I think a 3 may be somewhat harsh, but I am giving it this because it is claiming to be authentic Mexican food and charging outrageous prices for it. I don't think the food is terrible or anything, you just shouldn't go here if you want Mexican food. It is kind of like taco bell...just overpriced. For the $8 they charge here, you can get an authentic Mexican burrito, a side of rice and beans, and a drink. I just don't get it really. What I really love about this place is the 3-cheese queso. Maybe they should mix the pinto beans and black beans and call it 2-bean frijoles? Anyway, if you have tried chipotle, you have tried qdoba. There are those fanatics out there that prefer one over the other...all I can say is you probably aren't Mexican if you are truly debating this. They are the same thing except you'll probably spend a little more money at qdoba for the 3-cheese cheese...or for "fajitas" (they add onions and green peppers like Chipotle, except they charge you). I hear they have other good options, I've just never tried em. read more

This place sucks! it's a good concept, good food but lousy service and management. They are really behind with technology! I ordered Gumbo without meat - but they can't remove meat option. I had to pay for chicken gumbo, however their register will charge you extra .70 for adding Green Peppers and Onions. According to Qdoba, killing animals is less expensive over Green Peppers and Onions! I get it, it's common for Vegetarians to pay extra for their meals, but this one is not worth it $10 for lunch! I find it morally wrong and i would never support them with my business again! read more

If I could find a way to mainline whatever is in Qdoba's rice recipe, I don't think I'd ever be unhappy again. The problem is, I think the secret ingredient is more addicting than anything else I could simularly put into my bloodstream. Having done extensive "scientific" research into all of the fast food Mexican places in Chicago, I have found there is no way to duplicate the euphoria of eating a Qdoba burrito. I have attempted to calibrate all the different salsas, rices, and tortillas at every other similar restaurant (that are closer to work and cheaper than Qdoba such as Burrito Beach and Burrito Buggy, and yes even Chipotle) but it has been an epic fail in conjuring the sheer joy that Qdoba's staple item produces. What I think I have discovered is that it's the rice (which makes me feel bad for those people cursed with being allergic to cilantro in the way that makes it taste like soap) and the sticky tortilla the fillings are wrapped in - which is where I think they actually hide the crack. This particular location, under the El tracks at their southwest corner, recently seems to have added more indoor seating to overcome their one former flaw (long, but quick moving lines and lack of indoor chairs). The window seats are particularly great for people watching on Van Buren Street if you can get them. Personally, I have an issue with waiting to tear into a Qdoba burrito until I get back to the office, so eating in is a necessity. I need my fix right away! read more

So, I've long had an internal debate as to whether Chipotle or Qdoba is better. Are they authentic? No. But if you're looking for a quick lunch....they fill a need. Today has sealed the deal for me, though. Each trip to Qdoba has gotten worse and worse as of late. I think today will be my last. I ordered a Burrito Bowl. Could they let it go? (apparently, it's what Chipotle calls them...ouch, branding, ouch) No. They said "Do you mean a naked burrito?" Sure. This meal was doomed from the start. I order a bean "naked burrito". Very little rice, and while they oblige me by adding both kinds of beans, they don't bother to drain the juice before they slop them over my rice. Gross. I complete my order, am obnoxiously rushed out of the way down the line (You're busy. I get it. I'm moving!) and sit down to eat. Lettuce was disgusting. It was the inner part of the lettuce-- large chunks of white with no flavor. The green parts were rather limp. Also, I'm not positive the beans or rice were ever warm, because when I mixed it all together, it was as cold as a party thrown for Donald Trump by Rosie Odonnell. Flavor was mediocre. At best. Chipotle it is! read more

I was heading home one recent evening after working a bit late, and it was a crummy snowy night. I knew I had to go home to shovel the sidewalk, but I was hungry too. I wound up at Qdoba (actually located at the corner of Van Buren and Wells even though its address is in a building with a Jackson address). Its closing time is 8PM, so I actually made it with an hour to spare. It was really dead in here on this cold snowy evening, so I had a booth in the dining area all to myself. I was compelled to order the Ancho Chile BBQ burrito with pulled pork. I also asked for toppings like corn, tomato, and cheese. The tortilla had a too-moist texture and no flavor, but the ingredients combined with the tangy-yet-spicy sauce to create a rather tasty combination (or was I just really hungry?). read more

