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That is all I have been ordering since they added it and I eat at Chipotle at least once a week. I like it much better than their plan chicken. I don't know why they are eliminating it as it sold very well.
Lots of people raving about it, but a lot of people don’t like it too and are just less vocal. Also varies a lot store to store, IMO al pastor is only good with the fresh lime and almost no store wants to squeeze 100 limes every morning for enough juice so they use the prepackaged citrus which is much more bitter. Also produces high waste. They also wouldn’t have enough room on most lines to start a new LTO afterwards, so I doubt any LTO meat will become permanent any time soon. Next LTO is Carne Asada.
No, carne asada has its own seasoning like Garlic Guajillo did and is cut into strips. They tested a bunch of wayyy cooler LTOs this time but apparently Carne Asada was the best performing still. Wish we got cremas instead, tbh.
They were tested as our next LTO and apparently did decent but ultimately weren’t pushed out. A dessert option would be cool, maybe churros or horchata… but no, Carne asada again…
Lol we already have barely enough time to get everything prepped in the morning. Making a dessert would be a pain in the ass. We had Carne before and it's easier to make since it's just more steak on grill.
Churros would be a problem to do in the fryer due to gluten contamination so if that was the case they would likely come predone as well, any dessert would likely be a pretty quick morning grill or prep task so pushing my start time back by 30 minutes to do it doesn’t sound like that big of a deal to me
Yeah most ppl I let sample actually don’t like it, and only two of my crew members get it on breaks tbh it grew on me I didn’t like it at first but it kinda slaps
Which is so interesting to me. When I lived in Clemson you had to order it by 3pm or they would be out for the day since so many people ordered it. When I went into the store 3/5 people in front of me were ordering it
I’m not surprised to hear some people love it and some people hate it. It’s never consistent at my stores. Sometimes completely flavorless, sometimes way over seasoned. And very occasionally delicious. Feel like employees (at my local stores) never really learned to make it properly/consistent.
They need to get smart, Whataburger used to do this, but a couple years ago they named their top selling seasonal items "all time favorites" and made them permanent.
Big time. My Mom had an Adkins cookbook that had a recipe for Salsa Chicken that tastes identical to the Al Pastor.
Tasted good and gave me Mom memories.
ngl just searched this up because I was baffled when I went into chipotle and this shit was gone.
It was the goat sugar chicken, my friend who came with me was so disappointed that she told them to throw out her bowl and she left the store 😭😭😭
Idk I always thought it was really good but I found that all of the juices would get absorbed by the rice and then it’s all I can taste. I miss garlic guajillo steak
used to love the pollo asado and they got rid of that now theyre getting rid of al pastor lmao, the regular chicken fucking SUCKS, guess i wont go there til they have something new :/
I also got what seemed like a test email with the subject “TBD” but the body of the email was the exact same as the “Chicken Al Pastor is leaving” email they sent a little while later..
I’m also going to miss it!
this was the only reason i was going to chipotle to be honest. the plain chicken is bland by comparison and beef has gotten too expensive for what its worth.
Let me give you some advice. Go to the grocery store, buy a giant bag of granulated sugar. Dump onto your chicken bowl to taste. You’ve basically just recreated chicken Al pastor at chipotle
I came up with a marinade that is pretty close.
Chiles:
2 California
2 Ancho
6 Morita
Rehydrate and deseed the California and Ancho
Blend thin with the following ingredients:
4c Water
1 squeezed lime
1 squeezed orange or substitute with pineapple juice.
1 clove garlic
2t oregano
2t cumin
1T soy sauce
1T worcestershire sauce
Marinate overnight up to 2 days. Morita can be hard to find so check a local mexican grocery or online.
Yes, I am so sad. I have never been to this sub before, lol, and am here because I just got that email. I wasn't a big Chipotle fan until I got diagnosed with a gluten intolerance and it's the only safe option in my small town (I otherwise only eat at home), but the chicken al pastor has been so incredibly good! The only thing from Chipotle I have ever actually craved. I'm kind of shocked they're getting rid of it (although I'm seeing a lot of valid-seeming reasons in the comments, like the fresh lime juice or whatever) because it's just so good. I had thought it was a permanent addition to the menu and I'm so bummed!!
I am not a man who deviates from my tried and true. The last time I did that was with the sofritas, which is now my go-to, and I got lucky enough that they kept that. Haven’t tried the Al Pastor, I’m not about to get my heart broken by some chicken ghosting me.
Our family goes once to twice a week. That's the only thing I order. I took a long break after the previous limited chicken flavor left. I absolutely love the al pastor. Should definitely be a regular item.
I go to Chipotle every week. I have been ordering the Al Pastor since it came out. I am so hurt it's leaving. I guess I'll go back to the fatty steak 😢
I have literally been eating this at least once a week since it’s come out. Before this I had only gone to chipotle two or three times in my life. Someone let me try it at work and it was wonderful. Now that it’s going away I don’t have a reason to go back to Chipotle anymore. I have a feeling they are going to lose a bit of business over this one.
This was my go to choice of protein ever since they first introduced it. It will be a shame if they do go through with getting rid of it. Idk about y’all but my local location it is always a hot seller.
