The chimichanga is a deep-fried burrito that is a staple of Tex-Mex and Arizonan cuisine. Legend has it that it was invented accidentally at the 'El Charro' restaurant in Tucson, Arizona, in 1922. The founder, Monica Flin, reportedly dropped a burrito into a deep fryer. She started to say a Spanish profanity starting with 'chi...' but quickly changed it to 'chimichanga,' a Spanish equivalent of 'thingamajig,' because her nieces and nephews were in the kitchen. To her surprise, the fried burrito was delicious. The process of deep-frying transforms the soft flour tortilla into a crispy, golden shell. Today, the chimichanga is so popular in Arizona that there have been several legislative efforts to name it the official state food.