I love Chipotle.

I really do. It’s actually sort of a problem.

I used to do the burritos. I slowly graduated to the burrito bowl to make my Chipotle habit “less bad.”

However, for the last six months, I’ve been using my favorite Chipotle hack to make Chipotle more paleo-friendly, to get more food, and to pay less.

Here’s What I Do

I walk up to the bar.

“What can I get you?”

“I want two sides of steak (or other choice of meat) in a bowl.”

“That’s it?”

“Yes, and I’d like guac.”

“Guac is extra.”

“I know. That’s okay.”

What they end up doing is scooping two sides of steak into a bowl. What most friendly Chipotle members of staff do is see two scoops of steak in your bowl and think the bowl looks empty. They go on to add another half scoop or even another full scoop to the bowl to fill it up.

Then they add a big thing of guac on the top. (Side note: this is the only time that “extra guac” is actually worth it.)

Now, this will vary widely but, in general, you’ll get way more meat than you bargained for. I’ve had people give me three scoops when I’ve asked for two. I’ve had people give me four scoops when I’ve asked for three (and then charge me for two)! The point is that you can get more food for less by ordering it as “sides”. And it’s the “good stuff”, not just the rice and beans filler.

If, for some strange reason, you notice that you somehow got less meat than you bargained for, politely ask them, “can you make sure there are two full sides of meat there, especially since it’s the only thing I’m ordering?” The key here is to be nice. There’s no need to be pushy about this stuff. Most of the time, they’ll give you at least an extra scoop just out of politeness. This is what three sides and guac looks like:

The Cost

Here’s the killer part. If you eat at Chipotle as much as I do, it can add up a bit. A burrito can cost 8-9 bucks (and it’s the same with a bowl).

However, a side of guac rings up at about $1.95 and a side of meat is about $2.15. Add in tax and you’ll pay around $6.75. So you get more food for less money. Plus you avoid legumes and rice. BOOM!

Can life get better? I don’t think so!

Caveats

If you want to add salsa, be careful. Sometimes if you do, they’ll ring it up as a bowl with extra meat rather than as a series of sides and it will cost way more.

Smile and be nice. Nobody like a jerk.

Once you go through and get your side bowl made, make sure they ring it up as a series of sides, smile, and pay for your meal.

Then all that’s left is to eat up. Enjoy!