For those of you who aren't on Twitter, Joe had some interesting thoughts on the Chipotle process and how, in his view, the system is beginning to fail the customer:
Done w/ Chipotle. Minuscule amount of meat in burritos. OK. Today they served uncooked rice. Crunchy burrito. Place has gone downhill fast.— THE KEY PLAY (@thekeyplay) June 24, 2014
I don't want to dismiss Joe's experience--he was in all likelihood the victim of a poor Chipotle experience. It happens. But I see this as an opportunity to discuss some of the things we can do as consumers to decrease the chances of this happening to us. Below are a few rules that have helped me make the most of my Chipotle visits.
As a brief aside, I have very strong opinions about burritos in general. Unfortunately, if you live on the East Coast (perhaps with the exception of Florida), you have already lost at the burrito game unless you make your own, but Chipotle is still an excellent consolation prize. I will try to spare you that sermon, though, and focus on Chipotle.
Getting Started: Burrito or a Bowl?
I always get a burrito without exception. I got a bowl once, and it felt like I was eating a salad, which I found highly objectionable. However, it is important to note that even if you wimp out and get a bowl, you can still get a tortilla on the side.
Rice and Beans
I don't necessarily have any hard rice and bean rules, but I don't see why you wouldn't treat yourself to both. They say brown rice is much healthier than white rice, so I always go with brown. I see no tactical advantage to the type of beans you go with, so I'll leave that up to the reader's discretion. Personally, I prefer black.
Always ask for "Fajita Vegetables."
I don't know why they call them fajita vegetables. They're just grilled peppers and onions, but I digress. They never explicitly ask you if you want them like they do with rice and beans, but they don't cost anything extra, and it adds to the total food content. Plus they're healthy because they're vegetables.
Always Get 2 Kinds of Meat.
This is, in my opinion, the most important rule. I am both blessed and cursed with the fastest metabolism in the world, and consequently, my philosophy for building a Chipotle burrito is predicated entirely on maximizing the amount of food I'm getting, specifically the protein content. Nothing is worse than getting a burrito that isn't loaded with meat. I've found the best way to avoid this is to always ask for two kinds of meat. Note, do NOT ask for double-meat. Ask for half of one kind of meat and half of another, so you'll only be charged for one kind of meat. In my experience, "half" is closer to about three quarters of a typical meat serving, and I almost always get more meat this way.
I usually get carnitas and steak or carnitas and chicken. Sometimes, if I'm feeling a li'l rambunctious, I'll get steak and chicken. ;)
Finishing Touches: Cheese, Sauce, and Guac
When they ask you "Mild, medium, or hot," it is always prudent to say "Mild." If you're a true player, you've chosen the burrito route, and the medium and hot sauces are considerably less viscous and they'll run on ya. "Mild" sauce is another example of curious diction on Chipotle's part--It's just pico de gallo, but that which we call mild sauce by any other name will add as much flavor and nutrition to your burrito.
Always get cheese; don't be obtuse.
Guac is probably the thing Chipotle does best. It's always fresh and you're burrito will be better when you include it, but you pay dearly for it. I usually bite the bullet and go for it, but it's certainly understandable if you choose to forgo this option on financial grounds.
Comments
I agree with Joe. For those of you in the DC area, break up with Chipotle and holler at District Taco and/or Pica Taco. It will only take one visit and you'll realize that Chipotle is that girl/guy you thought you liked but that all she/he did was limit you in every facet of your being.
I agree with you in that I compare Chipotle to the Apple of burrito joints around here. You know its popular and it generally puts out a good product, but at the end of the day, its expensive and there are much better things out there if you're willing to look.
It broke my heart when Mixtec in Adams Morgan Closed
Taco Bamba in Falls Church is also worth a stop if you are in the area. It's a taco joint that's probably closer to real Mexican than Tex-Mex.
^THIS. Went there for the first time a few weeks back and it is amazing.
Taco Bamba = Best name for a Mexican food restaurant so far!
Went to District Taco last week and I have to say that the burrito isn't quite as good but the tacos are delicious. The guacamole is about as good as Chipotle's but the chips are mediocre. However there is a free salsa bar and it is delicious. Overall a positive experience.
District Taco's best item is the breakfast taco. Get the basic breakfast with guac and it's banging. Also I'm a guac snob and IMO DT's is better than Chipotle's, but Chipotle's is pretty damn good.
The absolute BEST Burrito the area, is Rito Loco, soon to have their own store front, and current touring the area in their food truck. BOTH the owners are Hokie Grads, and their flavors are robust, original, and 2nd to none. Website below, you need to try the best, TRUST ME.
Rito Loco
I only craved Chipotle before I met District Taco. They are legit. It's crazy how Americanized Chipotle seems after eating at DT.