This was very much my first love. I used to work across from one and discovered the Chicken Mole Burrito. Since then, those bastards got rid of it and replaced it with the Ancho chile burrito. Which is pure shiet in my eyes. The steak is better at Chipotles, but the chicken is just as good. If you want a good deal, order the shredded pork. It's more filling and they tend to give you more since they have to use the tongs to grab it, instead of that Facist spoon that only houses 6 cubes of meat. I love their habanero salsa cuz it's muy picante. But I will always miss my long lost love...the Chicken Mole burrito. If anyone else misses this burrito, please message me. Perhaps we can start up a petition. read more

There are no words to describe how much I love Qdoba's Mexican Gumbo (with grilled veggies). I've been to a couple other locations, but this one is right across the street from my apt, so this is the one I frequent the most. The staff are kind of hit-or-miss. Some employees are super friendly, others don't really speak or make eye contact. My biggest complaint is the inconsistency of the portion sizes. Sometimes my gumbo gets 3 scoops of rice and one ladle of soup (which barely gets the rice wet). Other times it's 1 scoop of rice and 3 ladles of soup (which is basically just SOUP). Can we get some consistency here, please?! I would say the perfect ratio is probably 2 and 2. But regardless of what my perfect ratio is, you'd think they'd have at least SOME kind of guidelines for this, wouldn't you? Don't Subway employees have to count the number of pickles they put on a sandwich? Also, my portion size shouldn't vary so drastically from visit to visit. Sometimes my bowl is so full that it leaks after the lid is put on, other times it's half empty. The same goes for the burritos. Sometimes they're brick-sized, other times they're skimpy as hell. Sometimes you get a full bag of tortilla chips, other times you get half a bag. :( They'd get 5 stars if they could just train their employees on how to properly make the entrees, so it didn't feel like such a gamble whenever we go here. The food is always delicious, but it sucks to pay the same price as always, but get half as much food sometimes. read more

I've always been a Qdoba fan, but that chorizo breakfast burrito is on point. Where I live (Tulsa), Qdoba doesn't offer breakfast. Bummer, right? But lucky me I have to go to Chicago for work occasionally and what do you know? A Qdoba right at the entrance of my office. I get their chorizo breakfast burrito every morning throughout my stay. Filling, tasty and a bit of spice makes for a perfect breakfast. Can't wait to come back to Chicago for my next business trip just for that yummy burrito! read more

Hey Danny, what it's missing from Chipotle is the extra salt, gristle and fat. It may not be as satisfying as Chipotle to you, but that would be saying that it's not as satisfying as say a double bacon cheeseburger. Unlike it's mass marketed national rival, Qdoba is a REGIONAL chain that prepares everything fresh in-house with fresh ingredients. Put your finger on that. For my two cents, this is one of the best locations. Consistently fantastic food and service. I've never been dissatisfied with a meal, eat in or take out. The staff is friendly and they offer a lot of healthier options - brown rice over white, wheat tortilla over white, etc. and watching them prepare the guacamole by hand with fresh avocados is a bonus. read more

Wow these places still exist... Apparently. But overall it's a nice chipotle sister. I love their queso dressing however they charge u arm and leg for fajitas when chipotle free. Overall food tastes better and you can customize more freely. Feels like chipotles bowl are a bit bigger size too. Not a bad option when there's a long line at chipotle. Granted it's not Mexican food rather American style Mexican so don't be expecting Los burritos brothers or something along those lines. read more

QDOBA Mexican Eats - Tasty - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I think Qdoba might just be my fave fast food Mexican place since today. I outgrew Chipotle a long time ago, and you know Taco Bell doesn't stand a chance in this category (it's "super" fast food). Taco Fresco is too healthy, Burrito Beach feels too heavy, and Taco Burrito King--well, I'm only comparing places you go to while sober. Now I've only eaten their tacos and chips, and these were catered to us, although I expect both to taste the same at the restaurant. Something about the marinated meats (I tried chicken and steak) is just so addicting! I don't like how they cut them up in cubes, though, I prefer thin strips, but it's still outstanding. And the guacamole was fresh with just the right amount of avocado chunks (not much). And if you are ordering a taco bar lunch for a large group, consider Qdoba. They will come equipped with aluminum pans, candle fuel, metal stands, and all the fixings you need (meat, lettuce, cheese, chips, pico, different salsas) in containers all labeled for you. Great service both over the phone and in person for delivery! read more

