Chipotle Is Testing Crispy Chicken In Select Locations
Chipotle might finally be entering its crispy chicken era.
The chain confirmed that it has been quietly testing a new Crispy Chicken protein at select California locations, adding a crunchy, breaded option to a menu that’s largely stayed locked into grilled meats for years.
And naturally, people immediately started posting about it online.
Customers first spotted the item at a Chipotle in Tustin, while additional sightings popped up in Irvine, including the location on Irvine Blvd. According to reports, the crispy chicken can be added to burritos, bowls, tacos, and salads for about $1 more than the chain’s standard grilled chicken.
Foodbeast’s own Elie Ayrouth also managed to track it down locally and gave it a try ahead of what feels like inevitable internet discourse once more people get their hands on it.
Early reactions describe it as more classic fried chicken than Nashville-hot gimmickry. Crispy exterior. Savory flavor. Not aggressively spicy. More importantly, people say it actually holds its crunch surprisingly well even once it disappears into a heavily loaded burrito situation.
Which might matter more than the flavor itself.
Chipotle built its entire identity around freshness, customization, and assembly-line speed, but crispy chicken introduces a whole different level of operational chaos compared to scooping grilled protein onto a bowl. That’s likely why the company called this part of its “stage-gate process,” meaning they’re watching both customer feedback and kitchen logistics before deciding on a wider rollout.
Still, the timing makes sense.
Fast food chains have spent the last few years locked in an unofficial crispy chicken arms race, while Chipotle largely stayed on the sidelines. Still, I can’t help but feel that adding a crunchy protein option feels less like a random LTO and more like the company finally acknowledging where customer cravings have been heading.
And if the social media reactions are any indication, people seem very ready to wrap fried chicken in a tortilla and call it lunch.
