The wrap hit the national culinary scene in the 1990s, though Greek and Mexican cuisines have been turning out wrap prototypes such as tacos and gyros for hundreds of years. The low-carb craze gave the wrap a turbo boost in popularity, and now we are blessed with wraps of every conceivable incarnation. While they often sneak in under the rubric of health food, if we’re honest, we must admit that tastiest ones are stuffed with licentious amounts of cheese, decadent layers of bacon and often both. Whether the wrapping material is a tortilla, lavash, pita, lefse or rice paper, we’re thrilled to acknowledge the wrap is here to stay. Here’s a smattering of our favorite wraps in and around the Plymouth area.
BUFFALO CHICKEN WRAP
One of the coolest things about a wrap is that it can hold all the fixings of your favorite dish in a single nifty packet for easy consumption. Buffalo wing fans will heartily rejoice with each bite of Cowboy Jack’s buffalo chicken wrap, which celebrates the distinctive flavors of hot-sauced chicken wings, tangy blue cheese and crisp celery. Jack’s even adds an extra helping of shredded cheese for good measure. Part of the “weekend rehab menu,” this bold wrap goes down especially well with a tall frosty one. $8. 4120 Berkshire Ln. N.; 763.559.0257; cowboyjackssaloon.com
JJ UNWICH
Jimmy John’s grabbed the wrap idea and ran with it to brilliant effect, replacing the usual flatbread casing with a sturdy lettuce leaf. This impressively low-carb and low-cal wrap option is still strong on flavor, and an available option for any regular sandwich on the menu. We went for the Hunter’s Club, a heaping pile of thinly sliced, rosy roast beef layered with provolone cheese, shredded lettuce, tomato and mayo. We threw in some red onion for an extra zing and marveled at each perfect, healthy bite. $5.03 subs, $6.10 club. 3570 Vicksburg Ln. N.; 763.398.2190; jimmyjohns.com
EL GRANDE BURRO
El Azteca
The ginormous bomber known as the El Grande Burro is one of the most delicious amalgamation of ingredients we’ve experienced. Picture tender shards of white-meat chicken simmered in a tingly chipotle sauce and graced with a schmear of creamy refried beans, a few scoops of Spanish rice, sautéed onions and bell pepper, with two fat ice-cream-like scoops of guacamole and sour cream on the side. It may have taken extra time to finish, not to mention to digest, but this is one wrap we can’t wait to eat again. $8.70. 3500 Vicksburg Ln. N. #500; 763.550.1570; elaztecamn.com
BLT WRAP
Mort’s Deli
Heavy on the B and bursting with lots of freshly shredded L, these pretty spinach tortillas yield a most satisfying mix of salt, fat, crunch and crisp in every bite. One order consists of two smaller-sized wraps so they are easy to eat with your hands. A smattering of diced tomato and slathering of real mayo complete the classic combo. It’s simplicity at its most delish. $9.99. 525 Winnetka Ave. N., Golden Valley; 763.544.2900; morts-deli.com
FIRECRACKER SHRIMP WRAP
Sunshine Factory
This aptly named torpedo of flavor explodes with a profusion of fat, crispy-fried shrimp, romaine lettuce, crunchy rice noodles and a spicy, peanut-y “firecracker” sauce, reminiscent of both an Asian spring roll and a New England clam roll. Be careful with how you bite into this one unless you want to wear peanut sauce for the rest of the day. Even so, it’s worth the risk. $9.95. 7600 42nd Ave. N., New Hope; 763.535.7000; esunshinefactory.com
CHICAGO SEVEN STROMBOLI
Old Chicago
Oozing with cheese and ripe with sautéed vegetables, this wrap is a hot, saucy mess that we devoured in an ecstatic frenzy. It’s called a Stromboli and it’s made from classic pizza fixings encased in a baked pizza dough crust. The “Chicago Seven” version has oodles of both sausage and pepperoni enveloped in a slightly sweet tomato sauce. The exterior remained impressively crunchy in comparison to the seductively molten interior. $9.29. 3505 Vicksburg Ln. N. #100; 763.744.1221; oldchicago.com
PINK LADY ROLL
Kobe Restaurant
There is not much difference between a wrap and a roll, if you think about it. At Kobe, tissue-like pink soy paper is stuffed with spicy kani (crab stick) avocado, “crunch” (panko bread crumbs) and diced cucumber to create the daintiest wrap we’ve ever seen. It’s breathtakingly arranged to look like flower petals on the plate, and daubed with squiggles of a slyly spicy pink mayonnaise. Don’t be lulled unawares by such delicate good looks: This wrap bites back. $10. 15555 34th Ave. N.; 763.559.9999; kobemn.com
RANCH CHICKEN WRAP
Jake’s City Grille
If you’ve ever made ranch chicken at home, you know that the “ranch” part is actually found in the chicken’s crispy coating. At Jake’s, chicken tenders are enveloped in a mixture of superfine Japanese breadcrumbs (panko) and ranch dressing, then sautéed to form a savory exterior crust. The crunchy-tender meat mingles with lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, bacon bits and cheese in a soft tortilla, a lively interplay of crackle and tang in every bite. $10.95. 3005 Harbor Lane N.; 763.559.1595; jakescitygrille.com
