Fellow Americans, it is time for this debate to be settled, because quite frankly there is no debate. Chipotle Mexican Grill is overrated, unsatisfactory, and inferior to Qdoba Mexican Eats. I, for one, am tired of this blasphemy in which Chipotle is referred to as 'the better cuisine' because it's plain and simple is not.
Before continuing I would like to point out that a large amount of Qdoba locations are concentrated in the Midwest, the majority of these states have anywhere from 20-68 locations, according to Qdoba's own website. This means that people living in states with a scarcity of Dobas will have an unfair bias towards the Mexican Eats and therefore should refrain from judging to give Qdoba an equal chance.
First and foremost, we need to address Chipotle vs Qdoba's national outbreaks. According to Business Inside, Chipotle has had several outbreaks, with three huge ones happening between 2015-2017. In the spirit of trying to remain unbiased, Qdoba has had one outbreak too: but only in Denver, CO and never to the extreme that Chipotle endured. Chipolte time and time again has tried to regain their once loyal customers with promotions and promises of free food, but they are still trying to regain the following they once had.
In hopes of finally matching Qdoba's level of food awesomeness, Chipotle released their queso in the last several months, perhaps one of the main reasons that separate Qdoba and Chipotle. In one word, Chipotle's queso is trash. I mean we're talking worse than the Tostitos in a jar processed goo that you pick up before the Super Bowl trash.
What makes this even funnier, is that even though it tastes worse than the processed goo it is a "Genuine queso... preservative free, without added colors or flavors and made with all-real, all-delicious ingredients." But if it is made with the best of the best fresh ingredients, why does it taste so bad? Chipotle tries to argue that their fresh ingredients makes their grainy, sometimes chunky, trash delicious, but I'll be the first to tell you people aren't eating queso for the nutritional value.
Still on team Chipotle? Here's Qdoba's best-kept secret: the kids' menu. YOU CAN LITERALLY GET A FILLING MEAL FOR $4.64 AT QDOBA WITH A SIDE OF CHIPS AND A DRINK. Let that one sink in for a minute. Perfect for date night, or really milking that gift card you have sitting in your wallet.
Qdoba has a larger menu with more variations of meals and better-tasting ingredients. Let's not forget also: Qdoba has free guacamole. All of the Chipotle advocates who are willing to pay extra for guac and argue that Chipotle is cheaper forget this key detail, Qdoba has no-additional-cost queso AND guac, a game changer for sure. Why pay $2.30 for a dip you can get for free somewhere else?
Chipotle needs to stop being praised, they just aren't worth the amount of recognition they receive. Yes, Mexican food is fantastic either way, but there is clearly a superior power in the Tex-Mex food industry and Qdoba needs to start getting the acknowledgment that they rightfully deserve.
