Chipotle Mexican Grill is expected to add two more eateries in Orange County this year, bringing its total here to nearly 20.
The Denver-based chain announced plans to open its 16th and 17th restaurants in O.C. Both restaurants will be in South Orange County: Laguna Niguel (opening in September at 27221 La Paz Road) and Foothill Ranch, slated to open on June 26th at the Foothill Ranch Towne Centre. (8/31 Update: the Laguna Niguel location will open 9/18, according to Register staff writer Lindsey Baguio. Location address also corrected.)
The chain’s West Coast expansion comes as other fresh-Mex companies have shut down under performing operations. Some have also resorted to deep discounting to lure diners.
But, Chipotle has stuck to its guns, opening restaurants and boldly deciding in October to raise menu prices by 6 percent. So far, that price hike has not gone into effect in Southern California, Chipotle said.
Chipotle's new Kids Menu, spotted on a Colorado menu.
Still, some changes could be afoot at Chipotle, known for its hefty customized burritos, big salads and three-taco plates.
A few months ago, the chain began offering smaller, cheaper items on its menu in Denver, including a side salad for $2.25, a single taco for $2.25 and a side salad and soup combo meal for $4.85. Denver-area restaurants are also offering a Kids Menu, where prices range from $2.95 to $3.95.
My take: During my trip to Chicago, I met Chipotle founder Steve Ells. I asked him how the value menu program was doing, and if it will expand to California. Ells said he was too busy with “new store openings” to pay attention to the lower-price food program.
I get the sense that Ells — a huge proponent of using natural meats — is not a big fan of “cheapening” his food quality. But, value, as we discussed before, does not necessarily mean cheap food. Let’s hope the experiment in Denver is successful.
Tell us: What do you think? Would you like to see Chipotle provide smaller, lower price portions in Southern California?
Related stories:
(Chipotle Kids Menu courtesy of Maven buddy Annette Trammel of Boulder, CO.)
Maven, your posts should give credit to your loyal readers when they give you tips. You seem to leave that out a lot. You get ifo from your readers and they get the shaft. Give credit when credit is due!
sad, did you send me an email on this? If so, I’m sorry if you didn’t get a ‘thank you’ from me. I usually thank my readers privately for tips, and I pursue them to see if they pan out. Sometimes they do, sometimes they don’t. In the case of this post, I did not get it based on a tip from a reader. I also don’t recognize your “sad” name as someone who frequently emails me. For the most part, I don’t list tipster’s names in the blog, unless I’ve discussed quoting them on a specific story. For example, when Jack in the Box began testing sliders in San Diego, I quoted a tipster with her permission, because I wanted her feedback.
In any case, let me take this opportunity to thank all my readers for your tips. I do my best to report on them, and if I’ve not recognized you for that in the past, I do apologize. Nancy
I’m going to take Nancy s side on this one. Nancy always thanks me for my tips that I forward to her.
As for Chipotle, I use to frequent them quite often until Contodo came into town and there parent company has awesome tacos with lots of flavor yum…here is there web site link…
http://www.bajafishtacos.com/
Contodo is good, and I hope people in North O.C./Orange area give it shot. Here’s the link to the prior story I did on Contodo. http://fastfood.freedomblogging.com/2009/04/04/baja-fish-tacos-creators-open-new-fresh-mex-concept/16779/
seriously, I emailed her on May 7th about the Chipotle AND the Chick-fil-A in Foothill Ranch. The Chick-fil-A is replacing the Wendys on Portola.
Dear the_informant/ sad: I get a ton of emails daily in my inbox, and I don’t always do a good job of keeping track of them. I will be the first to admit that I’m a disorganized mess. On the week of May 7, I was frantic getting ready for my Chicago food trip. So, let me be loud and clear right now, in front of everyone: Thank you for your tips. You are appreciated, as are ALL my readers. If I don’t get back to you right away, it’s because I’m incredibly busy reporting, to get YOU the accurate food news you deserve and want. I never thought I’d have to apologize for that.
