Chipotle expanding to London in 2009

Apologies if this has already been posted, but a search didn't turn up anything...

Slashfood story:

Chipotle to Expand to London, Names Bill Niman to Advisory Role
Posted Jan 6th 2009 2:01PM by Marisa McClellan
Filed under: Fast Food, Food News
U.S.-based, fast-casual* restaurant Chipotle Mexican Grill announced yesterday that they will be opening at least one store in London by the end of 2009. Opening a location abroad has more complications for Chipotle than it does for other dining brands, as they have a policy of working with local farmers and ranchers in order to source their food locally, humanely and sustainably.

They also announced yesterday that Bill Niman, founder of Niman Ranch, will be joining the management team as the Sustainable Agriculture Advisor. His job will be to will help Chipotle to expand on its efforts to support sustainable agriculture and bring food from sustainable sources to the masses.

It sounds like Chipotle is working hard to do everything right. Now, if only they could open a location in Center City Philadelphia!

*What happens to eating out when the quality of casual dining meets the speed and efficiency of fast food.

I left the States before Chiptole reached my area so I've never actually eaten there, but I've seen loads of people here go crazy over them, so this has got to be a good thing, right?

No.

I saw one when I went to San Diego and stopped in because I remembered people raving about it on here. I didn't see much on the menu, and not much that interested me at the time anyway, so I just walked out.

O-M-G.  The best news of the day by far!!!  I was just gazing at the Chipotle across the street from my office and salivating a little.  Now I have to go there for lunch in celebration of this news

Now if only PF Changs would expand to London, I'd be all set!!!

Heck, if you want better food then Chipotle in London, check out Wahaca.  About 10x better then Chipotle.  What they really need is more Chili's in my opinion.

Heck, if you want better food then Chipotle in London, check out Wahaca.  About 10x better then Chipotle.  What they really need is more Chili's in my opinion.

More Chilis?  I am afraid I must disagree on that one.     But I do agree about Wahaca.

Not to make Kitson's mouth water, but I do second the Chilis request. Have you had their quesadilla salad??  Oi.  Yum.

Off to Chilpotle I go... !!

Now if only PF Changs would expand to London, I'd be all set!!!

Cant see that happening...I love Changs and it's always a port of call when I go home...but it's such Americanised Chinese.... so different to the bland stuff they serve over here (though everyone says that the Chinese here is more authentic.....)

Cant see that happening...I love Changs and it's always a port of call when I go home...but it's such Americanised Chinese.... so different to the bland stuff they serve over here (though everyone says that the Chinese here is more authentic.....)

Huh?  Who says that?  Chang's is Americanised, but saying "Chinese" food in Britian is more "Chinese" is like saying people people in China speak "Chinese".  While there are some places you can go in the UK, the vast majority of them are Anglicised.  Contrary to popular British belief, chips are not a Chinese dish!  Blaghhhh...  I do agree the vast majority is bland over here, but that caters to Western Tastes.

Real "Chinese" food is hugely varied, often regional based.  Catonese (of which Dim Sum is a sub type of Catonese cooking), Szechuan, Mongolian, Taiwanese, etc etc...  Then you have the Malaysian-Chinese, Singapore-Chinese.  Ah... now I am getting hungry.

While I spent time in Hong Kong, I got used to a lot of stuff there, but my favorite variety of Eastern Asian cooking is the Malaysian-Chinese and the other Malay and Indian influenced dishes from Malaysia, but most of the good stuff I have had has been friends cooking, which may skew my opinion.

Chipotle... Chili's... P.F. Chang's?  Please take them and don't let them come back.

Huh?  Who says that?  Chang's is Americanised, but saying "Chinese" food in Britian is more "Chinese" is like saying people people in China speak "Chinese".  While there are some places you can go in the UK, the vast majority of them are Anglicised.  Contrary to popular British belief, chips are not a Chinese dish!  Blaghhhh...  I do agree the vast majority is bland over here, but that caters to Western Tastes.

Real "Chinese" food is hugely varied, often regional based.  Catonese (of which Dim Sum is a sub type of Catonese cooking), Szechuan, Mongolian, Taiwanese, etc etc...  Then you have the Malaysian-Chinese, Singapore-Chinese.  Ah... now I am getting hungry.

While I spent time in Hong Kong, I got used to a lot of stuff there, but my favorite variety of Eastern Asian cooking is the Malaysian-Chinese and the other Malay and Indian influenced dishes from Malaysia, but most of the good stuff I have had has been friends cooking, which may skew my opinion.

There's been plenty of debate about this subject on this forum already...I ain't revisiting it.

The only place mentioned here that I've been to is Chili's. BLECH! 

Why would anyone choose to eat fast food from a chain place when they could either go to a real restaurant or cook something good at home?? 

Wahaca isn't much like Chipotle at all.

Now, places like Mucho Mas are almost identical - I think someone said there was another Chipotle-esque joint in Westfield mall now.

I don't really care if it's an original Chipotle or what, they just need one of those joints in south London - why are they all a mega-trek from my house?

The only place mentioned here that I've been to is Chili's. BLECH! 

Why would anyone choose to eat fast food from a chain place when they could either go to a real restaurant or cook something good at home?? 

I've never had Chipotle (though I enjoyed hearing the other half murder the pronunciation the other night when reading about it's upcoming arrival... ) But agree with you, Chary, about the fastfood!!! My Father nearly fell off his chair at Wendy's when I told him that the boys and I dont eat fast food.. (after dragging us to three different fast food joints within a week!)

Saw the Wahaca place on Masterchef the other night....