I’m curious as to when was the last time you went and had the hot salsa. There was a recent article in the Journal about how much hotter the salsa has gotten. I picked up a bowl a few weeks back and had them top it with the hot salsa. Yowza. I can take hot food. Tobacco is mild to my tastes. This packed some serious heat. If you think that’s bland then you must eat habaneros like cherries.
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It has probably been 6 months or more. I wouldn’t say I’m a huge chili head, but I have a reasonable heat tolerance. Tabasco registers as spicy for me but certainly not overwhelmingly so. In fact, I usually add Tabasco at Chipotle because their salsas are not only not hot enough, they really don’t have much flavor at all. No salt, no tang, not much heat - just blah. I’ll watch out for the increased hotness factor next time I go, though.
The red salsa is hot to me, too. I ask them to put half a ladle on my bowls intead of the full amount.
I like a mix of the “spicy” red with the pico di gallo. To me, neither too hot nor too bland.
FWIW, I have not had their burrito, and probably no other burritos since I first tried one. I think for me, a burrito would mute a lot of the flavor and textures of the individual ingredients.
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Years ago I used to frequent a FF Mexican fushion restaurant. I brought my own low carb ww tortillas which they would keep there. I would have them make me a burrito bowl (no ‘protein’) piled high with veggies and such and they would steam my tortilla for me. I would sit down and create my own wrapped burrito and then have a bit to polish off from my bowl. Those were the days, but no more. I make my own now and am happy with the results. This wasn’t Chipolte, it was Qdoba.
Well, there is that…
On one of our cross-country trips, we wanted to eat lunch after seeing the Hoover Library in The Middle of Nowhere, Iowa. There were no restaurants other than a McDonald’s at the Interstate. We thought, “Well, we’ll get some cheese and fruit at the general store.” The only cheese they had was sliced American cheese. I don’t recall if they had any fresh fruit.
We ate at McDonald’s–the only time on the month-long trip we ate at a fast-food chain.
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I agree on asking for both red and pico. The food seems to be pretty well seasoned, but the flavor of most of it other than the toppings is all pretty similar and lack spice. It seems you really need to assert yourself along the way, especially with the toppings. A few actual Mexican restaurants around here have salsa bars. I wish Chipotle did, too.
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Nope. I’ve had it and would eat in a pinch but I can and do make much better beans, rice, salsa, guac, burritos, bowls, etc. at home. There are much better local restos and small chains in my area that I prefer to patronize. That said, I did stop at McD’s for breakfast on a recent road trip down south. That really hit the spot.
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No chain snobbery here on my part. I’ve eaten at many, many chains over the years, and love some of them. I was just recounting my last abysmal meal/experience at Chipotle honestly. Maybe it was a poorly managed store, or perhaps a one off? In any case I can find food I like much better elsewhere.
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Founder was quite the jerk in the early 2000’s, big he-man big game killer, flaunted it. But he sold the company off years ago to some VC group, and AFAIK, is no longer a presence in the company.
I’ve found their sandwiches pretty good in some locations in the Midwest, pretty average (if barely that) down here in the SE US. I’m not sure how formulaic/franchise places can differ so much, but they do seem to.
To OP’s question - I’m sure I’ve probably eaten at least once in a Chipotle like when some work lunch buddy wanted it, but don’t recall it (sorry).
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I live 60 miles from the Mexican border. There are lots of really wonderful locally owned Sonoran Mexican restaurants here, from takeout places to sitdowns and everything in between. I see no reason to patronize Chipotle, unless somebody at work volunteers a megadelivery, and then I’ll get a bowl because it’s a half mile up the street , but it isn’t like what I look for in actual Mexican food
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No one goes to Chipotle for Mexican food. At least no one should.
Chipotle serves a genre of food all unto itself. It’s what I like to call Mexicanized American food (as opposed to American Mexican)
Just like if someone were to patronize Panda Express for Chinese food they would be doing both themselves and the restaurant a major disservice. Because Panda is not Chinese
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I think I was taken to Panera once. Other than that, same for me. Never been to any of them. But I’ve been to many local good, inexpensive eateries
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I agree and avoid the place like the plague, but your comment reminded me of a surprising YT video I saw a few years back (found it - it’s only about 4 minutes).
Some of the older gen found quite a few of the dishes pretty good but most of the kids thought the stuff was bad.
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Fogo, Texas de Brazil (basically same guy) and Ruth’s Chris if I’m not picking up the tab, and the occasional Mellow Mushroom or Pappadeaux (or any of the Pappas brothers chains) even if I am.
Cici’s on occasion for families with several small children, just because they could eat for free. About $12 fed my family of 6 when we were traveling and there was one en route.
The Cheesecake Factory is a good place to go if everyone can’t agree on the type of food they want. There’s a huge menu, which is overwhelming to me, but just about anyone could find something acceptable. The food is quite good, far beyond most chain offerings, and their extensive cheesecake offerings are impressive, and delicious. Huge portions for taking leftovers home, and not bad prices. I haven’t been for probably 15 years though, so I don’t know if that’s still the case. Have only had drinks and apps at Ruth’s Chris, but would be willing to try them at some point.
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Chipotles were always a staple in the fridge as a youth. My Dad spent his youth in Mex city
I like to do a thing with canned chipotle and blend with a block of guava paste. It’s so good! It’s one of those things you think will go good and in this case go very well
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That is an excellent idea, and I have a large can of guava paste in the pantry! You do know this topic is about Chipotle, the chain restaurant, right? Any thoughts on them?
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I’ve never been to the big C, but our one was on the end of our power mall down from TJ’s.
They’ve already built a new freestanding building with drive thru on the other side of the street.
Next to Chick-fil-A.
So, even though we’ve got plenty of taqueria fare, they seem to be thriving here in southern Oregon.
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