredients save for scrambled eggs.  You’re welcome to request your burrito smothered with New Mexico’s beloved red or green chile.

20 January 2022:  Carne adovada is my Kim’s favorite burrito–to the exclusion of all others.  She’s an adovada adoring aficionado for sure, so when she gives Stripes two thumbs up, you know it’s got to be good.  Her preference is sans papitas and never smothered.  To her, there’s enough red chile in the tender pork that’s been marinated low and slow in our wondrous red.  My choice during our inaugural visit was a barbacoa burrito with papitas.  It would be disingenuous to say it was a great burrito, primarily due to the cook’s heavy hand with the salt.  It didn’t dawn on me until inadvertently hearing the motorist ahead of us during our second visit that requesting low salt was an option.  Lesson learned.

28 January 2022:  Several months ago my friend Bill Resnik posted feedback it took me far too long to heed: “They (Stripes) have entered the chicken sandwich wars with their own entry and I have to say, they are right up there with some of the best I have had. Their chicken sandwich was superb. A huge juicy and tender chicken breast served on a large bun with pickles and their own special sauce made this a winner. I’ve been back for more three different times and each time it was excellent.  In terms of quality, it was on par (at least) with a Popeye’s sandwich – maybe slightly larger. It was priced higher, but the difference is made up in the additional gasoline I would use to drive to my nearest Popeyes. 4 out of 5 overall (price drags the score down a little).  Stripes’ “famous fried chicken sandwich” is all that and more.

No one knows burritos as well as New Mexicans.  Should you see a long line of vehicles awaiting their turn to place an order at Stripes Burrito Co., you’re well-advised to join the cavalcade of New Mexicans queueing for one of our favorite foods. 

Stripes Burrito Co.
2510 Southern Blvd S.E.
Rio Rancho, New Mexico
(505) 565-5351
Website | Facebook Page
LATEST VISIT: 28 January 2021
1st VISIT: 20 January 2021
# OF VISITS: 1
RATING: N/R
COST: $ – $$
BEST BET: Carne Adovada Burrito, Barbacoa Burrito, World-Famous Buttermilk Fried Chicken Sandwich
REVIEW #1254