Chipotle is struggling as it searches for a new CEO, but it doesn't matter because its biggest rival is way better - here's why
Qdoba is a national chain with over 700 locations — a far cry from Chipotle's 2200-plus restaurants, but nothing to sniff at. It's the same idea as Chipotle: fast-casual assembly line with burritos, burrito bowls, tacos, and the like. Qdoba also has taco salads, quesadillas, and soups, though — a key difference.
I decided to get a simple chicken burrito to compare to my recent Chipotle burrito review. Nothing fancy, and almost exactly the same ingredients: chicken, cilantro rice, black beans, pico de gallo, salsa verde, guac, queso, cheese, and lettuce.
But before even tasting the burrito, I noted that Qdoba already has a huge advantage over Chipotle: the guac and queso are free add-ons. That's right, free. Chipotle's guac can cost over $2 as an add-on, and so does the queso. Tacking nearly $4 on to your burrito, just for some delicious cheese and cool, refreshing guacamole? That's heinous.
So, Qdoba already has that going for it. The burrito is solidly wrapped, and I notice that there are no tears or sogginess, unlike Chipotle's.
There are no salsa juices seeping through, making it easy to keep in the foil without errant and unexpected drips.
It feels only a little bit smaller than Chipotle's standard burrito, which seems like a more manageable meal. It may just be my personal preference, but Chipotle's burritos are way too hefty.
There are six proteins to choose from for a base: two types of chicken, pulled pork, steak, brisket, and veggies. Of the two chicken choices, I opted for the tequila lime seasoning over the grilled adobo — it adds a clean, bright citrus flavor to the burrito. The chicken is juicy and extremely flavorful.
Plus, the cilantro rice brings further brightness to the taste. The ratios are spot-on, with beans, rice, chicken, and add-ins all evenly spaced and properly placed. The tortilla manages to stay firmly wrapped and avoids sogginess, and while my quip with Chipotle's burrito construction lies with the ingredients I chose — queso, guac, a more watery salsa verde — the same ingredients were chosen here, with much cleaner results.
And the queso — oh, the queso. As I'll explain later, it's miles beyond Chipotle's attempt. It's perfect in a burrito without being overwhelmingly rich. When added to Chipotle's burrito, queso weighs down the flavors; in Qdoba's, it elevates and complements them.
And the guac is on par with Chipotle's, easily. I'm not sure it outshines, but considering it's a free add-on to the burrito at Qdoba, that makes it the clear winner. Saving money tastes just as good as guacamole.
On a taste note, however, I really appreciate the red onion that Qdoba adds. It brings a bit of a bite to the smooth avocado, as well as some textural contrast.
Then there's the queso. Delicious, perfect queso. Chipotle's first iteration was... well, ghastly. The chain's second attempt is a marked improvement; however, it can't hold a candle to Qdoba's.
This queso is rich, velvety, and smooth. It smells exactly as it should: a strange, yet overwhelmingly alluring, liquid cheese aroma filled with spices and savory deliciousness.
There are two kinds of queso at Qdoba (Need I even go on at this point? Qdoba is clearly better): Three Cheese and "Queso Diablo." The three-cheese queso has a savory smokiness to it, and while it does pack a little punch, it's more of a flavorful spice than a fiery heat.
Chipotle's main obstacle with finding the perfect queso was of its own doing: the confines of purely organic ingredients are tight. Meanwhile, do we know that everything that's in Qdoba's queso is organic? No. Do we care? I sure don't — not if it means having access to such perfect queso.
In my opinion, Chipotle cannot possibly be as good as Qdoba. There are too many factors in which Qdoba has the upper hand: better pricing, better queso, and a more interesting menu.
So while Chipotle continues to hobble along, I can only hope Qdoba manages to take the lead. Keep trying on that queso though, Chipotle, and maybe you'll get it some day.
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