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| - If your sense of humour runs to the sophomoric, you may have seen the "Dead Celebrities" episode of South Park, which lampoons the success of this chain. According to South Park's creators, they love the food, but wanted to target a reasonably healthy chain, instead of an obvious, greasy subject.
Eating at Chipotle can be healthy, You can get your burrito fixin's on a bed of lettuce. Skip the cheese, sour cream, rice, and beans and you have something that won't kill you. Or you can just limit your Chipotle exposure to the occasional craving. You'll want to pursue the latter option.
Chipotle's own website advises that the menu is short. Protein choices include braised carnitas or beef barbacoa, adobo-marinated and grilled chicken or steak. A vegetarian option loads you up on beans and bean byproducts. A healthy portion of rice (healthier if you skip the tortilla and order it as a bowl), black or pinto beans, cheese and sour cream round out the order. Fresh salsas bring brightness; I combine the mellow corn, lively pico de gallo and hot versions, for variety's sake. The Tabasco family is well-represented on a side board, should you require more heat. Guacamole costs 2 bucks extra. It's tasty but unless you're dying for an avocado fix, you won't miss it. Cost is the same whether you order a burrito, bowl, salad, or hard/soft taco. Go classic.
Chipotle offers a surprising variety of beverage options, including beer and margaritas. It's also one of the few Toronto restaurants of any price point to offer unsweetened iced tea. Limitless non-sugary refills alone are worth a visit.
What Chipotle has going for and against it is bulk. I'm a huge burrito fan. I write this after polishing one off for lunch. I have never in my life cleaned my plate at Chipotle, and I view Chinese buffets and hotel brunches as a challenge to eat a business for a loss. I leave Chipotle humbled each time.
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