Locations- http://www.districttaco.com/page/location
Agree wholeheartedly with the sentiment towards District Taco. I first started going to the cart in 2010 in Rosslyn and became instantly addicted. The quality of the product, especially the meats, has made it impossible for me to eat Chipotle and enjoy it ever again and without remorse that I'm wasting my time on something with no real flavor and skimpy servings.
Osiris, the owner at DT, is also one of the nicest guys if you ever get a chance to meet him. Every time I come back to DC for work, the first and last place I always eat at is DT. I'm flying back home to Colorado tonight, and I plan on stopping there for tacos AND a burrito on my way out.
District Taco is delicious. Love that you can add chorizo to the queso, plus dump a whole ton of jalapenos from the salsa bar to make it spicy.
They actually just tweeted out a couple days ago that they're opening a new location in Old Town Alexandria, where the Chicken Out on the corners of Washington and Franklin street used to be.
For the most food, always get a bowl. My choice is side tortilla, brown rice, both beans, chicken and barbacoa (best meats on the menu), corn salsa and pico (add salsa verde if you want more kick), sour cream, cheese and guac. 2 meals for the price of 1.
EDIT: Also, if they can easily wrap your burrito or put a lid on your bowl, you didn't get enough and are doing it wrong. Don't be afraid to ask for extra rice if they try to skimp on it.
I always get a bowl as well. Much more food. Why fill up on a plain flour tortilla? I just get the chips on the side with the tomatillo-red sauce.
Two meats (I vary which two) as the OP suggests and both beans. I usually skip the rice, it is just filler and you will get enough carbs from the beans and chips. Lettuce, cheese, sour cream, and guacamole. I am odd in that I do not like green peppers or onions so I skip most anything involving those. I can pick the onions out of the guac. Pour the red sauce over the contents of the bowl, mix it all up and scoop it up with your chips (no need for utensils, just like a burrito).
I am also lazy and impatient so I order it and pay online so when I get there I just walk to the front of the line and pick-up my order. Waiting in line is for chumps.
As for Joe's experience, a Chipotle is just like any other franchise restaurant. Your experience will vary with each location. Where I live, there are two that are roughly the same distance from me, so if one ever becomes unsatisfying I can just try the other one the next time. Also, here in Richmond/Midlothian we also have Qdoba which is basically the same thing except they have that wonderful queso.
Not sure why you dismiss the bowl option so quickly. I undoubtedly get much more food with a bowl than the burrito basically because the tortilla can only hold so much and if they rip it while wrapping, they empty your contents onto a new tortilla inherently losing precious ingredients that stick to the existing tortilla. And, for those of you without endless stomachs or superman metabolisms like me, the bowl presents a much cleaner approach with a lid to saving some (or even half) for later or another meal entirely.
Also, you can ask for double or "extra" everything sans meat and guac at no extra charge. They will hate you or give you looks but you'll still come home with way more than your money's worth.
If you really must go Burrito, you can (depending on the mood of the servers) ask for it as a quesadilla burrito. Essentially an extra layer of melted cheese tortilla around your burrito. I would also advise that if you intend to build a jumbo burrito with double everything that you first survey the ethnicity and/or apparent experience of the 2nd to last person in the factory line. This person will be wrapping and in my experience, not to be racist, the ones with Spanish descent tend to wrap the best.
Just my 2 cents.
Edit: If you like their chips and want something delicious to dip in, try asking for sour cream and the "hot" sauce on the side. Mix them together in the little dishes they provide. Its quite delectable.
+1. These are some good thoughts. I don't know why, but I feel like I've eaten more when I finish a burrito as opposed to a bowl, even though I concede there likely isn't actually more food in the burrito. It's definitely all in my head, but I just can't help it.
Also, when they rip my burrito rolling it, they usually just wrap the mangled burrito in a second tortilla so I don't lose anything.
You're lucky if they just wrap it in a new burrito. I only had that happen once and thought it was awesome getting double tortilla. Since then, I just don't take the chance since it rips so easily.
To answer why you feel more full eating the burrito, I'm no food expert but I think tortilla has a similar filling effect as rice. So if they give you a lot of rice and tortilla, you're likely to feel more full and they can give you less of everything else. You won't notice because you'll feel just as full.
I find it strange that they're not more willing to double-tortilla your ripped burritos. When it happens to me, they actually prefer to add a second tortilla because it's way easier than having to transfer the contents to a new tortilla.
That could be a valid explanation for the fullness factor, but when I get a bowl, I also get two tortillas...I think it might just be a placebo effect? I dunno...
Qdoba double-wraps upon a tear without even asking. One of the many reasons (another being the amazing Queso) that Qdoba is the best
I seem to suffer from slight cases of some variation of Chaos Theory in that almost every little thing that could go wrong in my life, does go wrong in my life. This covers a wide range from getting stuck at every red light (especially when I'm in a hurry) to missing the best part of a movie because I really had to pee. While nothing is life altering, it is quite an annoyance. The key is learning to accept them. I also blame this effect for every close Hokie defeat. Sorry guys, I'll take the blame.
