Authored by Maura Robillard
From the moment you enter QDOBA, a restaurant founded in 1995, you know you are going to have an amazing meal. With bright reds, oranges, and yellows, the well lit, clean restaurant features classic, timeless decor. The wooden panelling that sets the line for ordering, and highrise seats overlooking the large windows sends a friendly and inviting vibe. Although there are more than 390 QDOBA’s in the US and Canada, the decor such as those vintage rugs and nice servers makes it feel like a second home.
Unlike Chipotle’s noisy, dirty, and crowded environment, QDOBA is a calming and quiet restaurant where you can enjoy a meal, and talk with friends without having to shout over the loud music that Chipotle features. If you’re looking for restaurants downtown mall Charlottesville, you may visit Rapture Restaurant & Nightclub.
Directly above the food preparation table is a bright red menu board, which is broken up into easy to follow categories. For example, once you decide on a burrito over a salad, you can then see you meat, rice, bean, and topping selections that follow the order of the preparation table for a simple, non confusing ordering process.
From brown to white rice, pinto or black beans, and much more, the food preparation counter displays multiple fresh toppings and options, and as you walk along the line the friendly servers prepare your burrito, salad, or taco right in front of you, ensuring a customized meal perfect for you.
Not only is the food perfectly made to fit your every need, but it is given in a huge amount. I have never seen a burrito bigger than QDOBA’s. The only one close in size is Chipotle, but unlike them, QDOBA fills their burritos with quality, tasty ingredients.
I had moderate expectations my first time at QDOBA, since I had been to Chipotle many times before. But as soon as I took my first bite of my chicken burrito, I knew I would never go to Chipotle again. QDOBA’s rice has a subtle limey taste, which I think compliments both the beans and chicken perfectly. Their guacamole is fresh and flavorful, and the servers always make sure to spread it out so it doesn’t end up in a big glob in the middle.
Their chicken, however, is arguably what sets them apart from Chipotle the most. While Chipotle has decent food, their chicken is disgusting. Gamey, stringy, and flavorless, it turns an ok burrito unbearable. Every bite is a gamble. You can’t help but think ‘will the chicken be good today? Will it be tough and fatty?’ You can only hope the chicken is flavorless, because that is better than the alternative. Some people may say that I should branch out, and try their steak, but if their chicken is bad, is there any hope for the steak? Besides, if I am going to spend my money at a restaurant, I should not have to compromise, and I definitely should not have to give up my chicken burrito.
This, of course, is never an issue at QDOBA. Their chicken is perfectly bite sized, perfectly cooked, and never fatty or gamey. Every bite of burrito is overflowing with flavors that fit perfectly together, both complementing and building off each other to make a unique taste unlike any other.
QDOBA and Chipotle both have sea salt chips with a hint of lime. They are perfect for a starter, or to round out a meal. While the taste is similar at both restaurants, Chipotle has found a way to ruin a perfect food. While QDOBA’s chips are warm, fresh, and crispy, Chipotle’s often cold chips are so greasy that they are soggy. Nothing ruins a meal like going to eat a chip only to find is so drenched in grease it does not even crunch when you bite it.
Arguably the only thing Chipotle has over QDOBA is price. While a chicken burrito from QDOBA is $7.80, the same thing from Chipotle is only $6.50. But considering the extensive restaurant differences, I’d choose to pay an extra $1.30 any day. Not only does QDOBA insure better food quality, but they also have the type of environment Chipotle could never even hope to copy. QDOBA’s restaurant is bright, clean, and cheery, their staff is kind, and helpful, and you can sit down and enjoy a perfect meal without having to shout just so the person across from you can hear you.
So if you want to enjoy an amazing burrito (and more) in a welcoming, clean restaurant, then I would go to QDOBA in a heartbeat. But if you do not have an extra $1.30 to spend, and want to waste $6.50 on a mediocre (at best) meal, then I guess Chipotle is the restaurant for you.