Moe’s Southwest Grill

This Moe’s is now closed! I was totally in the mood for a giant burrito and drove all the way here only to find a note on the door saying they were no longer open for business in this location. It must have just happened — all the furniture was still inside, chairs stacked on the tables, etc.

I try not to review franchises, but any franchise that I frequent at least twice a week deserves a review. Love this place, and the fresh sides –raw onions, cilantro, raw jalapenos. They also have the grilled counterparts as well. It all makes for a tasty meal. I get the tacos. I haven’t figured out why the same ingredients in my tacos just don’t taste as good in burrito form, but whatever — I stick to my soft tacos with black beans.
You also get free chips. I don’t do Chipotle at all, although I’m would be inclined to prefer Chipotle’s rice. That’s prob the only thing they have over Moe’s.
BTW, I heard Moe’s has been around longer and that they were the original build-​your-​own taco/​burrito concept.

First this location:
I love the staff here. They are super friendly, and really go out of their way with the customer service. I’ve been here 3 times now, and have never had a problem. The store is immaculate no matter how packed it is. When you walk in they all yell «welcome to MOES» feels like hooters. i mean. home. yea. home.
The Brand:
I too love Chipotle. I eat one or the other weekly as its easy to keep gluten free that way. BUT there is no comparison. They are two different creatures. To alex :(you can totally make up whatever you want. change the meats, customize… I like Moe’s cause they have great queso (which chipotes doesnt) Free chips, which chipotes doesnt do either.
**
also side note:
I get meat rice black beans pico.
At Moe’s its 325 calories for the whole Bowl (sans tortilla ‘member?)
At Chipotes its 500 calories.
I’m just saying… both are in a bowl roughly the same size. (I actually also prefer Chipotle BUT I dont believe these to be in the same league).

Even by commercial burrito place standards Moe’s is pretty weak. The food just kind’ve sucks. The meats are flavorless, the rice plain and bland, and the salsas taste like they came out of a bottle. Even more bizarre are the annoying, pop-​culturally «clever» names for the burritos, which barely differ from each other. Why not just let someone pick their meat and then have it made to order, like at Chipotle? Say what you will about Chipotle but they make a far more flavorful and fresh tasting burrito and the menu makes a lot more sense.

I’m surprised to see a negative review of this place.
Honestly, I discovered Moe’s by joining their free e-​club for birthdays and thought I’d give it a try. Coupon type promotions are supposed to introduce new people to a business they may not have tried without it and hopefully turn them into long term customers. Well for me, it worked! This location is not close to where I live and I wouldn’t have tried it without incentive. Now I go out of my way to go there.
I admit, I haven’t ordered more than their burritos, but that’s because they’re so great! Like Qdoba you go down the line and choose what you’d like them to add to customize your very own burrito — but unlike Qdoba they are simply enormous in size and an excellent value. (They also now offer smaller sizes of all burritos as well for those that may not have as big of an appetite.) They have many specials on different days and times for combos or free kids meals, which is an added bonus, and their e-​club not only gets you a free burrito for your birthday but many other incentives throughout the year. They also offer fajitas, quesadillas, nachos, tacos and salads and they always include freshly made chips with a fresh salsa bar as well.
The staff is always very friendly and I’ve experienced consistant quality every time I have visited. The place is kept very clean with festive décor and lighting more similar to a casual sit-​down restaurant rather than the stark fast food ambience of Baja Fresh.
It’s kind of hidden where it is located in the center and when I’m there I’m often motivated to tell others heading into some of the more prominent surrounding restaurants to check it out. But instead of making enemies at the surrounding restaurants there — I thought I’d give them an honest « Unilocal» instead.
In case you’re wondering, the only reason I gave them 4 instead of 5 stars is due to not having quite as many options of add-​ins and specialty items. But, it’s nice to sometimes stick to the basics and do it right! If you’re craving tasty, filling, Mexican food in a decent atmosphere — Moe’s is the place. What are you doing, haven’t you left yet?

Do you like places like California Tortilla, and Chipoltle? Moe’s is in this mold. Okay food, but somehow it felt cheapened from either the way it was prepared, or served. interior is modern/​industrial. it’s a chain, but not a name you’d recognize. Chips and salsa were ok.
I don’t mean to slam them. It’s passable. It’s just not memorable. There are SO MANY great Mexican/​Latin restaurants within 2 miles of this place, even in the same price range. (see Pansa Llena, for just one example.).

(1.5)
As Libby says one is greeted instantly and enthusiastically when entering Moes with a bellowed «WELCOME TO MOE’S!». Sadly, they should follow that with «our food kind of blows», because Moe’s really is flavorless.
I don’t mind that Moe’s is essentially a knockoff Chipotle, I mind that they want you to sound like an idiot with the indignation that is their menu. Would it be so hard to call things «chicken burrito» and other descriptive names? Apparently, yes because MSG (didn’t someone @ corporate realize their acronym would be MSG???) insists on «Joey Bag O’Donuts» and the like. Hell when I think «Triple Lindy» I think of Rodney Dangerfield in the classic «Back to School» performing an insane dive to win a diving meet. And when I hear «Art Vandalay» I think back to when Jason Alexander was funny as George Costanza. What I DON“T think of is shitty food, and over enthusiastic staff yelling all the time.
I guess people either love or hate Chipotle, and I am ok if you are in either camp on that one. But there is nothing to love about a knockoff, especially one this saccariney on the service side, and this crappy on a taste side. Avoid, unless your idea of a good time is noise, bad food, «punny» names/​theme — avoid this one like Ebola.

«Welcome to Moe’s,» they say as you walk in the door. Who me? Thanks!
I must say I found the menu a bit confusing so let me explain to those of you (like me) who have never been to a Moe’s before.
Burritos come with four choices (and I had to write these names down for prosperity sake): There’s the Homewrecker, Triple Lindy, Joey Bag of Donuts and the Art Vandalay. With the first one you get everything all the others get but also lettuce, sour cream and guacamole. With the second you get no lettuce and either sour cream OR guacamole, but not both. The third one has no lettuce, sour cream or guacamole and the last one «the vegetarian one» is basically rice and beans. Confused? Me too. There’s no different in size, only price and fillings.
My burrito was on the house, using my birthday coupon I got from signing up for their emails. I opted for a Triple Lindy with my choice of grilled «meat» being tofu. Yes, it is actually listed under the meat options. The burrito was nothing special and the grilled tofu was flavorless and not spicy. All I could taste was the beans and rice part. Disappointingly the guacamole wasn’t chunky like the pictures, but creamy… and tart. I would not order a burrito again. Maybe a cheese quesadilla if they really look like the photos on the wall.
The Triple Lindy costs $ 6.39, so it’s not a cheap lunch if you eat out often. Yay Me for getting it for FREE! Now I know better. I did leave a nice tip though and the friendly staff bid me farewell with a pleasant smile. I need chocolate now… to get rid of this bland taste in my mouth.