4. Restaurants

Qdoba Mexican Grill

58 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL, 60601
  • (312) 629-1190
  • Store is closed

Qdoba Mexican Grill Menu

  • Burritos
  • Cheese Nachos
  • Signature Flavors
  • Taco Salads
  • Three Tacos
  • Tortilla Soup

Healthy Meal suggestions for Qdoba Mexican Grill

  • Burritos
  • Cheese Nachos
  • Signature Flavors
  • Taco Salads
  • Three Tacos
  • Tortilla Soup

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Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.

  • Madison R.

    Qdoba is always consistent and fast, but I particularly like this location. Its just underneath the el and very easy to get to. Staff and management are friendly and the restaurant is very clean and nice.

    (5)

  • Ciel D.

    Generally I come here on weekdays and it's consistently good service, clean, and great food. I came here on a Sunday and had a very rude girl angrily make my food. She misheard/didn't listen as I ordered and when she started to make my food wrong I stopped her before it was too late. She glared at me and told me I hadn't ordered what I did. I said I did actually order what I had said, and she stormed over to finish. Normally quesadillas come with pico de gallo in them. She didn't put any in, and I asked if I could have pico... Big mistake. She then launched into a tirade about how that's not allowed. She also didn't give me salsa with the quesadillas. Again, that comes standard. Or at least every time I order (the exact same order every time) I get salsa and pico. I didn't think it was a big deal. Being that I'm usually here during lunch hours weekdays, I feel like the "quality" staff must have the weekends off.

    (3)

  • Maximilian Z.

    This location is perfect for those needing a quick burrito fix before getting on the Metra train. I'm almost always getting a queso chicken burrito or the BBQ chicken burrito - and savoring it while taking the train ride back south. The food here has always been hot, fast, and made to order right in front of me. I've lost track of how many times I've stopped here, and never once had a problem. Bonus point star for the working Coke Freestyle machine!

    (4)

  • Willie W.

    The best quick bite in this area. Staff is always friendly and service is fast. Plenty of seating, and a hugh soda selection.

    (5)

  • Zuzana L.

    First time at this restaurant. Ron was very pleasant letting us try different salsas and sauces. Food was great, big portions and excellent service by Ron!

    (5)

  • Kymberly J.

    Qdoba is like Chipotle but better. They have more variety and the ingredients seem more fresh and blend together perfectly. I had the Mexican gumbo which was perfectly satisfying on a cold winter's day in Chicago. It as spicy just the way I like it and as all the other menu items, it was customizable with salsa, cheese, hot sauce, etc. The only thing that stuck me as weird was that the gift card I bought from Q101's half price deals didnt cover drinks. Since when isnt a gift card good for the whole order?

    (4)

  • Ericka L.

    Their Nachos are good. Didn't like the steak a whole lot so I will stick with chicken or beef if I go back. Came to this particular location because I went to grab a bite before seeing a play. There is one by my house that I might give another try. Not better than Chipotle, but does have other interesting options.

    (3)

  • Y. W.

    This was my first time at any Qdoba. I ordered 3 chicken tacos. They were good, but not hot at all. Cheese wasn't even melted. My friend ordered a steak burrito and she gave me some. It was good, but also cold. Staff was friendly. I may go here again, but not anytime soon.

    (3)

  • Ozzie S.

    I think as far as mexican fast food restaurants go, this is one of he best. I eat here often, and haven't had a bad experience yet. I especially like how efficiently they get me in and out, as I usually am on the run when I go. There rewards program is decent too.

    (4)

  • Chris S.

    Since this is just a comparison between Qdoba and Chipotle...Guacamole at Qdoba - .75. Guacamole at the other place - $2.00. Same amount, same container, both are homemade and great. The other difference is that at Qdoba they put half as much rice and twice as much meat on my burrito, just as I think it should be. Qdoba also has more options, including breakfast. The price is about the same, maybe a little less than Chipotle. Still just an overpriced, fancy-pants burrito joint.

    (3)

  • Kelly V.

    They use a mix of dark and white meat, but it is mostly dark meat, which tastes terrible, and the taste and juices penetrates the rest of the salad. I had to throw it away.

    (1)

  • Shanti N.

    I came in here today, a week after my first visit, as I had a time-sensitive coupon to redeem. I also thought I would strike while the iron was hot, and avail myself of the free regular-size fountain drink that was loaded on my rewards card. Fountain drinks are seldom, if ever, exciting affairs. I could barely contain my glee, though, when I noticed the Coca-Cola Freestyle machine here with over 125 different flavors and customizations of Coca-Cola branded products. I filled my cup with diet Barqs and am anxious to try the vanilla Barqs on my next Qdoba run.

    (5)

  • CJ S.

    I know some may say if you don't like chipotle why Qdoba? its basically the same, well I love the quesadillas @ Qdoba. I get a choice of whole wheat or flour tortilla which, I love because healthier choices have started to reduce my waist line. Yum! Yum! I love this place.

    (4)

  • Alex M.

    When we lived downtown, this was my wife and my's favorite lunch place. Once we ordered we would find the stool by the window and sit and watch all of the people walk by. Great three cheese queso nachos. What a way to spend lunch.

    (4)

  • Frank O.

