Chipotle Vs Qdoba: Which Is The Better Mexican Food Chain?

There are some iconic rivals in the food world: Coke and Pepsi, McDonald’s and Burger King, Starbucks and Dunkin’. What makes people take sides, and what makes others choose merely out of convenience? Do people claim Starbucks and Coke as the best because their products are truly better, or is there something more to the marketing and nostalgia presented? With this in mind, I decided to tackle the Mexican fast-food scene to see which popular chain has the best food, pricing, and value. It’s time to decide who is the best chain: Chipotle or Qdoba.

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Over a few weeks, I ate my way through both Qdoba and Chipotle. While the original goal was to determine who has the best protein options, I ended up trying a lot more than just Qdoba’s mini bowls and Chipotle’s assortment of proteins. I tried their entire menus to see which truly does have the best food. While I had a bias before this experience, I’ve changed my mind when it comes to both establishments. The results are honestly shocking. 

This is the ultimate battle between Qdoba versus Chipotle. What are their main differences and where should you head next? Let’s see who won!

An important part of the Mexican restaurant experience comes from the chips and queso. I was eager to see the difference between the two brands and was shocked to find out that Qdoba was the clear winner.

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Qdoba’s bag was filled over ¾ of the way full, and the chips were light and crunchy, with great air pockets. They tasted fresh, with a little salt, as if someone made them just before I arrived. While they were light, they held up well when it came to the queso and the other sides I ordered. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same for Chipotle. Their chips tasted like they’d been sitting in the bag for hours, and the bag was under half full. They were bland, a little stale, and they definitely weren’t fresh. They were hard and crunchy, and am I misremembering that they used to be lighter, with a hint of lime?

As far as the queso battle goes, this one also goes to Qdoba. Qdoba’s queso was cheese-forward with a jalapeño bite towards the back end. It was thick and scoopable, but not so thick that it gave me the ick. Chipotle’s queso was vastly different. It was congealed and very jalapeño forward, leaving me wondering where the cheese flavor went. This queso did pair well with the bland chips, but the taste and textures of both Chipotle’s sides were poor. Big pass.

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Just as important as queso are the other sides from the Mexican catalog. The two big contenders at all restaurants are the salsa and guac. I grabbed a container of each from both chains to fairly compare what each restaurant has to offer.

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When it came to the salsa, Chipotle was the clear winner. This one packed a punch, and that heat didn’t stop building. While there was a lot of heat, it was the more flavorful of the two with a balanced bite. Honestly, Qdoba’s salsa was really gross. It just tasted like pepper with no real heat. This was confusing to say the least, especially as Qdoba was a tried and true contender in this battle. The guac was a tougher call, but Qdoba took the gold. It was creamy and lightly salted, with some textural chunks. There were no negative notes here, as it paired well with the chips. While Chipotle’s wasn’t bad, it had a lot less flavor, but if you like a chunkier guac, Chipotle’s is definitely the option for you.

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The bottom line is, the battle of the sides is all about preference. If you like the heat, head to Chipotle, but if you want free guac on your main course that tastes great, Qdoba is your new best friend.

Out of all the options on this list, I think the chicken category was the most interesting, as both chains featured a “regular” chicken and a spicy option. It’s also the only category where Chipotle truly shined.

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For the “regular” chicken, Chipotle was the winner, but that’s not saying much. It was an okay bite, as there were no deterring flavors or textures. It wasn’t super moist, but it wasn’t dry. It toed the line of decent, but I think the real tell was how bad Qdoba’s Grilled Adobo Chicken was. Texturally, it was juicy and had a great mouthfeel, but there was no flavor. The chicken was super bland and had a weird aftertaste. Unfortunately, both offered small pieces and a lackluster experience. The real winners of this chicken dinner were the spicy options at both chains, and honestly, it was a tough call. Qdoba offers a Cholula Hot and Sweet Chicken, with a tangy BBQ flavor that builds in complexity with heat on the back end. It’s sweet, it’s spicy, and it’s delicious. 

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However, Chipotle takes the gold in this chicken competition with its Chipotle Honey Chicken. While similar in taste, Chipotle has a stronger BBQ flavor, and the heat that appears isn’t overpowering. The top reason it took first was because of the chicken pieces themselves. They looked home-cooked, they were large, and they were juicy. If you’re looking for heat, head to Qdoba, but for a balanced bite that tastes fresh, Chipotle is king.