Burrito Bowl, half steak half carnitas, brown rice,pepper and onions, sour cream, lettuce, corn salsa, mild salsa, and cheese. Then I'll ask for a side of guac for my chips my wife just got... once i get to the end of the line and normally they just hand it to me after I have paid. << Works like a charm
See, when it comes to Chipotle, I figure you get more bang for your buck by getting the bowl rather than the burrito. Yes, you have to put aside your "OMFG what am I doing eating texmex with a fork, this might as well be a salad, turn in your mancard now" feelings and realize the following... With a burrito, there is a finite space they have to keep the size within, or else the tortilla won't close, and that is what I like to call an artificial cap. With the bowl, there is no artificial cap, and they can just keep piling on to your heart's content. You make out with MORE food when you get the bowl than you do when you get the burrito. More food means more meat, which means more manly.
Ergo, if you want to be a man at Chipotle, order the thing that doesn't involve shoving a meat filled tube in your mouth.
Good point. Y'all have changed my stance on the bowls. I probably will still get burritos, but I concede the stance I took in the OP was flawed.
I have only had the pleasure of eating Chipotle 3 times. The very first time I went with a friend of mine. He ordered the bowl. I looked at him like he was crazy. I watched as they piled on his topping and jammed mine into a finite tortilla. Admittedly it was more, but I still gave him shit for not getting a burrito. Then at the very end he showed me how it's done. He asked for a tortilla on the side. They just gave it to him for free. After we sat down he wrapped his own burrito and had enough for a small salad. I had a single burrito.
I don't know if this is common or if this is even allowed by most places. Seems like cheating to me, but it was phucking genius.
Dear Chipotle,
IMO add queso dip.
Sincerely.
everyone
Its my guess that queso dip is on their radar and they're waiting for demand to lower and sales to slow around the country in their restaurants. Then when the timing is perfect, they'll introduce it and bring people crawling back. Ever since they split from Mcdonald's, they've been perfectly selecting the most opportune locations for their restaurants to have the biggest impact on the masses.
then they can charge $8 for a tablespoon of queso like Moes.. No thank you
The Queso is the only real advantage Qdoba has over Chipotle.
Their stance is that since queso is processed, they will never offer it. I read it either on their website or there was a flyer at a chipotle I visited one time. I can't remember.
But it's just cheese, milk, flour, and tomatoes/peppers? I will never understand Chipotle...
I thought there stance was to source from local farms and ingredients providers, not organic. There's no way they could keep up with demand in those stores without some degree of processed food. Like with every major chain, I'm sure they are just selective about what and how they release their food origins.
You're right, their focus is on local, healthy food. Not so much the government definition of 'organic'. My guess about the queso is they might not trust the shelf life of tomatoes/cheese etc. combined. Something like that. All in all, I don't miss it at all. Chipotle puts a lot of emphasis on stripped down efficiency, and I'd imagine that queso is just one item that doesn't fit their criteria.
'Organic' is just another one of those buzz words we're hearing left and right nowadays in tandem with "going green". There are varying degress to what qualifies as organic to the point that it is becoming such a loose term. Grocery stores now have organic sections but I'd be willing to bet not everything in there came straight from Uncle Joe's farm.. Don't get me wrong, in the grand scheme of things, its better as a nation of obese people that we're finally starting to clean up our food industry to improve the health of our citizens. Or in the very least, you're conscientious about it and semi-motivated. Baby steps.
I laugh every time I see something labeled "organic." You're right - it's a total buzzword and has no unified definition or context. All food is organic; it contains carbon. Chemistry FTW.
Actually "organic" has had a legal definition now from the FDA.
If it says organic on the package it must meet this legal definition and have certifications and tracking.
http://usda-fda.com/organic-nutrition.htm
I think people are confusing "organic" with "natural" or "all-natural." Those are buzzwords that are thrown around that have started to lose their significance.
The federal definition of 'organic' is laughable. just as is the federal definition of 'free range' and so many other items. The food lobbyists got their claws in early on those. YouTube Joel Salatin some time for his thoughts on 'Free range' & 'Organic' if you want a chuckle. Really, to adhere to the federal definition of 'organic' you have to devolve from the real import of the mission. BTW, Salatin provides Chipotle a lot of pork for their operations in Virginia. That's another discussion of interest for those so inclined, but his story is the origin of my lesson on how true 'organic' rings for the feds.
I always thought Chipotle was way overrated. After living here in Scottsdale/Phoenix for 8 years, I can say that with 100% certainty.
You can get a better burrito for about $3.00 at literally 1000 places around town here. Or hit up a local Food City (our Latin cooking focused supermercados) and buy ingredients for about a dozen homemade burritos for the same cost.
I guess it is passable if its the only game in town, but I have been following their stock and just don't get it.
