Chipotle vs. Willy’s
Decatur Metro | April 11, 2013 | 10:12 am
I haven’t done a vs. post in a while, but after spending a little time with this past week’s NYT Food & Drink Issue, I’m particularly interested in the response to this juxtaposition.
I haven’t done a vs. post in a while, but after spending a little time with this past week’s NYT Food & Drink Issue, I’m particularly interested in the response to this juxtaposition.
Chadwick Stogner
JC
Bulldog
At Home in Decatur
DEM
DawgFan
FM Fats
lumpintheroad
macarolina
Champs Al Says
Brad
Rival
Looking Back: The 2011 Atlanta Snowpocalypse
Not much of a competition for me. One of them sources and uses sustainable and organic ingredients whenever possible, and one of them does not. Of course, I’d happily prefer one of the thousands of combinations of possibilities at Raging Burrito any day.
Easy, Bell Street Burritos! Between the two you mentioned, Willy’s because the taste and options are better. I can’t stand Moe’s though. That’s disgusting – no flavor whatsoever.
Chipotle, hands down. I used to like Willy’s a lot, but the last time I ate at the local one, the quality had gone down tremendously.
[whisper: examine your spelling]
Chipotle has only five ingredients. I work right across from them and it gets a little boring. Plus, they don’t have any salsas besides bottled tabasco. Willie’s is better, but I will also say Raging Burrito is a step up from them and Bell Street is my favorite for burritos. Secret most people don’t know: Raging Burrito has AWESOME fish tacos. As someone who rolled burritos at Frijoleros in the early ’90s, they all get it wrong by not putting the cheese on when they are steaming the tortilla and melting it. Who wants cold grated cheese on their burrito?
Chipotle, clear winnder, though Willy’s is pretty good. I am sure we can all agree that Moe’s, on the other hand, is an affront to quality, taste, and self-respect in general.
I think corporate marketing has to be taken with a grain of salt. The key phrases to Chipotle’s sustainable and organic claims are “whenever possible” and “when practical”, which to me means, “not very often” or “hardly ever”. There is no way they are buying locally either. Maybe I’m just a curmudgeonly cynic though. Saying all that, Chipotle is pretty
good but my vote goes to Willy’s. Better salsa, better chicken and less expensive. Always nice customer service too.
I like that Willy’s offers tofu and a wide variety of toppings. But I do think the ingredients at Chipotle are of higher quality. However, Willy’s has never given me a tummy-ache, and Chipotle has, so I gotta give it to Willy’s.
Not just offers tofu, but it’s actually good, too.
bleah
yuck
Drive past those two equally sorry options and head to Taco Veloz on Buford Highway.
si. es muy bueno.
You know what’s better than El Taco Veloz? Mexican Pie on 29 in Lawrenceville (just past Ronald Reagan Parkway). And just as cheap. Don’t tell me I’m wrong until you try it. Great pizza at Italian Pie right next door too (awesome Italian/Mexican husband/wife and family combo running both!). Year and a half in OTP exile did have some rewards 😉
Willy’s. Hands down.
That’s a tough one. Both good. Chipotle for the burrito bowl. Willy’s for the spicy chicken and the salsas. It’s a toss up for me.
Raging Burrito is superior to both.
I’m totally cool with many of you burrito snobs and other assorted misguided Chipotle/Moe’s fans not being on the Willy’s bandwagon. It’s hassle enough fighting through the Emory fraternity/sorority detritus to get my burrito and fill up my six ramekins of salsa, I don’t any more of you people coming between me and my dinner.
Is there a word for snobs of snobs?
Answered it myself – thank you Urban Dictionary! http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=inverse%20snobbery
True dat, mofo. Or something like that.
smug + snob = smub? smob?
I guess i misunderstood the question
Neither, Bell street burritos in Inman park. Tastes just like Tortillas back in the day…..late 80s
I used to work across the street from Tortillas and ate there three or four times a week for years. I do not find Bell Street a satisfying dupe. It’s okay but no where nearly as good as Tortillas; the red sauce has far more cumin, BTW.
The clairemont hotel is across the street from Tortillas old site……
I was hoping she meant the Diaz Market, but that only works if she is Mario’s wife.
It’s Clermont. And I can’t say how I know this, but I promise you that Nellie is not Blondie. I’m guessing she was referring to Dugans. Amirite, NB?
tortillas tasted better in the late 80s?
