Could you get more qdoba wannabe? The red background and photo of the food makes this look like a product introduction at every other quick serve restaurant. Where is the originality?

Chipotle has some new menu items. What’s going on. The Westword put it as WTF?!!? A new menu at Chipotle. I can’t help but agree with one commenter on that story that perhaps this is the result of investor pressure. Chipotle’s stock is up since the announcement, but it’s within range of what is going on with the market at large.

The story is being pushed pretty hard. It hit the typical financial and industry websites and is on a bunch of press-release forwarding sites. But is it truly news?

Chipotle’s New Menu…just add pozole

The only true addition is the Pozole. Everything else was already available, though the exact prices and combination of items might have shifted slightly. Lots of people complain that Chipotle’s food was simply too big or that it was too expensive. I totally disagree. If it seems too big, save half for later or split it with a friend. If you felt it was too expensive, try finding something better for less. But now the “simpler” menu lists different combination meals with less food and at lower price points. Yay?

I had the Pozole today (it is vegetarian, unless you have them add chicken) and it left me nonplussed. The soup was OK, but not particularly awesome. I can truly say that every other ingredient on the menu is awesome. This…meh.

New Chipotle Style (same as the old style…from other restaurants)

The style of that pozole announcement flyer turned me off as well. It fits in line with the in-store display I saw on 2760 S. Colorado: