Growing up in a town where Chipotle was the only nearby option for Mexican fast food, I have been biased and always claimed it was the best. Now, going to a college where Qdoba is the closest option, I have been forced out of the comfort of Chipotle and been pressured into trying something new. After trying many different Mexican options at both places, I feel I have found some pros and cons of both places.
1. The service - Qdoba
Through many different experiences, I have found that the workers at Qdoba seem happier to be there. They are friendly and try to start a conversation as you make your way down the food line. You do find workers at Chipotle that share this same enthusiasm for Mexican food, but overall I feel that Qdoba wins in this category.
2. The rice - Chipotle
Although the rice at both places looks almost exactly the same, Chipotle rice is just so much tastier. The rice at Chipotle has more flavor and is rarely all stuck together, like the rice at Qdoba occasionally is. If you are a big rice-enthusiast, Chipotle is your place.
3. The queso - Qdoba
Chipotle just started serving queso, so I will give them some slack in that they have not had time to perfect it. However, Qdoba's queso is phenomenally better. The queso at Qdoba has a way better mixture of cheese and pepper, and I would rank it higher than Chipotle's any day.
4. The guacamole - Chipotle
This category is a little harder to judge. If you are a big guac fan like me, however, you can differentiate small differences. The guac at Chipotle is slightly better, for you can taste more lime and it has a better texture. The guacamole at Qdoba is a close second, and it is by no means bad guac.
5. The atmosphere - Qdoba
At least by Villanova, the Qdoba nearby happens to be a big social scene. During 5 pm - 7 pm on weekend nights, there are college kids at the happy hour at Qdoba. I have never seen a Mexican fast food restaurant with such a social scene! Although I can not say I have been to every Chipotle restaurant, I can assume none of them contain bars.
Overall, I can not choose a winning restaurant. The food overall is slightly better at Chipotle than Qdoba, but the experience at Qdoba is more fun. Both are great Mexican fast food, and if you have never been to either, I would definitely recommend trying one out!