That lady once asked “Where’s the beef?” and I’m here to tell you there’s plenty of it at Chipotle and Qdoba. However, not all beef is created equal. Starting with the Grilled Steak, both locations provided a bland experience. Qdoba’s steak was dry, and the pieces were small, which meant they were tough to chew. There was some salt and rub flavor, but overall, the experience was disappointing. While Chipotle’s option wasn’t much better, it was a clear winner with larger pieces and a clean bite. There wasn’t much flavor to be found, but it did taste fresh.

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For a better beef option, try the Brisket Birria from Qdoba or the Beef Barbacoa from Chipotle. While both meats don’t fully reflect their titles, they were pretty good in the grand scheme of this ranking. Qdoba’s Birria had great flavor, balancing sweet and spicy well. It definitely wasn’t a BBQ special, but there was flavor depth and some great heat on the backend. However, the barbacoa wasn’t all bad from Chipotle, even though it didn’t feel like a traditional low-and-slow cooked option. The flavors were a little unbalanced with too much cumin, but it did have some depth. You can always lean in a classic American taco night style with Seasoned Ground Beef from Qdoba. The meat’s cooked right and there’s solid flavor, with a little spice on the backend. At the end of the day, Qdoba claimed this category.

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I’m picky about pork, especially when it comes to anything related to fast food. I want to know about the quality and cooking process, as pork dishes deserve a loving, low-and-slow approach. After trying the options from Chipotle and Qdoba, I have to say, both spots did a great job, forcing me to make a tough call.

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Qdoba’s Pulled Pork wasn’t super moist, but it wasn’t dry. There were all different-sized pieces, each offering a solid bite, but some were more juicy than others. I liked how this protein option wasn’t covered in a seasoning or sauce, allowing the pork and light salt to shine through. It’s a great option if you like to mix and match toppings, as it provides a clean base for a myriad flavor profiles. 

However, I had to name Chipotle’s Carnitas the winner. While Qdoba’s was good, Chipotle’s was better. I had the same textural issue — not too moist and not too dry — so this option felt more like pulled pork than Qdoba, with pieces that actually looked pulled. The flavor profile was clean, herbaceous, and lightly salted. It’s one I would get again if I ventured to Chipotle, which I never thought I’d say. Overall, though, I think this is one category where I can recommend both. It’s really about texture. Do you want pulled or larger pieces? The choice is ultimately yours.

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When it comes to plant-based options at Chipotle and Qdoba, there’s a clear winner — but let me explain. As well as the option of grabbing fajita veggies, Chipotle offers plant-based Sofritas. This is a vegan protein consisting of tofu that’s braised with chipotle chilis, roasted poblanos, and a blend of spices. This is actually an option I grabbed a lot back in the day, and it’s a really solid choice if you’re trying to cut out meat (or just trying to cut down on it). It’s flavorful, super spicy, and the texture is pretty darn close to ground beef. I will always take meat over plant-based anything, but this one makes me stop and rethink.

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Why does Chipotle win this category? Because Qdoba doesn’t carry a plant-based option. You can grab a bowl with beans, rice, and veggies, but other than that, you’re out of luck for something more substantial. I did try and recreate a bowl without a meat-based protein from Qdoba, and it was a serious failure. If you eat sans meat, Chipotle has you covered in a solid way.

There’s a lot to cover here, but I want to be clear from the start: Both chains had great sides. There isn’t a glaringly obvious contender for quality, but there is a winner. Starting with our base and building our toppings, both chains feature two types of rice, white and brown. In this category, Qdoba wins, as their rice is seasoned. You can choose from the Cilantro Lime white rice or their Seasoned Brown rice. Both are great, offering a light flavor addition to your bowl. If you’re trying to stay healthy with less salt, Chipotle is for you, as their rice is lighter and cleaner.

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Next up are the beans, and both spots offer black or pinto. I like refried, so I honestly can’t call a real winner. Neither were soggy or over-salted. What I can comment on were the other toppings. Both spots offer guac, salsas like pico and corn, sour cream, cheese, lettuce, and fajita veggies. There weren’t big differences here, but one thing I will point out is the cheese. Qdoba’s cheese tastes and feels normal, whereas Chipotle’s weirds me out. It’s really stringy, and it clumps and congeals every time I order something from there. 