    I don't know why people obsess so much over Chipotle but are vehemently opposed to QDoba. Really QDoba is the superior variety since they also have different sauces you can add to complement the flavor of the meat. Yes it will alter the nutrition, but is that why you go to QDoba or Chipotle? (I know you can make it healthy, but you miss out on a lot of the good parts) I got a smothered burrito, filled with chicken and with the smoky chipotle cream sauce inside and out. Great choice, it does have a real chipotle kick (the cream doesn't really pacify that). Wish I got more lettuce and tomato salsa with it, but still great. Staff didn't talk too much, but I got in and out quickly with my food so no complaints here.

    (4)

  • Steve A.

    I happened to visit both Qdoba and Chipotle during the same week, and was struck by how nearly identical they are. Both offer counter assembly of burritos or bowls with rice, beans, sauce, protein, guacamole, lettuce and a couple of other ingredients. And both result in fairly homogenous, bland tasting imitations of a mediocre Tex-Mex burrito. There are minor differences in the other offerings and drinks, but not really anything of note. The major appeal seems to be the weight of the food you can get for well under ten dollars. This aspect probably explains why most are located near college campuses. It's not the worst Tex-Mex food you'l ever have, but unless you're looking for a good deal by the pound, the appeal is really lost on me.

    (3)

  • Thanh B.

    If you want pretentious, fast, bad service Hispanic food. Go here! Ordered a chicken burrito got a cheese breakfast burrito instead. When I told them that it doesn't have any meat and also show them, they offered me my original order at no cost. Great! But when I come to get my original order, the supposedly "leader" of the cooks questioned why did I eat my burrito if it doesn't have any meat? ( had 2 bites and found that's there aren't any meat) Why didn't I look at the cooks and pointed it out while I was ordering? First: I ate it because I was sure it's what I ordered. Apparently it wasn't. Second: If I already told you what I want, shouldn't you KNOW what to put in the burrito!? As a customer I expect you to take my order right when I told you. She gave me attitude and continued to argue with me in front of other guests, and a man told me it happened to him before. So I guess it's a reoccurring situation for people who go here.

    (1)

  • Tian Y.

    When did Qdoba become crappier Chipotle? I used to walk by one in my home town all the time and never knew what it was until I had Chipotle for the first time in college (I know...). And when I went, I thought it wasn't bad. I distinctly remember liking the different options available that made it more complicated to order than Chipotle but overall I was happy with what I got. This time, I basically built my Chipotle order here because the other option was a smothered burrito, which seemed way too heavy. $8.40 with a scoop of guac included... But I wouldn't have gotten guac if I had the option -__- Old tasting guac, too. and smaller portion. And really dry unflavorful grilled steak. As I saw my order being assembled, I really regretted coming here, but it was too late :/ Not stopping by anymore even with how convenient it is on my commute...

    (2)

  • David C.

    Came here with my friend before going to the fest. I have come here a couple of times in the past because I feel like the food is a little better then Chipotle. However, I came here last weekend and there was no one behind the counter and there were cleaning rags on several tables. After waiting a few minutes the lady came out and quickly made our order. I got the quesadilla with chicken and a TON of cheese. My friend got the bowl and a side order of chips. The food was pretty good and what you could expect for fast food.

    (3)

  • Minh-An C.

    I finally got to try Qdoba and compare it with Chipotle. Verdict? I still love my Chipotle. True, Qdoba gives me free guacamole but I don't know.. the flavor of the meat and what not seems a bit off to me. And it is almost $8 for a chicken burrito bowl. Overall, it's the same layout as Chipotle, tell the server what you want in your order and you walk down the assembly line to get your food and pay for it. I got 2 bowls and a drink but the guy charged me for two so I had to go back and get my money back. So check your receipt and make sure they charge you correctly.

    (3)

  • Alina S.

    Employees at this location look & seem so down. The gal who made my quesadilla was acting like she's doing me a favor. If you don't like your job get a new one. Seriously put me in a bad mood going here for lunch. Now I just hope I can't taste their unhappiness in my meal.

    (2)

  • Sir S.

    I almost gave you five stars, Qdoba, but last time I was here really ruined that for me. It took like ten minutes for me just to order my tacos with only cheese. The cashier and the girl making the food changed spots at least three times. One girl asked me twice within 30 seconds "what kind of meat?" This is not a complicated order, but the conversation between the staff was really complicating things. Honestly I couldn't figure out what was going on, and when you've been craving tacos all day and you are that close.... Anything getting in the way is frustrating. Also as much as I love that soda machine, with a million flavors, I wish more than one person could use it at once. I have to wait behind a bunch of people who want to have one shot of each flavor, like guys, let me just get a Coke first, please.

    (3)

  • Liz T.

    It's Qdoba. It's fresh, tasty, hearty chain Mexican food at its finest. And this Randolph street franchise is definitely on par w/ the excellence that has come to define Qdoba restaurants. I have also been a Qdoba (is better than Chipotle) fan. The volume of chips they give you for the amount paid, the ever fresh and so green green guac, and the ZESTY queso that you can't quite get anywhere else is a cornerstone, and the new triple dipper special does not disappoint. I live right by here and plan on coming often when I'm a hungry girl from shopping and need a quick el fresco fix.

    (4)

  • Andrew K.

    The team at this qdoba does a great job. I stop in maybe once per week and it's always a fast and efficient experience. Now that guacamole is free, that is a bonus! There is usually not the line out the door like the other place around the corner. This food is better, so I will be here.

    (5)

  • Valerie H.

