Chipotle Mexican Grill — Restaurant in Waco

⭐ If I could give zero stars, I would. Unfortunately, one star is the lowest option available. For the sake of your time, health, and overall well-being, do NOT eat at this Chipotle location (721 S Fourth St, Waco, TX 76706).

From the moment I walked in, I was shocked—not only by the appalling lack of cleanliness, but also by the unsafe food handling practices and the completely unprofessional behavior of the staff. There were eight employees visibly working, yet none seemed remotely concerned with cleanliness, safety, or customer service.

Let’s start with the atmosphere: offensive music was blaring louder than the store’s own audio system, and employees were more focused on goofing off, yelling at each other, and using offensive language (including repeatedly calling each other "gay") than on doing their jobs. The environment was chaotic and unwelcoming, with no regard for professionalism or the comfort of paying customers.

More alarmingly, I personally witnessed several food safety violations:

One employee, still wearing gloves, pulled up his sagging pants and continued preparing food without washing his hands or changing gloves (see attached photo).

Multiple staff members were on their phones while gloved—then went straight back to handling food without any attempt at handwashing or glove changes.

The food prep area was filthy, with debris everywhere, cluttered countertops, and a floor that looked like it hadn’t been cleaned all day.

The front of house was equally unacceptable: dirty tables, overflowing trash bins, spilled beverages that had clearly been sitting for some time (photo attached), and even utensil holders contaminated with the beverage.

As if that weren’t bad enough, customer service was non-existent. The employee at the register made me wait while he joked with his coworkers. I had to repeat my order multiple times just to receive what I asked for. No sense of urgency. No courtesy. No care.

And when I finally sat down to eat, my chips were stale, my steak was overcooked and far too salty, and ultimately, my entire meal was inedible. I ended up throwing it away.

This location is a textbook example of what happens when staff are completely untrained, unprofessional, and unsupervised. It was dirty, unsafe, and deeply disappointing on every level.

To the management at Chipotle: is this the image you're proud of? Is this what your brand stands for? They truly are living your value of “Being Real”. “Being Real” at not caring for the safety of the consumer, “Being Real” in not caring for the full experience of the customer, “Being Real” in providing horrible quality of food and “Being Real” in providing a dirty space for your consumer to eat at. THANK YOU FOR “BEING REAL!”

To the Waco Health Department: I sincerely hope this location is inspected promptly. Based on what I saw, serious violations are likely being overlooked, and this poses a risk to public health.

To future customers: you’ve...

Okay the food is good and great even but I cannot stretch how stupid their portions are. I ordered rice, chicken, and cheese in their bowl thing and a bag of chips. First when I asked for it the lady put like 2 quarters of a scoop of rice, it didnt cover the bottom of the bowl at all, then 1 quarter maybe less of chicken and you could tell because when i went to open and eat it you could count how many there were, then just a bunch of cheese to cover their mistake. Now once you see im only getting that little at least make my stuff to the line of the bowl, it was way under that which sucked because I was hungry. So the chips thing has been a problem but idk why they haven't fixed it, the bag is so huge but it's like they take those small bags and fill 2 up and dump it in there. It's ridiculous PLUS the little bags arnt even full, they are quarter full, if you're lucky youll get 5 chips in it and will the big bag at least 10. Fix it please because I don't fell like paying 1.40+ for a bag thats not even a quarter full or paying however much for a little bowl with twice as little food to eat. Other than the portions i don't know if this person got fired but every time on the phone if say my order and they would repeat it perfectly then when I get there its the complete opposite, they can have no customers and still get it wrong, wasting my gas. Then the girl told me that when I call in i have to watch them make it when i get there... LIKE whats the point of calling in anyway if youre gonna waste my time. Its not my fault you mess up when i gave clear order instuctions which littarly take no effort to write down and do. I now go to the other chipotle which is perfect, nice customer service, great atmosphere and portions. I love the other chipotle, did i mention they actually fill their bags so you dont waste your money. I don't know whats up with this chipotle but they need to get it together and be like their...

If I’m leaving a one star review somewhere, it has to be because the experience was atrocious. Well, that is exactly how I would’ve described my visit this evening.

I walk in five minutes after my pick up time for my mobile order. The food was not on the pick up stand. I asked the cashier (who, might I add, I couldn’t hear over the blaring, explicit rap music coming from the kitchen) if they had my order. He says that they already made it, and it should be on the shelf which it wasn’t.

He then asked the employee working the line if he had made it. The employee said he did, but since it wasn’t there, they started to make my order again. Instead of printing a ticket of my order or asking me, the employee working the line decided to make it by memory.

He got towards the end and put the wrong ingredients on each burrito. I yelled out that he put the wrong ingredients on the burrito and he seemed annoyed at the fact that I was saying anything at all. He then said “Well do you want me to remake it?” Uhhhh, yes I do! I paid close to $35 for these 2 burritos.

So for a third time they remake my food, which this time it was slopped together quickly and with no care. They slammed it in a bag and sent it to me across the counter to me without a thank you or a I’m sorry.

I’m not sure what happened to this location, but it was never this bad until recently. I had a similar experience last time I visited a couple weeks ago and chalked it up to just being the staff at the time.

Mark my words, I will never step foot in this location again after how I was treated as a customer tonight. The people working here need a serious lesson in...