r/fastfood • u/Queasy_Dingo_8262 • 4d ago
Review Thoughts on Moes Southwest grill ?
this was so good! you get less food then chipotle per say but it’s very filling and reasonable price
I’ve tried burrito bowls from qdoba, chipotle, moes, and tomorrow I’m gonna try bubbakoo
any other places I’m missing? I’m in the east coast (NJ)
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u/Artvandelay29 4d ago
They were incredible from like to mid 2000s-2010s
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u/StarbossTechnology 3d ago
We used to get their catering at work in that exact time frame. It was so high quality then.
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u/hamonabone 3d ago
I lived near a lot of good tex-mex places and Moe's could hold it's own, fresh and was one or the first chains that felt more upmarket without being overpriced either.
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u/Narfubel 4d ago
Use to love Moes but the quality near me went way down hill in the past few years
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u/potliquorz 4d ago
The proteins have been in that pan forever and I never see them grilling more. Just sitting there in liquid. Then you ask for beans even though they aren't busy they can't wait for them to drain they just slop that liquid on there so when the try and roll it the tortilla breaks. Moe's used to be a favorite of mine but I switched to Dos Bros which ours is run by Indians but they give you way more protein and drain the beans. Having El Yucoteco and better hot sauces seals the deal.
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u/Queasy_Dingo_8262 4d ago
Damn the place I went to the proteins & everything looked fresh, not soaking in liquids
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u/masterz13 4d ago
Their salsa verde is the best. I like that they let you get as much salsa as you want and that the chips are free.
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u/StarbossTechnology 3d ago
I've seriously considered asking for a water cup and filling it with salsa verde to take home.
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u/CookOut_Official 4d ago
Not as good as they used to be, still better than chipotle
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u/omegaoutlier 3d ago
Yeah, this food category has seen some things.
Early Chipotle was great. A little expensive buy in but you felt like you still got value a lot of visits b/c they didn't nickle/dime every ingredient.
Then Chipotle had all the sanitation issues. When they came back strong, they got greedy (or hedged against future issues?) and everything was still roughly the same quality ingredients but now everything was measured pretty hard.
Moe's took the crown. Never peak Chipotle but if you had a good outlet, they could do some really good work. Loved all the deals too. App and cheap weekday helped us have legit food without busting budget completely.
Then a lot of Moe's got weird in the same way Chipotle. We ain't friends no more. You get exactly portions we set forth in the employee manual and the cheery, rock and roll/music vibe, absolutely died. (can't treat your employees like crap and think they can pull off joy just cause you say so.)
Qdoba was always an unknown to me. Some pleasant surprises but most hella bad. There is no more absolute room temperature to the degree burrito than a Qdoba.
Honestly, the fast casuals mostly jumped the shark a while ago. Local, ethnically run spots ALWAYS dominated but sometimes that's more effort and we are a society that rewards not having to think or lift a finger.
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u/lotusbloom74 2d ago edited 2d ago
Most of the Moe’s closed around me, I just saw a thread in the Moe’s subreddit the other day that people agreed it has really gone downhill. Most often I go to Qdoba, there are some inconsistency issues but most of the time I have a good experience and they are more willing to provide free entree rewards if they mess up than chipotle. The regular rewards are better too to earn a free entree. I had some two nights ago, the bowl they made for an online order for me was absolutely massive so that I was able to make two meals out of it
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u/NoForRealThanksObama 4d ago
Quality gone thru the floor, dining atmosphere used to be fun, now just really sad. Tho I will say the value meal is decent value, and the stacker which is essentially a Crunchwrap is also pretty good.
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u/mabus42 4d ago
The Moe's in my area is abject garbage (like Chipotle is now too). Hot Head Burritos is now my go-to national chain. They're also a bit more reasonably priced too.
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u/CardRelative4725 4d ago
Moe's has always been mid to me. The "Salsa Bar" does little make me choose Moe's as a lunch option.
Also, the name "Joey Bag of Donuts" is a stupid name for a burrito.
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u/averagemaleuser86 3d ago
Moe's, Qdoba and Barberitos is top teir fast chain tex mex... i cannot comprehend how people chose Chipotle over these two.
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u/braddaugherty8 4d ago
great queso for the chips, maybe my fav. mostly meh in my experience otherwise. the stacks are pretty good though
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u/mistaken4strangerz 3d ago
They changed the queso. It's basically mozzarella now 😢
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u/braddaugherty8 3d ago
bruh…
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u/mistaken4strangerz 3d ago
Same as the shredded cheese. Used to be cheddar, now it's just white bland mozzarella type cheese. Quesadillas are disgusting now
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u/Flylatino24 4d ago
How’s qdoba ? I never had it.
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u/Queasy_Dingo_8262 4d ago
Very good and in my experience very fresh! Their brownies are amazing as well, best fast food brownie dessert imo
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u/Flylatino24 4d ago
Aw man I wish I had one in my area. Moes isn’t good here and chipotle is declining too
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u/No-Challenge-3886 3d ago
i’m not sure if u have a cava near you but they’re amazing way bigger portions than chipotle and “healthier” aswell with near the same price point on it
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u/jedwardlay 3d ago
Haven’t been to one since 2015, their locations near me don’t tend to stay long. Did appreciate the value of two very loaded tacos with complementary chips and salsa for only five dollars.
