I suggest you re-read the thread and come back when you see what post I was responding to when I characterized Chipotle as “bland.” Hint: It’s not in the post about heat and there’s a damned good reason for that, because “bland” has nothing to do with heat. Something can be bland and burn-your-socks off hot.
Roy Rogers, hands down. Their “fixings” bar is vile. And you can see just how gray and lifeless the burger is when it’s just limp there on the squishy roll.
I can’t judge Sonic properly because I’ve only had onion rings there and only once. However, they were fried in some weird tasting grease that was so nasty I couldn’t finish them and will never go back unless in hypoglycemic shock.
Strangely I’ve never even heard of Roy Rogers, and it’s not like I haven’t done my fair share of traveling.
Come on. There were 2 consecutive posts regarding Chipotle and while you didn’t quote the one about fire your comments obviously were addressing the discussion at large. If you intended a distinction there you probably should have been clearer because I think it’s unfair to call me out for making the assumption.
That you said this later in the thread reinforced my interpretation quite a bit. I can’t help but feel like you are playing gotcha here. Whether you meant “bland” in regard to heat is really neither here nor there since my original argument stands, that saying Chipotle is furiously hot or entirely devoid of heat are equally loaded with hyperbole.
Well, it’s almost dead now, and at its peak it was a northeast chain. Part of the reason I hate it (and I’m sure many other people) is that long-distance buses always seemed to stop at the travel plaza Roy Rogers and you were stuck eating there and using their nasty bathrooms. For some reason, I’ve also eaten at a Roy Rogers in Manhattan (I’m pretty sure that was out of desperation).
Reading the wiki article, I had no idea that Roy Rogers a) was founded by Marriott and b) started in Northern Virginia very close to where I used to live.
So…are all the Chipotle haters here from California or any other state near the Mexican border? Because if so, that explains it. I have internet friends who are from California, and all of them unanimously agreed that Chipotle sucked. But that’s because they could get much better Mexican elsewhere. I like Chipotle, but I’m from the Midwest. Our choices are Chipotle or Taco Bell, and I sure as hell am not gonna choose the latter over the former.
Anyway, I chose McDonald’s, because the small patties + big buns thing drives me up the wall. I don’t eat burgers for the bun, I eat them for the meat! Also, their fries are bland and tasteless.
Dude, I was freaking defending Chipotle as being a decent, inoffensive place. I just said I didn’t like it because it was bland. It had nothing to do with heat. Why do you insist on thinking I’m playing some sort of stupid game with you? I didn’t clarify it then because nobody was talking about heat level at that point. How was I supposed to know the conversation was going to turn to heat? (Evil Captor’s post wasn’t there when I responded.)
Once again, my statements about blandness have nothing to do with the heat level of the food at Chipotle.
The comment that came later about the heat was there because I found it somewhat amusing to think that a major chain establishment is using Scotch bonnets in their sauces because, nobody but tempered chili eaters would tolerate it. It’s a losing proposition for a fast food establishment. I might eat there for the novelty of it and if I wanted a capsaicin kick, for whatever reason, but I probably wouldn’t eat there anyway, since the food is, in my opinion, bland.
And I’m not hyperbolizing when I say I don’t taste any heat in Chipotle’s offerings. I don’t. At least not in the normal burrito or whatever their standard fare is. Dude, I’m not lying. What could possibly be the point?
I chose McDonalds because there are several alternatives that do burgers better than they do.
But I was tempted to pick Long John Silver. I’ve had a number of poor meals there. But they’re the only fast food seafood restaurant so I keep going back.
Roy Rogers are still around. They have a contract with the NYS Thruway and have franchises at several rest stops.
How is White Castle not the winner? STEAMED burgers? Are you effing kidding me? WC is the only food I’ve ever consumed that made me ill for the entire next day. I believe that I nearly shit myself into the hospital. Aside from that? Did I mention STEAMED? Blech! :mad:
I guess Burger King is my least favorite, though I haven’t been to a lot of these places. There isn’t any reason to go there because there are always other fast food places that do what they do better.
McDonald’s is pretty solid. I like their breakfast menu, and a double cheeseburger/milkshake combo is good from what I remember.
I like steamed hams. But only in Albany. Never Utica.
They’re kinda-sorta steamed. White Castle officially calls the process “steam grilling.” It’s really a griddled hamburger with some steam action going on. You can get actual fully steamed hamburgers at a place called Ted’s Restaurant in Meriden, Connecticut.
From Georgia. Chipotle is too hot. I and my family only went once and we all agreed the food was just a burn in the mouth. None of us has expressed any interest in going back.
I don’t know what to tell you man. This is detached from reality. If you walk into a Chipotle and ask them about their spicy options (which are clearly detailed on the menu if I recall) and opt for the spiciest option (barbacoa and red chile salsa) and you think there’s “no heat” only 3 options are possible.
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You have no taste buds at all.
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That store has terrible quality control.
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You’re exaggerating for effect.
My comment that there was some chilehead snobbery going on was based on options 1 and 3. You may not have intended it, but that’s what it sounded like to a guy who both likes really spicy food and has had Chipotle a lot. It’s not “hot” by any stretch, but it’s not glorified tomato sauce either.
We both live in Chicago and we both know there are a million good burrito joints. almost all better than Chipotle and spicier. There are also probably a half dozen “chain” burrito joints that have popped up in recent years as fast food options, Qdoba, Burrito Beach, Chipotle, Baja Fresh off the top of my head. They all probably vary in their heat, but based on my infrequent visits I’d say Chipotle has the spiciest options. If you genuinely think that Chipotle has no heat I can only assume that you fall into the categories listed above or you ordered the non-spicy options.
Well, suffice to say, I don’t know what to tell you, either, man. It’s not worth it for me to argue with this about. I’ve never had the barbacoa there, but the chicken, steak, and carnitas are not spicy.
Actually, no. I don’t think the average local burrito joint is spicier than Chipotle at all. They generally have no spice. The heat is added with the sauce, to the customer’s liking. At least the burrito and taco joints around here, the skirt steak is marinated in a bit of lime and salt, and then grilled over a fire. I’d be surprised if there’s any chiles in a standard carne asada or chicken burrito. This isn’t some kind of macho posturing, I’m pretty damned sure there isn’t any hot pepper in the meat or in the burrito/taco unless you add it.
There’s a small amount of Red Chile (and perhaps some chipotle) in Chipotle’s Pork Carnitas Burrito or taco.
Well, that’s obvious. Are you saying that the burrito wasn’t spicy without the spicy salsa? In that case…yeah, duh.
Just like the “Favorite Chain” thread, my choice is colored by being vegetarian. Long John Silver’s. Not that their food is particularly bad, but they have the fewest options for me to eat, so I never really think about going there. I’m game for every place else.
No Captain D’s or Arthur Treacher’s nearby?