There’s a moment every morning at El Chubby’s on South Abilene Street when the line starts forming before the doors even open. Regulars know exactly what they’re here for, the #22 breakfast burrito. It’s not just another item on the menu. It’s become something of a legend in Aurora, Colorado, the kind of meal that turns first-timers into lifelong customers and keeps locals coming back week after week.
Since 1990, we’ve been serving up fresh, made-to-order Mexican food to the Aurora community. And while our menu is packed with favorites, from carne asada to smothered rellenos, there’s something about the #22 that captures everything we stand for. Generous portions, authentic flavors, and that unmistakable homemade quality that reminds you of someone’s abuela cooking in the kitchen.
So what makes this particular breakfast burrito so beloved? Why do Aurora residents drive across town just to get their hands on one? We’re breaking it all down, from the ingredients to the community connection that’s kept us going strong for over 35 years.
What Makes the 22 Breakfast Burrito So Special
Walk into any Mexican restaurant and you’ll find breakfast burritos on the menu. But the #22 at El Chubby’s? It’s earned its own reputation. This isn’t some assembly-line burrito wrapped in foil and forgotten. Every single one is grilled to order, built with care, and customized exactly how you want it.
What sets the #22 apart starts with the fundamentals, quality ingredients prepared fresh, a soft flour tortilla that actually holds everything together, and that signature El Chubby’s green chili that ties the whole thing together. But let’s get specific about what’s actually inside.
The Perfect Ingredient Lineup
The #22 features a winning combination that breakfast burrito lovers obsess over: fluffy scrambled eggs, savory steak strips grilled with jalapeños, onions, and tomatoes, plus your choice of how it’s served. Want it plain for maximum portability on your commute? Done. Prefer it smothered in our signature green chili and topped with melted cheese? That’s how the regulars order it.
We make our beans in the pot just like Mama used to make, none of that instant stuff from a can. The steak is tender, seasoned right, and grilled fresh when you order. And here’s the thing most people don’t realize until they’ve had one: the proportions are actually balanced. You’re not getting a mouthful of tortilla followed by a bite that’s all egg. Every section of this burrito delivers.
Customers can choose their preferred style, chili inside, special (with green chili and cheese inside), or the full deluxe treatment smothered on top with lettuce and tomatoes. That flexibility means your #22 can be whatever you need it to be that morning.
Generous Portions That Keep You Full
Let’s talk about size, because this matters. We’ve all had those disappointing breakfast burritos that look promising in the warming case but leave you hungry an hour later. The #22 is not that burrito.
When we say generous portions, we mean it. This is the kind of breakfast that carries you through to lunch, and sometimes past it. The tortilla is packed, the filling is substantial, and you’re not paying for empty space. Aurora is a working community. People here need real food that fuels their day, not some dainty wrap that costs too much and delivers too little.
Our portions reflect what we believe breakfast should be: satisfying, affordable, and worth the trip. The #22 has become the go-to order for construction crews, nurses coming off night shifts, families heading out for Saturday errands, and pretty much anyone who takes their morning meal seriously.
A Taste of Authentic Colorado-Style Breakfast
Colorado does breakfast burritos differently than the rest of the country. We’re not talking about the California-style versions loaded with avocado or the Texas takes heavy on the barbacoa. Here in Colorado, and especially in Aurora, it’s all about that green chili.
Our signature green chili is what defines the #22 experience. It’s got that roasted pepper depth, a nice kick of heat without being overwhelming, and it clings to everything it touches in the best possible way. When you order your burrito smothered, you’re getting it drenched in this stuff, topped with melted cheese that pools in all the right places.
This is authentic Colorado-style breakfast the way it’s supposed to taste. We’ve been perfecting these recipes since 1990, using techniques and flavors passed down through generations of our family. Nothing on our menu comes from a packet or a corporate supplier’s freezer truck. When you eat at El Chubby’s, you’re tasting decades of tradition.
The #22 represents everything right about Aurora’s Mexican food scene. It’s unpretentious, it’s delicious, and it respects the roots of where these flavors come from while still being distinctly Colorado. Locals who’ve grown up eating here recognize that difference immediately. And newcomers to Aurora? They figure it out pretty quick once they’ve had their first bite.
There’s a reason green chili is practically a religion in this state. And there’s a reason our green chili specifically has kept customers loyal for over three decades. Some things you just can’t replicate, no matter how hard chain restaurants try.
