Everyone knows the name Chipotle. The restaurant has become a staple of pop culture, ingrained into everyone's minds. Around many areas, the place is a hangout spot. There are Chipotle's everywhere I go, on every corner of every street. It is really hard to miss the popular Mexican restaurant. So why have I never had Chipolte? It's not because I'm that one person in a crowd that does not like "mainstream" things, I just never had the desire to eat at Chipotle.
Now, before I start getting hate mail and everyone attacks me, just listen. I'm sure Chipotle is a great restaurant. My friends that have had it always boast about their burritos and bowls. I enjoy good Mexican cuisine like the next person, and I appreciate Chipotle in that they work with farmers to make sure their ingredients are the best. There are just a couple of things that turn me off when it comes to them.
First, their meals seem expensive. I don't know how students can afford meals that cost $10-$11 every day when most are balling on a budget. I can only speak for myself, but I am one of those people balling on a budget and I cannot afford that kind of money to a meal every day. McDonald's Quarter Pounder meal is way cheaper and just as fulfilling. And if people want to eat healthily, Subway is also a cheaper option where they have $5 footlongs sometimes. I understand eating healthy and organic options can sometimes be expensive, but there are cheaper alternatives.
The other thing that has turned me off about Chipotle is the multiple E. Coli outbreaks. There's just no justification for eating at a restaurant that has had an E. Coli outbreak. I would not like to get sick because a restaurant is not doing its due diligence to ensure the safe consumption of their products. I know this outbreak happened two years ago, but the outbreak still lingers for me. It's the little things that matter, so why would I eat at a restaurant that has a history of poisoning people.
I'm sure Chipotle is nice and has really good food. For me, the restaurant is somewhere that I am not interested in and I don't think I will ever be interested in it. My opinion may change, but the likelihood of that doesn't seem to be coming true anytime soon.
