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Mexican snack foods: so delicious and refined. But with a vast array of options (Quesadillas or tacos? Chilled guacamole or frozen flan?) it's often difficult to decide which meals offer the most authentic South of the Border experience. With a nod to the peasant culture of Latin America, we sampled a chicken taquito and a frozen burrito, and let the salsa do the talking.

Category: Savory

Delimex Chicken and Cheese Taquitos
El Monterey Beef & Bean Burrito

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Appearance: A petite, tightly rolled tortilla stuffed to the brim with chicken.
Appearance: A large, pale tortilla stuffed with beans and shredded beef.
Stats: $5.39 for 18; calories: 220, 9 g fat per two taquitos
Stats: $2 for 1; calories: 300, 14 g fat
Taste: Earthy, with a distinct cornmeal flavor. The chicken, when microwaved properly, is tender and savory.


 Taste: Belying the classy packaging, this classic Mexican street food lacks flavor sophistication and depth. Beef, refried beans and flaky crust all meld into one indistinct taste.
Downside: In order to achieve the desired taste, you must perfectly toast the tortilla and evenly bake the meat filling -- difficult in even the most ideal circumstances (oh, the perils of microwave dining!).


Downside: Dish elements lack flavor and depth. We wonder what the result would be had the chefs at El Monterey put a little more thought into the recipe.
Our pick: Taquitos. The light, crispy texture and subtle hints of grain and corn in the tortilla wrap recall hints of fine(r) dining. We suggest a glass of heavily sweetened, Guava Jarritos soft drink to complement the meal.