Munch Madness: Poquito Más vs. Qdoba vs. Taco Bell with Nicole Byer

### Guest

Nicole Byer, Evan Susser, Toni Charline, Ryan Perez, Jennie Piersen, Mike Hanford, Matt Apodaca, Mary Sohn, and Farley Elliott

"Munch Madness: Poquito Más vs. Qdoba vs. Taco Bell with Nicole Byer" is Episode 196 of *Doughboys*, hosted by Mike Mitchell and Nick Wiger. "Munch Madness: Poquito Más vs. Qdoba vs. Taco Bell with Nicole Byer" was released on March 28, 2019.

## Synopsis

For the finals of this year's **Munch Madness, Tournament of Chompions: Mouth of the Border** edition, we're joined by Nicole Byer (*Nailed It!*, *Why Won't You Date Me?*) to determine this year's winner between Poquito Más, QDOBA, and Taco Bell.

## Nick's intro

\**over the Survivor theme*\*

One month ago, the adventure of a lifetime began.

Six Mexican-American chain restaurants were stranded on a metaphorical island to see who could survive the elements in a punishing fast-food gauntlet. Since then three competitors have had their flames snuffed out, like spicy salsa chased by a dollop of sour cream.

   And now, with the **Chompionship** on the line, just three remain, spanning the category's entire price spectrum.

QDOBA: the Denver-founded fast-casual outlet that's made a Cinderella run to the Finals, defeating heavyweights Chipotle and Del Taco.

Poquito Más: the LA icon and winner of the loser's bracket, Fat Chance Kitchen, which clawed its way to a rematch with the chain that defeated it. And that chain?

Taco Bell: the largest Mexican fast-food restaurant in the world and one that revels in pushing the boundaries of South of the Border fare.

Who will emerge victorious and have their name engraved on the most prestigious award in chain-restaurant podcasting, the Dave Thomas Cup?

Who will be the Munch Madness Survivor?

This week on *Doughboys*, the finale of **Munch Madness 2019: The Tournament of Chompions: Mouth of the Border**: Poquito Más vs. Qdoba vs. Taco Bell!

*Let's a-go!*

## Statement from the Commissioner

Before anything begins, Evan Susser made a few statements.

First, the **Heart of the Chompion Award** gets awarded to the fans!

Second, the question about whether the Cheesy Gordita Crunch at Taco Bell counts as a taco or not. Mitch says yes, but Nick and Susser said no. This led to Mitch asking Twitter, and 73% of the fans said yes. Susser also put out a Twitter poll asking "Should Mitch get his way?" Mitch also won that, so the Cheesy Gordita Crunch does count as a taco.

Next, there was an issue of some chains having been neglected. Commissioner Susser believes some chains should have been represented, so he asked on Twitter if Moe's, Baja Fresh, or an In-N-Out burrito/Wendy's taco, should be included. The fans chose the In-N-Out/Wendy's option, so he brought this nonsensical concoction to the Finale!

## Munch Madness: Mouth of the Border Rules

To recap, for Mouth of the Border, tacos and burritos only!

Sides stay on the sideline, drinks in the Gatorade jug (also on the sideline). One taco and one burrito per restaurant. For the Finale, they all got the same order.

Scoring is based on referee stripes - 5 white stripes available for tacos, 5 black stripes available for burritos. Also one restaurant will get a Golden Whistle for having the better chips and salsa.

## Mouth of the Border: Finals: Order

For the Finals, The Doughboys got the same order from each of the chains.

* Chicken Burrito
	+ Flour Tortilla
	+ Cilantro Rice
	+ Pinto Beans
	+ Salsa
	+ Lettuce
	+ Cheese
	+ Queso
* Classic Chicken Burrito
* Taco Supreme
* Shredded Chicken Burrito
* Rattlesnake Steak Burrito (just Mitch)

## Mouth of the Border: Finals

Poquito Más survived Fat Chance Kitchen, while Taco Bell defeated Poquito Más and Qdoba beat Chipotle and Del Taco to get to the Finals.