A thousand times, this. This is the sermon I was trying to avoid, but the fact that Chipotle is the best option many people have breaks my heart.
I love your ability to feel pain for all of those that can't get the real thing. Really not being a butthold, the emotion and drama of your response just made me laugh. Of course I agree. I got to experience the heaven that is Monica's Tacos in C Springs and old school Burritos Locos in Vegas (may she rest in peace) everything else is just second rate and I too share in the sadness for those that haven't been able to taste that level of burrito (especially of the breakfast variety) goodness. Seriously why isn't there a place in VA/MD that makes breakfast burritos? That is what breaks my heart the most.
I've started to get self-conscious about bringing this topic up because I know it's something that I talk about way too much and I know people get sick of hearing about it haha. A few weeks after I moved to Blacksburg, my roommate, clearly annoyed with my burrito talk, told me I was pretentious. He recently returned from a trip to Tuscon and one of the first things he told me was "Dude, you were right, we don't have Mexican food here."
You really can't overstate how integral it is to the culture in the Southwest. Honestly, moving from NM to VA may have been more of a culture shock for me than moving from VA to France, entirely because burritos. I've been coping by making my own breakfast burritos and adding a couple cans of Hatch green chili (which I order in bulk from Amazon).
Anyways, I'll try to make this my last burrito post, and leave you all with this: The smothered breakfast burrito plate from Sophia's in Socorro. I literally teared up when I google imaged it.
I'm not really sure whats going on in this picture, but I want it. All of it.
Don't you DARE apologize for burrito posts!
#TeamBurrito
Much like "Chinese Food" isn't really Chinese-style food, but an Americanized version, Chipotle is just an Americanized version of Mexican food. It is just a fast food option in most of the country. Most Mexican restauraunts offer much better food at about the same price, and usually pretty quickly, it just isn't fast food. Where you live, the real thing is everywhere, so there is no comparison. It is understandable that you would prefer the real thing to a pale imitation.
I'm from Philadelphia though. Chipotle was around while I was still out there. Just didn't think it was that great even then. I can remember taking numerous trips up to see friends at College Park, MD while still in Blacksburg and they were all raving about it then and I was like "ehhh" and I was usually fairly intoxicated on those trips.
Ironically there is a American "Chinese Food" restaurant here in Shanghai that is probably the best of its kind I have ever eaten anywhere in the world. Owned and operated by 2 Americans
Really? Mexican food is better in AZ?
Spent enough time in SoCal and my wife grew up in AZ to know the difference but I also know better than to expect good Mex food in SWVA.
It may not be good Mex but it's good food.
My first Chipotle experience was stopping by one outside of a mall. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great. I didn't realize it was supposed to be this experience following until people were raving about it and I said it was average at best. I think they just have a nice, trendy ambiance and a feel good atmosphere of you're helping the planet and local economy because we only use local farmers which is all the rage right now.
What you forget is the cuisine and the location. Chipotle brings 'Mexicanized' food to the whole country. While there's tons of places in the SW to get Mex food - huge surprise/sarcastica, it's like trying to find what we call good pork barbecue in the Northeast. Scottsdale AZ has Mex food everywhere, but do they serve shrimp & grits? It's all about regional cuisine.
Leg for referencing shrimp and grits.
I love it but to get my Mom (from Philly) to eat it, I have to call it shrimp and polenta.
Alton Brown did a whole episode on grits vs. polenta back in his 'Good Eats' days.
Yup, he's the guy that taught me how to cook a steak. Great show. If I can learn the science behind how things work, I can do anything.
From pantomime cow to teach where all the parts come from and why they are fatty and tender or lean, etc, to all the way to how the protein denatures and then recurls under various types of heat. All in one show.
Went from can't cook beef properly to buying a very expensive steak just to prove I could nwt master it's prep in 30 minutes.
EDIT: Saw that MyLane brought up the Quesarito. I will mention how awesome it is. It's amazing and absolutely worth it. Here's a picture:
I personally go vegetarian to save money and get the guac. I go:
Brown rice, black beans, fajita veggies, double hot red tomatillo, chili corn salsa, sour cream, double cheese, with guac. And destroy the thing with Smoked Tabasco.
So now Taco Bell is serving their version of this as an official meal item. They even call it the "Quesarito" i believe. I'm an avid fan of Taco Bell as my go to fast food option when traveling just given their prices and consistency so I gave this a try. Unfortunately, I was not as pleased as I thought I would be with Taco Bell's Quesarito.
Side note: I know you're all thinking "Taco Bell, really??" Honestly though, how can you beat those 'why pay more' prices? And as long as its in moderation, my body digestive system doesn't suffer to horridly.
Good points there, when I need to eat fast and not heavy on cash, Taco Bell can be a solid choice.
It's not good Mexican but it doesn't taste bad and stills the belly pains.