So my more specific inquiry was basically the angle Carl took. Many Decaturites pride themselves on both their concern for keeping business local and food organic/sustainable/etc. And while these things often overlap they sometimes don’t.
So where do you fall in a world where you can only choose one burrito – local business or organic food?
I think Jason nailed it above. I doubt that a very high percentage of Chipotle’s ingredients are actually “organic” or “sustainble”. So I’ll take the better-tasting local guy’s burrito any day!
I like ’em both, but am pretty partial to the barbacoa at Chipotle.
Barbacoa at Chipotle, that’s what I’m talking about. But if we’re talking burrito of choice? Raging Burrito.
Both good, but you can get out of Willy’s for much less $$!! Better salsas at Willy’s (better than Raging Burrito too).
Props for differentiating yourself!
-JC#1
Glad you guys worked it out peacefully. Much better than when [edited] started posting as JT and we had to meet up at high noon on the square.
I used to write off WIlly’s as a Moe’s ripoff, until I actually tried one a few months back. Their food and service is as good if not better than Chipotle, but the interior isn’t quite as “hip”. Willy’s adobe chicken burrito with onions and peppers is hard to beat.
That’s funny, because Moe’s is actually a Willy’s ripoff. They even opened their first location just down the street from the original Willy’s in Buckhead.
And Willy’s is owned by guy who lives here named Willy
Chipotle please.
Not sure why their food drives me wild, but it sure does.
Willy’s, hands down. Better quality and more variety.
Yum, Chipotle. Thank goodness for McDonalds investing in them, building and growing them, and then spinning them back off. If not for them, Denver may still be the only place you could enjoy. Simple and delicious.
Willy’s is currently the clear winner but here are some signs that Chipotle might catch up:
http://vegnews.com/articles/page.do?pageId=5656&catId=8
Chipotle Expands Market for Vegan Sofritas Option
The fast food chain has added the meat-free filling to all Northern California locations.
After a successful test run of its new braised tofu option in San Francisco, Mexican fast food chain Chipotle recently expanded its test market to include all of Northern California. In February, Chipotle announced the spiced soy option following previous trials of the vegan filling Garden Blend, which didn’t fair as well. Starting this week, residents of the East Bay and Sacramento can enjoy burritos, bowls, tacos, and salads featuring Oakland’s Hodo Soy Beanery tofu. Steve Ells, Chipotle’s founder, says even those outside the compassionate crowd will laud the dish. “It’s so delicious that we believe it will have a broad appeal on taste alone,” says Ells. If Sofritas continues to sell well, it will be added to Chipotle menus throughout the US.
I’m not sure I’ve ever had a bad burrito, so no side dish of snob here. I used to go to Frijoleros a lot (hi Dave!), but I’m okay with Moe’s, Willy’s and Chipotle. Probably eat at each an equal amount (actually, I’d go to Willy’s more if it was closer). Was the Willy’s on Roswell Rd. near Chastain the first one? I went there in the mid-90’s shortly after it opened and wasn’t very impressed. Tried them years later and actually did enjoy their food. I’m just happy these places are around for a cheap meal (actually, two meals since I always only eat half per sitting… finally wised up to that).
Willy’s for us because it does charolitas just right, like in the Southwest, and because it has bland quesadilla option for the picky one amongst us.
Chipotle got their permits the other day. It is a go. It will be interesting to see if Decatur supports this chain.
Huh? Where? Has this been reported anywhere?
Hopefully in the Chick-fil-a spot
A Chipotle is coming to City of Decatur? Where?
Taqueria El Vecino, corner of Lavista and oak grove roads. Way better than Willys and Chipotle and better too than Raging Burrito. Takes about 15 minutes to get there from downtown Decatur.
Shut up! Don’t tell the Decatur food snobs about our Saturday night secret dinner spot! The Saturday, after 5:00 only, special dinner of carnitas over New Mexico green chili grits is un-freaking-believably delicious and addicting [warning: it’s a lot of food. One special plus two tacos and a spicy cheese dip leave two of us very full!] We’ve found the “regular” tacos to be hit or miss but I don’t think I’ve ever had anything off the smoker that wasn’t outstanding.
After dinner at Taqueria del Vecino go next door to Ella Guru and buy some of my old vinyl.