Qdoba Mexican Grill

It’s Qdoba so you know what to expect — fairly consistent Mexican food that caters to the burrito, nachos, and tacos type of crowd. Sometimes you just need something fast though, you know?
I stopped by to get some easy takeout dinner for the GF and I. While I understand lunchtime is when the major rush is (and I hope they have the appropriate number of staff to accommodate it), around 5PM there were only 2 people serving the 7 people in line. It seemed to be the manager and one of the employees. This location could use a few more people to service its customers.
Other than that — it’s a Qdoba. You know what to do.

Look, I get it — this is «Mexican» fast food. But it shouldn’t be so fast to where the meat is Pittsburgh rare.
I ordered a steak taco salad and when I sat down to eat it, I could of sworn I heard cows moo-​ing at me. The steak was blood red. Now, I’m not a picky eater, and I adore meat being a bit red (medium is perfect). However, when bite-​size pieces of steak are not cooked through, I quickly lose my appetite.
I ended up chucking most of the salad in the trash for fear of getting sick from the uncooked meat. I know, many people eat rare meat, but you know what? I don’t. It’s just a phobia I have. So why is Qdoba cooking their steaks rare?
Perhaps it was just a lunch-​rush fluke on that day. I’ve had other things there that were decent, so perhaps I’ll give them another go. But I won’t order the steak.

When one of my friends (Jess C) texted me yesterday to meet her for a burrito, you best believe I dropped everything to get there. I live for burritos (when my nephew was swaddled as an infant, I used to call him a burrito… he’s yummy too!). Qdoba did not let me down. Staff was friendly, lots of vegan options, tasty burrito.
I wasn’t really impressed with their chips, wouldn’t order them again, but the burrito, hell yes!

Came here for some takeout a few weeks ago and saw roaches. I can never eat here again. Sorry Qdoba. Your queso was the best.

I love qdoba. Burritos are great. Sometimes get dodge chicken. But am addicted to their nachos.

Now that I am working in this area, I must confess that I am frequenting Qdoba far too often — however the Craft 2 menu allows me to eat one, save one — and thus not consume the requisite 750 cal minimum. (Beans plus rice plus any meat choice = about 660 alone).
Also the «new» whole wheat tortilla is 270 cals (not 330).
Additionally, they introduced a slightly spicy brown rice (a few calories less per serving than the white) in February 2013. I don;t like it though, so I still get the bad-​for-​you-​white rice.
Still, a cheap, calorie-​bomb on the go.
Oh — and I have to give a shout-​out to Antoine — the cute (nearly looks like L’il Wayne!) cashier who is super cool and friendly.

I’ve been a regular here for the past year and today they lost my business.
Charge me $ 9.16 for 3 hard shell tacos! That’s a disgrace!
I could have gotten the same meal/​quality for half the price!
Also, they are very stingey with their ingredients and do not spread them evenly. I really like the selection of topping they have but they don’t spare them!
You better change or risk losing a lot more business…

I come here far too often for lunch. It’s right down the street from my office! My usual order, three ground beef soft tacos with everything on it.
The staff is nice, becuase they pretty much recognize me!
I’ve managed to figure out the system. Come between 11 – 11:30am and you will avoid the throngs of people, that makes the line stretch out the door (it goes pretty fast, so it’s ok) go early because I find that the everything is nice and fresh. I’ve come later in the lunch hour and the taco is cold and a little on the meh side.
But all in all satisfies my taco cravings, when in a pinch.

5 stars for a mexican fast food joint. No question. Clean and fresh ingredients that you’re almost positive are real and the price is very reasonable!

Qdoba is great if you’re in the mood for quantity over quality. I love their queso burritos with corn salsa. However, most of the menu is pretty average and a little overpriced. It’s nothing like true Mexican cuisine, but it’s not a bad option if you’re hungry and craving a ton of food, quickly.

I needed a quick salad late at night and this was a great option. I skipped the tortilla shell and piled high the add-​ons. I especially liked the corn and the mild green chili. The guacamole was really more like plain avocado and was an extra charge, but it was ripe. Overall, a great spot for a quick salad!

Great service, fresh ingredients, always clean. One of the best fast food restaurants in the city!

Qdoba is your pretty basic build your own burrito place. This particular one doesn’t have anything particularly great or bad. The service is decent and the line moves pretty fast at lunch. This restaurant is one of the better «fast food» choices in center city and I recommend stopping here if you need something quick on the go that has a little more variety than a burger and fries.