    Qdoba is very much like chipotle, only with larger portions, brighter customer service and the addition of sauce options such as BBQ, ranchero and three different varieties of queso. In my opinion, the sauces only complicate and weigh the meal down with the addition of unnecessary fat and sodium. I already feel Qdoba'a fajita veggies and grilled / sautéed zucchini are made with too much salt. Queso in my burrito just took the sodium content through the roof! Nonetheless, I must commend Qdoba (this location in particular, as it is the only one I've ever been to) for having outstanding customer service. A colleague and I ordered online during and both meals were given to us devoid the salsa and guac add-ons for which we paid. Marissa, the store manager, was empathetic and kindly offered our next meals on The House. Upon returning to redeem her offer (a week later, during evening hours rather than the lunch rush), the staff on shift that night were apologetic about the lunch mishap and extremely attentive in fulfilling my "comped". They truly exceeded my expectations by throwing in extra salsas and a fountain a drink. Bottom Line: If you are seeking big portions of super saucy, fast 'Mexican-ish' food and are not too sensitive to sodium, this is a great place to come. (Note: In my opinion, it's the sauces that are high in salt, not the salsas nor guacamole. Qdoba's salsas and guac are fresh, flavorful, and bright!)

    (2)

  • Bobs C.

    I live across the street from this qdoba! I come here one a week and it's the best In the city The staff is friendly, they are fast, and they food taste fresh

    (5)

  • Linda N.

    not bad when you're hungry and want to grab a quick bite. they definitely have a larger menu compared to chipotle. but sometimes less is more. i think if i had to choose i'd pick chipotle over qdoba because the seasoned rice is just ...better.

    (3)

  • wendy p.

    I'm only giving this place four stars, because this place, in my experience, has queso that comes the closest to what you can get in Austin, TX. It's good enough that I've started craving it. I know, I've been trying to convince other former Austinites that this is good stuff, and I get skeptical looks. Just try it! The consistency is pretty smooth, except for the chunks of hot peppers, and it's got a little kick. It's not runny, which someone asked me about as if that were a positive attribute but it's still thin enough that you can dip with ease.

    (4)

  • Ben B.

    While Qdoba has better selection than Chipotle (i.e. they have quesadillas and nachos) , I think Chipotle does a little better with the things both restaurants have. There's nothing wrong with Qdoba, Chipotle is just slightly better. I keep going to both places to get a little variety, or at least as much as you can in fast-food Mexican restaurants with stainless steel appointments. Speaking of which, I bet that any Qdoba or Chipotle restaurant could convert to the other inside of a day and without half of the customers noticing.

    (3)

  • Claudy C.

    The burritos are not that great. Mine was cold and had little meat and a lot of onions and tomato. Staff is friendly but don't think I will come back.

    (2)

  • Melissa G.

    This a review on manager/staff: Easily friendliest staff I've experienced in The Loop. Happily greet every customer and service with a smile - not the rushed one- word interaction that is the standard.

    (5)

  • Matthew W.

    Very good, quick, friendly. Line moves quickly. Out. Bur Chix 6.39 Honest Tea 2.19 Total - $9.55

    (4)

  • Bran W.

    Better than Chipotle though menu is disjointed and confusing. Fajita burritos are better than the plain burritos, but service is good and seating is ample. Prices fair.

    (3)

  • Robert S.

    This is the same as any other Qdoba. Great shredded beef, etc. PRO: they have a Coca-Cola Freestyle machine. It's fun to mess around with the different flavors. CON: we were at this location on Sunday. Right on the menu it says "breakfast till 10:30 am" and there were people eating breakfast burritos in the dining room as we lined up to order. When we ordered (at 10:15) we were curtly told "we're not doing breakfast anymore today." We were quite hungry so we didn't argue, but if I hadn't been pressed for time I would've gone elsewhere to eat breakfast. Make enough eggs, potatoes, and chorizo to last till 10:30 next time please!

    (3)

  • Melanie B.

    This place was disgusting! Cold tortillas and a super rude lady taking the order. Waste of money!

    (1)

  • Andre W.

    Decided to give Qdoba a 4th chance to impress me on a icey rain Saturday afternoon before checking out The Nutcracker. Not a long wait like it normally is during weekday lunchtime hours. Decided to finally try the often talked about Three Cheese Queso Burrito. It was pretty good actually. The only thing was my burrito started falling apart once I started devouring the damn thing. I bit the butt of the burrito and found a way to hold it together at one point. I know from now on to get the Queso version of the burrito, but I am still Chipotle's #1 fan!

    (4)

  • Garrett W.

    The burrito was delicious and even though there was a group in front of me taking their sweet time deciding every little thing, I was helped quickly and efficiently. And a big thumbs up to Melissa for helping me figure out my Qdoba rewards app that wasn't scanning.

    (5)

  • Shaina K.

    Not bad. They have a pick two combo for $5.99. There were quite a few options but I had a cheese quesadilla and chicken nachos. Nothing too amazing, for the price there was a decent amount of food. I liked their cheese queso, and I left there full. Not as much flavor and high quality as Chipolte, but they have more options.

    (4)

  • Joshua M.

    How is it possible to spend $9 on a quesadilla? And for that amount of money it should be spectacular. It however was not! I won't even get into the whole authenticity debate over this place, but at least it's not owned by McDonald's. Or is it? ** EDIT ** They are owned by Jack N' The Box.

    (2)

  • Sarah L.

