Benny’s Burritos

Bennie’s Burritos started with Benito “Bennie” Hernández, who arrived in California from Jalisco, Mexico, in 1960. After several years working in kitchens and taking whatever jobs he could find, he rented a small storefront near Pacific State University in 1964.

The original Bennie’s had six counter stools, a handful of tables and a simple menu built around the food Benito knew best: warm tortillas, slow-cooked beans, seasoned meats, rice and fresh salsa. Students quickly discovered that the portions were generous, the prices were fair and nobody minded if they stayed awhile.

That combination turned out to have staying power.

Over the next six decades, Bennie’s grew alongside Pacific State. Students became regulars, regulars became alumni, and alumni started returning with families of their own. The restaurant expanded, the menu grew, and the mismatched little dining room became the busy student hangout it is today.

Now run by the third generation of the Hernández family, Bennie’s still follows much the same formula: big burritos, cold drinks, reasonable prices and plenty of room to settle in with friends.

There are newer restaurants in Silverdale. There are certainly fancier ones. But few have watched as many generations arrive, study, graduate and eventually wander back through the same front door.

And yes, all the recipes are still Bennie’s.