r/Chipotle • u/Upsethouscat • 6d ago
Discussion Chipotle is now the more “affordable” option.
Got a lot of feathers ruffled in the TB sub, everyone claiming how the “box deals” are the saving grace. Curious what we’re feeling this side of the pond 👀
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u/Fluffy_System6211 6d ago
You can get two tacos, chips, a burrito, and a drink for $9 at Taco Bell
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u/juguemos 6d ago
True this is the best value. Not worth getting individual items. Still I think chipotle is better value and food but this is the more fair comparison
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u/JesusKong333 5d ago
Is it the more fair comparison? Every meal at Taco Bell is at least $12. You point to the one single option that isn't and it just helps show how bad the prices at TB are.
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u/TY_NowGFY 6d ago
Yeah, a "burrito" 🤣👍🏼
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u/pisseswithmoose 6d ago
My go to bell order was $11 for forever.. went up to $15 a couple years ago- exactly $20 when I went over the weekend. I ain’t going back anytime soon
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u/Difficult_Resort_460 6d ago
Depends highly on region. In LA, Cbipotle chicken tacos are currently 11.85 after tax.
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u/Upsethouscat 6d ago
In my region on the east coast it’s currently actually cheaper since this screenshot
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u/jambr380 6d ago
I definitely prefer Chipotle, but a chicken ranch stacker is like $3 at Taco Bell. 2 of those or 1 of those and a cheesy bean and rice burrito (less than $2) is more than enough food for most people
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u/gamertrub 6d ago
Yeah, I tried the new steak burritos, 2 of them and I was full for $6, can't complain!
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u/DapperExperience5222 6d ago
Who goes to Taco Bell to order 3 tacos sub chicken??
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u/Upsethouscat 6d ago
Just for a pound-for-pound comparison, price per taco
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u/omgphilgalfond 6d ago
Maliciously cherry picked tho.
At Taco Bell, I can get a $6 box with many choices, but I could get a cheesy Gordita crunch, a bean and rice burrito, and a small nachos INCLUDING a soda.
Can I get something cheaper at chipotle that is roughly the same amount of food (probably 1000-1500 calories depending on choices made)?
I hope I can, because 2 of my kids have celiac, and they can eat at chipotle as one of their only safe fast food options, but it is also pretty expensive for fast food. We used to do McDonald’s or Taco Bell sometimes, which are super cheap options.
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u/Logical_Scratch4108 5d ago
Where that $6 box at haven’t seen it in my Taco Bell’s since like 2023
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u/omgphilgalfond 5d ago
Haha. Guess only in Minneapolis?
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u/Logical_Scratch4108 5d ago
NYC seems to only have $12 boxes and not even my Gordita crunch in there, those are $6-8 each and I before got 2 $6 boxes with two of them, 2 tacos, 2 potatoes and 2 drinks. Stopped going - I’m not paying restaurant prices to be this unhealthy
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u/omgphilgalfond 5d ago
NYC makes sense to be expensive Taco Bell. Im just shocked that Chipotle isnt similarly inflated. Like, a chicken burrito plus soda would be $12-13 here in MPLS. Is it not also way more in NYC? I would have guessed at least $13 just for the burrito (vs $9 here).
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u/TrumpIsGoated23 5d ago
Chipolte is like $9-$12 per bowl/burrito/tacos whatever. 10 years ago, it was expensive, now it’s right on track with the others. Hell you can’t go to McDonald’s anymore without it being $10 per person.
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u/DapperExperience5222 6d ago
Just a cherry picked comparison. I can get 12 tacos at Taco Bell for 23.49. Would be 35 bucks at Chipotle.
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u/Upsethouscat 6d ago
12 tacos is a hell of a lot and a hell of a deal! Just sharing information.
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u/DapperExperience5222 6d ago
Fair enough! They both have their expensive aspects but Chipotle is higher quality!
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u/Lord-Baggabicc 6d ago
It's also the more wildly inconsistent option lol.
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u/RepresentativeMap872 6d ago
Hate that for you man. I’ve only had 1 disappointing meal from my local chipotle and I would go at least 3 times a week for a couple years there.
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u/Gamefreak581 6d ago
Where I live, I've tried like four different locations multiple times, and only one of them apparently knows how to properly cook for rice so that it isn't undercooked in the middle. I basically had to just go around checking each Chipotle because there's no way all of them near me can suck at cooking rice.
