You certainly wouldn't expect such high-quality food from a chain. From its origins as a Denver restaurant, Chipotle has grown nationally into more than 30 sites and now is associated with McDonald's, which bought a majority share in the company. The restaurants have a contemporary look, with brushed-steel accents and blond wood chairs, seating about 60 people per site. Aside from these few periods where diners have to shout, you'll find a fairly calm atmosphere. Whether you eat in or take the food out, the swift service streamlines the experience.
Patrons order at the counter from an overhead menu and supervise the assembly of each order.
Corn or flour tortillas are warmed and softened in a tortilla iron, then passed down the line for the main ingredients, a choice of chicken, steak, or carnitas, which are cubes of twice-cooked pork. Chipotle marinates the meat before grilling, but the pork and chicken tend to be chewy and bland. On the plus side, the meats appear to be cooked in small batches before being put out for assembly, so they escape being greasy or soggy from sitting around in a steam table. These flavors stand on their own even without hot salsa drizzled into the wrap. Still, the best part of these sandwiches may be the free additional fillings.