In my experience, you get more of everything if you go during peak hours of lunch or dinner. They're often too rushed to be careful with how much they're putting on. Be careful though, if you see someone who looks like a manager working the line to help out it may have the opposite effect where they are too careful as to not get reprimanded and no time to add more to attain the proper amount.
It typically it works in your favor though.
While I agree with this point, the price you pay is waiting in a ridiculously long line during peak hours and if your crew isn't efficient, you might be waiting longer than 15-20 minutes (which in my opinion, whats the point of fast food then?).
I stated this elsewhere in the thread, but ordering online is the way to go. You get to forgo the line and just walk right up to the register. The food will be ready by the time you get there. You can pay online to make it faster or choose to pay there. As a bonus you get to see the mixture of anger, jealousy, and confusion on the faces of the poor saps waiting in line as they try to comprehend your sorcery.
I love ordering ahead, but I definitely get more food when the server has to look me in the eye when piling it in.
When I go, I tend to shoot for the brief period between peak and non peak when the line is still pumping fast but is not at full length. This ensures a shorter than average wait time while still allowing me to order face to face. Ordering online is vastly overrated in my opinion. They could easily make a mistake and will most definitely skimp on the goods, not to mention you lose all the extras and doubles when you're not breathing over them. Not worth skipping a 5-10 minute line wait.
Does anyone else remember when Chipotle in the airports served breakfast burritos? Chorizo, eggs and potatoes (plus all the other fixins). My old roommate asked me to pick him up from the airport at 7am once and I told him he had to bring me a breakfast burrito.
They still do I believe... Dulles and National?
1. I loved this, petebuddywilson.
2. Chipotle's quantity and quality from two years ago to today would look like the line graph of the stock market leading up to The Great Depression. It's been trending down for quite some time. This wasn't a one-team deal, rather dissatisfaction that's festered from piss-poor service from multiple Chipotles around NOVA. Today was the last straw. How can they not properly cook rice? Rice is one of the burrito building blocks.
3. As Chipotle has tightened its belts ordering has become more of a science. My beans pro-tip is ask for black, then as they are about to slide the burrito down the line, chime in with, "and... pinto." It's unfortunate I'll never go to a Chipotle again, because asking for two kinds of meat is a great life hack. I always double down on cheese because like everything else they are frugal with the first pass. I always add corn for extra roughage.
Both when you eat it and when ...
I'm sorry to hear this about the NOVA Chipotles. That's truly unfortunate. My experiences are almost exclusively with the Chipotle in Blacksburg, and as of yesterday they're still bringing their A-game.
Springfield Va off Old Keene Mill Rd.
Worst. Chipotle. Ever.
Agreed. I went there in high school and swore off Chipotle for a year because I assumed all other Chipotles charged you $7 or whatever for four tiny pieces of chicken.
The one in Burke by Kohl's is sooo much better. I usually get loaded up on half and half meat and extra toppings, all for the same price. Plus Bryce Harper ate there once so like OMG it's such a cool location
I have only eaten there once and never again. I was rushed through the line when I had no idea
the hell I was doing. The meat reminded me of Taco Bell. The burrito fell apart within two bites.
The beans and rice were kinda dry and pasty. Not worth my time or money in my opinion.
I'm hungry now. I can def ID with you on the highest metab ever. Same here. Straight from mom. I tend to choose burrito (wife always wants the bowl). I'll go with white-on-rice (giggity), the spicy steak, hot sauce, cheddar, sour cream, corn & lettuce. I skip the fajita vegs because they just don't agree with my tastebuds as well as guac because I've always thought it looked like puke, so never could get around to it. Always choose the black beans but now am gonna try to sneak in that pinto that Joe suggested. After chow down, Lord-a-mighty, fire up a can-o-Lysol.
Don't want to start a war, but I never had any problems like that at Qdoba or Moes. I do actually like Chipotle burritos better, but tend towards Moes for chips and seating reasons.
war started. I mean, I love Qdoba. I'd put it up there with chipotle. Moe's though? Really? Admittedly my only experience is the one in Blacksburg and in airports, but I have never been in there once when I haven't wanted to gag on the wilted lettuce and dried out rice. My friends are constantly pushing for moe's based on price and free chips, but I'm seriously questioning how much I value these friendships...
Well, sorry for the war. I just prefer the entire experience of Moes over Chipotle. Put 1 burrito up against the other, then Chipotle wins, but most of the time I get nachos anyway. And they do have very good queso for a fast food Southwestern chain.
totally not serious about the war
5 brothers burgers and fries.
My first visit ever to a 5 Guys, I was starved, and all I knew was their burgers were supposed to be good and their fries better. So I wanted to order large fries, but saved myself the embarrassment by watching them fill the orders while I stood in line. For me, they have the same problem as Red Lobster - don't gorge on the cheese biscuits at RL, stay away from the fries at Five Guys. Until the burger is finished.