Overall, I’m giving this one to Qdoba because they offer more toppings with an array of salsas and dressings, along with fun extras like crispy tortilla strips, pickled red onions, and a second cheese offering of cotija. With a larger selection, they take the gold.

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With no dessert options from Chipotle, Qdoba is the winner, and I have to say, its options aren’t bad! Featuring the choice of a chocolate chip cookie or brownie, you can have a nice break from the salt as an after-dinner treat. What’s a little weird is that both options are wrapped in plain plastic wrap, as if mom baked them and packed them in your lunch. It feels a little concerning, but in the name of taste testing, I tried them anyway.

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The cookie was nothing special, but it was good. It was crunchy around the edges, soft near the center, and featured big chunks of chocolate. It was definitely tasty and worth the buy. The brownie was great, too, with a super moist texture. Moist as it was, the flavor just didn’t show, offering a pretty boring comparison to the cookie. The cookie’s chocolate stood out more than the brownie, which is saying a lot. I’m not saying you have to grab one of these treats, but if you’re looking for a quick sugar fix after dinner, these options won’t disappoint.

While I didn’t taste test all the drinks at each chain, there is a clear difference in offerings. While both offer classic fountain sodas, each spot features its own take on Mexican drinks.

Qdoba offers your typical Coca-Cola classics, with various Coke options, Sprite, Dr. Pepper, and root beer. They also feature iced tea, Minute Maid Lemonade, and the best option, a glass bottle of Mexican Coke. While you can also get bottled water or vitamin water, the real draw is that they sell a few flavors of Jarritos, giving you the choice of Mandarin, Pineapple, and Lime.

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Chipotle gives you the same option of a fountain drink, but putting them in first place is their bottled selection and custom lemonades. While you can opt for a Mexican Coke, Sprite, or an array of waters and seltzers like Poppi or Izze, the lemonade is where it’s at. You can get Organic Lemonade, Organic Mandarin Agua Fresca, and Organic Berry Agua Fresca, but they also have rotating seasonal flavors, such as Organic Watermelon Limeade. With even more options at specific locations, there’s no question that Chipotle’s drink selection outshines Qdoba’s.

When it comes to price and bang for your buck, Qdoba is the clear winner, offering free guac, more toppings, and more menu items. While its pricing may seem higher, there’s more to the story. Although prices vary based on location and offerings, it’s clear Chipotle’s meals are going to cost you more, but only if you’re adding toppings. For a specialty burrito at Qdoba, you’re looking at $11.45 as a base, going up to $14.95 for a surf and turf option. If you create your own, you’re in the same price range based on your choice of protein, but there is no other cost for toppings. It’s an all-you-can-eat buffet.

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When pricing burritos at Chipotle, you can grab a cheaper option compared to Qdoba, as the pricing starts at $9.65 for chicken and maxes at $11.40 for the beef options. If you’re a plain Jane, Chipotle might work for you, but if you want guac, it’s another $2.85. Outside of beans and rice, you have eight topping choices, compared to Qdobas 10 salsas and sauces, and 12 other toppings that include guac and queso. Queso is also $1.70 more at Chipotle. An order of three tacos or quesadillas will run you the same price, but again, it’s really about toppings.

I like the option of creating something myself. At Qdoba, I can do just that and not break the bank. Who is going to a Mexican chain and not getting guac?

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After having experienced the entire menu from both chains, Qdoba definitely offered me the best experience. From price points and free guac to a better selection of proteins and sides, the quality and the flavors stood out. From the quality of the chips to its seasoned rice and extra toppings, I believe Qdoba is the better option of the two. Its rewards program offers an easy way to get free chips and salsa, along with free dishes the more you eat, too!

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As a long-time eater of Chipotle, I think its quality has dropped, but its pricing hasn’t. I will say, I do believe it offers a better selection of healthier items, as it is known as a fast food staple for those doing diets like Whole 30. For me, eating out is a treat, and it’s not about nutrition. It’s about enjoying a meal I didn’t have to cook with bold flavors and consistent service every time. In this case, that’s exactly what Qdoba offers.