This restaurant sets itself apart from traditional fast food establishments by providing authentic Mexican meals made with naturally grown produce and naturally reared meat. Furthermore, all the ingredients are prepared fresh, either on-site or in one of their central kitchens. Chipotle’s slogan is “Food with Integrity”, they understand the connection between how food is raised and prepared with how it tastes, and that’s what they provide.
The company has dedicated itself to creating superior Mexican cuisine that’s good to eat and good for the environment. Through the entire organization, from produce to the plate, the company has strict regulations to ensure they only deliver the safest, freshest, highest quality meals.
| FOOD | SIZE | PRICE |
|---|---|---|
Burrito, Bowl, Tacos & Salad | ||
| Burrito (Chicken) | $6.50 | |
| Burrito (Steak) | $7.50 | |
| Burrito (Carnitas) | $6.95 | |
| Burrito (Barbacoa) | $7.50 | |
| Burrito (Sofritas) | $6.50 | |
| Burrito (Vegetarian) | $6.50 | |
| Bowl (Chicken) | $6.50 | |
| Bowl (Steak) | $7.50 | |
| Bowl (Carnitas) | $6.95 | |
| Bowl (Barbacoa) | $7.50 | |
| Bowl (Sofritas) | $6.50 | |
| Bowl (Vegetarian) | $6.50 | |
| Taco (Chicken) | 1 Pc. | $2.40 |
| Tacos (Chicken) | 3 Pc. | $6.50 |
| Taco (Steak) | 1 Pc. | $2.75 |
| Tacos (Steak) | 3 Pc. | $7.50 |
| Taco (Carnitas) | 1 Pc. | $2.55 |
| Tacos (Carnitas) | 3 Pc. | $6.95 |
| Taco (Barbacoa) | 1 Pc. | $2.75 |
| Tacos (Barbacoa) | 3 Pc. | $7.50 |
| Taco (Sofritas) | 1 Pc. | $2.40 |
| Tacos (Sofritas) | 3 Pc. | $6.50 |
| Taco (Vegetarian) | 1 Pc. | $2.40 |
| Tacos (Vegetarian) | 3 Pc. | $6.50 |
| Salad (Chicken) | $6.50 | |
| Salad (Steak) | $7.50 | |
| Salad (Carnitas) | $6.95 | |
| Salad (Barbacoa) | $7.50 | |
| Salad (Sofritas) | $6.50 | |
| Salad (Vegetarian) | $6.50 | |
Kid's Menu | ||
Meal Includes Fruit or Kid's Chips & a Drink | ||
| Build Your Own | $4.75 | |
| Cheese Quesadilla (No Meat) | $3.75 | |
| Cheese Quesadilla (with Meat or Guacamole) | $4.25 | |
Extras | ||
| Chips & Guacamole | $3.25 | |
| Chips & Salsa | $1.95 | |
| Guacamole | $1.95 | |
| Chips | $1.30 | |
Drinks | ||
| Patron Margarita | $7.15 | |
| Sauza Margarita | $4.70 | |
| Beer | Regular | $3.65 |
| Beer | Large | $4.15 |
| Bottled Water | $2.25 | |
| Bottled Drink | $2.60 | |
| Soda | Regular | $1.80 |
| Soda | Large | $2.10 |
| Kid's Drink | Regular | $1.65 |
History
The company was founded in 1993 by Steve Ellis, a classically trained chef. It started with an initial 16 restaurants all based in Colorado. Ellis’ concept was to create a fast food chain that focused on great quality ingredients that are grown or produced locally with a big emphasis on responsible farming and agriculture.
It was in 1998 that Chipotle’s received a big helping hand with massive investment from the McDonald’s Corporation; in fact, by 2001 they were the company’s biggest investor. With investment from such a major food giant, they expanded rapidly and the first location outside of Colorado was opened in 1998, in Kansas City, Missouri. By the time McDonald’s divested in 2006, the company had grown to over 500 restaurants across a variety of locations.
Nowadays, Chipotle Mexican Grill is a global name, with restaurants spanning the USA, Canada, the UK, France and Germany. In 2013, they were registered to have over 1,900 locations with an estimated $327.4 million net income.
There are also two other key factors to mention when considering Chipotle’s. In 2010, they hired Nate Appleman to assist in developing new cuisine, he was voted as “Best New Chef” by Food and Wine magazine. Through the involvement of top quality chefs, the business has assured the great taste and quality of all the food served there. Furthermore, in an effort to improve their high food standards even more, it was in 2013 that Chipotle decided to voluntarily disclose which food had GMOs in, something that has only been done by very few companies due to the controversy over the issue. By 2015 they were successful in their mission and had completely eliminated the use of GMO ingredients in all of their food.
Review
Chipotle’s has a simple, focused menu, preferring quality over quantity. They have four main items: burritos, bowls, tacos and salads. Although each of these options comes with a range of customizable choices: rice, beans, sour cream, cheese, lettuce and four different types of salsa. Furthermore you also get your filling choice: chicken pork, barbacoa, steak, tofu-based ‘sofritas’ and a vegetarian option. They also have a kids menu if you wanted to bring the little ones along, so you aren’t lacking in choices.
This restaurant is a popular place meaning sometimes the wait times are a little longer than you’d expect, although it’s worth the wait. With the option to pre-order online or simply using the available app on your IPhone or android, you can collect your pre-order when you arrive and save yourself a lot of time. The staff are kind, helpful and speedy and they create a welcoming atmosphere for anyone who visits.
Their most popular items are their burritos, a flour tortilla wrapped with your choice of meat or ‘sofritas’, rice, beans or mixed vegetables, sour cream, guacamole, salsa and cheese. The steak is a firm favorite and even non-vegetarians rave about the tofu-based ‘sofritas’. Their food is hot, delicious and authentically Mexican, so if you don’t fancy anything too spicy be sure to ask your server the best choice for you. To top this all, Chipotle’s are fantastic value for money with all their items ranging within the $5 to $8 mark.
This is an outstanding example of a fast food chain offering high quality products, and they certainly deliver. Great ambience, fantastic staff, and mouth-watering, freshly prepared authentic Mexican food, Chipotle delivers in all aspects.
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