    Everyone that went here compared it to Chipotle, well it's very similar to the big C. I like Chipotle better because they season their rice better and the meat is organic/free-range. Chipotle also gives you larger portions which leaves you satiated longer. Not to hate on Qdoba, they have more variety here. They have chicken tortilla soup, I will have to give that a try in the winter months. They also have taco salads and quesadillas. They do have queso sauce that I didn't try due to the higher calorie content in queso. It looked very good and tempting! I will run over here again on my lunch break to try out that tortilla soup!

    (3)

  • Crystal B.

    The Randolph St. Location skimps on everything. The queso is watered down. Go to E. Ontario. They are nicer, more generous and have better queso!

    (1)

  • Terri M.

    I'm not a fan of fast food, but when there are few options around and you need a quick meal, places of the Qdoba/Chipotle ilk are definitely preferable to places of the McDonald's/Burger King/KFC ilk. Our quick dinner before our movie at the Siskel Film Center was serviceable: 2 grilled veggie burritos and a bottle of juice for about $15. You can get the burrito made to your liking, the bathrooms are clean, their seating is plentiful...the place does the job.

    (3)

  • Patty V.

    Not a bad place to grab and go at lunch. Way better than Chipotle and most fast food for that matter.I got the Veggie burrito with black beans, guac, rice and salsa. It was large enough to throw for a pass-really big!I ate half and was quite full., brought the rest home for dinner. Not bad for 6 bucks!

    (3)

  • Grace F.

    I love this Qdoba, way more than someone should like a chain faux-Mexican restaurant. 1. The queso dip. Dear Lord, the queso dip. It is wonderful. My preferred form of ordering it is through a kids meal, but you could also go the chips-and-queso or chicken nachos route. Delicious either way. 2. The staff is hands down my favorite fast food staff in the history of fast food staffs, including the over-practice polite Chick-Fil-A crew. They are incredibly friendly, frequently offer to take care of my trash for me (like I really want to tip you, should I tip you?), and even offer me cheaper ways to get the things I want. Like letting me order the kids meal with a grown-up drink instead of the sides. It definitely beats the rush-through-the-line Chipotle staff. 3. When I'm actually eating grown-up portions, the pick two for 6.99 is a decent deal. And honestly, I think I prefer Qdoba food over Chipotle's. 4. THE SUPER COOL COKE MACHINE WITH ALL THE FLAVORS! 5. Probably my favorite Loop lunch option. Fast and easy and not too expensive.

    (4)

  • Kristin M.

    I'm late to the party. I've never been a fan of Chipotle, but recently discovered I love Qdoba! It's slightly pricey, but you get healthy portions here. Plus, it's not hard to find coupons. I'm a huge fan of the "naked burrito" (ie bowl). There are plenty of fresh toppings to keep you satisfied, including brown rice! They tend to be a little stingy with toppings, but if you ask for extra they'll give you some. And they're fast! It's a nice place to go for lunch or a quick dinner. Their hours are later than most spots in the Loop, which is helpful for pre-theater noshing.

    (4)

  • Nick F.

    Still one of my favorite foil wrapped burrito places. Haven't been to one in a while and it looks like they now have brown rice (although I'm not sure if this was true brown rice or brown because of a sauce they used) and wheat wraps. This particular location was pretty big with plenty of seating.

    (4)

  • Matthew F.

    Used to love Qdoba but wasn't impressed this time. Nice that it's open late and maybe that's why but the meat was a but dry and the burrito did not taste that fresh.

    (3)

  • Brian D.

    Normally I like this place but it's been getting ridiculously bad. Food is literally thrown into the tray. Extremely sloppy about everything. Complete lack of attention and etiquette. Although it's just qdoba, I'm a little disappointed. Used to love going here.

    (1)

  • Marz C.

    The folks at this location are super friendly, the service is quick, and the prices are reasonable. Way better than Chipotle is all aspects, including variety and taste of food.

    (5)

  • Brandon B.

    My closest Qdoba, always an excellent choice for a quick bite. The menu is set up kind of strange, facing away from the place you are supposed to order, somebody needs to fix this design. They have an amazing soda machine that will dial you up one of many different flavor combinations. Clean and in a good location for eating before a concert if you are in a Rush

    (3)

  • Amanda Z.

    Soooo....I like it. I know it's a chain. I know it's kinda like Chipotle. But I still like it. Craft 2 = pick two mini-items. Hurray for this, cuz I was having a hard time deciding. Mini taco salad and some tortilla soup was enough to provide a welcome buffer from my busy morning and the busy afternoon to which I was facing. Fountain Diet Coke (hurray!) rounded out my "not-too-bad-for-me" lunch. (And if someone makes the argument that DC is bad for me, they deserve to be kicked in the shin. Be forewarned.) Also, on a semi-related note, we witnessed a darling scene. An elderly couple with one burrito cut neatly into halves and two tortilla soups. Not only were they the cutest couple I'd seen in a long time (and I am on couple's watch, I just rewatched "When Harry Met Sally" last night), but their idea was beyond brilliant, as Qdoba's burritos are ginormous. Not a bad option for lunching in the loop.

    (4)

  • Andy M.

    Great friendly staff. My burrito didn't fall apart, which it seems to at most every other place. They kept the soft drink area really clean and the staff was always coming around to tiddy up the restaurant.

    (5)

  • matty z.

    This is the first and only Qdoba I have been to, so I have nothing for comparison, but I actually find the place quite good for fast food Mexican. Could it be a little better? Sure. Could I care when I'm really on the run and want a fast taco? Not really. For the price, it's nice to have an alternative to Chipotle that isn't Taco Bell.

