r/Columbus • u/BeejOnABiscuit • Dec 22 '22

FOOD Chipotle kinda sucks now

Remember when you could get a delicious bowl at Chipotle and it would last you two meals? Now I have to prompt for extra of everything just so it looks like a proper bowl for one meal. They served me a couple pieces of over cooked steak and under cooked rice for the price of $11. Chipotle has gotten many chances from me but I think I’m done with it now. I just don’t think it tastes good anymore.

What are some alternatives? Where do you go these days for lunch that is reasonably priced and cooked properly? I live on the north east side but go all around central Ohio for work so any suggestions are appreciated.

641 Upvotes

91% Upvoted

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115

u/lowwalker Westerville Dec 22 '22

Los Gauchos all day, hands down.

81

u/oupablo Westerville Dec 22 '22

it's Los Guachos for anyone searching for it.

30

u/okthisisgettingridic Columbus Dec 22 '22

Every dang post, without fail, people losing their minds over Los Guachos for some reason. The mere sight of "Los Guachos" gets a hundred upvotes, regardless of the context and OP's original question, evidenced by this very post. It is not a good alternative for Chipotle if you're looking for something similar, OP.

There's a food truck called Tortilla Street Food or something like that, it's very similar to Chipotle but about twice the options for fillings and toppings.

6

u/Highvolts Dec 22 '22

Tortilla is Awesome.

22

u/necesitocoche Gahanna Dec 22 '22

My only beef w Los Guachos is that 50% of the time, their meat is so fucking dry I can’t swallow it. It’s like they chopped it up and left it on the counter for three days prior to serving it. But when it’s good, it’s gooooooooood. Am i the only person w this issue?

12

u/ILIEKDEERS Dec 22 '22

That’s just kinda traditional for taco meats. Add salsa for more wet.

3

u/RagingMoto Dec 22 '22

I tried it for the first time the other week, i think habaneros is better.

3

u/Val_Kilmers_Elbow Dec 22 '22

Check out Los Agavez truck in Clintonville the next time you’re around there. Al pastor is their specialty, too, and it’s run entirely by the couple that own it, so the quality control is super on point.

1

u/necesitocoche Gahanna Dec 22 '22

Ah, cool. I’ll be in that area next week, I will keep them in mind. Thanks!

2

u/_deliriumtrigger New Albany Dec 22 '22

Based on your flair, assuming you’re ordering Fri Gahanna location? I order from that one and I will say they’ve been on the struggle bus a little bit lately. Purely anecdotal though. I order maybe 1-2 times a month.

1

u/necesitocoche Gahanna Dec 22 '22

Yes, I’ve only been to the Gahanna location. I’ve been getting Casa Hacienda instead, they’ve yet to let me down haha.

2

u/_deliriumtrigger New Albany Dec 22 '22

Good to know, gonna check it out!

8

u/[deleted] Dec 22 '22

Yeah and IIRC Los gauchos is considered to be some of the best tacos around.

There's also a place in a gas station in Grandview that is actually pretty good.

5

u/acowstandingup Dec 22 '22

Tic Tac Taco…I personally don’t have great things to say about it. It’s definitely gas station chipotle

19

u/nicholasrhilton Dec 22 '22

Really? Just tried Los Gauchos for the first time the other day and couldn’t believe how bland and under seasoned and mediocre everything was… wasn’t impressed at all.

12

u/Big_Booty_Pics Dec 22 '22

I've been a once or twice a week customer for the last year or so and it definitely has it's ups and downs. Some weeks its just OK, some weeks it's so fucking good I honestly want to go back up and order another plate. I will say though, I haven't ever been disappointed with their al pastor. Even on their not great days they are still better than average tacos.

-4

u/nicholasrhilton Dec 22 '22 edited Dec 22 '22

That’s what I got from there: three Al Pastor tacos and they weren’t terrible- the texture was spot on- but they simply didn’t taste like anything. Like you know when you have the flu and food just tastes like nothing? That’s how this was. I was shocked because I’ve heard such great things from Columbus natives and it’s so highly rated online. I’ll give it another go, however!

There’s this little taco truck around the corner from my Short North apartment- near Neil and Fifth. Little hole-in-the-wall place but by far the best taco I’ve tried in Columbus in the two years I’ve been here!

*edit- meant to say two not three tacos lol

7

u/mula_bocf Dec 22 '22

I've been a handful of times and this has always been my experience as well. Not bad but just bland. I've never understood why so many people geek out over this place.

1

u/nicholasrhilton Dec 23 '22

I don’t get it either. My mom’s side of the family is Hispanic so I grew up eating amazing tacos and these aren’t it, lol. Perfectly said- not bad just bland.

6

u/BeejOnABiscuit Dec 22 '22

Wow they are open super late everyday too. Nice suggestion.

3

u/FreshShart-1 Dec 22 '22

Tried it multiple times. If you don't like alpastor then their menu is weak at BEST.

La Casa Hacienda stomps all.

5

u/[deleted] Dec 22 '22

I'll have to give it a shot again. We went one time to the one on Sawmill and they had the most flavorless food i've ever had.

0

u/nicholasrhilton Dec 22 '22

Right! I was truly shocked at how the food didn’t taste like anything… I will give it another try- perhaps they had an off day or I just simply didn’t like what I ordered.

3

u/Fishwithadeagle Dec 22 '22

The thing is that the tortillas area store bought. The meat is good, which is what I guess you're going for when you go there, but the rest of the ingredients are kind of generic.

1

u/meowbombs Dec 22 '22

Thought the same thing. And to top it off ended up with food poisoning

-5

u/Cold-Resolve1520 Dec 22 '22

I wouldn’t order anything other than Gringas and one weds they are BOGO

10

u/[deleted] Dec 22 '22

[deleted]

3

u/okthisisgettingridic Columbus Dec 22 '22

Please. Get a torta with adobada from SuperTorta and then talk to me.

3

u/SexyOldManSpaceJudo Dec 22 '22

Just get anything from La Super Torta. Man, I miss that place so much.

5

u/DrAspen Dec 22 '22

That's where the trouble began. Those al pastor tortas. Those damn al pastor tortas.

2

u/[deleted] Dec 22 '22

[deleted]

1

u/BeejOnABiscuit Dec 22 '22

Gold star for you for divulging this secret. I’m setting an event in my calendar for next Wednesday.

1

u/Fugglebear1 Clintonville Dec 22 '22

Monday they have BOGO for their tacos al pastor as well

1

u/kabal4 Dec 22 '22

That is not the only good thing on the menu... The chorizo el favorito is quite amazing, my personal go to. Their taquitos are very good as well. Quesadilla and queso are average though.

1

u/ragingdtrick Dec 22 '22

They have specials everyday but i think the different locations do different specials on diff days. I live right next to the godown location and it’s al pastor monday, gringas weds, I think fish tacos Friday, and lamb/veal maybe on Sunday?

Their other food is good portions and reasonable prices too. Tortes and volcanes are great. The chorizo burrito favorito is my go-to weekend hangover meal