Chipotle Mexican Grill — Restaurant in Aldine

Nestled in a bustling strip along Houston’s North Freeway, the Chipotle Mexican Grill at 10701 North Fwy offers the familiar flavors and customizable dining experience that have made the chain a go-to for fresh, fast-casual Mexican cuisine. As a frequent patron of Chipotle, I approached this location with high expectations for their food quality, which, true to form, did not disappoint. However, while the culinary experience remains a highlight, the atmosphere—particularly the exterior—leaves much to be desired, casting a shadow over an otherwise satisfying visit.

Let’s start with the positives: the food at this Chipotle is consistently excellent, aligning with the brand’s reputation for fresh, high-quality ingredients. The burrito bowl I ordered was a vibrant medley of flavors, with perfectly seasoned grilled chicken, zesty cilantro-lime rice, and a generous dollop of guacamole that was creamy and fresh. The staff efficiently handled the assembly line, ensuring my order was customized to my liking with no skimping on portions. The salsas, from mild to fiery, were well-balanced, and the chips were crisp with just the right amount of salt. For those familiar with Chipotle, this location delivers the same reliable menu that keeps fans coming back—whether you’re craving a taco, salad, or quesadilla. The indoor dining area, while not luxurious, was clean and functional, with ample seating and a lively yet comfortable vibe typical of a busy Chipotle.

However, the experience takes a noticeable dip the moment you approach the restaurant. The exterior of this Chipotle is, frankly, filthy. The sidewalk leading to the entrance is littered with stray wrappers, cigarette butts, and miscellaneous debris, giving the impression of neglect. The outdoor seating area, which could be a pleasant spot for a quick meal on a nice day, is equally unkempt, with tables streaked with grime and trash bins overflowing. This lack of attention to the outside appearance is jarring, especially for a chain that prides itself on a polished brand image. It’s not just an aesthetic issue; the mess detracts from the overall dining experience and raises questions about the location’s management priorities. A quick sweep or regular maintenance could go a long way toward elevating first impressions.

Service-wise, the staff were friendly and efficient, though they seemed stretched during peak hours, leading to a slightly rushed feel. The line moved quickly, but I noticed some customers waiting longer than usual for online orders. This didn’t detract significantly from my visit, but it’s an area where tighter management could enhance...

This is my favorite Chipotle. Today I went in with my bf and had the burrito bowls. The person who greeted us was a lady, medium height, Latina, with makeup done nicely with a prominent lipstick feature. She had the most friendly demeanor and nicest attitude! I’m not sure maybe she was the manager. I was like everyone should be like that…. I felt very welcome like she wanted us to be there and was genuinely happy to see us.

The food was also great. The chips were salty, I personally could have done with a little more coverage but, they were fresh and delicious. The barbacoa was amazing!! I’ve been to other Chipotles and it has a lot of fat but not here. It was fresh and had a lot of meat as opposed to fat. I also tried the new garlic steak but it didn’t appear to taste all that different from the other ones….

All in all the people who work here do a great job and I keep coming back, thank you all!

A little improvement would be suggested with the cashier working today. She was a lady, African American, and tall. She was very confused about what the little stackable color coded indicators meant and thus charged me for an item I did not order. However, I went up later and asked for it to be put on the side, so it was no big deal.

Definitely recommend...

Unfortunately I cannot give 0 stars so I had to do 1 star in order to write this review. The manager at this location/ Maria was extremely rude when I asked if that was the regular size of the protein portion, she looked at me funny and even shook the spoon even more (for more chicken to fall down) as she said “this is the size of the portion” very sarcastically so I said “then I want double” because I was so upset. I am on Keto diet so only asked for a little romaine lettuce, a tiny spoon of brown rice, pico, cheese and guac and as you can imagine my bowl was very little specially with the amount of chicken they gave me so I don’t think it was fair for me to pay $15.00 dollars for that bowl. I am not trying to take advantage of a restaurant but enough is enough and I’m tired of this people always giving so little of everything (except rice and beans)… It’s funny to me how this serves food for the good of the “company” when that same company is not going to care when they have to fire them because customers are complaining of how rude they are and how little their serving sizes are. Very sad!! Worst Chipotle location ever! Don’t go there unless you want to spend a lot of money for so...