Chipotle Mexican Grill — Restaurant in El Cerrito

First of all I just want to say that the staff is very courteous and their establishment is well kept, one of the cleanest restaurants I have ever been in. They made the atmosphere inviting as Chipotle has a clinical dining area more reminiscent of a hospital cafeteria than a Mexican restaurant. I give the staff 5 stars the food is a different story, I'm a Californian and have lived here all my life when it comes to Mexican cuisine I've sampled quite a bit and have certain expectations about what particular dishes should taste like. I ordered the carnitas burrito with white rice, black beans, green salsa and pico de gallo. I found the carnitas bland which shouldn't be as carnitas are supposed to be slow cooked in spices like oregano, marojam, black pepper, salt, cumin and Mexican oregano. Spicy---not hot---carnitas have an earthy almost savory taste to them. The rice occasionally tasted like lime I will give Chipotle this you can really taste the lime, but not the cilantro. The pico de gallo was average, nothing special but it didn't harm the dish. The black beans were under seasoned if at all. Plus chips the meal costs $9.75, which is high considering I could have gotten a burrito in San Francisco @Taqueria Can-Cún---where prices tend to be higher ---dressed in the same way for under $8 and with chips for free* to wrap up it's all pretty average. My review actually makes it sound way more special than it is.

Should you go to Chipotle: Yes, if you have IBS, if you think Mexican food is too ethnic. If it's closer than a taqueria and then get some McDonald's instead.

*Upon further review You could get a super burrito and a super taco for less than I paid for a burrito and chips...

I really liked chipotle. Every time I was hungry I'd consider it due to the general portions and affordable prices. However, lately I've had nothing but disappointments, being the last one that at this branch today. I ordered online to collect. I've to wait until everybody in the line got served (what's the point of having an order to pick up system if it's much faster going there in person?). Just to be asked for my name and asked me to wait .. After 15 minutes of wait, I could leave the premises with a bad with 2 cold burritos. At home, after warm them up, I realised that the person who prepared by burrito used either very thick or three tortillas. Additionally, the ingredients weren't mixed at all. This was a frustrating and disappointing experience. Please don't waste your time and money in this place.

Ps: I'm...

My husband bought food from this location recently and the guacamole had the avocado sticker in it and I almost ate it. This guacamole was supposed to be for my six and ten year old as they love the guacamole from here. I’m just glad I was able to see it before my kids ate it as I just tried it and scooped it out with my tortilla chip the sticker was folded and hard to see but I saw something suspicious and yes there it was. Please be more careful and pay more attention to these things. We honestly love the guacamole but now I’m suspicious every time I eat it or just now I avoid it. This again made me realize about how much things only Gad knows what we all have eaten and never realize. We are all better eating at...