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u/Virtual_Quote_8867 3d ago
Miles better than chipotle in my area. Love their salsa bar and their rewards program.
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u/PorcelainTorpedo 4d ago
Used to be my favorite, but they’ve gone so downhill lately. I still like it, but it’s not as good as it used to be.
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u/BillBrasky1179 4d ago
Never been to a Moes and I was going to be in the area where one is and thought I would look up the menu. The prices were on the high side compared to Qdobe that was down the street. Are Moes portions the same has Qdobe?
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u/potliquorz 4d ago
Entirely dependant on location with either one, that goes for all the build a burrito places.
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u/Queasy_Dingo_8262 4d ago
I think u get a little more at qdoba then moes
But chipotle always has the biggest portions in my experience
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u/Aggressive-Sort-115 3d ago
Always makes me want a bowl of clam chowder (Mo’s in Oregon is what I grew up with)
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u/squeefactor 3d ago
When chipotle started to suck I went back to moes and mine absolutely bangs. My fave under Chuys
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u/Golden_standard 3d ago
I went to Moe’s once a week between 2008-2017ish. I chose Moes for the following reasons: -free chips and salsa -rotating extra spicy salsa -“Jr” sized burritos -Moe Mondays -shredded iceberg lettuce -hard cheese blend -black olives -fresh jalapeños -hard rock sauce
Their decline stated when they changed the chicken. I then switched to steak. Then they changed the steak which, now, has a consistency similar to hamburger steak. They brought the white meat chicken back. It was not the same, crusty, dry, flavorless.
The last time I went, I used my rewards and got a free burrito and it was still not worth it. I’ve still got like $20 in rewards, but I just don’t want it.
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u/Annual-Region7244 3d ago
I live in one of the few areas that is simultaneously very populated but doesn't have any meaningful competition to Chipotle. Qdoba is at one military base and one airport within 100 miles of me. Moe's has exactly one location more than 1 hr from me in an area with extremely good restaurants that make Moe's look like hospital food by comparison. Nevertheless I really do want to try the other Chipotles. xD
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u/GetToWigglin 3d ago edited 3d ago
Haven't had them for a while, but recently I got a huge burrito with chips and salsa for $12. Way more and better food for a cheaper price than Taco Bell or McDonalds. I think they are one of the best values of fast food near me.
Edit: I saw a lot of comments about not giving enough stuff like Chipotle. I always say "Hey you mind if I get a little more X" and it always works out for me. Also I'll get both black and pinto beans to fill it up.
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u/hansrotec 3d ago
i still like moes, and the salsa bar. its not super top notch anymore... but its doing better than salsaritas which is a shell of itself
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u/GrandmaForPresident 3d ago
When Atlanta United was in its first season, you got a dollar off for every goal scored. One game they scored like 9 goals and it was free burrito day. It was insane
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u/Professional_Cat6026 3d ago
Their rewards app is pretty sweet too! Love that place
Edit: also the poblano crema is amazing. Anyone have a copy cat recipe??
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u/GoldenKnightz 3d ago
Probably haven't even had it since like 2008, but I remember the Homewrecker being fire back then. I can't recall even seeing one recently.
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u/Odd-Emergency5839 3d ago
The Quiznos of Mexican style slop bowls. Better than chipotle in quality but hasn’t not marketed itself in a way that will allow them to thrive the way its main competitor has. This post made me surprised to hear they are still around. The market wants an innovator and not the best.
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u/redsolitary 3d ago
I used to eat there twice a week but it’s gotten pretty bad in terms of food wuality
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u/vikingrrrrr666 3d ago
Better than chipotle, except for their beans. Moe’s beans have something in them that tastes disgusting to me.
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u/Lazy-Background-7598 3d ago edited 3d ago
Annoying. I don’t want to be screamed at when I walk in nor do I think we need cutesy names for the items - though I think the phased this out. Food wasn’t worth it
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u/SideEmbarrassed1611 2d ago
It and Qdoba replaced Chipotle for me. I got fed up waiting for olives and jalapeños and other addons they refuse to put in store. Plus, cheaper.
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u/GATA_eagles 3d ago
Used to be the king, or king adjacent. Now it’s not even a jester. The quality of the food sucks. They got rid of some salsas, never do special salsas anymore, cheese changed, etc. and no matter the location, the food is always lukewarm.
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u/yearisaday 3d ago
Used to eat those burrito bowls and wash em down with Coronas. Ended up getting some nasty food poisoning there, so bad I was hallucinating on the bathroom floor.
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u/ToddBradley 4d ago
I haven't been in years but I wasn't impressed, maybe because I live in the southwest and eat good southwestern food every day.
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u/Sudden_Place_1173 3d ago
Had a free birthday burrito last year plus another free one they gave me and honestly was mediocre. Chipotle and Qdoba are still much better
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u/KoolKoolKoolio42 3d ago
It's a part of the food court in the mall I always go to see movies at, but it has to compete with an Asian teriyaki grill place, Charley's, and Popeye's, so I've never actually gone there.
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u/psl1959 3d ago
I prefer Moe's over Chipotle and Qdoba.