I ordered the same meal at Chipotle and Qdoba. One chain was the clear winner.
I compared the same chicken burrito bowl, chips, and hot salsa order at Chipotle and Qdoba to see which chain restaurant has the best food and value.
In a quest to determine which fast-casual Mexican restaurant chain offers better value and flavors, Savannah Born decided to pit Chipotle against Qdoba. Both chains promise customizable meals, but Born wanted to see which one delivered on taste and affordability.
Born began her experiment by ordering a burrito bowl, chips, and spicy salsa from each establishment. At Chipotle, she paid $9.50 for a chicken bowl, while Qdoba charged $10.75 for a similar dish with three-cheese queso and guacamole. Despite the slight price difference, Qdoba's queso and guacamole came free with her build-your-own meal.
Both bowls were hefty, with Qdoba's also free of charge for guacamole. However, Born noticed a few less-than-perfect pieces of chicken in Chipotle's bowl, while Qdoba's seemed uniformly grilled and tender. The guacamole at Chipotle was delicious but costly, while Qdoba's free offering provided a similar flavor profile.
In the end, Born found Chipotle to be the winner for its burrito bowl, praising its cilantro-rich rice and crunchy pico de gallo. Qdoba's broader menu and free toppings added value, but the overall experience pointed to Chipotle as the clear choice in this friendly showdown between the two Mexican-inspired giants.
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