Yeah, the fries are great when you've got a crew with a hankerin'.
There's a 5 guys just down the road from the brewery. I bring my small cooler (got one perfect to fit 2 growlers) and order 2 large fries and bring them back in the cooler so they arrive still too hot to eat, to consume with the guys on Friday, at the end of a long week just as we open doors for customers.
Cold beer and the place smells like Fries!
Egbert, will you be in Blacksburg Saturday?
I'll be at The Cellar on Friday night for their pre Beer Fest thing and at the VT Beer Fest out near the Duck Pond Alumni BLDG Saturday.
Five Guys is the only thing in downtown State College that makes me willing to deal with the parking difficulties.
Easier in summer, though.
Another favorite of mine is ordering 3 sides of any kind of meat and guac in a bowl. This is what you get, and its $2 cheaper than a buritto bowl. If you need salsa after you have paid go to the side and ask for some more salsa and they'll bring it to you.
Dedication to his Chipotle. Got the pictures ready anytime. That deserves applause.
I got a half scoop of meat literally every time I've been dragged to Chipotle. So now, I attempt to veto going there to avoid being served a teaspoon of meat and over-flavored rice by some disgruntled high schooler.
And, by the way, asking for two types of meat hardly works. Most of the kids will look at you like you just shat on their sofa when you ask as they give you another teaspoon of meat. I knew there would be a backlash against Chipotle at some point because of this kind of stuff, and I'm glad, because maybe I won't have to go there anymore eventually.
Man. I guess I'm just blessed to live in the burg. After finding out I have celiac, Chipotle became one of two places I can eat downtown. They wipe down the whole line and get out un-sullied lettuce and cheese when I show up and don't give me crap about it. It's gotten to the point where the shift managers know me by name, even when I order online they treat me right.
I go with a bowl, extra white rice (with no wheat in my life, I need the blood sugar spike), extra fajita veggies, black and pinto beans, steak (but I might try two meats next time) and everything else that comes free (all salsas, cheese, sour cream, lettuce, cheese). Needless to say, by the end, my bowl overfloweth. I usually pay for overpriced salt with a little cornmeal mixed, too. I leave happy. I'm sorry you've had such a bad experience, joe. I blame NOVA. Everything is rushed up there.
The best way to go and get most bang for your buck (IMO) is as follows...
1) Burrito Bowl, you usually get more of eveything
2) Ask for two tortillas, its at no extra cost, like you all probably know
3) Ask for double meat, or explained above, get two kinds of meat. I see the advantage in cost if you ask for two meats but I love their steak and I always get double steak, just me though.
4) Whatever you put in your burrito bowl, just ask for double. Nothing cost extra when asked for double/extra except for double meat or if you like guac.
Even if you pay the extra $2 for double meat and/or guac, you are still getting enough substance in your bowl to have two big a$$ burritos basically for the price of one burrito bowl/much cheaper than buying two separate burritos. Great way to save money for you chipotle addicts like me out there. Go Hokies.
The Chipotles in Richmond have been alright, but I wish VT had the Qdoba when I was there. I'll take Qdoba to Chipotle every-time, unless given a good reason not to. Also liked Baja Fresh when it was in Richmond. Moe's has never impressed me too much, but we knew it was one of the cheapest places to drink in the Burg.
1) Cheese is the worst. What is wrong with you people? Meat is the best, why ruin it with a layer of spoiled rotten milk? What is next, cake on meat and veggies?
2) if you must eat Tex-Mex and you don't have the time or cash for Rio Grande, Baja Fresh is always superior to Chipotle.
3) if you have to eat Chipotle, the key is to get a bowl, eat the pork, and go brown rice, pinto and black beans, lettuce, tomato salsa, corn salsa. Walk out with a huge bowl and none of that nasty cheese, sour cream, and guac.
I don't get it, what's wrong with the cheeses?
french said something I don't agree with... I'm so confused right now...
Mmmmmm, burritos....
I always go barbacoa bowl, rice/beans/cheese/lettuce/salsa/corn/sour cream/guac. Then I get a side of chips, so no fork is necessary. More food that way, plus it's more like nachos than a salad.
As discussed on twitter as well today, go to Cafe Rio and get their barbacoa.
Related gif:
I see we've reached the point of the off-season where we have run out of things to talk about.
Yep. 66 days you guys!!!!
True, but discussing Chipotle is far better than baseball chatter...
False. Baseball is America's pastime.
For anyone going to the VT-UNC game in Chapel Hill this fall, Cosmic Cantina on Franklin St has awesome burritos.
Which you should go to after the game because you'll be too busy at the alumni tailgate beforehand (details still TBD)...
