Baja Fresh Vs Chiptole, a strange tale.

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shortylickens

No Lifer
Jul 15, 2003
80,287
17,080
136
i cry inside everytime i see people call chipotle mexican food then try to compare mexican restaurants to it.

Ahhh yes, another person who knows nothing about Mexicans or Mexico.

Have fun assuming everything in life, you will probably never suffer for it.
 

Ksyder

Golden Member
Feb 14, 2006
1,829
1
81
It's either butter or vegetable oil, the recipe from Chipotle fan verified by people who worked there:

I used to work there in college and it is vegetable oil in the rice. It is definitely not ever butter as many of their ingredients are meant to appeal to the vegetarian/vegan clientele. Its a healthy amount too, like 2 or 3 cups in their large batches of rice.

I just had taco bell and its way better

Thats funny. I heard that Taco Bell was trying to compete with Chipotle with their new Cantina Bell menu and I tried a chicken bowl. It wasn't terrible but the chicken wasn't marinated, it was the exact same chicken as the other chicken items. I wouldn't buy it again, it was over 5 bucks I think.
 

ElFenix

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Mar 20, 2000
102,389
8,547
126
i cry inside everytime i see people call chipotle mexican food then try to compare mexican restaurants to it.

yeah, rick bayless would never call chipotle 'mexican'! and he should know, he's a white person in chicago with an asshole brother!
 

Ksyder

Golden Member
Feb 14, 2006
1,829
1
81
yeah, rick bayless would never call chipotle 'mexican'! and he should know, he's a white person in chicago with an asshole brother!

Thats funny...I think he did spend a few years in mexico when writing his book.
 

Midwayman

Diamond Member
Jan 28, 2000
5,723
325
126
yeah, rick bayless would never call chipotle 'mexican'! and he should know, he's a white person in chicago with an asshole brother!

I ran into him going through customs in Miami once. Not a fan of Frontera though.
 

zinfamous

No Lifer
Jul 12, 2006
111,583
30,833
146
baja fresh does the wet burrito style, so it is, by nature, bland and unremarkable.

I like their salsas and all that, but they simply can't compare to chipotle.

...and I don't understand the "hot water warmed food" comment. If you've ever been to a catered event--or hell just about all restaurants do this--then you have had pre-cooked food that is kept warm this way. Not a god damn thing wrong with that.
 

Anonemous

Diamond Member
May 19, 2003
7,361
1
71
Baja Fresh: Stand in line -> order -> pay ------> get as much salsa as you want with the chips that come with the burrito.

Chipotle: Stand in line -> order -> pay $2 for chips and salsa -> take food.

This is why Chipotle wins (by having you pay more $$$ for less stuff).

FTFY
Chiptole vs. Baja Burrito
Rice = Tie (Mexican burritos = no rice, just meat + pico or guac)
Salsa = Baja (Chipotle's is a little sweet)
Chips = Tie
Burrito = Baja (more meat); Chipotle is great if you want to be a vegetarian they put so little meat in their burritos...
Price = Tie
Tortillas = Chipotle wins
Corn = who puts corn in burritos...
 
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shortylickens

No Lifer
Jul 15, 2003
80,287
17,080
136
rick-bayless-eater-interview.jpg
 

marincounty

Diamond Member
Nov 16, 2005
3,227
5
76
and that's where mexicans should stay, in mexico!

note: please read blog post here by ardent tex and cal mex defenders robb walsh and gustavo arellano:
http://robbwalsh.com/2012/11/gustavo-arellano-tex-mex-is-dying/

Yeah, the burrito was invented in.......San Francisco. I understand so many tourists are asking for burritos in Mexico a bunch of restaurants are selling them there.

And I do own a few cookbooks by Diana Kennedy. Rick Bayless is an outstanding chef, he won the top chef masters a while back over Hubert and Michael Chiarello.
If you want the best mexican rice, see Diana Kennedy's recipe.
 

Xellos2099

Platinum Member
Mar 8, 2005
2,277
13
81
FTFY
Chiptole vs. Baja Burrito
Rice = Tie (Mexican burritos = no rice, just meat + pico or guac)
Salsa = Baja (Chipotle's is a little sweet) + more choice for free
Chips = Tie
Burrito = Baja (more meat); Chipotle is great if you want to be a vegetarian they put so little meat in their burritos...
Price = Tie
Tortillas = Chipotle wins
Corn = who puts corn in burritos...

Add:
Varity= Baja ; A LOT more choice than Chipotle, like shrimp and fish
Vegatable= Baja ; Fire roast vegatable>>>> cold lettuce
temperature of food = Baja ; no cold lettuce

Their Burrito Ultimo with grill shrimp Enchilado style is my all time favorite. The fact that they bake solve most of my heat issue.
 

eits

Lifer
Jun 4, 2005
25,015
3
81
www.integratedssr.com
Add:
Varity= Baja ; A LOT more choice than Chipotle, like shrimp and fish
Vegatable= Baja ; Fire roast vegatable>>>> cold lettuce
temperature of food = Baja ; no cold lettuce

Their Burrito Ultimo with grill shrimp Enchilado style is my all time favorite. The fact that they bake solve most of my heat issue.

... um... you do know that chipotles veggies are fire roasted, right? and cold lettuce tastes much better than warm lettuce, by the way.
 

Xellos2099

Platinum Member
Mar 8, 2005
2,277
13
81
... um... you do know that chipotles veggies are fire roasted, right? and cold lettuce tastes much better than warm lettuce, by the way.

Only if you order vegetarian stuff. Baja give u meat and roast vega in theior regular burrito.
 

eits

Lifer
Jun 4, 2005
25,015
3
81
www.integratedssr.com
Only if you order vegetarian stuff. Baja give u meat and roast vega in theior regular burrito.

um... no.

i get a burrito bowl, no rice, no beans, extra FIRE GRILLED veggies, steak/chicken, pico, verde salsa, tons of lettuce.

i end up with a filling meal with around 400ish calories.

you can make your meal however you want. you could get their normal burrito with everything they have to offer in it if you wanted to.
 

zinfamous

No Lifer
Jul 12, 2006
111,583
30,833
146
um... no.

i get a burrito bowl, no rice, no beans, extra FIRE GRILLED veggies, steak/chicken, pico, verde salsa, tons of lettuce.

i end up with a filling meal with around 400ish calories.

no black beans no rice? wtf would you even go to Chipotle you communist? D:
 

eits

Lifer
Jun 4, 2005
25,015
3
81
www.integratedssr.com
no black beans no rice? wtf would you even go to Chipotle you communist? D:

rice = empty carbohydrates that i wouldn't use
beans = not necessary, given the other components of the meal

i sometimes get the guac because it's insanely tasty.

cheese = added fat and calories
corn = meh, pass
sour cream = worse than getting cheese

their average meal is somewhere around 1600 calories. i don't need all of that in one damn meal.
 

mple

Senior member
Oct 10, 2011
278
1
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Alternatively, I prefer to get extra everything with both beans. 2000+ kcal bowl that'll keep me full for nearly the entire day.