Chipotle Mexican Grill will open Friday its 14th eatery in Orange County in Huntington Beach.
The new restaurant is at 16241 Beach Blvd. It opens at 11 a.m. Friday.
To kick off the opening, the chain is hosting a fundraiser tonight (Thursday) to benefit Westminster and Ocean View high schools.
One catch: when you order, you have to declare which high school you prefer. From 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. tonight, Chiptole will donate money spent on food to either high school. For the school to get the money, customers (likely students or parents) must declare their choice in writing on the receipt, according to Chipotle officials.
If you live in the area, there’s no reason why you can’t show up and eat for this pre-opening fundraiser.
I wasnt that impressed with the food.
Food is not that great, this place is a fad.
I don’t see the attraction to Chiplote……………..they put rice in everything which is just a cheap filler………..been there once and don’t intend to go back…….give me taco bell any day!
I hear you Eric. I always ask for my burritos without rice. But, you have to jump on that request right away, otherwise the rice-happy order-takers slather the white stuff on too fast. By the way, when I do go there, I personally like the chain’s guacamole and the salads. I rarely buy the burritos or the tacos.
I think they are fine. What I do not understand though is the public’s utter fixation on Chipotle.
Yum, I think Chipotle is awesome. I don’t know why. Perhaps it’s because I like really Americanized versions of food. For example, I prefer Olive Garden over authentic Italian restaurants, or rolls filled with non-authentic Japanese ingredients like avocado or fake crab over real Japanese food. Personal preference I guess. Anyway, I wish Chipotle would open up closer to my house!
Chipotle is overpriced Corporate owned garbage.
I will always support the family run Mexican restaurant’s , not only is the food authentic but also a much better value.
Chipotle burritos are a chain version of the Mission-style burrito that originated in the Mission District in the San Francisco Bay Area. Chipotle’s version is somewhat of a close facsimile, not but not really a fully authentic Mission-style burrito, which is also known as a Silver Torpedo (being wrapped in its trademark aluminum foil).
When done right, the Mission-style burrito can be fantastic, as I had my fair share of them growing up in the Bay Area. But because of the numerous authentic Mexican restaurants in Southern California, the Mission-style burrito hasn’t really caught on around here.
Nancy, You did say you’ve been to Carnitas Los reyes in Orange on the corner of Tustin and Palmyra?
Living near Carnitas Los Reyes, I’ll take a belly bomb of theirs any day…….
“Perhaps it’s because I like really Americanized versions of food.”
In that case there are many more choices than just Chipotle for Americanized Mexican food.
I’ve got a guest review of Carnitas Los Reyes and I’m looking forward to going myself sometime:
http://ocmexfood.blogspot.com/2007/08/carnitas-los-reyes-review-1.html
Yes..I live near Carnitas Los Reyes. The taqueria has some of the best authentic burritos in town. The chips are really good too. My biggest gripe about this place is lack of speed. They are so SLOW! Even, when there’s 2-3 people in line (which is rare), they are slow. Stopped going there because of that. I carnitas and carne asada are very good, and those refried beans — wow.
Christian……….I can’t believe YOU’VE never been to Carnitas Los Reyes!…..you are missing the crown jewel of O.C’s mexican food!
You’ve probably still haven’t been to Ester’s Taco house that I emailed you about either?
Well, I’ve covered 200 places but there’s still 234 left so, yes, there’s definitely key ones I haven’t been to yet. I’ll have to try Esther’s again and hope they’re not closed.
Nancy, isn’t McDonalds some sort of partner with the start owner of Chipotle? So maybe that’s the problem. Give me a good mexican food “Roach Coach” anytime. Yum Yum
BeachBum Bob: McDonald’s did have a major stake in Chipotle a few years ago, but it has since divested its interest. But, the stigma of being “tied” to McDonald’s continues to linger — obviously. Chipotle always claimed that McDonald’s had “NO” say in how they operated their business. Whether you believe that, or not, is up to you all.
The Zone Diet people recently started working with the same pro-cycling team that claims it is “Powered by Chipotle.” So the Zone folks looked to see if you could get a healthy “zoned” meal at Chipotle. They recommend the Burrito Bowl w/ chicken, no rice - sub black beans (so that’s beans AND beans).
Now my husband eats there all the time. He says it’s fast, not expensive AND HEALTHY…who knew?
There used to be a liquor store and bodega just down Beach between Slater and Talbert, next to the U Haul yard, that served up the finest takeout, foil wrapped carnitas burritos West of Santa Ana. It didn’t even have a sign, it was called Mario’s. They almost gave the food away and you could grab a quart of beer out of the cold case to go with your food.
Every time one of these real places closes they open a shithole like Chipotle. What a drag it is getting old.
I loved Mario’s, reddog…I used to work in H.B. and I am now saddened thinking of the carnitas burrito I used to order years ago. I think that spot is now a Subway. So shameful to replace such a unique hole with a corporate giant. It was the oddest place.
you’d never know they served food..It looked more like a liquor store.
Am I the only one that noticed a sign saying they open on the 5th and not the 14th? (posted in FV Chipotle)
Nick: I did say (Friday) is the opening..which is Dec. 5. The 14th is the total number of eateries the chain now has in O.C. Hope that helps.
Actually, I’m not really into Mexican so I don’t go out of my way to get some. There isn’t a Chipotle near me so I hardly ever go. My husband really likes Mexican though, so when we want something, we usually go to Albertaco’s in Mission Viejo. They have a burrito made with french fries inside, that’s my favorite Americanized version of a burrito!
You guys are all crazy. For the price you are getting the best quality food out there. What other restaurant serves naturally raised or organic anything. Not only that but before you classify them in the “chain catagory” do you research. They are like no other company out there!
They are a chain but they certainly aren’t ran like one!
“There is nothing like the taste like Good Grease” (or real lard) when it comes to fast food. Even better if it a home spun kind, like Original Tommy’s (Beverly & Rampart in LA) or TK Burgers in Huntington Beach as examples.
I tried Chipotle several times to give it a fare chance, and if newer so called fast food restaurants think that if they serve “naturally raised or organic anything” taste that bad, Forget it, I along with my dollars will pass. People’s taste buds must burnt out.
I’d rather take a huge carne asada burrito at Alberto’s for around $4.
Since it is part of a growing chain, I would rather support the mom & pop’s privately owned taco stands. My family’s favorite is Normita’s surf City tacos on Beach Blvd, south of this new Chipotle’s. Fast, very friendly service and great food. I especially enjoy their fish tacos. Have not found anything comparable elsewhere in the OC
I couldn’t disagree more with those people who do not like the food. It is a high-quality, fast food. For cheap, fast food, this place rocks and has become my favorite place to go! So much better than most other wanna-be Tex-Mex eateries, and beats out even many high end Tex-Mex restaurants.
Of course, I am from Texas - not hoity-toity Orange County.
Also, forgot to mention one more point. Chiptole went public last year, I think. It is completely independent of its former-parent company, which was McDonald’s.
Nice post, very informative.