Any thoughts on Chipotle Grill?

I actually really enjoy Chipotle. Since they are corporate owned, the quality is good across the board, but since they make things fresh on site, some are a little better than others. The one in Arlington, VA's Crystal City area is fantastic. I'm glad my office is back in Cap Hill, but I do miss my salad from Chipotle.

I've eaten at the Chipotle's in Tucson & I thought the food was good, but the portions were huge, couldn't even begin to finish my burrito.

I've had a Chipotle's burrito on several different occasions, I thought they were very tasty...authentic or not who cares...it just tastes good.

Here in the DC areas we can have our pick of 'authentic' mexican food..I haven't had a better burrito in any of them that I've tried, so when it come to burrito's Chipotle is tops in my book. Now Taco's..... totally different story, I prefer a taco off a truck rather then from a restaurant

I've had a Moe's burrito once and will never have another, I can't get past the greeting when you walk in the door, let alone the crappy burrito. Moe's doesn't compare to Chipotle's in humble opinion.

I feel about Chipole's the way I do about Taco Cabana, Taco Hell and Chui's. Fast Food. Having said that, it's hard for me to pass up the Tex-Mex places Austin is crawling with. If I'm going to eat, I'm going to eat good.

Qdoba all the way

Life is way too short too eat chain food - even the "best" chain food.

quote:

Originally posted by brisketboy

I feel about Chipole's the way I do about Taco Cabana, Taco Hell and Chui's. Fast Food. Having said that, it's hard for me to pass up the Tex-Mex places Austin is crawling with. If I'm going to eat, I'm going to eat good.

I wouldn't consider Taco Bell and Chipotle even remotely in the same category. Chipotle makes all their food onsite. No frozen chicken. Guacamole made onsite, salsa made onsite, the list goes on and on.

quote:

Originally posted by BT

quote:

Originally posted by Theedge

McDonald's for gosh sakes

Hard to beat #4 supersized with a diet coke. I go for what tastes good. See my bbq post tonight.

If tasting good is the criterion, of the options you mentioned, I'd personally take Panda Express every time.

I gotta go with BT on this one.

quote:

Originally posted by chef2be

Qdoba all the way

I agree! Qdoba's food is always very fresh and tasty. I usually have a "plate"rather than a burrito.
I love it because they have great ingredients for add-ons.

quote:

Originally posted by -Tricky-
[but Wendy's and Chipotle are two chains I'll choose if I need to eat quickly and cheaply. The barbacoa with guac and their tomatillo salsa is remarkably good for something coming from McDonald's!

Baja Fresh (owned by Wendy's) is also far better than the average fast food place.

Truer words have never been spoken. If I have to go mass chain taqueria, I will go with Baja Fresh over Chipotle or Qdoba. But I will always go mom and pop over mass chain.

Any yeah, A Wendy's hamburger beats the rest of the fast food places and most of the places that call themselves restaurants that serve burgers on the menu (but that is the time for another thread).

We don't have Chipotle around here (nearest one is in Virginia somewhere, a friend of mine LOVES it) but we do have Salsarita's and Barbarito's. I think they're both pretty small chains. Of the two I'll take Salsarita's any time - more choices and better taste, IMHO.

quote:

Originally posted by divefl

McDs has sold their partial ownership of Chipolte to focus on their well crafted burgers.

I believe that technically, they were never "owners," they were investers. They sold back their investment.

I've never been a fan of Chipotle's. My preferred fast-food Tex-Mex-itoriums are La Salsa and Baja Fresh.

I don't get it.

No taste and I've given the place 3 tries.

Too bad as it's across the street.

My street corners have Chipotle's, Panera's and Subway.

I could walk!

But why bother?

it must be based on the individual owners of the franchise, because of the chipotle's i've tried, there is simply no way to say it is tasteless. now, the first time i went i had the burrito, and there was so much beans and rice and tortilla that it kind of overwhelmed the other tastes, so maybe that's it. now, i always get the tacos, and the spicy and flavorful barbacoa, the tangy tomatilla salsa-its definitely not tasteless
hey, my town doesnt have a chipotles, moes, baja fresh, quidoba. we have taco bell (yech) and 2 mom and pop's, one of which is awful, the other is good for some dishes, bad for others. if i'm on the road i will definitely stop at chipotles because its the best mexican ive had in a while. if i lived in texas or california it would be a whole different thing. but for the south, its pretty good mexican

AFAIK Chipotle isn't franchised, they are all corp. owned.

I haven't eaten there in quite awhile.Not that the food at the one in The Forum at Live Oak is bad, just don't get a chance.When I have been there,I have gotten the pork carnitas and barbacoa tacos.
Never liked barbacoa before, but theirs tastes good, and now I'll order the stuff.
I go to Taco Cabana sometimes to get the fajitas or other things,don't go to Taco Bell because there is something about their meat,maybe it's the seasoning that upsets my stomach.
Just because I might eat at one of these places once in awhile doesn't mean I don't patronize my local mexican places here in Schertz and the surrounding area,because I do.It's just that at lunch time it maybe easier to go to Taco Cabana and get it to go,when I don't have a chance to sit down and relax and enjoy myself.

quote:

Originally posted by uncledaveyo

Life is way too short too eat chain food - even the "best" chain food.

Well, good to know there's one less person in line for some great steakhouses.

I don't like that they put all that rice in their burritos. Maybe I am thinking of QDoba, but one of those places puts less than half a cup of the other fillings & about a cup or two of rice. No thanks. Rice goes on the side, not on the inside, of a burrito.

quote:

Originally posted by stricken_detective

I don't like that they put all that rice in their burritos. Maybe I am thinking of QDoba, but one of those places puts less than half a cup of the other fillings & about a cup or two of rice. No thanks. Rice goes on the side, not on the inside, of a burrito.

The Chipotle I go to will put whatever you want on and as much or as little. I get it in the bowl form, much easier to eat.

quote:

Originally posted by stricken_detective

Rice goes on the side, not on the inside, of a burrito.

in a mission style burrito, it goes on the inside.

I'd be ok with the rice if it was only 1/4 cup. And I did try that in the bowl one day, and it worked good.

quote:

Originally posted by stricken_detective

I'd be ok with the rice if it was only 1/4 cup. And I did try that in the bowl one day, and it worked good.

you can tell them to only add a little rice. I never get rice in mine, though, because I get the fajita version with peppers and onions, and I skip the rice. They'll prepare it any way you want. You want multiple salsas? they'll do it. Extra sour cream? they'll do it. No extra charge. (only guac is extra)