BOWL

There are two types of people in the world: those who order bowls from Chipotle and those who order burritos. Most people take a side and do not stray from it. As Chipotle’s popularity grows, so does the bowl/burrito debate. In my opinion the debate is silly; there is no reason to argue which is better because it is obvious, you got to get the bowl.

I used to get the burrito, but once I tried the bowl, I was hooked.

“The burrito is too messy,” senior Grace Lee said.

If you order a burrito, expect to have rice stuck to your hands, a sauce covered face and maybe even a salsa stain or two on your clothes by the time you’re finished.

There are also more ways to eat a bowl than a burrito.

“I like to put the food on my chips so the bowl is best for that,” senior Rebecca Evett said.

In addition, bowls are served with lids. Lids not only make it easy for on the go, but they also allow people to shake the bowl up so that all the steak, cheese and salsa is evenly mixed which ensures the perfect bite every time.

Homecoming king Yanni Gaglos used to be a burrito person, but he switched to the bowl and has not gone back.

“They pack them fatter than burritos, plus you get a tortilla on the side for free,” Gaglos said.

Gaglos brings up a good point: bowls are cheaper than burritos, even if you order a tortilla on the side. If you are really craving a tortilla one day, you can get one with the bowl for no charge, and essentially make your own burrito.

Clean, convenient and affordable: the bowl is a great choice. However, burrito lovers often make fun of their friends who get the bowl.

“Some people have called me weak, but it doesn’t phase me,” Evett said.

But why does ordering the bowl make you “weak”? Boys especially get made fun of for ordering the bowl; for some reason, it is considered less masculine.

“That doesn’t bother me because I’m really masculine so I can afford to lose some to eating a bowl,” Gaglos said.

I encourage those of you who have never tried the bowl to order one the next time you go to Chipotle. If it is not for you, get that free tortilla on the side so you can make your own burrito and save some money.

“A packed bowl is cheaper than a packed burrito, and on a high school student’s budget that’s all that really matters,” Gaglos said.

BURRITO

A debate as old as the franchise itself: burrito or the bowl?

While ultimately the decision comes down to preference, there are many key factors that go into the relationship that is formed with a Chipotle order.

One thing all fanatics can agree on is that one cannot simply change their order, its either always the bowl or always the burrito.

As someone who has dined at Chipotle on a fairly regular basis for several years, I must admit to siding with the burrito.

Since my first Chipotle experience three years ago, I have gotten the burrito. Recently, I tried the bowl because I did not have the time eat at that instant and planned on eating it for a late dinner.

The bowl experience was anything but pleasant. The ingredients had lost their kick, and when I tried to heat up the bowl, the result was miserable. Nothing tasted like it should have.

Fellow burrito-lovers have had similar occurrences, yet bowl-lovers find many reasons to complain about the burrito as well.

A common complaint about the burrito is that it can get messy. This is a quick fix though. Messiness only comes from eating atrociously. If diners want to avoid spilling on themselves, all they need to do is slow down and take the burrito one bite at a time.

If this still does not work, diners have the option to get the burrito double-wrapped. Not only will this help keep the burrito together, but it makes the burrito better as a whole because the tortilla is one of the best parts.

Bowl-lovers are also sure to address the fact that they can mix the ingredients all together in the bowl.

Yet, there is quite a simple fix to this as well. For those trying to avoid a pure bite of rice, follow this advice: just before the burrito-guru wraps the baby up, tell him or her to mix up the ingredients.

Just like that, the issue is solved. Even better, that prevents diners from having to mix up the ingredients themselves later. When they sit down with their food, they can relax and dig in, rather than fixing the food before they eat.

A similar situation comes into play when bowl-lovers argue that more food comes with the bowl. They say that you can even get a tortilla on the side and make your own burrito.

The problem with this is that then a simple lunch outing becomes less convenient, and bowl-lovers who do this are essentially switching teams because in the end, they are eating a burrito.

For those who are still not convinced, take into account what kind of restaurant Chipotle is. While of course, Chipotle is not very authentic, bowls take away from the Mexican food experience even more.

The fact that Chipotle is not authentic Mexican food can not be stressed enough, but the fact of the matter is that burritos are at least more authentic than burrito bowls. Burritos are a step in the right direction.

But of course, the best part about getting the burrito is the diversity of it. Getting the bowl is too formulaic. Sure, one can get different things put on their bowl, but bowls always taste the same.

“The glorious thing is every burrito is a new burrito. It tastes different,” senior Mark Lahtinen said, “Not one burrito tastes the same, no matter how you do it.”