Chipotle — Blog — Healy Chen

Never eat alone

After my Wednesday evening workout session, I typical go to the local Chipotle for sustenance. There’s no better way to get the big three macros (carbs, protein, and fats) covered than a Chipotle burrito bowl. I’m fairly convinced one can properly bulk up feeding on that alone. Best of all, and the whole point of going there in the first place: I don’t have to cook after a strenuous workout.

But that post-exercise meal plan is changing. California’s new minimum wage law for fast food workers - a luxurious (sarcasm) $20 an hour - went into effect on April 1st. In response, franchises with over 60 stores nationwide (that would be most of the fast food chains we know and frequent) have raised menu prices. You didn’t think they were going just absorb the increase in labor cost, did you? Profit margins are too holy for that.

The price for the burrito bowl I usually get at Chipotle went up about $0.75. That may seem trivial, but fast food costs have already ballooned in recent years due to the pandemic supply chain and inflation. The latest increase is the straw that is breaking my camel’s back. After working out this evening, I cooked at home instead. $15 for a burrito bowl is so not Raven.

While I am happy for the fast food workers getting a raise, I just won’t be the one supplying those dollars. In fact, eating out has become so expensive that I am implementing a new personal rule: no more outside food unless I’m with others. The social aspect is definitely worth paying for. Otherwise, like the McDonald’s meme goes: we have food at home.

Food for thought

The tricky thing about ordering Chipotle online for pickup is that the amount of food you receive varies wildly - for the same order. You’re obviously not there in person to watch the worker build the burrito bowl. The physical presence does something psychological: the worker can’t be too stingy to the live customer without risking potential wrath. You’d better give me the proper amounts, or I’m going to say something not nice!

There’s also the factor of them not knowing your entire order beforehand, whereas ordering online, the entire ingredient list is on the printout. The bowl (or tortilla) is the same size, right? So if me the worker knows exactly what needs to go into it, I can apportion appropriately as I please. For a live customer, I have no idea if they’re going to want to add guacamole in the end (always pay for extra guac). I can only fill each ingredient as the customer dictates.

This is a problem only at Chipotle. I expect the same McChicken no matter if I order at the a restaurant, or through the McDonald’s app.

If I wanted to maximize the amount of food possible, I would order in person every time. However, I tend to get Chipotle after working out (the best/easiest way to hit your macros, non cooking for yourself division). For expediency of getting to eating as quickly as possible, I order through the Chipotle app for pickup. Therefore I leave in the hands of the Chipotle gods how much food I get in each bowl. Some days it’s a bonus, and others I can make legitimate claim of getting ripped off.

What’s most important is feeding the body after strenuous workouts. A Chipotle bowl is just about perfectly filled with protein, carbohydrates, and fats. Sodium is a bit on the high side, typical of restaurant food, but post-workout you kind of need the extra bit of sodium - as electrolytes - fed back in anyways.