First and foremost I would just like to apologize to anyone reading this who might find my opinions offensive. Yes, I realize that Cilantro is a local restaurant and is a favorite of the majority of the Wheeling population, but please, don't hate! Also, I was not sponsored by Chipotle to say any of this. I am just a Chipotle addict and dedicated fan.
Anyways, the war between whether Chipotle or Cilantro is the better burrito-making restaurant is an ongoing argument. Sure each side has its pros and cons. Like I mentioned earlier, Cilantro is a local restaurant. Chipotle can be an inconvenient drive for those of us living in Wheeling, but because it is a chain you can always count on finding it wherever you travel. Cilantro has top-notch steak, but for vegetarians like me, the meat literally doesn't make a difference. In fact, Chipotle has a lot more options for vegetarians. Chew on this:
CHIPOTLE HAS BETTER GUAC
As a matter of fact, Cilantro doesn't even have guacamole! They just have guasacaca A.K.A. knock-off guac. Chipotle's guacamole is amazing and incomparable to any other because it is made fresh in the kitchen every morning. All it takes is six natural ingredients and a whole lotta love. Here's the recipe if you want a "batch made in heaven" in your home. http://chipotle.com/guac-recipe
Pro Tip: The guacamole is FREE if you order a veggie bowl without sofritas.
CHIPOTLE HAS SOFRITAS
This one's for the vegans, vegetarians, people looking to be healthy, and even those trying to save money. Sofritas are blocks organic tofu chopped into pieces, a perfect alternative to meat and a great source of protein. This choice can save you money because it is included in the veggie bowl (unless you get guac) which is a low price of $6.50 versus a $7.50 steak burrito.
CHEESE, QUESO, SOUR CREAM, FRIED EGG AND GUASACACA ARE EXTRA AT CILANTRO
How could they?! These ingredients should just be considered simple toppers but instead they are delicacies? Are you for real right now, Cilantro? The fact that guasacaca is extra is understandable considering the high price of avocados and their short shelf life, but seriously, shredded cheese?
COUPONS!!
Chipotle has special offers and coupons every once in a while. I signed up for their text messages and I've so far gotten three free burritos, a free IZEE drink, and free chips and guac. During Halloween, they had a special $3 boo-rito deal. But this was only if you dressed up in a costume, and of course I dressed up as a Chipotle burrito! (My friend was an avocado.)
CULTIVATING THOUGHT
Each bag and cup produced by Chipotle tells a story. People can enter contests to get their story published onto Chipotle's products; they can be about perspectives on life or comical stories. Either way, they engage the consumer and force them to take a couple minutes out of their day to stop and think. Food for thought.
Have I convinced you yet? Chipotle is an amazing chain restaurant with outstanding service. Every time I go, its staff has gone above and beyond for me. On Halloween, the manager acknowledged my spirit and love for Chipotle and presented me with my very own Chipotle shirt and two free burrito meal cards. While taking these pictures a few days ago, an employee noticed that I didn't look as much of a Chipotlaholic as I could have so he gave me a new Chipotle baseball cap, free of charge. It's instances like these (and the food, of course) that make me want to go back and order a burrito bowl. So, sure Cilantro has a big fancy touch screen soda machine, but the atmosphere in Chipotle is something even Cilantro can't provide.
Life is burritoful.
