Burrito Challenge
By Warren Rojas
Mexican munchies are a tried and true crowd pleaser. But with so many South of the Border-style snack havens to choose from, where should a diehard burrito fan turn?
Fear not, filled-to-near-bursting tortilla toter. We’ve done the heavy lifting:
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COMPETITORS |  |
| New Mexican-style tacos, burritos, salads, quesadillas and enchiladas | Specialties | Burritos, bowls (over rice), salads and tacos (soft and hard shell) |
| Seasoned chicken, green chile-marinated pork (mild-to-medium), red chile-marinated pork (spicy), barbecue pork and shredded beef | Proteins | Barbacoa (shredded, spicy beef), carnitas (braised and shredded pork), chicken (chipotle-spiced bird) and steak (sliced, grilled beef) |
| Refried beans, pico de gallo, shredded lettuce | Vegetables | Black beans, seared green peppers and onions, homemade guacamole, pinto beans (cooked with bacon) |
| Green chile sauce (mild-to-medium), house salsa (zesty), red chile sauce (spicy), Spanish rice | Spice | Plain tomato (mild), roasted chili-corn (medium), tomatillo-green chili (medium-hot), tomatillo-red chili (hot) |
| Breakfast burritos, anyone? | Extras | Champions hormone-free, organically raised meats and locally sourced produce |
| Inserting homemade guacamole into the mix runs $0.99 extra. | Premium toppings | Inserting homemade guacamole into the mix runs $1.85 extra. |
| $5.79 | Price | $6.10 – $6.50 |
| Multiple NoVA locations; www.anitascorp.com | Locations | Multiple NoVA locations; www.chipotle.com |
Verdict: Anita’s signature chile marinades are simply fantastic. But Chipotle clinched the burrito crown with its pork-powered pinto beans, flame-licked fajita mix and the sheer bulk of its offerings.
(December 2010)