Great food — however, didn’t care for the chicken tortilla soup — tasted a bit off.
I always get my usual naked burrito with pulled beef with rice, both beans, pico de gallo and light on the sour cream. =)
The customer service could use a bit of help. The staff seem to be bored. =) Lighten up a little — it’s a fiesta of food beneath your eyes!!! LOL

Above average Mexican fare. Leaps and bounds beyond Taco Bell. There really isn’t much that isn’t good on their menu. From taco’s to nachos to soup. It’s all really good. I would like it if the burrito shells were a little more crisper. They are too soft for my liking. I also think a meal with a drink should be less than 10 bucks, I think that is a bit much for lunch. Do like I do and get a courtesy cup with your meal. It’s free and saves you a few bucks

As I started to step down off of the bus at the corner of 19^th & Chestnut, I pondered where I might be able to catch a quick bite of food before meeting a friend to see a play at Plays and Players. I don’t have much time, so something quick would be awesome. I don’t feel like anything too fancy, so something casual and cheap would be nice. Perhaps the deity of your choosing would send me a sign and guide me to a place that satisfies these requirements. I look up as the bus doors close behind me and hear a cherubic swell of harmony as a beam of light from the heavens illuminates the sign of none other than Qdoba.
Turns out I was being guided by the Greek god of mediocrity. My steak burrito was was adequate, not a hecatomb (in the most classical sense) of meat, but enough. Not the ambrosia of the gods, but worth the $ 6 dollars I paid for it.
My main issue, the factor that decreases my rating from a kingly 3 stars to a meager 2, is the fact that they sell a number of drinks in plastic bottles yet have no recycling bin. For shame, Qdoba.

I’m vegeterian… I eat here once a week for lunch usually. Duh, it’s fast food, but the ingrediants are pretty fresh and the employees are pleasant.
I always get a variation of the veggie burrito or the cheese questadilla (w/​peppers, pico and onions). The burrito is a little too large sometimes. I alternate between the normal veggies, the queso and the fajita veggie mix. The quesadilla is quite good but a bit greasy… It’s not fine dining but it’s way ahead of other fast food places.

Dear Qdoba,
Why? Whyyyyyyy? Why do I ever deign to eat your food? Why is there no decent Mexican in Center City when I get the unstoppable craving that must be taken care of immediately? I hate you so much.
Chewy burrito tortilla. $ 8 something for a goddamn burrito that doesn’t even come with tortilla chips? Is that a fucking joke? Whatever. I hope you drown to death in some kind of shitty ass mango salsa that you probably serve.
This is not a diss on any of your employees, beeteedubs, as they seem entirely competent. But you suck a starfish anus.

I have to say, I have been «Chipotle-​loyal» for the past year, as much as my boyfriend has gone on and on about Qdoba and how much better it is. I finally gave in on Saturday and tried a Qdoba burrito for the first time. Here are my thoughts:
Looks like Chipotle, smells like Chipotle, tastes pretty much like Chipotle. They start out with the same tortilla press, and move on to the rice (same as Chipotle with the green spices mixed in), and then the beans. Qdoba has an offer of refried beans as well, which I don’t think Chipotle has. Same salsa options, sour cream, cheese, etc. I ordered the «Queso Burrito» which has something that Chipotle doesn’t: delicious, melted queso. It really made the difference and was so darn good. If you’re not a cheese fiend, I would say it doesn’t matter which place you choose, but it certainly was yummy.
Disclaimer: if you have anything to do for the next 3 hours after your lunch, do NOT choose Qdoba (or for that matter, Chipotle). The burrito is so filling that you are in a food-​induced coma for the next few hours, feeling sluggish and ready to hibernate. Or, if you have something to do after lunch, I would recommend getting the naked burrito or a salad. Seriously.

We have all heard the mutterings of our ethnic cuisine elitist friends poo-​pooing chain Mexican restaurants. More than just «burrito factories,» that truthfully will leave you missing a few of the rustic flavors of your Abuela’s kitchen, there are benefits worth noting.
Qdoba, which can be found in various ares of the city, offers several alternatives to your greasy versus overpriced dilemma. You may indulge in a traditional, fatty meal like tortillas and queso, complete with all the fix-​ins. By the way, I have eaten this three cheese sauce with a spoon. It’s far superior to its artificial counterparts and you’ll have more than enough.
On the more health conscious side, they not only offer all entrees with pork/​chicken/​or steak which you can observe from the counter being grilled whole before service, but your veggie options are endless and won’t leave you hungry. You can cut carbs/​calories by ordering a naked burrito… sweet! For under eight USD, you have gone from «fast food» to «a la minute» dining, which means you don’t have to be afraid to use the facilities. You have your choice of several salsas including a mango one that is oh so refreshing. Side-​bar: The cookies and brownies are better than I like to admit!
A caveat or two: You have to pay extra for guacamole! Come on guys… that’s so not cool. Secondly, I have tried about five in Philadelphia and there is only one that is consistently awesome-​1528 Walnut. You don’t want to learn the hard way how much an efficient staff can drastically improve your lunch break! The young ladies are adorable and fast and if you’re lucky enough to catch the GM, he’s a real cutie. I dub it a go to spot even for a late snack since they’re open until 10 pm. Take advantage of their reward program which gives you every tenth entrée on the house.