It's a chilly night — perfect to warm up with some Tex-Mex food at this Dos Toros on 23rd and Park Avenue.
The interior feels cozy and rich with vibrant red walls and natural wood everywhere.
I'm hungry, so I step right up for my order. I'll choose a chicken plato — their name for a burrito bowl — and a steak quesadilla.
You heard right: Dos Toros serves quesadillas, a big difference from Chipotle. The prices are similar, except adding guacamole is much cheaper. Adding guac costs $0.92 — except with tacos, where it only costs $0.42.
next slide will load in 15 secondsSkip AdSkip AdThe set up is exactly like Chipotle's, with the line moving down as you choose what goes into your delicious meal. Another difference, however, is their rice. It's a richly flavored yellow rice that tastes much more savory than Chipotle's signature cilantro lime recipe.
A quick and easy ordering process, and I have my pollo asado plato and my carne asada quesadilla — which is rolled up, essentially making it a loosely packed burrito.
While Chipotle's burritos and bowls generally have a light, crisp overall taste to them. Dos Toros goes for rich and savory. This is where Dos Toros' sauces come into play: with choices of verde, smokey, or habanero, there are a few ways your burrito experience can go.
I chose the smokey sauce, which is precisely that. It's rich with a smoked barbecue taste, and with a slight but noticeable spicy kick to it as well. It melds perfectly with the cooling crema and guacamole as well as adding additional smokiness to the tender and well-seasoned chicken.
The steak quesadilla is pretty packed with ingredients. I expected a flat, classic quesadilla, but this is really a loose burrito with extra cheese in it, which is far from a bad thing. That being said, very difficult to eat as it falls apart quickly.
next slide will load in 15 secondsSkip AdSkip AdThe chain composts its utensils and food.
But the steak is juicy and cooked perfectly, and the rich cheese makes it an incredibly filling meal. I'm pretty impressed.
If you're in a jam, the napkins provide a step–by–step guide to tackling your burrito or quesadilla. Luckily, I managed to pull through without it.
The serving sizes are comparable to Chipotle, meaning they're huge and filling. I barely finished, but it was so good I had to keep going.
Dos Toros — once again, just like Chipotle — makes sustainability a major pillar of their business model. Frankly, you can taste it: the veggies are fresh, and the meat is done right, which is a nod to the kitchen staff as much as it is their sources.
next slide will load in 15 secondsSkip AdSkip AdDos Toros is looking to expand beyond the NYC market, and if they manage to keep their current model of good food fast, they can easily make it elsewhere.