I had one of the worst experiences at this Chipotle yesterday, September 20th, around noon. I placed a pickup order for a bowl with double portion chicken and the new carne asada steak. After leaving the store, sitting in the parking lot for a bit, then opening my meal, I saw they had made it regular and only given me chicken. Since it had only been about 14 minutes, I went back in to report the mistake and get my missing meat I rightfully purchased.
When I showed my untouched bowl to the cashier, she went to the manager, who was on the line. Nothing in my bowl had been touched besides me slightly rummaging through the top layer to check for the missing steak. They seemed to confuse this with dishonesty. While huddled together, they deliberated in Spanish in front of other customers, and I could clearly see the manager’s face full of contempt, as if she thought I was lying. I repeatedly asked, “Do you think I’m lying? It’s only been about 14 minutes, and I showed you a full untouched bowl with the missing meat and my order ticket; why would I lie?” At no point did they deny or directly respond—they simply ignored me.
At first, the cashier offered to give my missing steak in a cup on the side, which I accepted. But after speaking with the manager again, I was told to wait for a remade bowl. I sat and watched multiple other orders be fulfilled while mine was ignored. About five minutes passed, and only after I asked why I was being made to wait for their mistake—when the ingredients for my missing meat were ready, other customers were still being served, and I had agreed to the cup solution—did they finally give me the meat in a cup and let me leave.
The manager never spoke to me directly, even though she was on the line the whole time. I only learned her name when I asked right before leaving. The cashier hesitated, walked over to her, and then asked me, “Why do you want her name? Do you want to speak to her right now?” I said, “No, just give me her name,” and only then was I told in a whispered tone that it was Martha. That lack of transparency and accountability made the experience even worse.
As a Black woman in a predominantly white and Hispanic area, I felt racially profiled. I am not from the area, it was my first time at that location, and my first time trying carne asada. The manager and team were Hispanic, as were the customers. I was the only Black woman, which made me feel that their prejudice and accusatory behavior were influenced by my race. The way I was treated—looked at like I was dishonest, made to wait unnecessarily, denied direct communication with the manager, and spoken to with attitude—was embarrassing and disrespectful, especially when it was their mistake from moving too fast in the first place.
This experience was entirely avoidable and reflects poorly on the professionalism and training at this location. I hope this complaint is taken seriously, and I request that appropriate measures be taken to ensure customers are treated with respect and mistakes are corrected efficiently.
Martha and the specific cashier from that day, DO BETTER.