I have found that Moe's >> Chipotle. Better sides, better deals, and the chips and salsa are free.
by the same logic:
Natty lite>>sam adams
Kia>>Lexus
cake>>pie
Are you getting more for your money? Technically yes. Are you being overcharged for the higher quality product? Probably. But there's a certain level of quality below which you just don't descend just for cost. I mean, I'm really cheap. There's a 50 cent soda machine at work and I bring in cases of BigK to put in my mini-fridge. But if I want to stuff my face with delicious burrito fillings (RIP tortillas...) I want to leave fat and happy (chipotle), not queasy. I've been to Moe's maybe 6 times in the last year and haven't once felt the need to actually finish my food. I get half way through and decide I've eaten enough and the taste isn't worth the discomfort of being overfull. I'm not sure I've ever had that thought at Chipotle.
I will admit, I haven't sampled all of Moe's offerings, only the burrito bowl. So I may be missing some of the experience. But it's all the same fillings, right?
How did we get from HokieAlum saying Moe's food is better, there is free salsa, and better prices to Natty Light >> Sam Adams. I don't see the "logic" but it does seem like you wouldn't mind tracking down Moe and punching his face in.
Oh man the Wrong Doug. Gotta try it sometime. Kinda like a crunch wrap supreme but like a million times better.
Moe's was so much slower than Chipotle that is was painful. I had to repeat elements of the order several times because of the idiots saying Welcome to Moe's every 15 seconds. Their ingredients are subpar compared to Chipotle. Moe's is the essence of overpriced dog food. I also paid about 40% more at Moe's for the same type of meal at Chipotle.
We as a society deserve more access to better cuisine and it starts with avoiding places like Moe's.
Chipotle really has their act together. I understand the occasional issues always happen some where some time, but Chipotle does very well overall. It's just little things, like being able to watch your meal put together in front of you. It shows you the quality and also occupies your mind while you wait/sidle to the register. From the decor to the food prep to etc. they do have their act together. At the end of the day, it's just a (not so) cheap lunch, but it is nice that it is done well. It sounds like the NoVa spots could use some burnishing, but that stuff happens...
Great topic. I always go for the bowl, as the ROI is much better than with the burrito. Not to mention, as you'll see later, this is all about nullifying filler. So... bowl, barbacoa - (I hadn't considered the 'two halves of meat' option, so I'll add beef in the future), no rice, as it is only filler carbs. Mild sauce because of the chunkiness and restaurant sauce is never really 'hot' anyway. Corn, fajita veggies, lettuce, guac, no sour cream - it's duplication. Oh yeah - brown beans always because they do them well and almost nobody offers brown beans in a restaurant. Chipotle is the McD's of today/tomorrow - not in the food quality sense, but in the business model. It's here to stay and a rock solid investment model for those wanting to buy a stock they can relate to... It might not be 100% Mexican, but US pizza isn't 100% Italian, and there's still great food to be found - just not in the franchises. Like Tex-Mex, it's what we've adapted, and it sure beats the drive thru Chihuahua place. Fresh, locally sourced, they do a lot of things right. But... no tortillas or rice!
Here's another thing too.
The Chipolte here in Roanoke is pretty good but the food to me has always been a bit not quite what it could be.
The ice tea station has fresh lemons. I usually get mine to go, I mean I get free beer with lunch at work, right?
So, I grab a couple slices of lemon from the iced tea bar and squeeze them over my chow and serve with a chilly brew. Oh, and definitely, get the bowl and use chips to eat it.
All that food keeps the alcohol at bay and the citrus brightens the whole bowl of food. Man, you can fit 2 pounds of food in that bowl.
Good lunch on a good physical work day that lightens the need for a big dinner.
Seems this topic is 'trending'... http://news.yahoo.com/obamas-not-just-loose-hes-110949300.html TKP, stayin' relevant!
Think some of ya'll might be needing this...
This is the first thing I thought of when I opened this thread, and now that I've read the whole thing, I find this at the very end.
Thank you, VTimHokie85, thank you...
Sort of off topic, but the thing that annoys me the most is when people say "Chipole-tay." Dammit, learn to read! The "L" comes after the "T." It's Chipotle (pronounced Chi-pote-lay).
Like Calvary and Cavalry
You mean all those times of my youth spent in a Baptist church singing 'The Old Rugged Cross' were mispronounciated?
Not necessarily, Calvary is a place. It happens to be the hill where they were crucified.
Cavalry is the soldiers on horseback, jeep or helo delivered, depending on era.
Yep, I understood that already. I was just making a joke. Evidently one that bombed. Oh well, there's always next time. Or the time after...
I liked your joke.
Alan Jackson... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fa1afzmDL1Q
No, sometimes I can be a bit obtuse.
Like I said - no problems... A little new school version of an old school classic. Hope you enjoy... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIx6_Z5v88k
Bro you gotta learn how to put up gifs and vids properly (not a jab, an encouragement).
For anyone that may not know...
(This only applies if you're using an actual internet browser- not a phone app, etc.)