    (3)

  • Jeff E.

    The short version: Like Chipotle, only slightly more expensive and not quite as good. The ordering process is exactly like Chipotle: Choose a format, then a meat, then toppings. The staff makes it for you as you watch, so you know everything is being done exactly as you want it. The staff was very courteous and friendly. It was 12:30, so there was a substantial line, but it moved quickly. I ordered an Ancho BBQ Pulled Pork burrito with a side of chips and guacamole, and a fountain drink. The order came to a buck or two more than I expected. Not outrageous, but more. (There appear to be lunch specials and discounts for pre-ordering at the Qdoba website.) I sat at the window-facing bar table for some nice people-watching as I had lunch. The burrito was problematic from the beginning. While the tortilla tasted okay (nothing to write home about) it had an unpleasant stickiness to the touch and a rubbery consistency. As soon as I picked it up most of the filling shifted below my hands, stretching out the bottom like a water balloon. Predictably, it soon broke, forcing me to go get a fork to eat most of it. (I compare this to Chipotle burritos, which I can easily stand up on end while partially eaten.) The barbecue sauce was nice at first, but before long it became overly sweet. If I return I'll try another dish. The chips and guacamole were good and freshly made. My quibbles there are mostly a matter of preference: I like chunkier guacamole and this is pretty smooth, and though there was a nice amount of lime and salt on the chips, they were thinner than I prefer. But again, that's pretty minor. I might return to Qdoba to try some other dish, but only if I'm pretty bored with Chipotle. And if I do I'll look for a lunch special to cut the cost a little.

    (2)

  • Nicole P.

    IDK why everyone is giving this place such a hard time. Yes, the staff may not be the best. But in the 20 times I've been here, I haven't encountered half of the things you guys have. I love, love, love Qdoba. They have a great variety on their menu & the is a craft two menu which allows you to have a realistic size portion of your fave things. I use it to get the 3-cheese nachos. The queso is yummy, but straight to the hips it goes. So this is the perfect size. A dieter's dream. There is no need to compare Qdoba. It stands alone. It is my Mex heaven. Once you've tried Qdoba there's no need for Chipotle. This place isn't expensive. It is reasonably priced for what they serve. It is well worth every penny spent.

    (4)

  • Deborah E.

    A runny, watery wet mess of slop that I thought was going to be 3 ground beef tacos. That is what I found in my to go box from Qdoba Mexican Grill. I realize I ordered it TO GO but Qdoba is only 2 blocks from my office. Geesh. The ground beef was bland & the taco shells had the consistency and flavor akin to office ceiling tiles. Also, you cannot make salsas so watery that the minute you put it on the tacos it dissolves the shells into waste material. Damn it. I was so craving tacos, too. Well, that's what I get for going to a chain owned by Jack in my Crack.

    (1)

  • Claire F.

    Anything with the queso sauce is good here!

    (3)

  • Robert S.

    I agree with everyone else's assessment as to individual dishes. My problem has more to do with the restaurant operations itself. First, the menus are illogically placed so that if you are near the food prep line, you can't read two-thirds of the menu because of the non-perpendicular angle placement. Second, some of the workers there seem to have "friends" that hangout late in the evenings. It doesn't look good when thug daddy or big mama is standing around the counter gabbing with the employees behind the counter. Third, wear hair nets; that one big guy with the 'fro/jerry curl: wear a hair net! And if line employees are going to yell things out at the kitchen or up near the register, please DO NOT talk over the food. The day I see a piece of spit from the corner of someone's mouth land in one of the steam table trays is the day I complain to the health department. Other than that, the Queso steak burrito is my favorite and a nice option for my burrito fix away from Chipotle (which I find myself eating less and less at).

    (4)

  • Steve M.

    I just finished a chicken queso burrito at this qdoba -- my first foray into this food chain. The burrito was tasty and filling, which is suprising because it's not that huge looking when you hold it in your hands. I would compare it to Chipotle (like so many have before in these reviews) in overall quality, however you get one more salsa to choose from, and they offer queso sauce. All in all, a solid "B." Not sure if I'll ever get a CRAVING for qdoba, but at least I know it's there.

    (3)

  • Sixto M.

    Normally, I don't like to write reviews for "chain" restaurants. But every now and then I will, if the experience is such that I feel the need to share it on yelp. So what exactly has Qdoba done to impress me so much? It has dropped Chiptole down from the pedestal I had it on. I like to think that Chipotle is still a very good place to eat. Qdoba is just better. In almost every regard: their menu is more expansive (breakfast food!), the food is made better (queso and guac), and it doesn't help that there was an adorable employee for me to oggle over. Yes, I can get into a long review about how white rice and black beans are more Puetro Rican/Cuban than Mexican, but its all very relative. My idea of authentic Mexican food is going to differ than most because I was born on the border, and not in Mexico City, or Durango, where the food is different. But I do think that when the food is done well, it doesn't matter what my definition of authentic is. Plus, I don't really think their clientele is much interested in the semantics of what a Mexican grill really is. Just enjoy the food. I know I did.

    (4)

  • Katie T.

    Go here if you want instashits, especially when you still have 5 hours of work left. YOu know what I got? Tortilla soup. 2 other people in my office got sick from the same crap. Don't do it!

    (1)

  • William R.

    QDOBA is good, I like the cheese sauce and the vegetarian gumbo! YUM!

