Chipotle Review

This week I will be reviewing Chipotle Mexican Grill, a well known chain of Mexican restaurants that are especially popular in the Midwest. I have been eating Chipotle my whole life, and I proudly say that I feel that if anyone is qualified to be writing a review of Chipotle, it would be me. As a general statement, I don’t even like Mexican food, and Chipotle has still managed to become my favorite restaurant.

Let me begin this review by saying one thing: this will not be an unbiased review. In my mind, Chipotle is the best restaurant in the world. I’m sure many people would laugh at this bold statement, but I will not shy away from it. There is nothing better than eating at Chipotle, at any time of the day, and at any time of year. That’s part of the beauty of it. It is not somewhere that is immensely popular in one time of the year and subsequently fades into irrelevance as the seasons change.

I must admit one thing before I continue with this review: In the dozens, perhaps hundreds of times I have eaten at Chipotle, I have ordered exactly one meal, a pork burrito with rice, lettuce, tomato, cheese, and mild salsa. It is by far my favorite meal. While I am not particularly proud of this fact, I have not only eaten this burrito for lunch or for dinner, I have even eaten it for breakfast. Another fact I am not particularly proud of is that I have eaten so many of these burritos at several restaurants throughout Chicago that I have decided that certain restaurants make it better. There are several Chipotles within twenty minutes of my house, and even one that is only five minutes away. However, I have eaten this pork burrito so many times that I have subconsciously decided that one restaurant makes a far superior burrito of the half a dozen that are reasonably close to my house. Because of this, whenever I am at home and decide that I want Chipotle, I drive out of my way to a Chipotle that is twenty minutes away rather than one that is five minutes away because I’ve come to believe the farther restaurant makes a better burrito.

When you walk into any Chipotle, you will be greeted by friendly employees and customers. All Chipotles are decorated very similarly, with an interesting blend of southwest and modern architecture and interior design. As you wait in line to order your food, a giant, overly simplistic menu faces you. There are generally three options: tacos, salads, burritos, and burrito bowls, each of which can come with chicken, pork, or steak. Each of these options has a “build your own” component to them. You have your choice of meat, along with your choice of spiciness in your salsa, and various toppings to choose from. My honest, biased opinion is that if someone does not like Chipotle it may be their own fault. Also, given the high quality of the food, the prices are also very reasonable. It is tough to go into a Chipotle and spend more than ten dollars, which is very refreshing given the recent surge in fast food prices in the United States. Overall, Chipotle provides a quality dining experience, as is evident by its rapid growth in the last decade. It has truly become a national brand, with restaurants from coast to coast. I foresee only good things in its future, and I look forward to continuing to eat there with way too much frequency.