Why Aurora Residents Keep Coming Back
A great burrito will get someone in the door once. But turning them into a regular? That takes something more. The #22 has developed a genuine following in Aurora, not through marketing gimmicks or social media stunts, but through consistent quality and real relationships with the community.
The Community Connection
We’ve been at 1191 S. Abilene Street since 1991, and 2025 marked our 35th anniversary in business. That kind of longevity doesn’t happen by accident. It happens because generations of Aurora families have made El Chubby’s part of their routine.
We see it every day, the dad who brings his kids in for breakfast burritos the same way his father brought him. The group of coworkers who’ve been doing Friday morning #22 runs for fifteen years straight. The couple who had their first date here and now bring their own children. These aren’t just customers. They’re our community.
As a family-owned restaurant, we take that connection seriously. Our team knows regulars by name. We remember how you like your burrito. We ask about your kids, your job, your weekend plans. That personal touch has become rare in the restaurant industry, but it’s never gone out of style at El Chubby’s.
The #22’s popularity is wrapped up in all of this. When Aurora residents recommend it to friends, they’re not just suggesting a menu item, they’re inviting people into a community institution.
Affordable Comfort Food Done Right
Here’s something that doesn’t get talked about enough: the #22 is genuinely affordable. In an era where a basic fast-food breakfast can run you eight or nine dollars and still leave you unsatisfied, we’ve stayed committed to value pricing.
Comfort food should be accessible. It shouldn’t require a special occasion or a flush bank account. The working families of Aurora deserve to enjoy a proper breakfast burrito without doing financial calculations in the drive-thru line. That’s been our philosophy from day one, and it’s not changing.
The #22 delivers restaurant-quality breakfast at prices that respect your budget. You get substantial portions, fresh ingredients, and that made-to-order preparation, all without the sticker shock. For a lot of our customers, that combination of quality and affordability is exactly why they keep coming back.
And look, we get it. Times are tight for a lot of people. The fact that families can still swing by El Chubby’s for a filling, delicious breakfast without very costly? That matters to us. It’s part of how we serve this community.
How to Order the 22 Like a Local
Ready to experience the #22 for yourself? Here’s how to navigate the order like someone who’s been doing this for years.
First, decide how you want it served. Your options are:
- Plain – No chili or cheese, perfect for eating on the go
- Chili – Green chili tucked inside the burrito
- Special – Green chili AND cheese inside
- Smothered – Covered in green chili and cheese on top
- Deluxe – Smothered with green chili and cheese, then topped with lettuce and tomatoes
Most locals go smothered or deluxe when they’re dining in. The presentation is beautiful, that green chili cascading over the burrito, cheese melting down the sides. If you’re taking it to go or hitting the drive-thru on your way to work, plain or chili-inside keeps things portable and mess-free.
Next, consider your heat tolerance. We offer hot green chili, mild green chili, or red chili. The green is our signature, and we’d recommend starting there. Mild has plenty of flavor without too much kick. Hot is for people who know what they’re getting into.
Pro tip from the regulars: add a side of our housemade guacamole. It’s not traditional, but that creamy avocado plays beautifully against the spice of the green chili.
You can dine in and enjoy the full experience, hit our drive-thru for convenience, or order online for pickup through our website. We’re also available on Uber Eats and DoorDash if you want breakfast delivered to your door. Hours run 8AM to 8PM Monday through Saturday and 11AM to 8PM on Sunday.
One more piece of advice: come hungry. You’re going to want to finish the whole thing.
Conclusion
The #22 breakfast burrito isn’t just popular because it tastes good, though it absolutely does. It’s popular because it represents something bigger. It’s the product of 35 years of a family-owned restaurant doing things right, serving a community that’s supported us through every season.
When Aurora locals talk about the #22, they’re talking about more than eggs and steak and green chili wrapped in a tortilla. They’re talking about a place that feels like home, portions that respect your appetite, prices that respect your wallet, and flavors that remind you why fresh, made-to-order Mexican food beats the corporate alternatives every single time.
We didn’t set out to create a legendary breakfast burrito. We just set out to make food the way it should be made, with care, with quality ingredients, and with our community in mind. The #22’s reputation grew organically because people recognized that difference.
So whether you’re a longtime Aurora resident who’s been eating with us since the ’90s or someone new to the area wondering what all the fuss is about, we’d love to see you. Swing by El Chubby’s at 1191 S. Abilene Street, pull into the drive-thru, or order online. Get yourself a #22 smothered in green chili.
Then you’ll understand exactly why Aurora locals can’t stop talking about it.
