The Burrito Experience - Chipotles

I finally was able to go to Chipotles yesterday.  It opened at least 6 months ago and has a line out the door since. Why? There are two other Burritos places within 500 feet of Chipotles.  I saw the SouthPark episode.. why would everyone line up for exploding diarrhea?

I actually made an earlier attempt at  Chipotles a few months ago.  When I opened the door, the fire alarm went off! I thought I had done something at first.. but then closed the till and kicked everyone out. No burrito today.

This visit, there were no alarms. The menu is basic,  Chicken, Beef, Pork or Veggie burritos and rice bowls. Soft tacos. Chips and 4 salsas. Soda, beer and margaritas.

I ordered the Veggie burrito of course.  It comes with white rice, grilled peppers and onions, cheese, guacamole (free for veggie burrito),  lettuce and salsa.  I ordered a side of chips and hot salsa just to try the salsa by itself. $8.15 with tax.

The burrito was rolled into a football shape, not really burrito shape. More short and fat. It was pretty good, the thing that really impressed me was the guacamole. It was fabulous!

The chips and salsa were very good. The chips had a light lime salt on them and the salsa was very hot and flavorful. It also had the most beautiful red color I've ever seen in a salsa.

All in all a good experience, with no Southpark 'ending'!

But, why does this place rise above Qdoba, Blue Water, and Taco Del Mar?  Excluding Qdoba, the ingredients are better.

Del Mar sold it's soul a few years back. When it started, it was a quirky SoCal Fish taco place (founded in Everett!). The fish was a good quality cod. They abandonded that model, replaced the Cod with Pollock and focused on traditional America palettes which like ground beef over a good piece of fish.

I still haven't figured out Qdoba yet. I went when they opened a year ago (6 months before Chipotle and kitty corner from it). I wasn't overly impressed because they just put too much stuff on my burrito. Grilled squash was just a bit much, Even though I like squash, it didnt work for me on my burrito. Theyt are definatelt looking for the high end burrito market.

Blue Water has been around the longest in Downtown Seattle. I have been going there for a decade. It is cheap, quick and has a lot of convenient locations all over town. I am especially impressed by the new BlueWater on 6th and Union. It appears to be more Cantina style, offering buckets of beer during happy hour.

While I welcome Chipotle to Seattle, I wish that the other Colorado taco chain, Wahoo, had come here instead. Wahoo and the SoCal chain Baja Fresh are still my tops. There is a new Baja Fresh in the Seattle area now, I guess the Fremont location opened and closed already. Bummer