I order Qdoba catering for my office 2-5 times a week for meetings and events with attendees ranging in numbers from 10- 100. The food is always plentiful, delivered hot, and on time. The delivery person is always friendly and does a great job setting up and the manager always calls after the lunch hour to inquire if everyone was happy. We always are, we love Qdoba here over at RSM. read more

I'm not too big on chain restaurants. These corporate conglomerates kicking out the unique mom and pop restaurants are killing. However, they make a mean burrito and taco salad. Their taco salads are awesome. However, I have a problem. I've changed my eating habits of eating healthier and backing off of gyro's and stuffed pizza. You'd think a salad would be healthy. Hello?!?! A salad should be healthy. Curious of the nutritional facts, I went to their website to see if it was good or not. 56 grams of fat and 1400+ calories. WTF.!?!?!?!? What's the purpose of eating a salad that's not healthy? It's like saying that smoking crack cocaine isn't REALLY that bad for you...they'll both kill you some day! No wonder I was still gaining and not losing. 6 months of lies that I was eating. If you are a calorie counter, not the place to go. Damn it's good, but no more... Qdoba, we are done...no more lies! I could have continued to eat gyros and stuffed pizza and not felt guilty about it. read more

I ordered my food through Doordash. My order was supposed to arrive at 5:37 pm. At 5:55 pm I called to see what was taking so long with my order. The Doordash representative said the the restaurant ran out of the beans I ordered on my burrito. I said just replace them or don't include them. Then at 6:20 pm the Doordash representative called back to say that Qdoba ran out of chips and salsa. How can a Mexican restaurant run out of beans, chips, and salsa? Ridiculous read more

I LOVE Qdoba. For anyone who goes to Chipotle over the Q, you are missing out! Their queso sauce is to die for, and it is the horribly unhealthy addition to their menu that makes their food far superior to Chipotle! I always get the steak nachos and add rice to them. I also had the mango chicken salad a couple of weeks ago and it was great, except that we all agreed that it actually had too much chicken in it (yes, this is possible). But like all salads that you don't make yourself, it has a ton of fat & calories in it. Thus why it was so delish! And if you are a frequent diner, be sure to get a Qdoba card to get your 11th meal free! read more

The three cheese queso and the quesadillas are really good. The thing about places like Qdoba (or even Chipotle) is that it always seems like a crapshoot with the chicken and steak - sometimes it is to die for, sometimes you might at well be chewing on a rubber ball. The ground beef doesn't get used as much as the other ingredients and often the people on the line won't add water and stir it up.. so be prepared to get dried out ground beef. The shredded beef has never done me wrong at this location. I usually play it safe and get a grilled veggie burrito (mmm!) or a taco salad and takes my chances on the chicken or steak. This place gets mad crazy during the lunch hours but the employees are fast and rarely make mistakes. The employee turnover rate isn't high as it should be for a place like this, and for us customers that is a good thing. read more

Oopsie! My burrito exploded as she was making it! Is it my fault that I like loaded burrito or was she lacking expertise? I am not sure, but this explosion caused me to be late for few minutes from my Lunch break. She had to make another one! Definitely a clean spot and conveniently located in the financial district. The outdoor sitting is a plus! read more

Far better and tastier than Chipotle. I love their chicken nachos and guacamole, but am in love with their breakfast burrito even more. Their "secret" is the queso sauce and the never dry, extremely juicy and tasty chicken that they put on their menu items. Their salsas are good too, but take a side of queso with chips, instant snack! read more

Wandered in here during a -15 degree day in need of the closest thing to "Mexican" food in downtown. All I gotta say is it should be a crime to be outside during that kind of weather. Of course Qdoba is far from "real Mexican" food but when your whole body is frozen underneath the 5 layers you're wearing, I think it's time to go indoors. Being from southern Cali, I had never heard of Qdoba but instantly I was reminded of Chipotle. I guess it's pretty comparable but there are WAYYYY more options here at Qdoba. I got a burrito bowl which was decent but not as satisfying as the many burrito bowls I've had at Chipotle. I know they're starting to open up more Qdoba's in so cal...wouldn't mind seeing them more out here. read more

Average place. Pretty good food. Service is just okay, sometimes a little slow. There are long lines around lunch time but almost always a place to sit as they have a lot of room. They also have TVs if you are needing a little entertainment. But if you need a good lunch for under $10 this place is a good option. They also have coupons every now and then for buy one get one free meal which is pretty awesome. read more

