🌯
Burrito
buh-REE-toh
Definitions
1
Food · Mexican Cuisine
Common
Represents a burrito, a Mexican dish consisting of a flour tortilla wrapped around various fillings like meat, beans, rice, cheese, and vegetables.
Used to express hunger, food preferences, or reference to Mexican cuisine. Often appears in meal-related conversations.
I'm getting Chipotle for lunch today 🌯
Text message about lunch plans
Nothing better than a massive 🌯 after a long day
Social media post
While originating in Mexico, burritos gained massive popularity in the United States, particularly through Tex-Mex cuisine and fast-casual restaurant chains.
2
Food · Metaphorical
Uncommon
Metaphorically represents something wrapped up, bundled, or contained, similar to how a burrito's contents are wrapped in a tortilla.
Used playfully to describe babies wrapped in blankets, pets in blankets, or other wrapped objects.
My cat loves to be wrapped up like a little 🌯
Social media caption for pet photo
This metaphorical usage emerged from the visual similarity between swaddled babies and wrapped burritos, becoming a common internet joke.
Evolution Timeline
2015
Added to Unicode 8.0 as part of expanded food emoji set
Growing global popularity of Mexican-inspired cuisine
2017
Gained popularity in memes comparing swaddled babies to 'baby burritos'
Viral social media trend of comparing wrapped babies to food items
Cultural Context
While burritos originated in Mexico, the large, overstuffed version represented by the emoji is primarily an American adaptation that became popular through Tex-Mex cuisine and restaurant chains.
The burrito has become a symbol of fast-casual dining and the mainstreaming of Mexican-inspired cuisine in American culture, representing both convenience and multicultural food adoption.
The term 'food baby' is sometimes paired with this emoji to describe feeling full after eating, especially after consuming a large burrito.
Regional Variations
Mexico
Used differently in Mexico where authentic burritos are primarily associated with northern Mexico, not the entire country.
United States
Extremely common emoji in the US, where burritos are a mainstream fast-casual food option. Often associated with chains like Chipotle, Qdoba, and Taco Bell.
Generational Usage
Gen_X: Used primarily to reference actual food rather than metaphorical meanings. Often appears in family meal planning conversations.
Gen_Z: Frequently used in food posts on TikTok and Instagram. Often appears in humorous contexts comparing wrapped objects to burritos.
Older: Less frequently used, but appears in straightforward contexts about Mexican restaurants or cuisine when used.
Millennials: Common in food delivery app conversations and work lunch discussions. Associated with fast-casual dining and convenience eating.
Common Combinations
🌯🔥
Spicy burrito or exceptionally good Mexican food
Indicates spicy food preference or enthusiasm for Mexican cuisine
🌯🌮
Mexican food or Tex-Mex cuisine generally
Used to reference Mexican restaurants or cuisine broadly
🌯😋
Delicious burrito or craving Mexican food
Expresses enjoyment of or desire for Mexican cuisine