    (4)

  • annie r.

    BLUGGGGH. i wont be back. i went during my lunch hour, with the intention of going to the intelligentsia, but i decided i was hungry AND tired, instead of just tired. so i go there, order the cheese quesadilla, and get their grilled veggies on it. it was really boring, their guacamole was bland and same with the salsa. the dealbreaker though? i had the RANKEST onion breath for the rest of the afternoon. apparently, their grilled veggies meant raw veggies. i went through 3 pieces of gum and 4 glasses of water in hopes to not my make my coworkers cry. gross.

    (1)

  • Jason P.

    A qdoba is a qdoba is a qdoba. This place is awesome, but nothing like Chipotle. Sorry for our fans who do not appreciate the difference in perperation style, the types of seasonings used, or the way the tortillas are prepared. Qdoba has better guac, queso and chips and I am a huge fan. I know this is out of left field, but consider trying the taco salad served in taco shell bowl. You won't be disappointed. Comparing qdoba to any other quick-stop burrito joint would be like comparing Ditkas to Trinity...you just can't do it.

    (4)

  • Larry C.

    Love their breakfast burritos! This is the only Chicagoland location that serves them.

    (4)

  • Art J.

    Terrible service!! Boooo

    (1)

  • Tracy L.

    my first time here, i got the ancho chile bbq burrito. for about $7 they gave me a huge burrito that i couldn't even hold up... i had to use a fork & spoon to eat it. i would say that it was even bigger than chipotle's. for the record, it was really good. my friend's burrito fell apart in the assembly process so they had to remake it with an extra tortilla layer. that should give you an idea of how big they make em. tons of seating space too

    (4)

  • A. N.

    Yup. It's Mexican fast food. What were you expecting? But... at this location, the service shines. Employees are so helpful, it's as though they don't realize that this is a FAST FOOD restaurant. Frankly, I've gotten better service here than at restaurants that charge 5 times as much. I'm a picky eater, and they've never complained, or even raised an eyebrow when I've ordered a complicated item (leave this off, add that), and they tell customers if an extra ingredient might cost more instead of letting it be a surprise later. Even when they're super busy, they're courteous and friendly-- they've never been snippy or short. I have seen employees (even regular types right down to the guy sweeping floors) go out of their way to be helpful. They've even assisted tourist families with small children and the elderly by bringing their entire meal to the table. Staff frequently ask customers in dining area if they can get anything else and will swoop in at just the right time (not too soon) to take dirty plates and such, which technically is a "customer responsibility". They'll also frequently ask in a friendly way --not a "I want to be your best friend" sort of way-- how you're doing if they happen to be cleaning a table nearby. On my last visit, the woman at the register chased me down on my way out the door after my purchase to give me a second copy of my receipt with the rewards points on it. So no, it's not the five star restaurant I'd expect to go on my anniversary. And I wouldn't order every item on the menu, but it gets my vote of approval on way above par service and a few trusty menu items.

    (4)

  • Zach T.

    More like Qdumpa. We went opening week, complained about how bad it was (is), and got free entree coupons to come back. We (a coworker and I) did just that today. I agree wholeheartedly that the menu is difficult to read. The first time, I got the cheesy burrito whatever. There's no description at all, so I assumed that it was a burrito with extra cheese. Turns out it's a burrito with a cheese sauce that tastes like Campbell's cheese soup in it. Today, I got the Steak quesadilla (mostly because I had my free entree coupon and it was among the priciest). It was not bad, but not anything special either. These guys are trying to be Chipotle (It's pronounced Che-pote-lay, people), and falling short in a lot of areas.

    (2)

  • Heather K.

    What Brandon said - exactly like Chipotle but the meat is seasoned a bit better, and you have more topping/salsa choices. And seriously, whoever came up with the idea of using cilantro-lime rice as filler must be a millionaire by now. That stuff is all over the place in every single faux-Mexican fast food joint. Rice does not belong in a burrito, for crying out loud! Ugh. I'm calling this a 2.5 star rating, but I would like to say that the staff at the Randolph location is very friendly, even during the lunchtime rush. But I probably won't be going back anytime soon.

    (3)

  • Shradha A.