On the youtube page below the video there will be an option called "Share". This will show you a few options below that, one of which will be "embed." Click it, and then copy the text from the box below. Copying and pasting that text into most any forums, including ones like TKP, will create an embedded youtube video.
EDIT: for example this is the link you posted above
So the problem is only for people viewing via cellphone? Because on my laptop it works perfectly.Hmm, that is useful information that allows me to make more people happy... Now, if I can remember it, that is another question...
What Rocket is trying to say is how to embed. You can't embed using a phone, but you can using a PC. It makes it so that nobody has to click over to Youtube to watch the video you are trying to share. They can stay here in the confines of TKP.
We don't have a chipotle or a moe's here, but El Bano Casa is the next best thing. Coming soon to a city near you.
Does this translate as "The Bath House"? I am up for an adventure. Count me in.
What about California Tortilla and their endless wall of hot sauces? While the burritos' ingredients are pre-selected, they offer quite a larger selection and I was satisfied with the product. Don't know if they still have it but I used to get the buffalo chicken burrito!
They also include decent chips and queso as good as Moe's or salsa i think for a buck more?
Since they are essentially only in DC/Balt metro, that might be a hint why they've not been discussed yet. They look like they'd be a good option, but much more convoluted than Chipotle. That is something else about Chipotle that people typically overlook. They are stripped down, without lots of pre-configured options with catchy names. It's about as simple as you can get it. The same goes for Five Guys, and is a vastly underrated component of both corporations' success.
Well I can't disagree that business component is underrated, there is no denying the McDonald's empire was built around options and variations. And to this day, it is their fluidity of options and variations that keep people coming back. While 5 guys puts out a mean burger, I hear from people all the time that they're tired of it because its the same thing. So unless you're craving exactly that burger, there's no reason to go there.
You can specialize the 5 guy burger with lots of different stuff as well as hot dogs.
But if you want anything other than. Burger or dog and fries and drink, forget it.
Do 1 thing. Do it very well. Forget the distractions.
Somehow I enjoy Cookout better.
Exactly, streamline the process, which is what McDonalds did from the start. Special orders has never ever been McD's thing. Of course, it's about far more than menu options with McD's, but that is another thread some time. Chipotle refines that business model and makes it contemporary. As for Five Guys, your options are limited because logic tells you to go there for burgers (or dogs, occasionally) just like you go to Bojangles for chicken. Keep it simple, straightforward. Their huge growth trend proves it's working. Bit of trivia - the person who owns the most Five Guys franchises in the nation? Shaq. Yeah, that guy...
Chipotle here in wahooland seems to be doing ok, at least at the time of my last visit a couple of months ago. No complaints. I'd probably do Qdoba more if it were more convenient, but it's on the Corner, and going down there is a pain, plus you end up with slimy wahoo on your shoes.
At least the corner is slightly better during the summer. Slightly. I generally avoid that area, though.
that one store that sells all the hoo gear burns my eyes when I walk by
Pretty sure that's the store I went into about 3 yrs ago to buy my Hoo friend a hoodie
while wearing my VT hoodie and beanie.
One does not simply walk into wahooland.
Abuelos is good
If anyone lives in the Santa Barbara area you have to check out Freebird (which is coincidentally playing on Pandora... damn you weak mindness.. and fake words). Hands down the best "Chipotle-esque" establishment. Their chicken is the tits and every day durin certain times they have tri-tip which is amazing. You can get cilantro added which instantly elevates it above anything Chipotle could ever do.
Fun tid bit, I'm currently working on a site plan for a new Chipotle development in Howard County, MD. Our company's been designing them and Chik fil'as left and right.
Where in Howard County and how soon will it be built? The one closest to me literally always has a line to the door. Even at 9:50 pm.
The address for this new Chipotle is 9120 Baltimore National Pike, Ellicott City. Its replacing an old gas station at the intersection there. Its been quite the process but it should be approved in the next month with construction starting this fall is my guess. Construction usually takes a couple months.
I go with the steak or barbacoa burritto. Black beans. Everything, except guacamole since they charge alot extra for that.
I had El Rodeo for lunch today.
God I miss el rods....
I live within walking distance to the swanky El Rod's on South Main. Good times.
That place is within walking distance from my office. I have to resist going there everyday for lunch. $4.99 lunch fajita's on Friday.
Man, now I'm jealous.
As a native Californian, sometimes the ethnic food around here makes me sad. That said, I've had no complaints about the Chipotle in Blacksburg. The Qdoba on campus can go die in a hole. Who charges extra for fajita veggies?? Not to mention they criminally scrimp on the meat.
Well done, Petebuddywilson. I applaud your efforts to enhance the burrito-eating experience of your fellow TKPers.
Late to the party here. Never been to a Chipotle or a Qdoba, but if that Mexican place is still open in the mall, get the Burrito California and you'll never want another burrito again.