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June 19, 2007

Feeling a little spicy in the SCV

By Carol Rock
Siren of Valley Vittles

Greetings! I feel like I'm in the Wayback Machine, poised with my fork in one hand and pen in the other, much like when I reviewed restaurants in the last century. In this blog, I'll do more than talk about restaurants, we'll chat about food and trends and try to touch on healthy eating. I'm an admitted Starbucks and Food Network junkie who will write about restaurants in the Santa Clarita and Antelope Valleys, where you can definitely get a good meal full of flavor and fun. Along with the food, I'll feature the characters and quirks of our culinary castles, because I believe the floor show is as important as the food.

Let's start with lunch – today I visited Qdoba, a Mexican grill not too far from the office that features signature burritos and specialties like a killer tomato gumbo along with salads, nachos and quesadillas. I mention the gumbo because it's a spicy kick in the pants that warms you from the inside out with its wonderful flavors. I believe it is high on the list of Mexican comfort foods.

At heart, I'm a burrito kind of girl and today's lunch was my favorite - their Chicken Mole Burrito, made with chicken and covered with a rich and slightly spicy mole (pronounced mo-lay) sauce. First of all, mole sauce has chocolate in it, which makes it a perfect food. Second, at Qdoba is that you can get a burrito pretty much any way you like it – even customizing a signature item. I pass on the beans (you get to choose from black or pinto) and start with their delicious cilantro lime rice. You can even get burritos “naked” - sans tortilla – which helps in the calorie department.

Friends who discovered Qdoba about the same time that I did called it a “Subway with tortillas,” referring to the fix-it-like-you-like-it bar concept. As the burrito makes its way down the counter, you can ask for the server to add a variety of items, including five varieties of salsa – pico de gallo, roasted chile corn salsa (corn roasted poblano peppers, roasted red peppers, red onions, jalapenos, cilantro and lime), a mild salsa verde that features tomatillos, salsa roja and fiery habanero salsa. I usually ask for a spoon of the first three, promising a great adventure for my taste buds. They will also add lettuce and today, I got a scoop of their new mango salsa, which added a sweet kick to my spicy chicken blend. The salsa is also the centerpiece of a new chicken salad that debuted recently for the summer. Will have to try that next time.

One of the best parts about Qdoba is that their drink selection includes fresh brewed iced tea, not that gag-me overly sweet crap that comes out of the same vending machine as the sodas. I think Lipton should be flogged for buying into that concept and appreciate that the Lipton at Qdoba is one that actually uses tea bags. Brewed iced tea is a deal breaker when I'm eating out...but that's a whole 'nother blog.

Diners at Qdoba have the choice of eating in the airy, comfortable booths and tables or eating outside; the staff is extremely friendly and the company has a loyalty rewards Qdoba card that lets you build up points toward free food.

Speaking of the company, let's get all this out in the open. Yes, Qdoba is owned, but not operated by Jack In the Box. It's closest competitor, Chipotle, is owned by McDonalds and Baja Fresh is owned by Wendy's, so we do live in a fast food nation. Get over it.

The difference between the three places are dramatic. I prefer Qdoba over Chipotle because it has more selection and less pretention. I walked into the Chipotle a few blocks from Qdoba and was immediately struck by the attitude. When I made it to the bar and looked at the items available, I was disappointed, but tried it anyway. Seated in primitive and uncomfortable metal chairs, my husband and I agreed that this was a one-visit restaurant.

Researching this blog, I went on their website and found a long rambling statement about their hand-fed pigs that make the carnitas and why they pick romaine lettuce when iceberg would do. There's also a gallery of dog pictures and an extremely annoying pencil tapping feature (do not click on that, you'll be really, really sorry), but nothing about disclosing who owns 90 percent of their stock, while Qdoba makes no secret of their relationship with the guy with the oversized head.

At any rate, I'd recommend Qdoba for the casual diner and anyone who wants a wholesome and flavorful South of the Border meal. You'll get served by someone who is genuinely glad to see you and, judging by the way the restaurant is packed at lunch time, it's a favorite of many Santa Clarita folks.

Qdoba Mexican Grill
28295 Newhall Ranch Road (in the Gateway Center)
Valencia (661) 257-4304

Posted by crock at June 19, 2007 1:18 PM

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Posted by: Steven Rosenberg at June 19, 2007 3:20 PM

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