To begin the discussion, the Doughboys eliminate one chain immediately. The losers are fed by Denis Leary, The Ref, to Bruce the shark from *Jaws*. In a famous twist of events, Jason Statham kicks The Ref into the ocean with Bruce, and The Meg eats them all!

 Mike Mitchell
 Nicole Byer

As the first eliminated, QDOBA comes in third in the **2019 Chompetition**.

Next, they offer their ratings between the remaining two chains: Taco Bell and Poquito Más.

* Chicken Burrito (4.5)
* Taco Supreme (4)
 Mike Mitchell
* Chicken Burrito (5)
 Nicole Byer
* Chicken Burrito (5)
* Shredded Chicken Burrito (3)

They also try the Commissioner's weirdly-made In-N-Out Burrito (burger and fries wrapped in a tortilla) and a Wendy's Spicy Chicken Taco. Everyone loved these items, and they steal the **Golden Whistle Award** (which was initially intended for the best chips and salsa).

To make the final verdict, every **Munch Madness: Mouth of the Border** guest joins in for the Tribal Council: Toni Charlene, Ryan Perez, Jennie Pierson, Mike Hanford, Matt Apodaca, and Evan Susser. Mary Sohn and Farley Elliott had placed their votes in advance, as they were not at the live episode. Each vote is placed into a full bucket of KFC chicken.

It appears the two Poquito Más votes were from Jennie Pierson and Farley Elliott.

Thus, Taco Bell is this year's **Chompion**!

## Quotes

**Nicole:** I think you should. That would be very funny. I would enjoy that. Not in a sexual way, but in a "tee-hee-hee, that's my friend being very funny!"
**Nick:** If I came over for a *Doughboys* record, and you were on all fours in a diaper with a pacifier and a bonnet, I would not bat an eye.

**Nicole:** Wait. You love hot lettuce?
**Mitch:** Close.
**Nicole:** That's a thing? What? Do you heat up a salad? You get a nice little Caesar salad and say 'Natalie, open up the oven!'

## Related Episodes

* 193. Fast Casual Region
* DD. Fat Chance Kitchen: Round One
* 194. Semifinal: Round One
* DD. Fat Chance Kitchen: Round Two
* 195. Semifinal: Round Two
* DD. Fat Chance Kitchen: Finals
* 196. **Finals**
* 75. Red Lobster 3
* 94. Chicken Fight: Wing Region
* 100. Nugget Power Hour
* 134. Cinnabon
* DD. Bacon Maple Gremlins
* 196. **Mouth of the Border: Finals**
* 229. Regina Pizzeria
* 230. 99 Restaurant
* 243. Mac Attack: Elite Ate
* DD. Gremlins in the Wires
* 293. Pie Noon: Finals
* DD. The Mitchy Clause
* 391. BOWL: Finale

* DD. Mouth of the Border: Hollywood v. Heartland Region
* 194. Mouth of the Border: Semifinals 1
* DD. Mouth of the Border: Fat Chance Kitchen
* DD. Mouth of the Border: Fat Chance Kitchen Finals
* 196. **Mouth of the Border: Finals**
* 195. Mouth of the Border: Semifinal Round Two
* 196. **Mouth of the Border: Finals**
* 332. QDOBA
* 6. TGI Fridays (Feedbag)
* 12. Chick-fil-A (Side of Guys segment)
* 65. Doughlympics: Chipotle v. Del Taco v. Taco Bell
* 86. Taco Bell 2
* 87. Taco Bell 3
* DD11. Mama Mitchell (Naked Chicken Chips)
* DD37. Naked Egg Odyssey (Naked Egg Taco)
* DD. My Dinner with Wiger (Nacho Fries)
* 149. The Pie Hole (score revision)
* 156. Taco Bell 4
* 194. Mouth of the Border: Semifinals 1
* 196. **Mouth of the Border: Finals**
* DD. Snack Attack with Mac
* DD. Double Stacked Dano
* DD. Buff Fries and and Tiny Tacos (Buffalo Chicken Nacho Fries)
* DD. Mount Slushmore (Pineapple Freezes)
* 302. Taco Bell 5
* 305. Taco Bell 7
* 309. Taco Bell 6
* 407. Taco Bell VIII