We Tasted Chipotle’s New Carne Asada And Honestly, We Weren't Thrilled
It's not often that Chipotle rolls out a new menu item, but when they do, we're eager to try it. So today, when the brand announced a new steak option—Carne Asada!—coming to menus nationwide for a limited time, I ran across the street to the conveniently-placed nearest Chipotle to grab a few burrito bowls. As it happens, that may not have been the move, but we'll get back to that in a second.
For context, the new protein joins chicken, steak, barbacoa, carnitas, and sofritas on Chipotle's menu. It's cut into "tender slices," the company says, and is seasoned with fresh lime juice and cilantro, whereas the other steak option is marinated in an adobo sauce. It's paleo-friendly and has been approved for the Whole30 program, which means there's no added sugars in the meat. Chipotle tested the protein in Cincinatti, OH, and Fresno, CA, before bringing it to all markets.
Now for the taste: Broadly speaking, the 10-ish editors who tried it were not overwhelmed by the flavor. The batch we tried may have been a bit overcooked, as most people noted it was pretty chewy. "I can't get over the texture" was one underwhelmed comment.
As with most taste tests, people couldn't quite decide on the spiciness. Some found it far spicier and more flavorful than any of the other Chipotle meats they've tried, while others called it "mild and inoffensive." Interestingly, that editor said it's what she would go for if her stomach wasn't feeling great one day. Another was a fan of the seasoning, calling it "not spicy, but it has a great rich flavor that would stand up to and shine through all the cheese and guac and beans and salsas."
There was also some debate over whether it would be best in a burrito or bowl. Some thought the long strips of meat—"it feels like you're getting huge chunks," an editor said—would be better in a burrito. Another was NOT convinced: "The pieces of steak are really long and thin, which mean they'd dangle out of a burrito or taco. Eating Chipotle is already a pretty messy and unattractive business, and there's no way to chew them without them dangling out of your mouth like spaghetti." What a visual!
Overall, we say give it a try if you're eating paleo or Whole30 (the cilantro and lime seasoning will help you forget you're not eating rice!). It's also a nice alternative to the regular steak option for those who opt for red meat.
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