As we have settled into freshman year, we have noticed that some Mexican restaurants in Tenleytown are more popular than others. One of the biggest hits among GDS students seems to be the Chipotle on Wisconsin Avenue. Many students order Chipotle from DoorDash but do not walk there because it takes too long. Even so, it seems to be one of the most popular restaurants in Tenleytown. Outside school, Chipotle remains a very popular restaurant for students to sit and eat at. However, Sol Mexican Grill—a restaurant that serves similar food to Chipotle—attracts far fewer students. We rarely see students getting food there because they opt to order from other fast-food restaurants. We decided to compare the popular Chipotle to the not-so-popular Sol Mexican Grill.
At each restaurant, we ordered one burrito with chicken, tomato, lettuce, corn, cheese, black beans and white rice. We also ordered chips and guacamole. We rated the general ambiance, food and price.
Chipotle
4301 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington, D.C.
Chicken: 9/10
Burrito: 5.5/10
Filling: 6/10
Chips and guac: 7/10
Ambience: 5/10
Price: $22
Proximity to GDS: 0.7 miles (16-minute walk)
Overall rating: 6.5/10
The first restaurant we went to was Chipotle, and it took about 30 minutes round trip. It was an unenjoyable 10-minute walk because we hit so many lights. When we finally got there, there was a long line of customers, even though it was only 11:15 a.m. As we waited in the line, we couldn’t help but notice the industrial environment of the restaurant; the lights were overly bright, and the food and environment lacked cultural authenticity.
The burrito lacked flavor, the pico de gallo tasted just like water and tomatoes and the rest of the toppings were bland. Additionally, the tortilla was stale, and parts were so dried out that they were crunchy. A major contributor to this lack of flavor was the excessive amount of rice and beans, which did, however, make the burrito very filling. The chicken was the best part of the meal because it had flavors and spices that made it the sole taste of the burrito. Ultimately, while the chicken was very good, the rest of the burrito was very bland.
Sol Mexican Grill
4220 Fessenden St. NW, Washington, D.C.
Chicken: 8.5/10
Burrito: 9/10
Filling: 8/10
Chips and guac: 7.5/10
Ambience: 7.8/10
Price: $21.30
Proximity to GDS: 0.5 miles (5-minute walk)
Overall rating: 8.16/10
The walk to Sol Mexican Grill from GDS was quick and easy. Upon entering the restaurant, we noticed that there was Mexican music playing, and the restaurant was colorful; the ambience felt far more homey than Chipotle. There was a different method of ordering at Sol than at Chipotle—we did not go through a buffet-style bar and instead ordered from one of the employees. The service was quick, and an employee brought out food to our table. The burrito was slightly smaller than the one we got from Chipotle, but it was much more flavorful. One key drawback was the lack of flavor in the chicken, which was, however, compensated for by the fresh-tasting vegetables and tortilla.
Ultimately, we concluded that Sol Mexican Grill is far better than Chipotle. The restaurant is much closer to GDS and is more authentic. The food tasted fresh and flavorful due to the countless vegetables and tortilla. If you’re looking for a good Mexican restaurant, Sol Mexican Grill is your best bet.