I like it. It's a tad overpriced, but the food at our local Chipotle is usually very good. Of course it's not authentic Mexican food, but that doesn't make it bad.

In the Phoenix area, I discovered Backyard Tacos. It’s a fast food place, chain I guess, but with what I thought was really good food; similar to other semi-authentic Mexican Mexican places I’ve been in.

I prefer Los Pollos Hermanos. Just ask for Gus.

The steak there sucks. Chicken, Barbacoa, and carnitas are better. Somebody said Freebirds is better than Chipotle, I'm from Texas and I've been to Freebirds a handful of times in the last 18 years (first time was in College Station when I was 19) I'd rather eat Chipotle.

Haven't been in a long time, right after the stories about people getting ill, its not great but it's not that bad, I got the bowl vs the burrito easier to control what's going into it.

We have a few local mexican restaurants that are more authentic.

Some of the better mexican food I had was living in Tulsa,

All of the ingredients in their recipes are food. No preservatives, additives, chemicals, etc. There is something to be said for that. A quick meal that is real food, and prepared using classical cooking techniques in front of the customer.

You'd be surprised what's in something as simple as a McDonald's hamburger bun.

I ate it many years ago. The portions are too large, WAY too large. So I'd get some chips/salsa, cut the burrito in half, and make it into 2 meals. They have decent carnitas which I very much like, but nothing about the rest of ingredients are anything special.

It's not perfect, but 1,000X better than McDonald's, Wendy's or Burger King. Those are the competitors.

I only eat fast food once or twice per year. When I do, it's either Chipotle or QDoba.

Chicken Burrito with just a little rice and a little pinto. Chicken, Pico, hot sauce and cheese. Guac of it's Qdoba, cause it's free there. No drink. Not bad for eight bucks twice per year.

I took my kids to Wendy's a few months ago for lunch. I did not get anything. $20 to feed a 7 & 8 year old. That's insane. I don't see how people eat out multiple times per week. They're pissing their money away. Make something at home and bring it to work to eat.

It's tasty if you order the right stuff.

Get a bowl. NEWBs get a burrito.

Get the salad dressing. Get the peppers and onions. Get two meats, half and half. That way you get basically double meat for the same price. The steak sucks. Never order it. The pork, barbacoa, and chorizo are decent. The chicken is ok if fresh. If old, bypass. Corn salsa, pico, sour creme, and shredded cheese, good to go.

E Coli aside, I think their ingredients are pretty good quality wise. Their burritos suck but not because of ingredient quality but becaue they don't even attempt to mix the stuff together. Ie, one bite is rice, next beans, next meat, etc.

My biggest gripe with Chipotle is simple. They hire the worst employees and their management is nonexistent. They are in such a rush to make the food that they mess up orders all the time. It is almost comical. Huge speedy first station then a backup at the next station or register. You can only go as fast as the slowest station. They also seem to have a nasty habit of overcharging. I have caught them numerous times charging for double meat (circle around the meat letter) when I didn't have double meat. Don't know how many times I paid before I broke their code. Plus, no matter what language you use, asking for a tiny, pequeno, amount of sour cream you still tend to get an entire gigantic spoonful. I have made them remake the entire bowl when I have been in a bad mood or they made one mistake too many for me to own that food. lol

All that being said, its a fast food joint. I don't expect nor usually receive sit down quality food at a fast food place. Good for what it is if you don't have a nearby Moe's or Cafe Rio.

Heading over there right now for some steak tacos and chips and salsa!

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:
I prefer Los Pollos Hermanos. Just ask for Gus.

Chipotle was one and done for us.
Qdoba is much better.

quote:

Originally posted by ScooterX:
Chipotle was one and done for us.
Qdoba is much better.

This goes for my wife and I as well. We MUCH prefer Qdoba!

It is better than some other fast food, and worse than other.

You don't get a gourmet experience there, or authentic Mexican. So?

It is, generally, decent cheap meal.

quote:

Originally posted by jhe888:
It is better than some other fast food, and worse than other.

You don't get a gourmet experience there, or authentic Mexican. So?

It is, generally, decent cheap meal.

Pretty much sums up what I was going to say. I don't get all the hate filled "not authentic Mexican" and "I'll just go to an authentic restaurant". It's fast food and at that it's pretty darned good. Not microwaved, fresh ingredients, etc. Usually quite tasty.

Anyhow I've had authentic Mexican in Mexico and I wasn't any more impressed than I am at Chipotle.

quote:

Originally posted by PowerSurge:
It’s for hipsters. I just go to a real Mexican restaurant.

Lol, Not to defend hipsters, but Chipotle is definitely not hipstery.

quote:

Lol, Not to defend hipsters, but Chipotle is definitely not hipstery

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Since we do not have one, how would describe the ambience?? South of the Border, run for the Border, Faux Mexican, or Happy Mariachi?? or none of the above?

we tried qdoba tacos ,

but was not impressed at all,
https://www.qdoba.com/

the food was ok , just ok

chipotle , same thing , not enthused