YUMMY! I love me some Chipotle. I think the price for the basic burrito/salad/bowl is pretty average and actually excellent considering everything is deliciously good quality. I do however think that the guacamole is ridiculously over-priced but I never get it from there anyway because the burrito is already big enough.
I get a burrito or bowl with white rice, no beans, onions and peppers, corn salad, lettuce and a little bit of cheese, sour cream and HOT salsa. DELISH !
Mr. Ells sounds pretty arogant to me. He may soon be too busy attending store closings.
In OC I just dont think that Chipotle is good enough to have this many locations. I give it 3-5 years before we start seeing some of these locations close or change over to some other format/fad.
Here is a good question-what will end first-the latest yogurt fad or Chipotle?
I not sure I understand his comments. You can already order one taco only and it’s $1.95 at every Chipotle cafe that I’ve been to here in Orange County. I can also order a “big” quesadilla for $3.50 so why would I order a “kids” quesadilla for $2.95? I can order a soda and a quesadilla or a taco for my child and still have spent slightly more, but have gotten much more food. The single taco for $2.25 (not the kids meal) just doesn’t makes sense since I can already order a single taco for $1.95. Also, does anyone remember how they used to give you 4 crispy tacos for the same price that they give you 3 now?
I think perhaps 20 stores is too many for our area.
Thanks Trent for the information. I was wondering about the “single” taco…deal in Denver. Seemed odd to me that you would not be able to order one taco in any store. I don’t eat the tacos at Chipotle, so I wouldn’t know. I enjoy the salads there.
You’re welcome Nancy. As far as I know, one can order a single taco at any Chipotle. I wonder if Elis is saying that they will be raising the price on a single taco? 30 cents might not seem too much but if you do the math, that’s a 15% increase in the price of one taco!
For me, the salad is good. But often the lettuce is too wet for me. It becomes a soggy mess.
I agree..if you put more than one salsa on the salads, they become a bit soggy! But, I can’t resist the corn salsa..in fact, you can save some fat/calories by just leaving salsa on the salad. Sometimes, I don’t even use dressing.
I love Chipotle (and the fact there’s one right by my house), however 3 locations in Lake Forest/Foothill Ranch alone makes me think they’re expanding too quickly and will at some point saturate the market for a concept that does well as a/sort-of hidden jem. I think it’s past the fad-phase and is more of a trend at this point, but that doesn’t mean market saturation won’t hurt them in the long run.
-my 2 cents
This story got me hungry……….lol
Hooray! A Chipotle close to my house. You can bet I’ll be frequenting that one.
I love Chipotle and had one right around the corner when I lived in NYC, but living here in Mission Viejo, its a bit of a haul up to Trabuco or to El Toro Road. I would have liked to hear they were opening near Saddleback College… Foothill Ranch is even further, but my wife will be happy since she works there… That I imagine will be a successful location. I’m not sure where the address on La Paz is off-hand, but I bet you’ll see me there on my way to the beach this Fall.
Nancy, how many emails from readers do you get a day? Hundreds???
I think that you should have let it go with a simple, I’m sorry and thanks to reader sad.
Thanks Anjolie..Let’s put it this way, when I got back from furlough, I had 2,000 fresh emails in my inbox. I’m still reading some of them today, and that is more than a month ago! I guess I felt put on the spot, and wanted to defend myself. But, mostly, I wanted to make sure that my readers know that they are important to me.
Best, Nancy
Is the address right on the LN location? Mapquest could not find it, and isn’t most addresses on La Paz 5 digit not 4? Not sure on that last bit….I wanted to see the cross streets.
….Here is the correct address
27221 La Paz Road, Suite H
Laguna Niguel, CA 92656
Thanks K-lounge. I’ve corrected the address.
27221 La Paz Road
It is located in Plaza de la Paz on La Paz and Pacific Park. I go to Divine Desserts and it is right next door.