    The best friend works around the corner and was excited when he saw they were opening a Qdoba right in the loop! He likes the Nachos, I like the Taco Salad. We don't like the quesadillas or burrito. I do absolutely love the gumbo! And most importantly, we love the fact their both their black beans AND their pinto beans are absolutely vegetarian as is their queso!! Not a bad choice for lunch when you're at work in the area. Here's an interesting article that Crain's did: --------------------------------------------------­--------------------------------------------- Qdoba Restaurant Corp. wants to blanket the Chicago area with its brand of burritos. "Our plan is to build three to four (restaurants) a year here for as long as we feel we are able to do that," said Gary Beisler, president and CEO of the Denver-based chain. Qdoba Mexican Grill is a subsidiary of San Diego-based Jack in the Box Inc. Rollout in the metro area has been slow since the fast-casual Mexican grill broke into the Chicago market in 2003 with a restaurant in Schaumburg. The company's seventh local location opened Monday at 58 E. Randolph St. in the Loop, and another restaurant is scheduled to open next month in Wheaton. "We thought we had more interest from our franchisee base (in Chicago), but we didn't," Mr. Beisler said. "But we're pleased with our existing stores." Qdoba plans to focus on opening corporate-owned restaurants from the northern border of Cook County down to Indiana. One franchisee has purchased the right to develop Qdobas in Lake County. The company is counting on its established stores in the Indianapolis, Milwaukee and St. Louis areas to boost brand recognition in Chicago. After seven years of same-store sales growth, Mr. Beisler said now is the time for Qdoba to aggressively expand into markets such as Chicago, Manhattan, Seattle and Minneapolis. The company currently has 375 stores in 40 states. "We are opening between 75 to 100 new locations a year," he said. He was not concerned with competition from other similar burrito formats from fast-casual restaurants. "The Denver (area) has 2.5 million people, and between us and Chipotle there are 80 stores," Mr. Beisler said. "Our existing restaurants are just doing fabulous." Mark Sheridan, analyst at Johnson Rice & Co. in New Orleans, said Qdoba has good growth potential and has been a successful subsidiary for Jack in the Box. "We're pretty impressed with its performance so far," Mr. Sheridan said. "They seem to be growing aggressively, but responsibly." Qdoba -- a made-up word that Mr. Beisler said resonated with him -- serves burritos, salads, soups, nachos and tacos. "There's nothing really Mexican about cilantro lime rice, poblano pesto or tortilla soup," he said. "We're modern, nouveau Mexican." --------------------------------------------------­----------------------------------------

    (4)

  • Shanna B.

    So i was in love with chipotle. then the inevitable happened, after eating it twice a week for a few months, I decided to take a break. I happened upon Qdoba. They have queso. enough said. It is delish. Seriously. I love spicy and i love cheesy. My favorite thing here is their chicken queso nachos(not the real name). So yummy, tortilla chips smothered in beans and chicken then drenched in queso. My new favorite thing is their queso burrito. In case you didn't notice I love the queso. Seriously try the queso.

    (4)

  • Victoria h.

    ***Update 11/15 (from 9/28)**** Came back with Lauren today to give them another chance. I'm still amazed that a taco salad is almost $5. It comes in a taco shell, lettuce, a little bit of beans, corn, and some dressing. Everything else is extra. The lines still moved slow. Lauren ordered chicken quesadilla, the guy almost put chicken in my veggie taco salad. Another guy making Lauren's quesadilla put tomatoes in it, this time she spoke up and they remade it. The cashier gave Lauren my receipt, and didn't even make eye contact with us. If there is no Chipotle around you, go to Qdoba. Otherwise, don't waste your time. Dear Qdoba, my love affair with your taco salad is now over. I used to go to Qdoba at least once a week when I lived in Bloomington (IL). My friend Lauren is the pickiest person on the planet and she always got their chicken quesadillas. I always got the taco salad, and she ate my taco shell. Her quesadilla at this Qdoba had tomatoes and onions, she guessed it's their version of salsa. The acidity from the tomatoes made the quesadilla fall apart and she spent half of her time picking out the enormous amount of tomatoes. My taco salad comes w/ lettuce and beans. I hate beans, but since they were already on it and there was a huge line behind me, I moved on. I asked for rice, which looked just like chipotle rice. I asked for veggies (fajitas - peppers and onions) - it costs extra. I asked for a little sour cream, got 2 huge spoonfulls of it. I asked for quacamole - it costs extra. My meal with a diet coke was around $7.50. Probably the same amount it would have cost me at Chipotle. The line moved very slow, half the workers didn't know what they were doing. I said chicken quesadilla, the guy yelled out steak. I said vegetarian taco salad, he yelled out steak. There's definitely more seating than at an average Chipotle, but the line moves much slower and the food is much blander. Since this is a somewhat new location, I am going to give them some time and return in a few weeks or months. Maybe they'll have their stuff together by then. BTW - taco salad shell is much smaller than the regular size. Just saying.

    (2)

  • Han Y.

    The Fajita burrito and chicken quesadilla are just yum! My favorite Mexican fast food in downtown, oh I guess not really fast food since there's always a long line and it sometime can take you a while to get your food.

    (4)

  • Ruben G.

    DO NOT DO BREAKFAST! I'm telling you....don't do it. I thought I'd get a great tasting breakfast burrito. Not only was it not good, the guy who prepared it burned up the first one and actually served it to me....as a complimentary breakfast for the mistake he'd made. He charged me a reduced price and prepared another for me that he had to get off the grill because he was in the process of burning that one up. Literally just seconds from the "mag-mile", you'd think they'd get it together. I will NEVER return to this joint! On by the way, my order was made at 7:45 and it was served at 8:15. This place is a sad testament to Qdoba Mexican Grill.

    (1)

  • Jesse K.

    By Qdoba standards, this place is bad. Usually go to the one in Carol Stream, where the employees are friendly, fast, and pleasant. This one has 3 problems. 1) Rude employees 2) Inefficient food prep 3) Bad interior layout The girl at the counter held up the entire line to chat at length in Spanish to one of the customers she seemed to know personally. (I was able to pick up enough of the conversation to notice it was not work-related.) She literally paused for about two minutes of small talk, while the line was ten people deep! The food prep was handled inefficiently, the staff did only one order at a time, slowly, despite there being multiple stations/equipment ready for multi-tasking. (Our ready-to-grill quesadilla just sat there next to the grill press, for instance, when it could have been grilling during the chit-chat.) Also, the location is small and cramped, and made more so by arranging the tables so that you must weave in between them to get to the counter. There are at least ten other ways they could have arranged the furniture more efficiently. Also, they served the food on too-small plates (which, with the quesadilla, made it hard to eat) and forgot the salsa! All this joy for $9 dollars of food and twenty minutes in line. Awful.

