By Anthony Voelpel

It’s time for someone to finally end the age-old dispute of who is number one when it comes to Southwest grills. It’s the modern day Ali vs. Frazier, only with Mexican food. So close your eyes and come to a place full of fantasy and ecstasy, where only few have gone before. Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to Burritoville…

With Mexican grills popping up more frequently than reruns of “The Real World”, Moe’s Southwest Grill and Chipotle Mexican Grill are holding down the top two spots. It just so happens that both chains recently opened new locations within a mile of the University’s campus. So who really dominates the burrito industry?

Ambiance and Menu:

Upon walking into Moe’s, you’re instantly greeted with the now famous “Welcome to Moe’s!” while classic rock blasts in the background. However, upon entrance to Chipotle, one has the urge to look for a sign-in desk because the décor is much like that of a dentist’s office. This might have been due to the dull elevator music or the fact that the place still looked like it was under construction.

But with no painters or hard hats in sight, the Chipotle’s menu resembles a 3D magic eye puzzle. The way it’s put together makes one unsure of what each entrée contains or what can be added to it. Moe’s, on the other hand, has clever names for their dishes as well as a clear cut menu describing everything each meal contains. Moe’s also offers quesadillas, which Chipotle lacks.

Advantage: Moe’s

Burrito content:

Chipotle really drops the ball with white rice much like that found in Chinese food takeout – definitely not the best way to start off a burrito. And while plain white rice is great for chicken and broccoli, it certainly feels out of place in a burrito. To add to the madness, Chipotle uses raw red onions, raw green peppers, romaine lettuce and roasted corn to stuff their burritos (perhaps to enrich the flavor of the plain white rice). With Moe’s use of sautéed peppers, onions and mushrooms. this category is not even close.

Advantage: Moe’s

Meat:

Compared to Moe’s chicken and steak, which can be a little salty, Chipotle really shined in this department. Their steak and chicken are both grilled perfectly with extremely little fat. They also offer Barbacoa and Carnitas, both of which have a nice kick. For more vegetarian tastes, Moe’s does offer tofu as a meat substitute.

Advantage: Chipotle

Salsa and Toppings:

Talk about complete amateur hour on Chipotle’s part! Not only was their sour cream watery but the salsa was more like a green tomato soup and nothing compared to Moe’s, which has two kinds of salsa that are chunky and include sliced lemon wedges as well as two varieties of hot sauce. And unlike Moe’s, every topping is a la cart at Chipotle. If you want sour cream or guacamole, its $1.75 each extra. If you want chips and salsa, is $2.00 extra. That’s like paying for fries with an extra value meal, not to mention that the chips tasted stale.

Advantage: Moe’s.

Drink Selection and Price:

Finally, a department where both excel. Beverages offered by Moe’s and Chipotle include Margaritas and Mexican Beers, as well as a good variety of fountain sodas and bottled drinks. Moe’s tends to be at least $3-$5 cheaper because of the combo platters they offer.

Tie

By a simple tally count, the winner of the challenge is quite clear. Despite boasting the use of more organic ingredients, Chipotle falls miles behind Moe’s with its tasty burritos that are sure to stay together and not shatter one’s dreams of Mexican grill goodness.

At Moe’s, customers are welcomed with an enthusiastic greeting and the experience only improves with tasty burritos and an extensive salsa selection. (Jacqueline Hlavenka/ The Chronicle)

Despite being closer to campus, Chipotle’s raw vegetables and use of plain white rice makes the drive to Moe’s worth it. (Jacqueline Hlavenka/The Chronicle)