Much better selection that the Formerly Owned by McDonalds Chipotle, and the points card seals the deal. The breakfast menu is OK, but the lunch/din-din is solid. read more

Yes, Q'doba is a lot like Chipotle. I don't "frequent" either place so I won't be one of the ones comparing the two. It was incredibly busy and under construction (remodeling) when I was there. Despite all this, the service was fast and friendly. The food was good-it wasn't very hot though. I dunno, it didn't seem worth nearly $9 for what I got. read more

Qdoba is a-okay! I compare it mostly like another Chipotle-type restaurant. I've tried their taco salad which comes with a taco shell bowl, filled with lettuce, toppings, and your choice of meat. I tried their chicken, which I have to say is quite tasty. I will be back to try their other menu items, especially their tortilla soup and I love a good bowl soup! Overall, okay food, okay service, okay prices. read more

Look, I'm not trying to say this place is great; it isn't. But it is FAR superior to Chipotle in the burrito category, and is an affordable option for lunch. To put my review in the proper context, consider this: the only thing I *ever* order here is the chicken burrito. Everything else I've tried sucks. But that chicken burrito is ok. But watch out for the guacamole: when they ask if you want it, they don't mention that if you say yes it's like $2 and not all that good. To all of the reviewers that object to the authenticity of this place, come on, what do you expect? It is a chain store located in the loop, and I don't think they're deceptive about what they are. read more

Update: I tried a kids nacho & the grilled chicken makes a difference! Queso by itself? Meh. Queso with chicken & all the right fixings? Delicious! So now I give you 4 stars :) The way the chicken is seasoned makes the food taste better. Original Post: I never had Qdoba prior to this. I just wanted a quick lunch so I decided to get chip & queso with a side of guac. You get a nice size of queso & a big bag of chips for $4. Not bad. But the queso is meh. Not really flavorful & after a couple of chips it gets bland. I added guac to my chips with queso & it taste better but still not worth another try. Chips taste like nothing is on them. I had one chip out of the entire bag that tasted like lime & salt lightly touched it. Due to the queso & chips being so bleh, do I really want to try their $8 burritos and quesadilla? Not really. I would assume everything else is not that flavorful. I give this review 3 stars because the staff was nice & I got through the line pretty fast (if I could do 3.5 I would). So I won't take away from that. But food wise... I'm not sure about this place. read more

Like an upgraded chipotle. There are good vegetarian choices and lots of spicy options. Food tastes pretty quality. read more

If you've never been to a Qdoba let me 'splain how it works...there is a counter (very subway-ish) and multiple people at different points to fulfill your every mexican food desire. So, I start at the beginning and tell the nice man I want a naked vegetarian burrito with grilled vegetables. He asks what kind of beans, I say "black". He asks what kind of meat I want, I say "No meat, just grilled vegetables". Then he passes me onto the next person without even a look at the aforementioned grilled vegetables. Here's how the next back and forth went: Her: Sour cream? Me: No Her: What kind of salsa? Me: Pico de gallo Her: Cheese? Me: No. Can I have grilled vegetables on that? Her: Guacamole? Me: Yes, and can I please have grilled vegetables on that? (See how I added the "please"?) Her: Guacamole? Me: Yes, I'd like the guacamole please. I'd also like the grilled vegetables. *Pointed at grilled vegetables* Her: Guacamole or grilled veggies? Me: Both? Her: Guacamole? Me: Yes Her: *passed the naked burrito sans vegetables off to the person who wraps it up* Me: Can I get grilled vegetables on that? Other Her: Sure, did you tell them you wanted grilled vegetables? Now, I realize I'm not dealing with engaged people who aspired their entire life to make me a naked burrito. However, I do think it's acceptable to only ask for grilled vegetables once, or twice, before a person is given grilled vegetables. Also, why am I reviewing a Qdoba? More importantly; why are you reading reviews of a Qdoba?? This is the low point of my week. PS; I did enjoy the naked burrito, in case you care. read more

An entire meal consisting only of chips and queso? Um, yes please. This place has efficient staff that is quite adept at handling the lunch rush. As fast casual Mexican places in the Loop go, this was my go to when I worked closer to it because it was a great value for the money plus, again, who doesn't love chips and queso for lunch? This place is clean and while not terribly easy to find, is quite wonderful. Four stars for you, Qdoba! read more