    (1)

  • Annie S.

    I like the food at Qdoba but it is pretty pricey for a burrito. I mean I don't want to spend $7!!!! They do stuff the burrito with yummy rice and veggies and they're huge but it's not worth it for me. And what is the difference between here and Chipotle?? They also have chips n salsa and those are pretty good. I try not to eat a lot of them because they are pretty greasy. The only reason I come here is because I live across the street but besides that, I wouldn't come here to eat.

    (2)

  • Torry S.

    Yea I'm not coming back to this place again. I spent about $9.50 and all I got was their signature chicken queso burrito and a regular drink. (which I hate fountain drinks, but it was the cheapest option). The queso was only moderately decent, oh and the wrap was a steamed damp mess and wasn't even wrapped tightly. Oh and the tortillas were so flavorless, If it weren't for the queso, the whole thing would've tasted extremely bland, even the "extra hot salsa" tasted like chunky water with Tobasco sauce. On the list of burrito chains this one ranks pretty low in my opinion. Go to burrito beach, they have nice home made drinks and they grill the tortillas and the meat for that matter.

    (2)

  • Rahshonda K.

    1st time at this Qdoba and I ordered the veggie tacos. They were good but why skimp on veggies if its veggie tacos? I had to keep saying can you add a little more rice, black beans, and lettuce. I asked for guacamole she is like "Its extra" Uhhh it usually is. I know that lady put it on my darn tacos!!! The food was good and the place was clean. If I am in the area again for lunch I think I would stop in again!

    (3)

  • Karen L.

    This was my first time at Qdoba. I was a bit hesitant as I didn't really like Burrito Beach and am definitely a Chipotle fan.... however, Qdoba was decent. (Still no Chipotle but if you are in a bind...) I chose a mini naked burrito (very mini) and cheese quesadillas. They were good and I liked that I could have a little bit of each. I would go back there if I wanted some good Mexican fast food and didn't have access to Chipotle.

    (3)

  • Dane K.

    Like Chipotle, only half as good tasting. They seem to have copied nearly everything Chipotle does and added a lot of crap to it. For comparisons sake, though, I ordered my burrito *exactly* as I have it at Chipotle (pork, pinto, some corn, some tomato, sour cream, cheese, lettuce, rice). Their ingredients are far inferior to what Chipotle uses, and it shows in appearance and taste. Everything was very bland. In comparison to the amount of toppings Chipotle puts in the burrito, Qdoba is skimpy. They were particularly skimpy on the pork, and then of course heavy handed on the cheap rice filler and that crap. (And for the record I don't think rice has a place in the burrito world anyway, but at least Chipotles is well seasoned and not like Chinese take-out rice). The pinto beans they used were dripping wet in something and really flavorless. The corn salsa was dripping wet and looked like they tossed a can of corn into a vat and threw cilantro in with it. The worst part was the burrito shell: cold, wet and soggy. Almost inedible. Also, I take issue with the fact that half the reason a burrito is $7 at Chipotle is because they use mostly all organic produce and meats... Yet Qdoba clearly doesn't, and still charges the same amount. If you're going to copy Chipotle in a market Chipotle dominates in, at least do *something* better or cheaper. They're a subsidiary of Jack In the Box?? Screw that, just put in a damn Jack In the Box!! I picked up one of the "frequent diner" cards at the register, handed it to her to swipe, she told me she couldn't because my transaction was already done. That's OK, I probably won't be frequenting here anyway.

    (2)

  • Kate S.

    I love Qdoba! Way better than Chipotle, and you don't have to wait around the block (ok, there's a bit of a wait, but nothing compared to the lunchtime insanity that is Chipotle). I'm veggie, so maybe that's why I like Qdoba better--I think the black beans and guac are far superior at Qdoba. Give it a shot--even if only for the fact that you'll be in and out a good 10 min. sooner than if you'd gone the Chipotle route.

    (5)

  • Andrew T.

    5 of my last 7 meals have been at Qdoba. I LOVE their Queso sauce (it's orange-colored and tastes kind of like a remoulade sauce for crab cakes, but a little cheesier). Chicken is fantastic, juicy and not dry, sometimes a little charred on the outside. A lot of selection here is what places it higher in my book then chipotle. More types of options (soups, quesadillas, and yes, breakfast!) and more salsas. They also have the red and green hot sauces too for your use. Guac is quite tasty as are the chips. They do give you less rice then chipotle but you do get a bit more meat.

    (4)

  • Michael M.

    Qdoba was a mainstay of my diet when I went to the University of Illinois. I was so happy when I walked by and saw they were opening one in the Loop. To all the people that compare Qdoba to Chipotle, there is no comparison. Qdoba has way more selection and better ingredients. Personally, I love the Mexican Gumbo. I could eat that all the time. You can't beat the location either. You can order your food, get it to-go and eat it outside in Millennium Park on a nice day.

    (4)

  • Brandon H.

    Like chipotle, more options, longer line.

    (4)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :7:00 am - 11:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : No
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Lunch
    Parking : Street
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : No
    Good for Kids : Yes
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Casual
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : No
    Outdoor Seating : No
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : No
    Waiter Service : No
    Caters : Yes

Categories

Mexican Cuisine

If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.

Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.

Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.

Qdoba Mexican Grill

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