WILDMAN
Westerville, Ohio
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has anyone heard of this mexican grill? my very close friend told me about this place last night and even gone as far as to say that it is better than chipoltle. i will be checking this place out pretty soon.
share your thoughts if you have been to the place and let me know how the food is. their website is http://www.qdoba.com if you wanted to learn more about it.
bjboose
Weinland Park
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I used to go to the one on Polaris fairly often when i worked up there because I used to get a deal. Its very similar to chipotle but offers more items: quesadillas, nachos, etc,
HOWEVER, it seemed to be a lot more greasy than chipotle. I don't know where it comes from (meat or rice), but the end of the burrito was always kind of gross. I felt a lot more weighed down like I had gone to more of a fast food place rather than a fresh chipotle.
I think another one just sprung up in grandview. Stick with chipotle.
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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Pretty wild that you brought this up because Anne & I just got home from our first visit to a Qdoba. We rarely go up towards Polaris, but noticed the new one in Grandview was open and decided to try it out since we had a coupon anyway. ;)
My two cents... it's not as good as Chipotle. They have a bit more variety, but I decided to try the Chicken Fajita Burrito, which is what I get at Chipotle, and I thought it was ok, but just not as good. The cilantro-lime rice wasn't as tasty, and the salsas weren't as flavorful.
It's sort of funny too because other Mexican fast-casual restaurants like Baja Fresh and Moe's seem to offer similar food to Chipotle, but still manage to have their own style and variations. I thought Qdoba was trying to immitate Chipotle almost identically, which was very strange.
Anyway, I can't say I'll be headed back anytime soon. I rarely eat at these types of places anymore since they serve such LARGE portions and I can't eat that on a regular basis. Plus, there's a lot of other really good locally-owned Mexican and Latin spots around town (Xalisco's, CuCo's, El Arapezo, etc) that I think deserve the business more than a chain like Qdoba does.
;)
ejolsz
Victorian Village
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Gotta agree w/ Walker, I had heard really good things about the place, but after having it twice (the first time the workers were all knew and kinda screwed up a lot of stuff, but i figured they'd iron it out). The place is alright and I'd go again, but I wouldn't go out of my way and the meats don't taste as good (or as quality) as chipotle and I as I try and steer clear of these places anyway (portions are outta control, if Chipotle put their health info up they'd be forced to make a 'sane' sized burrito - although I get their salad to avoid all that tasty rice and carbs that put me to sleep I figure it can't be that healthy a salad, but there gotta be worse things) further I'll try and get my fix at El Arapezo.
artbomb112
The Heights
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I'd go a step further and say mine sucked.
I live right near it... and I will avoid it like the plague.
BreakfastwithNick
Clintonville
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I have to agree with Walker as well. My wife and I used to go to a Qdoba up that's up in Grand Rapids, MI. When we moved to Columbus, we thought that Chipotle was a copy of Qdoba. I don't know which restaurant was first, but I prefer Chipotle. They don't charge you for extras like cheese or sour cream (although they do for the excellent guacamole - understandable), whereas Qdoba does. Since we live and work closer to various Chipotle restaurants, we always eat there. Haven't been to Qdoba in years.
honavery
Arizona
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although I get their salad to avoid all that tasty rice and carbs that put me to sleep I figure it can't be that healthy a salad, but there gotta be worse things)
The Chipotle salad is the best thing on their menu (salad dressing is the bomb). The burrito is just too much for me to eat these days.
That being said, Qdoba does seem to have a loyal following these days.
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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ndekke39 wrote When we moved to Columbus, we thought that Chipotle was a copy of Qdoba. I don't know which restaurant was first, but I prefer Chipotle.
According to Wikipedia, the first Chipotle opened in Denver in 1993. And the first Qdoba opened in Denver in 1995.
:?
shroud
Polaris
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Since there's one literally right around the corner from me, I've been to Qdoba a couple times, but I definitely have to agree with the popular opinion here -- it feels like someone was trying to clone Chipotle exactly, only they wound up with a much less interesting, and MUCH worse tasting menu.
My wife likes a couple of their salads, but I haven't enjoyed anything I've had there. I'd MUCH rather go to Chipotle or Baja Fresh if I'm in the mood for that type of place.
artbomb112
The Heights
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Walker wrotendekke39 wrote When we moved to Columbus, we thought that Chipotle was a copy of Qdoba. I don't know which restaurant was first, but I prefer Chipotle.According to Wikipedia, the first Chipotle opened in Denver in 1993. And the first Qdoba opened in Denver in 1995.
:?
Ha Ha. That is hilarious. That's worse than Starbucks moving in next to local coffee shops..... well..... maybe not that bad.... but you know what I mean.
I'm never eating Qdoba again.
ejolsz
Victorian Village
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Chipotle opened in Denver in 1993. And the first Qdoba opened in Denver in 1995
What's up with all these chains starting in the same cities? All those cheesesteak chains seem to start in central ohio (Charley's and Steak Escape are from Columbus, Great Steak & Potato Co. from Dayton).
Daz
Tweeting about some totally unimportant event
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Everyone who embraces Chipotle for being the place they are does realize they're a McDonalds joint right?
Just making sure nobody cares about that.
As for Qdoba, I've never eaten at one in C-bus, but they and Baja Fresh (I don't know if they have those out here) fill a market and I always appreciated the food.
ejolsz
Victorian Village
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McDonald's did own a hefty chunk of the company (probably that alone adds 10 grams of fat to any item I would think?) according to wikipedia: "In the past, McDonald's Corporation owned a majority interest in Chipotle. Full divestment was completed in October of 2006."
The place somehow gets away with incredibly unhealthy fare, without many folks realizing it. (Veggie Burrito has over 1000 cals and 50g of fat)
honavery
Arizona
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Everyone who embraces Chipotle for being the place they are does realize they're a McDonalds joint right?
It was for awhile, but not anymore. From the Wiki:
On September 8, 2006 McDonald's Corp. announced it had started an offer for its shareholders to exchange McDonald's stock for shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill. The exchange will allow McDonald's shareholders to acquire Chipotle shares at a 10 percent discount. The offer is capped at a level of 0.9157 Chipotle shares for each McDonald's share exchanged owned by McDonalds Corporation. On October 13, 2006, McDonald's Corp. completed a tax-free swap of class B common stock in Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG), for its own common stock. McDonald's Corp. has now fully divested its investment in Chipotle.
artbomb112
The Heights
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Yeah... I thought that happened at the same time they dumped Donatos......
.... that's when I started eating there...... and it would be a tough decision if I found out otherwise.
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