Readers' Choice: Where is Santa Cruz's Best Burrito?

Picking the best Burrito in Santa Cruz is kind of like picking the best surfing spot or the best beach.

There are so many possibilities and so many choices: wet, dry, fancy, spicy, healthy, decadent, big enough for two meals, or just the basics. Not to mention types of meat and salsa. It would take one person a year to judge them all. 

But that's what crowd sourcing is about. You give us your votes and comments and let the rest of the city know which they should try that they may not have already had. There are plenty of holes in the wall here with great burritos at bargain prices. Which is the best?

We can be sure of one thing: Taco Bell ain't making this list.

Voting closes Friday and the Burrito King, El Rey de los Burritos,  will be crowned with a Patch certificate.

The winner will be determined using a point system based on the most verified votes together with the best ratings in businesses' directory listings.

If there is a tie, the business with the highest number of positive reviews in the listings and comments in the Readers' Choice article will be declared the winner. Voting results posted in real time shall not be deemed official until Patch has reviewed and confirmed all of the votes.

If we missed your favorite spot, drop us a comment and we'll add it.

Some of my go-to's include:

, which has lines out the door at lunch for people who want overstuffed burritos with enough leftovers for dinner. The restaurant is owned by the family of female boxer Carina Moreno. They are tasty and big, but unusual in that they don't use rice inside.

has several locations: Mission, Pacific, Soquel Drive and 41st Street. I've found them uniform, very tasty and reasonably priced. No concert at the Catalyst is complete without a stop there.

I found on Brommer a little late in my burrito-eating career. It's a keeper, with fresh ingredients, spicy salsa and a real authentic feel that makes me feel like I'm in the capital of great Mexican food, Oaxaca.

is a hole in the wall downtown with great fish tacos, as well as fine meat ones.

How could I forget the joint I eat at the most (except for Los Gordos in Aptos), downtown and its sister at Twin Lakes beach? Trouble is, the place is so fine, I rarely get a burrito here, but go for the more gourmet stuff. The taco bar attached to the downtown Palomar has burritos too, quick and cheap.

Surf towns produce Mexican places like the Midwest pops out burgers. The burrito is the perfect meal for someone whose livelihood is oceanically-challenged. But say you want to eat cheap and healthy?downtown has less fat, more black beans, tofu and tortillas of spinach, whole wheat and god knows what else.

on Pacific gets raves for its machete burritos. I'm sorry to say, I haven't tried it yet. It may be one of only a few I've missed.

I've been a longtime fan of , also downtown on Pacific. It always feels like a party there and the food is just right.

& Lounge downtown is a place I think of more for a meal than a burrito, but they've got them.

Vivas is another gourmet, healthy-style place by the Rio Theatre with something you don't hear much with regard to Mexican food in the U.S. (though it's plentiful in Mexico): organic.

is on my list, because others swear by it. I've yet to sample, but will if you say I should.

has three locations in Soquel, Seaside and Santa Cruz, with cactus burittos as well as meat. Students love this place.

Don't forget to let us know if your favorite place has one type of burrito that is best! My biggest test is the carnitas. If it isn't crispy outside and soft inside, it's a fail.

Who gets it right?