Midtown Lunch » Chipotle

Chipotle Forces Pure Thai Shophouse To Change Their Name

Chris H. — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 19:30:16 +0000

As soon as Chipotle announced that they would be launching a new Asian fast food concept known as Shophouse, we knew this had to be coming… ML favorite, Pure Thai Shophouse (on 9th btw. 51+52nd) is now calling themselves Pure Thai Cookhouse. A call to the restaurant confirms that Chipotle did indeed set their legal hounds on the Hell’s Kitchen Thai spot forcing them to drop the “Shophouse” moniker. Although it was a sucker punch for this tiny Thai eatery, everything else, including the menu and ownership, is still the same as before.

Chipotle Raises Prices

The ML Team — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 12:30:35 +0000

If you already think Chipotle is expensive, you’ll want to close your eyes for this one. Gothamist is reporting that due to increase food costs the NYC locations have raised the price of almost everything by 50 cents. Normally we’d tear these guys apart, but Zach proclaimed a truce back in January.

Chipotle Gearing Up For “ShopHouse” Launch

Zach Brooks — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 18:45:11 +0000

“Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. has registered the name ShopHouse Southeast Asian Kitchen with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, leading an analyst to speculate what the chain has planned for its new fast-casual Asian concept.” Wonder how Pure Thai Shophouse feels about that? Probably the same way Kogi felt about Baja Fresh. [NRN via Eater]

Can Nate Appleman Make Chipotle Good?

ultraclay — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 18:30:56 +0000

The food media is going crazy over the news that Nate Appleman is now working for Chipotle. But all we care about is will it make the food better!? He did used to work in SF, and that city does know how to make a good burrito. Plus he’s into whole animal cooking. Could lengua be coming to Chipotle? One can only hope.

Possible Free Burrito Alert

Zach Brooks — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 21:00:06 +0000

Just got word that a new Chipotle is opening on 37th and 7th. tomorrow, which means tonight from 5-8pm they’ll be giving away free burritos. Technically you’re supposed to have an invitation (which they’ve been handing out around the hood) but if you work in the area it might be worth swinging by. The worst they can do is turn you away!

Funniest Thing I’ve Read All Day

Zach Brooks — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 17:30:49 +0000

Yes, as reported in the NYT this morning I will cover the “arrival of a new Chipotle” (ideally because they’re giving away free burritos!) But clearly they didn’t read “The Midtown Lunch Ultimate Burrito Theory (and how it relates to Chipotle sucking)” or the Midtown Lunch post that exposed Chipotle’s posted “calorie ranges” for the sham they are! (Spoiler alert: That burrito bowl you’re eating is not 130 or calories.)

Baja Fresh vs. Chipotle

Zach Brooks — Wed, 27 May 2009 18:30:03 +0000

1:30pm today via Twitter: “@MidtownLunch Baja Fresh still packed today, but the line at Chipotle was almost non-existant. The tide is turning.”

20 New Chain Burrito Openings in Under 3 Years A Sign of the Apocalypse?

Zach Brooks — Mon, 18 May 2009 14:30:22 +0000

Word has come that in addition to the two new Baja Fresh locations, we’re also getting another Chipotle on 7th Ave. btw. 37+38th and another Qdoba on 3rd Ave. and 40th Street. That will bring the total to almost 20 new burrito chains in less than 3 years! Don’t get me wrong… I’ll admit to getting excited about Baja Fresh (Is it real Mexican food? Of course not. But it was my goto lunch when I was broke and living in L.A. for two years.) But overall this trend is kind of worrisome. The chain-i-fication of Manhattan food has been slowly happening for years now, but the bad economy looks like it’s accelerating the whole process. With so much real estate open around the city, big chains are the only businesses with the kind of money you need to expand, and survive through this crappy economy. Sure, I want In N Out Burger, Chick Fil A, and Panda Express to open in Midtown. But not at the expense of Blarney Stone, Cafe Cello, and Hing Won. Can’t we have it both ways?

Thanks to Lunch’er Rebecca for sending along the photo.

Free Burrito Reminder

Zach Brooks — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 14:07:08 +0000

Don’t forget, there are free burritos today from 11am to 6pm at the newest Chipotle- opening on Madison Ave. and 39th Street.

Another Free Burrito Alert (Minus the Music)

Zach Brooks — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 13:39:28 +0000

Grub Street reports that the final new Chipotle opening in 2008 will be on Madison and 39th, on December 11th- and they’ll be celebrating old school style on December 10th with free burritos from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. 6 p.m. No acoustic bands, no Halloween costumes, and no charity tie-in… just free food, given away to hoardes of freeloaders, just like the old days. I’m down with that.