The days of the free food hack of ordering side tortillas at Chipotle are over.
According to Business Insider, the fast-casual chain has added a 25-cent charge for any side tortillas, which used to be free. Customers often ordered them with a burrito bowl as a "hack" to get more food than if they just ordered a regular burrito because the bowls have more ingredients.
Some Chipotle fans have taken the change as the latest sign that 2020 just keeps getting worse.
Chipotle now charges 25 cents for ordering a tortilla on the side when ordering a bowl. 2020 has reached an all time low.
— JFP (@thereal_jfp) October 19, 2020
"Chipotle now charges 25 cents for ordering a tortilla on the side when ordering a bowl. 2020 has reached an all time low," one person tweeted.
Chipotle is now charging for the ol free tortilla on the side trick.
2020 is not playing.
— JOHN GRANT (@Shogunin) October 20, 2020
"Chipotle is now charging for the ol free tortilla on the side trick," another wrote. "2020 is not playing."
Chipotle charges 25 cents for a tortilla on the side now. A sad day indeed 😔
— Luis Huerta (@LuisOTUS) October 19, 2020
"Chipotle charges 25 cents for a tortilla on the side now. A sad day indeed," another tweeted.
The company did not immediately respond to TODAY Food's request for comment, but chief financial officer Jack Hartung said at the Raymond James North American Equities Conference last month that Chipotle has been paying more attention to portion sizes because of ingredient prices during the pandemic.
Also, with so many customers ordering digitally instead of in the restaurant, people are not there to lobby in person for that extra scoop of guacamole or some more tortilla chips and have to pay for anything extra.
"We're not restricting what the customer is allowed to do, either in terms of portion or in terms of adding additional ingredients," Hartung said at the conference. "But our portion sizes are much more consistent because there's not somebody pointing at every single pan ... the crew will see just the way that a customer is looking at them and think, 'Oh, I better put another scoop in.'"
Now that the free tortilla hack loophole has been closed, some customers may decide to implement their own DIY tortilla operation.
Chipotle charges for a tortilla on the side now..Find me filling my water cup with Sprite and bringing my tortilla from home at a Chipotle near you.
— Tenzin Yeshi (@tenzinpaichang) October 20, 2020
"Chipotle charges for a tortilla on the side now..Find me filling my water cup with Sprite and bringing my tortilla from home at a Chipotle near you," one person tweeted.
Scott Stump
Scott Stump is a trending reporter and the writer of the daily newsletter This is TODAY (which you should subscribe to here!) that brings the day's news, health tips, parenting stories, recipes and a daily delight right to your inbox. He has been a regular contributor for TODAY.com since 2011, producing features and news for pop culture, parents, politics, health, style, food and pretty much everything else.
FAQs
We know guac is extra at Chipotle — but now tortillas are, too. The chain is now charging 25 cents for previously free tortillas, and customers are lamenting that a free-food hack has come to an end. The days of the free food hack of ordering side tortillas at Chipotle are over.
Does Chipotle charge for an extra tortilla? ›
The popular restaurant chain seems to have caught on to the hack, however, which means no more free tortillas. According to Chipotle's website, each additional tortilla will cost $0.25, which is a slight consolation for fans given Chipotle's extra guacamole price at $1.95.
Why does guacamole cost extra at Chipotle? ›
"Growing, distributing, and preparing the ingredients for guacamole comes at a high cost," writes Dani Walpole in Reader's Digest. "The avocado fruit is expensive to grow, and since it's only grown at certain times of the year in a few regions of the world, it's a precious commodity to consumers."
Can you ask for extra tortilla at Chipotle? ›
For a small additional charge, you can get cheese, beans, meat and salsa on top of fresh tortilla chips. Order “free” extras. You can ask for extra rice or an extra tortilla for free.
Did Chipotle change their guacamole? ›
Chipotle is now marinating chopped onions, jalapenos, and cilantro in citrus juice when it makes salsas and guacamole. "This process brings out more flavor from these ingredients and adds another measure of food safety," Chipotle co-CEO Monty Moran said on an earnings call.
What does Chipotle not charge extra for? ›
Toppings
One of the best things about eating Chipotle is the glorious heap of toppings you can get on each bowl or in each burrito. Although it costs extra for guacamole in addition to meat and queso, you can ask for extra or light amounts of any of the other cold toppings free of charge.
Do you have to pay extra for guacamole at Chipotle? ›
Any sides or extras are not included and are the responsibility of the customer. Additional cost for guacamole, queso blanco, extra protein or other premium add-ons. Limit 1 per transaction.
What is the most expensive thing in Chipotle? ›
At Chipotle, the most expensive item was a double-steak bowl with guacamole and queso. After adding mild salsa, cheese, lettuce, and sour cream, the bowl cost $14.40.
Is Chipotle doing free guac? ›
THE CHIPOTLE FREE INSTANT GUAC PROMOTION
Valid through May 31, 2024, at participating Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurants in the U.S. during regular business hours. May not be combined with other coupons, promotions, or special offers. Void where prohibited; additional restrictions may apply.
Why do restaurants charge extra for guacamole? ›
Restaurant-style guacamole is labor intensive to make
One thing that needs to be considered when it comes to the final cost of the restaurant guac is the time and work that goes into making consistent, uniform batches of fresh guacamole daily.
Grosz found that servers rarely ask customers if they want to add fajita veggies or chili-corn salsa, but these extras are free and can round out a meat-heavy meal. They also increase the overall amount of food you get at no extra cost.
What gives you the most food at Chipotle? ›
If you're looking to get the most food for your money at Chipotle, ordering a bowl instead of a burrito is a great place to start. This is because you often get significantly more food compared to regular burritos.
Does Chipotle really make guacamole fresh every day? ›
A Chipotle employee on TikTok just took to the app to share two videos about how Chipotle makes its guacamole, revealing that at least some stores make all of the day's guacamole in one large batch, then store the reserves in the refrigerator until they need more.
Is Chipotle guac real avocado? ›
The recipe is simple and basic, which is probably why so many find it irresistible. Unlike fake versions which have included add-ins like garlic or tomatoes, Chipotle's guac uses just six ingredients: avocados, lime juice, cilantro, red onion, jalapeño and kosher salt.
Why does Chipotle guacamole not turn brown? ›
“Each panned guac gets sealed airtight with Saran Wrap,” he said. “Then it gets lidded, labeled and stored for later use. This process ensures freshness and prevents browning,” he continued.
Does Chipotle charge for double wrap? ›
This method of calling in tortilla reinforcements was initially introduced by Chipotle to save burritos that busted open their first tortilla, but Chipotle sometimes lets you ask for a double wrap for free, which adds another 4.25 ounce tortilla to your burrito (ask for the tortillas at the end, when the staff just ...
Can you get two tortillas at Chipotle? ›
Additionally, Chipotle will charge you for side tortillas. When placing an online order, the tortillas cost around $. 50 each — adding up to an extra dollar for two. A burrito bowl packed with chicken and only free add-ons, plus the two tortillas, will cost roughly $9.95.
