Post by hbomdiggity on May 27, 2015 15:34:34 GMT -5
Yes, many times.
We went often when living on the east coast. I will say that for the first five years of living in socal we never went, in favor of the authentic holeinthewall places. But there is one near my work so it's in the regular rotation now.
I will say that I think Chipotle and Qdoba are pretty equal. Qdoba has queso, but Chipotle has the sofritas now. My favorite fast-casual-vaguely-mexican chains are Sharkeys and Rubios, though. I'd say Wahoos and Baja Fresh are a step below that, followed by Poquito Mas. Unfortunately, I only have Baja Fresh around me now.
I thought Sharkeys was the same as Sharkeez. My apologies for the gigantic side eye I just gave you. LOL
ZOMG, I would side-eye myself for that! I don't think people eat food at Sharkeez, right?
I have actually only been there a handful of times, but I really like it. Maybe 10 times? Is that more than a handful?
The only one here in town isn't too convenient - you have to find parking since it's in a downtown area and there are tons of other options for takeout in my area where that's not an issue. Including a burrito place that is very similar. So I usually just go there.
I'm still trying to figure out how the one in my town is still in business. We have way better hole in the wall taco joints that are cheaper and have larger portions.
If you're still in SD, I'd wager that it's because Chipotle is much healthier than the holes in the wall. I went to Chipotle all the time when I lived there, not because I don't appreciate more authentic Mexican (I do) but because I am able to eat very healthily at Chipotle. MH on the other hand will eat unhealthily at Chipotle or a real Mexican place, so he prefers the real place.
Once you add cheese and sour cream its not really healthy if you are concerned about fat. My biggest issue with Chipotle is that they use a ton of filler. I want meat in my burrito not a ton of beans and rice (and cilantro rice is just nasty!) and for the love of all things holy do not put lettuce in a burrito!! NO NO NO NO NO!!
Our local hole in the wall place makes a chicken mole burrito and its amazing. Mexican rice (the red stuff), chunks of white meat chicken and mole sauce. YUM!
Does your DH get the quesadilla burrito at Chipotle?
I haven't been, but they order it for lunch at work every now and again (like once or twice a year). I don't have strong feelings either way about the food.
Until this past Christmas, I could say I have never had it but my brother brought some over. I would have never been there if I wasn't doing some training away from work a few weeks ago and that was the easiest thing to get.
I like the food but we don't eat out much and I don't like to get things that I can make home.
Post by polarbearfans on May 27, 2015 17:35:11 GMT -5
Yes, been to chipotle tons. It was the place to go in college (it was new). Now, it is the only fast food place I can get a filling gluten free meal. Whether it is good or not is dependent on the time of day and staff. You don't want old food. It has to be fresh. So off peak times are not desirable. It is worth the wait to get a fresh batch of meat and rice.
I usually get a bowl with the freshest meal, various toppings, and a bag of chips to dip into my bowl.
Post by hurricanedrunk on May 27, 2015 18:03:20 GMT -5
I've been a bunch of times when I lived in my old town. It was very close to work and I loved it. Haven't been in a long time, it's in a very out of the way place in my new town.
Post by pantsparty on May 27, 2015 18:08:43 GMT -5
At least ever other week. It's in our main shopping plaza, and my H and I work from home.
LOL to all the people who are, "I have better options for Mexicaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan." Well, duh. I go to Chipotle because I want Chipotle. Just like how even though I live in the land of delicious, delicious In-N-Out, I still go to McDonald's because I want McDonald's.
LOL to all the people who are, "I have better options for Mexicaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan." Well, duh. I go to Chipotle because I want Chipotle. Just like how even though I live in the land of delicious, delicious In-N-Out, I still go to McDonald's because I want McDonald's.
I was a grad student in Denver when people told me about this new place across town that had amazing Mexican food. It was the original Chipotle. We'd make a run maybe once a month.
Then they expanded and opened up shop directly across the street from my campus I ate there at least once a week. As a starving grad student, I could make a burrito last a couple of meals at least.
Since they went national I haven't stepped foot in one in years. In part because DH hates Mexican food, in part because it's been a decade+ since I've lived near one.
Haha, I'm not sure which of these I find more wrong!
I went to Chipotle once in college and wasn't sure what the fuss was about in LA where it's not exactly hard to find a burrito. Haven't been back during my US visits since then. I would like to go again mostly because I'm curious about why all these years later people are still so excited about it and feel like maybe my first visit did not give the full Chipotle experience.
Yes, and I started going 10ish years ago, when they were still few and far between and kind of a novelty. In fact, a friend was visiting LA from NY and wanted to go because he knew we had locations.
I love condiments, and I love build-your-own concepts.
Ha, this is why I like it (and other similar chains, which I actually prefer because they have more toppings). I couldn't really care less about the "main" filling, my burrito is more veggies, salsas, and guacamole than anything else.
I don't know that anyone I my world IRL doesn't love it much less never been. It's so easy to eat relatively healthy and I like that I can order online and H picks it up on his way home.
Post by thedutchgirl on May 27, 2015 19:03:21 GMT -5
I love Chipotle, for what it is. Chipotle. It isn't a substitute for Mexican food. We have it more than once a week. I should put that embarrassed face in here, but I'm not really ashamed.
Post by mainelyfoolish on May 27, 2015 19:40:19 GMT -5
I like Chipotle but my closest one is 30 minutes away, so I don't eat there too frequently. It's one of the few fast food places I can take my super-picky DD to eat where she eats more than just chips or fries; at Chipotle she'll eat chips and a side of cheese.
I go quite a bit. They definitely don't have the best Mexican food around, but they are all over the place around here. Most have a parking lot too which is a big plus as most of the local places do not. Also, I like that they try to use organic, humanely raised meat, etc.