Ah Qdoba... how I will miss you if I move back to Canada. You and your flavorful steak. Your friendly staff. Your "naked" options for people who pretend like they're eating healthy. Your cookies made me feel like I was tasting chocolate chip for the first time. You never judged me for being utterly ignorant of Mexican food. I'll never forget the months it took you to train my palette to go from mild to medium salsa. read more

If you live anywhere near corporate/fast-food america, you have almost undoubtedly had a burrito at some point from Qdoba or Chipotle. If you have only been to Chipotle, here is the reason to come to Qdoba: the burrito shell itself. When you first make your burrito order, the first worker on the line will put your burrito shell into a steaming device that moistens it sufficiently to allow all the ingredients to fit well inside and then be wrapped up together without worry of spilling out the sides like a fat guy in an airline seat. What this means is that when you sit down to your meal and unwrap your burrito from its tinfoil shell, you will actually be able to consume it in an enjoyable and reasonably clean fashion, and a normal number of napkins will be sufficient for you rather than having to empty the entire napkin container to have any hope of keeping your pants clean over the course of your meal. I don't know about you, but for me, this is a big factor. Additionally, the rice at Qdoba is fantastic. I am sure it is decidedly more unhealthy than the rice I make at home for a variety of reasons, but they manage to avoid it being so greasy that I am disgusted with myself upon finishing. Finally, a few more points to Qdoba for stocking Cholula brand hot sauce, which I find to be more conducive to mexican food than Tabasco brand (which has its own place elsewhere). read more

it tricks you into thinking it's just like Chipotle but with more options...IT'S NOT. they give you less flavorful chicken and steak. Meager portions of meat. Bland salsas AND when I asked for one of their specialty things with pesto-they ended up just giving me a regular chicken bowl. GROSS. Just go to Chipotle-Steve Ells will thank you and so will your taste buds. read more

Went here today for lunch and my latest visit to Qdoba firmly solidified my feelings about this place, Chipotle is better. After trying the fancy burritos at Qdoba last week and then giving the Taco Salad it's day in court today, this place just does enough for me to warrant 3 stars. The main reason is their meat lacks in adequate seasoning, too bland. read more

I used to love this place, but the service has gone completely downhill in the past year. My significant other and I arrived exactly an hour before close, and ran into our neighbor, who was the ONLY OTHER PERSON in line. And it still took them twenty minutes to get us to check-out. I guess I really shouldn't expect much from someone who has a name tattooed on their neck. On top of it all they ran out of guacamole, and refused to make/get anymore our. Listen, I'm willing to pay the obnoxious price of $1.19 for an extra scoop of guac. so have it available. It's also customary to wait until the customer leaves before making annoyed eye-rolls at them. All my neighbor was doing was asking questions about their offerings. It's not our fault that you work at Qdoba, we've all been there though, so suck it up buttercup or quit. read more

I watched a guy stormed out of this Qdoba after a fight with his girlfriend but not before stopping to grab a Mello Yello refill. Now that's a power move. read more

I had not eaten at a QDOBA in at least 5 years and I was pleasantly surprised when I had it today. The staff was friendly at this location and I loved the burrito that I ordered. You have to love the queso! read more

Great place for lunch. Qdoba seems to put more flavor into there food as opposed to Chipotle. Don't get me wrong, Chipotle can make a great burrito, but I think Qdoba spices creates a flavor different from Chipotle. If I had to make a decision between the two, I would go Qdoba. Plus, you can get points for free food at Qdoba. read more

You can think of this place as a Chipotle, but 100 times better with more options for your burrito. A MUST visit!!! I just moved to Chicago and was relieved that they had one up here. Highly recommended!! read more

I have other preferences when it comes to burritos but I can't stay away from Qdoba because of that damn pulled pork quesadilla. I ask for the roasted corn salsa instead of the fresh tomato (the tomato makes it soggy and not stick together). I have a problem when there is an inch or so of empty tortilla around the edge of a quesadilla. Who wants empty bites? But Qdoba fills that huge tortilla shell to the edge and then puts in that press so the cheese is melty and delicious. And it comes with sour cream and guacamole for dipping, perfect! read more

Very good service. The employees are very friendly and will give you suggestions if needed. The food is also very tasty! Better than chipotle. Good portions of food, set up of this location is very well placed. They are also very clean which is always a plus! I enjoy coming here during my break from school. read more

I liked their food, plus if you are thrifty (and/or able to contain yourself) the servings are so huge you could make it into two meals. I am all for that. read more