Chipotle: A Vegan Fast Food Favorite

Being vegan, it can often be a challenge to eat 'fast food'. Although eating fast food is not generally the most healthy or optimal meal option, sometimes it is the only one. We all lead very busy lives that don't always afford us the luxury of a sit-down style meal out or the time needed to craft a vegan masterpiece in our own kitchens.

Finding a vegan meal out in a typically 'omni' environment isn't an easy task. We enter the doors of 'fast food' establishments armed with a retinue of questions for the food servers, who are often times overwhelmed by the inquiries, trying to find a 'safe', but quick meal. What else is cooked in the same oil as the fries? If you have a veggie patty, is it cooked alongside the meat on the grill? Is there dairy in this sauce or that sauce? Chipotle, on the other hand, is a breath of fresh air to the litany of negligible fast food joints dotting the mini-mall horizon.

Chipotle's menu offers tacos (soft and hard), burritos, bowls and salads, all of which can be made vegan with a few very simple tweaks and little to no interrogation of the serving staff. The food is served by means of a cafeteria style line. The servers are arranged on the opposite side of a glass divider in a sort of assembly-line. The first thing you want to tell your server is what you would like: tacos, burritos etc. Next, they will ask what kind of meat you want in your food. To this, you need only reply 'vegetarian please' and you will automatically receive the vegan black beans and offered fajita style peppers and onions to compliment your meal. Also added to your selection is cilantro-lime white rice. It is white, fluffy and a delicious compliment to your meal. As your lunch is passed down the line, you simply point to the items you would like included in your food. There are no less than 5 kinds of salsa to choose from, as well as a few more veggie selections and guacamole. The guacamole is delicious, vegan, and is included in the cost of any vegetarian entree.

Check out the FAQ section on Chipotle's website to see how they answered the question 'I am a vegan. What can I eat?' And also visit the home page to see their feature on the flick 'Food, Inc.' Chipotle succeeds where so many other fast food establishments fail. They have found their niche in bringing fresh, good tasting fast food to the table and they are every bit worth the time it will take you to check them out.