For the past couple years there has been large debate whether Qdoba or Chipotle serves it up right. As a lover of Mexican eats, I have found that both places can satisfy my hunger. Although, when it comes to price, portion and quality, I do find several differences.
Qdoba, or "dobes" as I like to call it, has always been one of my go-to stops for lunch and dinner. At first I ordered the basic quesadilla, but have broadened my horizons to burritos, tacos and my personal favorite, nachos. What I appreciate about Qdoba is the menu. They don't leave much room for confusion and have quite a few ways to enjoy. They have salads, burritos, bowls, soups, tacos, nachos, quesadillas and change things up every now and then. They have a fairly simple order process, similar to Chipotle. What are you having? What type of tortilla? What type of beans and rice? Meat? The rest? Pretty simple. They also offer queso and their guac is free, which is a game changer for some. The queso comes regular, spicy or smoky. And you can get it smothered on your burrito, your nachos, or on the side with chips.
Chipotle has more options for meat and is "cleaner," however they limit your choices to a bowl, burrito or tacos. Despite recent news of Chipotle's products not being safe to consume, I personally think it does taste better. I have witnessed the staff check the temperature of the ingredients to make sure they are desirable, which may be the reason for a longer line at Chipotle. Although it costs more, their guac compares to Qdoba's queso in amazing-ness, so I guess it is worth the extra dollar.
The two restaurants vary on prices. I have found that my bowl at Chipotle is easier on my wallet than what I spend at Qdoba, but it depends on what you order. Some argue that Chipotle is more expensive because it offers better ingredients, while some argue that Qdoba is more expensive because you get more food.
As for portion, both places are guaranteed to put you in a food coma. I usually feel more sluggish after Qdoba, but it might just be the queso overdose. It all depends on what you fill your order with, but I like to get my money's worth. Small tip: If you want both options of lets say beans for example, tell them you want black first, then say can I have pinto also. That way you are getting double the beans. You're welcome.
So to sum up this war, it really depends on what you are looking for. Both places have similar menus and it can be tossed around who does it better. I will continue to enjoy both places and try to settle the tension between those who strongly side with Qdoba or Chipotle.