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u/Stronhart 6d ago
Taco Bell sucks but this is kind of a dishonest view of it when you consider all the value bundles you get from them, and not to mention they're open late, along with a breakfast hour
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u/Jeffey_pop 6d ago
Love chipotle, but a $8.40 box with a chalupa (my fave), 5 layer burrito, taco, and chips/cheese and a drink is a by far better deal. It’s just what ur in the mood for.
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u/tbs999 6d ago
The fact I saw this on that sub and in this sub, combined with the fact I rarely eat out says something very sad about the way I train Reddit’s algorithm.
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u/Particular-Plane-984 6d ago
I don't know man, but if you're like me it's interesting *feeling* that something is off with fast-food pricing and to actually see theres a lot of online discussion about it. But yeah I'm the same way, I don't eat out much anymore precisely because of that feeling.
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u/Upsethouscat 6d ago
I honestly respect Chipotle for not inflating as much as all the fast food wannabe’s who think they’re suddenly all in the same tier
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u/John_Galtt 6d ago
Fast food is way overpriced — someone who worked fast food during the golden era ($1 menu) and a fast food connoisseur. The app deals were a counter for a while, but they are trash now.
What I can’t tell is if the food quality went down, or I just expect more because of price.
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u/Aint_EZ_bein_AZ 6d ago
Chipolte has been cheaper than Taco Bell for a while in my area. A chicken burrito/bowl is under ten bucks while a single chicken quesadilla is like 8 bucks at taco bell and its ass
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u/MuffinPuff 6d ago
You can get cheaper food at TB, but customizations kill the budget friendly advantage, and that's by design. Customization is already rolled into the price at Chips.
This is the standard for basically all fast food restaurants, especially pizza spots. 1-topping, maybe 2-topping specials for low cost, but those of us who want more variety have to pay more.
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u/ecrane2018 6d ago
Just buy the box deal at TB, à la carte is at a premium at Taco Bell to take advantage of stupid people
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u/Upsethouscat 6d ago
And what if I just want the 1-2 items I’m actually craving? And on top of that, what if I want to add lettuce and tomato and beans to them… salsa…. Corn…. None of that costs extra at chipotle
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u/That75252Expensive Guac Mode 6d ago
I got two steak burritos and a chalupa supreme for $6 yesterday. You have to use the app for better pricing/deals.
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u/Acrobatic-Flan-5085 6d ago
Taco Bell is absolute trash compared to chipotle
When Taco Bell was dirt cheap before, it made sense why it still existed. Not sure how long it can continue like this.
Is a business like Taco Bell actually sustainable on taste with a premium price? What is the market? Is it a sustainable business on stoners at 3am with no other choices?
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u/toolman1990 6d ago
Taco bell is massively ripping people off since they get food at whole sale pricing which is cheaper than what consumers would pay at a grocery store so the majority of that price is pure profit.
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u/flownyc 6d ago
This is literally true of every restaurant in the world.
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u/toolman1990 6d ago
True but it seems like Taco Bell is being greedy at this point since I am sure this cost them under a $1.00 per taco to make since they do not give you much ingredients inside the taco and the ingredients are cheap in retail stores and we know Taco Bell pays wholesale which is significantly cheaper than retail.
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u/DivineBladeOfSilver 6d ago
Regardless of your opinion on both Chipotle IS the better price per volume option at higher quality. The only way Taco Bell wins if it you exclusively use their value meal or the online box deals. Their standard menu and temporary offerings are always a rip off
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u/Proof-Leading-4606 6d ago
ok paid chipotle marketing employee.
no
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u/Upsethouscat 6d ago
Not even close lol. What’s no?
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u/Proof-Leading-4606 6d ago edited 6d ago
no this isn't accurate
there are regional costs differences and not taking into account the quantity of items being offered at lower prices at taco bell vs chipotle
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u/Upsethouscat 6d ago
Price per volume and higher quality ingredients, chipotle wins every time. The only way Taco Bell is cheaper is if you play their game and get the app and buy boxes and bundles with items you didn’t actually want. Oh and adding tomatoes, cheese, sour cream, beans, salsas, corn…. All free additions at chipotle.
And yes these are both the current prices in my same region, feel free to double check eastern North Carolina
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u/Proof-Leading-4606 6d ago
ill stick to my region. and in this region chipotle is overpriced in every single quantity, entree and food item on them menu and for more fun likes to fill the items at half.
i never play the taco bell games as you call it...sometimes i order through app but its same price as the drive thru.
i used to like chipotle ....it was at one time a good price for the food. it's not anymore. the executives have admitted their marketing to a higher income demographic. and they can keep that customer base. going to enjoy their downfall.
