<p>Chipotle secrets.</p>
<ol>
<li>Double meat is only 1.50</li>
<li>They will make quesadillas
3 . You can order an individual taco for $2.25 and its always huge</li>
<li>Crispy tacos are really good</li>
</ol>
<p>I think Chipotle is okay and we get something from there every now and then (maybe once every couple or three months if it’s on the way at the right time). It’s quick, the food’s decent, and it’s not expensive (where’s that coming from?). Taco Bell isn’t considered Mexican food out here and I don’t think it’s in the same league as Chipotle and certainly not in the league of a more authentic Mexican place. I’ve seen the name of Qboda somewhere but haven’t eaten at one. </p>
<p>There’s another fairly local chain (started in San Diego but now branching to some adjacent states I think) called ‘Rubio’s’ that I like better. They call themselves the home of the fish taco and they have some good ones. My kids really like another local chain called ‘Roberto’s’. </p>
<p>There are tons of mom and pop as well as more upscale non-chain Mexican places here so our choices aren’t limited to chains and we’ll generally go to one of these if we go out to a restaurant or do take-out from a small mom&pop place or sometimes Rubio’s or every now and then Chipotle - never Taco Bell.</p>
<p>I would never go to a Taco Bell. I think their stuff–I would hardly call it food–is revolting. </p>
<p>I have a problem these days in that I cannot eat rice or tacos or taco chips or bread, so the typical burrito place that doesn’t offer any low carb options is out. (Pet peeve: if they would just offer a low carb wrap combined with a filling without rice, us T2s could eat there, fer chrissakes! If McDonalds can do it at Fresh City, you would think that a real burrito place could stock a low carb wrap!!) </p>
<p>Anyway, the one time I ate a Chipotle, I could get a variety of tasty toppings made of real food ingredients on a base of mixed green salad. Fast food bliss! I would definitely go again.</p>
<p>I like Chipotle and Qdoba and while similar there is some taste difference. The food is fresh and taste is 100% better than Taco Bell. Usually order the burrito bowl with chicken. I think the rice makes a big difference. Also like both kinds of beans when I want to change the taste. I’ve even made my own burritos at home like those. The rice at Taco Bell and others like that tasted canned. My kids eat at Chipotle, Qdoba, and Freebirds several times a month and sometimes several days in a row.</p>
<p>As far as fast food, Taco Bueno beats Taco Bell hands down. Their sauce and beans taste better. But… nothing beats true Mexican food or Tex-Mex.</p>
<p>Also worth mentioning is that my S’s feel satisfied after eating there unlike some places where they could actually eat two meals to feel satisfied. It would be wonderful to have a teenaged boys metabolism. Of course from what I’ve heard about Freebirds there are jumbo sized burritos for the really hungry guys.</p>
<p>I don’t think of it as “Mexican” food; nothing like the amazing carne asada burritos from the Robertos stands dotted around San Diego.</p>
<p>But…I like that I can get decent tasting chicken, with the specifics I want added to the bowl item by item. I love Qdoba’s online nutrition calculator that you can use to “tune” your meal to whatever you’re trying to do. It’s fast. It’s clean. Not Mexican, but as fast food goes it is pretty tasty and can be very healthy depending on the choices you make.</p>
<p>I like Chipotle a lot. I wish it wasn’t quite as successful as it is, because the lines the one closest to us are always very long, even at 8:00 at night – irritating!</p>
<p>I can throw a rock from my office and just about hit a chipotle. Never been and never seen the hint of a line. I don’t think Texans are their target demo. ;)</p>
<p>The two things my son wants when he comes home from his east coast school for breaks…In n Out and Chipotle. He says the east coast Chipotle’s aren’t as good…but I think it’s just him missing the CA sunshine alongside his carnita burrito with guacamole and lots of salsa.</p>
<p>For those who compare Taco Bell to Chipotle…What Taco Bell have YOU been going to? The one up the road from us, and quite frankly most that we’ve ever been to, have not lived up to our very meager expectations. I think the average number of cheese strands on a crispy taco has got to be in the ballpark of, oh, 7 or 8! Chipotle throws in handfulls of cheese, meat and whatever else you want. But, you do get what you pay for, I guess. When feeding a car full of hungry teens, Taco Bell does it on the cheap.</p>
<p>I prefer La Salsa.
Give me a Chile-lime salad or a Veracruz burrito!</p>
<p>I’ve eaten at Chipotle once. I think the appeal for me is that I get to choose no-carb version.</p>
<p>I live in NYC. By Manhattan standards, Chipotle is very reasonably priced. It’s extremely efficient. Even with a long line, you usually can get out quite quickly. A lot of my offspring’s friends are vegetarians and both meat eaters and vegetarians can find good selections there. The food is fresh–it hasn’t been out sitting under hot lights for hours like food at some of the similarly priced restaurants. </p>
<p>Plus, Chipotle does treat its workers decently. It has a much lower turnover rate than most fast food restaurants as a result. I’ve never really gotten the attraction of Starbucks either, but I like it because it pays its workers a decent wage and benefits. </p>
<p>Taco Bell tastes like cardboard. To me at least, Chipotle doesn’t. It isn’t haute cuisine, but it’s a lot better than most fast food places.</p>
<p>Never been in one. We have so many really good taco trucks in this town (plus a few restaurants) that I doubt they are going to open any near us any time soon.</p>
<p>Chipotle is certainly not gourmet, but comparing it to Taco Bell is very strange. Taco Bell is recognized as total crap even by the people who love it. Chipotle is actual food, not “food” like Taco Bell.</p>
<p>Chipotle uses free range chicken, fresh vegatables, and tries to be organic whenever possible. How is it even remotely being compared to taco bell? No other place, including Panera bread, does this.</p>
<p>
Is this near you (assuming you’re not talking about India since I doubt they have a lot of taco trucks there)?</p>
<p>Chipotle
625 Black Lake Blvd, Suite J-22
Olympia, WA</p>
<p>(Plus a bunch of others in NW Washington)</p>
<p>The main difference between Taco Bell and Chipotle:</p>
<p>Chipotle is actual food
Taco Bell is Food-ish</p>
<p>I hope this isn’t incriminating but I’ve had Chipotle’ here in the Orlando area 4 times now and every time ended up with a case if the shi$%. </p>
<p>Yet, I LOVE the taste. I am a “gluten” for punishment so I am going to keep trying, as I’d like to cut some carbs and they do make it easy with that Burrito Bowl. I think next time maybe I’ll go with very light sour cream or none at all and see if that helps. It can’t be the meat causing it. I love the hot salsa too. </p>
<p>For you SoCals, I was back in San Diego about a week or two ago and had to go Encinitas, to get a “California Burrito” at Rico’s Taco shop (twice actually). Definitely not for the purists when it comes to Mexican food. </p>
<p>I also am looking at ways of getting more free range meat into my diet, and is that an absolute fact that Chipotle uses free range beef?</p>
<p>“(Plus a bunch of others in NW Washington)”</p>
<p>Shows you how much I know about restaurants in the area. They won’t last long, though (that shopping center is emptying out - it had Linen and Things, Bed, Bath, and Etc., and Borders.)</p>
<p>Lots of authentic Mexican where I live and work. Yet, I like Chipotle, especially their fajita burrito. Fresh grilled veggies, generous portions. Actually the portions are too big.</p>