A taco is a tortilla folded around a filling and open along the top — usually a small corn tortilla. A burrito is a large flour tortilla wrapped completely closed, with the ends folded in so nothing escapes. Fold versus full wrap is the difference, and the tortilla size and type usually follows from it.
The core difference
Both are fillings in a tortilla. How the tortilla is closed is what separates them.
- taco — folded, open along the top; typically a small corn tortilla.
- burrito — fully wrapped and sealed; a large flour tortilla.
The wider family
A quesadilla is folded and griddled with cheese. An enchilada is rolled and baked under sauce. A chimichanga is a deep-fried burrito. A fajita is not a wrap at all — it names the grilled filling, usually served for assembly at the table.
Regional note
Burritos as commonly eaten in the United States are largely a northern Mexican and Californian development; they are not typical of central or southern Mexican cooking, where tacos dominate. Burrito means "little donkey" in Spanish, and the reason for the name is not settled.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main difference between a taco and a burrito?
A taco is folded and open along the top; a burrito is wrapped fully closed with the ends tucked in.
What is a chimichanga?
A deep-fried burrito.
What does burrito mean in Spanish?
Little donkey. Why the food took the name is disputed.