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 chimichanga! 

Timeline

1946

Macayo’s Opens in Phoenix
The legendary Macayo’s restaurant is founded and becomes a staple of Phoenix’s dining scene for three-quarters of a century.

1946

A Timeless Classic Gets a New Spin
Created by accident when the Macayo’s founder drops a meat burrito into the deep fryer at the restaurant in Phoenix, the chimichanga becomes a staple of Mexican restaurants the world over.

1968

The Mini Chimi’s Join the Party
Not satisfied with simply creating an iconic dish, Macayo’s introduce the Mini Chimis, bite-sized versions of their classic chimichangas.

2009

Hail to the Chimi
Chimichangas are among the most popular dishes at Mexican restaurants like Macayo’s and they attract the attention of the first family — President Barack Obama orders a signature chimi while celebrating his daughter Malia’s birthday at the Macayo’s central location in Phoenix.

2010–2011

Check Yes for Chimi
Public referendums are rarely this tasty but during this time Macayo’s leads an effort to have the chimichanga named the state food of Arizona.

2020

National Chimichanga Day is Launched
Every day is a good day for a chimichanga but to give this dish the recognition it deserves, Macayo’s starts National Chimichanga Day.

History

This story starts with a burrito. When Macayo’s first opened its doors 75 years ago, it quickly became a popular destination for quality handcrafted Mexican food with their signature family recipes. But when the restaurant’s founder accidentally dropped a meat burrito into the fryer, he discovered a whole new way to serve this iconic item. What came out of the fryer that day was a crisp, savory burrito that became a legend in its own right.

Seeing they had something special on their hands — or plates — Macayo’s topped the concoction with zesty relleno sauce, sour cream, and fresh Pico de Gallo. The reception was massive, with Phoenix diners clamoring for this novel culinary creation. Over the years, Macayo’s has perfected and innovated the chimichanga, filling it with a wide variety of flavorful meats, cheeses, and serving it to their guests all around the Phoenix area.

In the decades since that fateful day, Macayo’s has introduced the ‘Mini Chimi’ — bite-sized handfuls of deep-fried goodness — and have hosted powerful and influential people, including then-President Barack Obama who visited Macayo’s in 2009 to celebrate his daughter Malia’s birthday. The impact of the chimichanga has grown into a cultural phenomenon and we have the serendipitous marriage of a burrito and a deep fryer to thank for it. On National Chimichanga Day, let’s all think about the roots of this delicious dish and its creators.

FAQ

Founded by Macayo’s in 2020, National Chimichanga Day is held annually on September 26. This year, Macayo’s has a host of fun events planned to celebrate the day and the 75th anniversary of the iconic restaurant and its legendary dish.

Like their cousin, the burrito, chimichangas can be filled with any combination of meats and cheeses, topped with relleno sauce, sour cream, and Pico de Gallo and served with rice or refried beans.

The chimichanga literally means ‘thingamajig’ in Spanish and was named after its inventor, Macayo’s founder, accidentally dropped a burrito in a deep fryer. 

How to Celebrate

The most obvious (and most obviously delicious) way to celebrate is to head out to your local Macayo’s and grab a chimichanga at the place where it all began. If you’re not within driving distance of a Macayo’s (and we feel for you), the dish has become so ubiquitous, you’d be hard-pressed not to find one.

Macayo’s is going all out on National Chimichanga Day this year to commemorate the dish and the 75th anniversary of the Phoenix-area staple. The restaurant is celebrating by slashing prices to their 1946 levels and even going for the Guinness World Record for the largest chimichanga. Read More

We can’t all be lucky enough to live near a Macayo’s so, for those of us who can’t experience a chimi directly from the source, making one at home is a good alternative. Assemble your favorite burrito-making ingredients, heat up that frying oil, and recreate the iconic moment when the two came together.

Why We Love It

The chimichanga turns 75 this year and National Chimichanga Day gives us all a reason (like we needed one?) to celebrate this iconic dish.

If Macayo’s founder hadn’t accidentally dropped a burrito in the fryer and given the result a taste, we might not have this staple of Mexican food today.

To celebrate the 75th anniversary of the chimichanga, Macayo’s has planned events and promotions designed to bring the Phoenix community together around their favorite deep-fried dish. 

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