Qdoba Mexican Eats is a casual restaurant. They are not full-service, sit-down restaurant, though they do have dine-in seating that is clean and comfortable. The entire menu can be fully customized – guests approach the counter and select how they want their meal built for them. With all of the available options, there is something tempting for everyone.

Their business is food and they do an incredible job at it. They focus on providing a variety of delicious, fresh ingredients in order to make great tasting Mexican meals, such as burritos, tacos, and quesadillas. In order to stay ahead of the competition, they frequently add specialty items such as mango salsa, so it is always worth checking out the menu for new, great-tasting items.

History

Qdoba started off in Denver, Colorado in 1995 as “Zuma.” It was founded by Anthony Miller, an investment banker at Merrill Lynch, and Robert Hauser. Later, they renamed the restaurant “Z-Teca Mexican Grill. Robert Hauser had attended the Culinary Institute of America and he had experience from the restaurant Le Cirque. Hauser himself created the menu and aimed at making it healthier by cooking with vegetable oils instead of animals and gathering as many fresh ingredients.

In less than four years, Z-Teca had spanned over 9 states with 21 locations. They began to run into issues with their name, since it was very close to the name of a southwestern grill in Arizona. They changed the name to Qdoba, a name created by an ad agency, in 1999.

During this time, ACI Capital was expanding the enterprise. In 2003, they sold to Jack in the Box. They kept growing and crossed into Canada in 2012. In 2013, they bought out many franchised stores and began to revamp their approach. With competition growing more fierce and popping up everywhere, changes were expected.

Currently, there are over 640 locations throughout the United States and Canada. They have been tweaking their prices and advertising their menu choices. They are differentiating themselves from the competition by adding full-service bars in some locations. They are in the process of remaking their image – from their logo to the architecture of the buildings. Even the bathrooms are getting an improvement. Their aim is to customize each restaurant for the location they are in so that they do not feel so much like cookie-cutter franchises.

Review

Qdoba offers several menu items that are then built by the customer and start at under $10 each. The food is then prepared directly in front of them. They offer tacos, burritos and bowls, salads, soup, and quesadillas. They also have kid-sized versions of their items that are served with applesauce and juice or milk, all under $5. Their great-tasting 3-cheese queso can be purchased as a side with chips for around $4.

Diners start by picking which item they want to customize. They then select a protein such as beef, pork, or chicken. Vegetarians can skip the meat and go right for the beans. Burritos get a choice of white or wheat wraps, or a bowl. Salads can be served in a bowl made of a taco shell. They offer choices in rice, beans, salsa, and extra flavors like chipotle cream, guacamole, and sour cream.

There are other services that are offered as well. They have a rewards program that can be used to build up points that can be redeemed. There is also a catering service that has appetizing options. Events can be catered with a hot naked burrito bar, a hot taco bar, or a hot nacho bar. Their boxed lunches are a great idea for group trips or meetings.

Qdoba is a great place to grab a meal. Whether it is a family dinner, a business lunch, or a quick snack, Qdoba Mexican Eats offers a clean, comfortable restaurant with fast friendly service. With some locations offering a full-service bar and even breakfast, customers can expect a great deal more to come in the future.