I ordered the same burrito from Chipotle and Qdoba. They cost about the same, but the difference in quality was astounding.

Chipotle’s guacamole is probably best known for costing extra ($3). As a side, it’s decent.

It’s thick and creamy, and I thought the avocado tasted very fresh. But it mostly just tasted like avocado and the salt from the tortilla chips — I would’ve liked a little more flavor or spice.

In my experience, Chipotle is one of the most consistent fast-food chains, and this burrito was no exception. It’s very large, more than enough for a meal, possibly enough for two meals. 

Peeling off the foil for a photo caused orange-brown juices to drip onto my notebook, which now smells incredible. 

From the first bite, the black beans stood out, bursting with smoky chipotle flavor. They were spicier than I usually find at chain restaurants.

There was no one ahead of me in line when I got to the Brooklyn location of Qdoba, but many of the tables were full. The staff was friendly, and the restaurant seemed impeccably clean.

I came into this assignment with less experience ordering at Qdoba, and I think its process is a bit less streamlined than Chipotle’s. Signs steered my attention to a tempting Cholula-flavored chicken, but for the sake of comparison, I ordered the regular grilled-chicken burrito ($10). 

Unlike at Chipotle, burritos at Qdoba come in your choice of wrap — regular or whole wheat. I chose regular and stuffed it with white rice, black beans, corn salsa, green salsa, spicy red salsa, sour cream, and shredded cheese.

Qdoba doesn’t charge extra for premium toppings, like queso and guacamole. But that seemed like an unfair advantage, so I decided against adding them. I again ordered a side of chips and guacamole ($5), and the full meal came to about $15 before tax. 

The side orders of guacamole at both chains were similar in size, but it felt like I got a few more chips at Qdoba. Plus, they were decidedly better.

The chips were warm and seemed fresh. Each was glistening with oil. 

In addition to there being too much rice, the black beans tasted a little bland to me, and the chicken had a slightly disappointing texture. 

The lone advantage of the Qdoba burrito was the presence of the crunchy tortilla strips, which added a nice crunchy texture. They reminded me of the beloved red strips at Taco Bell. 

Chipotle has elevated my expectations for Mexican-inspired fast food. Even after decades of eating it, I’m still a fan.

Qdoba may offer a wider variety of toppings, but the superior flavors of Chipotle’s ingredients really stood out to me. 

This story was originally published in September 2023 and most recently updated on September 25, 2024.