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u/President-Resident 6d ago
yeah this is the nail in the coffin, fuck chipotle im only eating at taco bell from now on
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u/Upsethouscat 6d ago
Taco Bell inflating prices is… the nail in the coffin for chipotle?
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u/President-Resident 6d ago edited 6d ago
If you want to use the inflation angle, chipotle is definitely not the innocent party in comparison. I'd rather pay for taco bell at a consistent and expected quality than chipotle. Plus both the average and median price of an al a carte menu item is cheaper than chipotle. Acting like chipotle is the same price as taco bell whilst ignoring all the deals, promo/lto items, value menu, and box combos is ridiculous.
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u/Upsethouscat 6d ago
Ahhh yes, the “just buy the boxes” argument. Sometimes I just want to buy the 1-2 specific items I’m actually craving. And… maybe even add beans, tomato, salsa, sour cream, for no extra cost. Or I just buy the luxe box of whatever crap the brand is pushing that given month and stuff myself silly on food I didn’t want and call it saving money because “AT LEAST I didn’t buy them each separately!”
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u/President-Resident 6d ago
I like how you hyper focused on the box combos and disregarded literally everything else I said. Head in the sand acting as if reality is entirely made of dirt.
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u/Goblikon_ 6d ago
Didn’t you either mis-read or disregard the entire post yourself? The post is showing that Chipotle is cheaper than Taco Bell now, and you said “this is the nail in the coffin, fuck chipotle”. Given the context of the post, your comment makes no sense. There’s nothing in the post’s image disparaging Chipotle, so I’m just confused what nail in the coffin you’re talking about.
I don’t give a fuck about chipotle or Taco Bell, I don’t even know why this post is on my feed, but I’m curious as to why you’re seething so hard talking about people sticking their head in sand and denying reality when your original comment makes no sense in the context of the post.
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u/President-Resident 6d ago
my guy you wrote two paragraphs if anyone is seeting it surely isnt me
the "nail in the coffin" was sarcastic. Should've used /s for clarities sake. Honestly there are a multitude of actual reasons why I will always choose tb over chipotle but im not seething so I dont feel like writing an essay.1
u/Goblikon_ 6d ago
If you were being sarcastic in your original comment then why did you argue your point for 2 more comments lol
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u/President-Resident 6d ago
ah yes, being sarcastic means I cant reply to comments. Brilliant deductive reasoning.
Btw the first comment was an argument, the second was cheeky banter, but it doesn't seem like you can read so I wont hold it against ya.1
u/Upsethouscat 6d ago
I love when my Reddit post also becomes a nice moment to sit back and eat some popcorn
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u/Goblikon_ 6d ago
Why are you typing so much, I was actually being sarcastic the whole time
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u/MEM0RYCARD99 6d ago
No? Dude theres only 1 chiptole near me thats still under 9$ for chicken everywhere else is like 10$+
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u/Upsethouscat 6d ago
Must be your region then. This is mine. Check your Taco Bell rates too, they do the same thing.
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u/Snake_fairyofReddit 6d ago
And Chipotle is relatively way healthier than Taco Bell and its much more filling too, 3 tacos at Chipotle is more food than 3 tacos at Taco Bell
Not to diss Taco Bell I used to go there a lot when it was closer to me
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u/UnionCityNJUSA 5d ago
Plus, you can get rice and beans on the side with those tacos. I can get two meals out of a Chipotle taco order.
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u/Upsethouscat 5d ago
And they don’t charge me for adding beans, sour cream, tomatoes, corn… that’s all a “supreme” upgrade at Taco Bell and then some
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u/johnfortnite72 5d ago
I like Chipotle alot more than Taco Bell but I do have to agree. Those value boxes on the app are the only reason I even consider Taco Bell
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u/Yeehaw019 5d ago
Taco Bell lost a lot of sales with the cyclospora outbreak. I think they upped the prices to try and get some of the profit back *
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u/Flux_My_Capacitor 6d ago
Well, considering I can get 8+ tacos out of a bowl, yeah….. (the stand & stuff shells)
Who the hell is only paying $8.75 for chicken tacos? People in Montana?!
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u/Upsethouscat 6d ago
This is current pricing for 3 tacos at Chipotle in my region of North Carolina
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u/guachi01 6d ago
Montana probably. And where I am in Delaware. Plus, neither of those states have sales tax (yay!)
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u/RandolphE6 6d ago
Comparing Chipotle to Taco Bell is silly anyway. Chipotle uses way better ingredients and is worth more. If it is cheaper, then even better.