Yeah, Chipotle is interesting from a scale perspective. The ingredients are really good, the price is reasonable...
However, I've noticed some Chipotle's are better than others. There is a degree of variability depending on the local staff, more so than you'd find with a McDonald's. I have a handful around where I live and there's one that just isn't right.
Chipotle is a national chain that is highly-profitable. Consider it the Starbucks of Mexican food. Not as good as the "local" place, but consistently okay everywhere you go.
Lol, Chipotle is popular with me because you get good quality food that’s healthy enough to touch most areas of the food pyramid all in one meal. Also a filling amount of food at a fair price.
Anecdotally, I used to love Chipotle, but I won't eat there anymore after having several bad experiences with bland food and undercooked rice at multiple locations.
I honestly don't get Chipotle. The food there is bland and tasteless to me -- not even Taco Bell quality, much less what you'd get in a good Mexican or Tex-Mex restaurant.
Maybe it's a local artifact. Quite a few other chains in this area seem to be afraid of using any actual spices in their food.
Why isn't it great food? People line up to get rice, veggies, and beans, onion, and chicken in a tortilla at Chipotle, but if you combine those ingredients at home you are 'subsistence eating'?
chipotle is possibly the only fast food / fast casual that feels somewhat healthy. Real, whole food. Minimal fried options. Decent value. I wish more players occupied that niche.
The quality over the last 3 years has been abismal though regardless of which location I go to. The food prep stations are always a mess by the end of day - verging on health hazard. The meat seems to have gone down in quality too. Every time I’ve eaten there in the last 2 years I’ve thought to myself “god chipotle sucks now I’ll never eat here again”
But every other month or so I’m by a chipotle, trying not to eat complete garbage, in a time crunch, and trying not to spend $17 on processed food and chipotle is there waiting to disappoint me. Again.
If you like Chipotle, you should find a Pancheros. Pancheros is very similar to Chipotle, but it has much better tortillas, and that makes a huge difference.
Also, eve if people do pig out, Chipotle has better options for people trying to keep within a calorie budget. A salad bowl with meat, salsa, and guac is really filling and under 500 calories.
However, I've noticed some Chipotle's are better than others. There is a degree of variability depending on the local staff, more so than you'd find with a McDonald's. I have a handful around where I live and there's one that just isn't right.
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