Chipotle Mexican Grill — Restaurant in Burnaby

The food is pretty good, if you can stand the long line ups and lack of ingredients. So I'm giving this a low rating not for the food but my experience on last two visits.

On one of the visits I ordered a salad bowl. After the service staff made the bowl, and I asked for salad dressing, she said they were out but offered to give me more salsa or sour cream. It would have help if they told me that before I ordered as I could have change it so something else. I was not offered if i wanted to replace my order. Instead I felt like I was stuck with it. Perhaps only I see the irony of ordering a salad but not having dressing for it? Imagine ordering McD's Big Mac but told they're out of Big Mac Sauce and offered mustard and extra lettuce instead. Salad dressing to a bunch of leafy greens is like tartar sauce to fish n' chips, soy sauce to sushi, butter to bread... get the correlation? You can certainly eat it without but would you enjoy it?

Second and most recent visit after lining up 20 minutes behind 15 other patrons, I find out there's no white rice, only brown rice (it's a dietary requirement for the person I'm purchasing the item for, to consume white rice vs. brown). The strange thing is, on the counter where they put together online orders they had white rice! So really it's a lie to say they were out of white rice, just that the online order were more important the the sorry people who lined up in person...my bad for not ordering in advance! When I queried this, I was informed that it was completely different/separate. Mars and Saturn are completely different and separate but I'm standing in a single Chipotle store, yet not qualified to purchase something from a counter set up 15 feet away. Consider the requirement for white rice was for a person who's health dictated that he needed to white rice vs brown, I was hoping they were more "lenient and understanding", instead made me feel like I had to "beg for a favour" with a big whopping NO at the end. Side note: they had about 4 people putting together online orders and only 2 to deal with a line up over 30 people.

In both instances I wish the service staff had a little bit more training in how to "apologize and empathize" rather than a "take it or leave it" attitude. Not rude but certainly too blase to care if you never returned to buy from them again. Maybe I'm ancient in my age, but when I worked in the service industry so many years ago, we were taught what customer service meant.

In my case, I don't need to eat at Chipolte and I'm sure they wouldn't miss a single customer like me. Given that my last two visits resulted in me being disappointed, I fail to see the need to further return to this location, or Chipolte for that matter.

It may seem a bit dramatic to stop being a patron for something that seemed so insignificant, so take what you will with this review. As I said, the food wasn't bad when I was able to get what I ordered but I don't need to wait in a long line just to be dissatisfied with the food (that I didn't get) and service (that I...

Fresh, Healthy and Yummy Veggie bowl:

As a frequent visitor to Chipotle Mexican Grill, I have come to truly appreciate their Veg Rice Bowl, which is an absolute delight to the taste buds. One of the things that sets Chipotle apart is their commitment to using natural ingredients that are always fresh, resulting in a meal that is not only delicious but also healthy.

The Veg Rice Bowl is a fantastic option for vegetarians, as it is packed with a variety of flavorful ingredients. The base of fluffy cilantro-lime rice provides a perfect canvas for the rest of the ingredients. The generous serving of black beans adds a hearty protein element, while the grilled vegetables contribute a satisfying crunch and natural sweetness.

One of the highlights of the Veg Rice Bowl is the selection of fresh toppings and salsas. From the tangy and mildly spicy salsa verde to the refreshing pico de gallo, each topping enhances the overall experience. I particularly enjoy the guacamole, which is made with ripe avocados and adds a creamy richness to the bowl.

Another aspect I appreciate is that you have the freedom to customize your rice bowl to your liking. You can add or omit ingredients, adjust the spice level, and create a bowl that perfectly suits your taste preferences.

The portion size is quite generous, making it a filling and satisfying meal on its own. It's an excellent option for those looking for a quick and healthy dining choice.

Overall, my experiences at Chipotle Mexican Grill have been consistently positive, mainly due to their Veg Rice Bowl. With its tasty and wholesome ingredients, it's a go-to option for me when I'm looking for a delicious, fresh, and nourishing meal. If you haven't tried it yet, I highly recommend giving their Veg Rice Bowl a chance; you won't be...

NOTE: I only post really good reviews or bad, no three star reviews. So here it is: service staff need more training on how to properly prepare meals, among other issues. Whenever I visit I notice that some patrons receive more food and others less. It seems that if the servers like you based on your appearance, attitude, or friendliness, they will give you more food from what I observed. Also, each time I tell the server what I want, they always ask redundant questions about the same information I told them. For example, Me: "I want a steak bowl with white rice to go." Them: "Do you want white rice or brown?", etc. The restaurant layout is also bad, having to line up in a close (too close for my preference) circle around tables full of patrons to order. Also, I don't know if it's just me, but sometimes when I get to the order station after queuing up in a long, awkward, circular line, trying not to bump into other people, the server leaves without saying anything and starts to do other things. Then I wait 2-3 minutes until another server shows up to take my order. And, interestingly, anyone that has gone to Chipotle at least once knows that guacamole cost extra. It's even displayed on their menu, yet each time I get to the guacamole station they always tell me "Guacamole is extra". Yes. It. Is. Extra. Please just give me the guac. Also, the quality of ingredients has gone down lately (2024) even though they have at least four employees in the kitchen constantly cooking. I had the steak today (May 08) and it was bland and dry. Unimpressed. Due to these inconsistencies, I'll take my business to Chronic Tacos located in the food court. At least there you get what you...