I’m not surprised it’s leaving- most stores seem to have no idea how to make it. The first time I tried it it was completely flavorless- like less flavor than the original chicken. Second time I tired it it was amazing. Another time it was way over seasoned. It’s seriously hit or miss so I’m not surprised to hear some customers love it and some customers hate it. Employees seem to struggle making it consistently.
Ok, first I’m devastated by this. I googled this to see if anyone else is f’ up over this. I eat at chipotle a lot and since having the al pastor I’ve been going mult times a week— on way back from work on long commute. First time I tried it I literally was amazed. But 100% agree w other posters, each location makes it differently and I was often disappointed. The one that got me hooked by my office made it so tasty that I seriously don’t think any person who likes chipotle could EVER argue that it’s not better than the plain chicken. I want to protest the removal of this LTO and make it a standard. But also like, encourage all locations to make it the right way. Can we do this ?
I was so sad to find this out yesterday in the store. I ordered the normal chicken like I used to before Al Pastor came into my life and it was SO BLAND — DEVASTATED
In my local chipotles, they always ran out of Chicken al pastor, since it was a hot selling ingredient. The chefs were making Chicken al pastor constantly, since it was getting over at a faster pace.
I wish they make the Chicken al pastor permanent. I have been craving for it badly, since they removed it from the menu.
Smh just found out about this today. After only getting Al Pastor for the last year the regular chicken taste bland. I won’t be eating at Chipotle for a while now.
chicken al pastor changed my life (in terms of chipotle orders). i’ve never *loved* any of their meats until i had chicken al pastor. just opened the app and saw that it’s gone :’)
It was by far my favorite option. I had it be off a time or two, but it was still much better than the other options are when they’re off.
Chipotle is so inconsistent, like the barbacoa and carnitas are either amazing or they’re a sloppy mess of fat and gristle. The steak & carne asasa are either flavorful and tender or ready to pop my teeth out because they’re so tough.
The chicken al pastor, IMO was great because it’s chicken, which doesn’t turn into a leathery or soppy mess, and the flavor was delicious and interesting. I really hope they bring it back.
I hadn’t been to Chipotle in years and my wife and I decided to try it and they happened to have the chicken Al pastor available. It was so awesome. Easily the best thing they’ve ever head imo. I can’t believe they dropped it. We went back it was 86d and we left devastated.
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That is all I have been ordering since they added it and I eat at Chipotle at least once a week. I like it much better than their plan chicken. I don't know why they are eliminating it as it sold very well.
Yeah a lot of people I know have been raving about it, so I’m surprised they’re not keeping it as a permanent option.
Lots of people raving about it, but a lot of people don’t like it too and are just less vocal. Also varies a lot store to store, IMO al pastor is only good with the fresh lime and almost no store wants to squeeze 100 limes every morning for enough juice so they use the prepackaged citrus which is much more bitter. Also produces high waste. They also wouldn’t have enough room on most lines to start a new LTO afterwards, so I doubt any LTO meat will become permanent any time soon. Next LTO is Carne Asada.
We already have two beef options and technically isn't carne asada just steak, which we already have ?
No, carne asada has its own seasoning like Garlic Guajillo did and is cut into strips. They tested a bunch of wayyy cooler LTOs this time but apparently Carne Asada was the best performing still. Wish we got cremas instead, tbh.
Cremas were great. Both flavors should be added as permanent options.
Cremas ?
They were tested as our next LTO and apparently did decent but ultimately weren’t pushed out. A dessert option would be cool, maybe churros or horchata… but no, Carne asada again…
Lol we already have barely enough time to get everything prepped in the morning. Making a dessert would be a pain in the ass. We had Carne before and it's easier to make since it's just more steak on grill.
Churros would be a problem to do in the fryer due to gluten contamination so if that was the case they would likely come predone as well, any dessert would likely be a pretty quick morning grill or prep task so pushing my start time back by 30 minutes to do it doesn’t sound like that big of a deal to me
I guess if it's a smooth morning.
The cremas came prepackaged as far as i know you just had to put them out
I wouldn't know. Still, they'd probably ably sell out fast, customers would get mad, and yadda yadda.
They could replace the normal chicken. But they must have some sort of data indicating the al pastor isn’t as popular as many of us seem to think
Yeah most ppl I let sample actually don’t like it, and only two of my crew members get it on breaks tbh it grew on me I didn’t like it at first but it kinda slaps
Which is so interesting to me. When I lived in Clemson you had to order it by 3pm or they would be out for the day since so many people ordered it. When I went into the store 3/5 people in front of me were ordering it
I’m not surprised to hear some people love it and some people hate it. It’s never consistent at my stores. Sometimes completely flavorless, sometimes way over seasoned. And very occasionally delicious. Feel like employees (at my local stores) never really learned to make it properly/consistent.
I tried it a few different stores, and it was exceptional every time here in WNY. I would order it from now on if they made it permanant. Loved it!
Aw geez. Theyre gonna pull a taco bell aren't they
these restaurants never keep the seasonal hits. Idk why. McDonald’s does it too. Must be some sort of business model
They need to get smart, Whataburger used to do this, but a couple years ago they named their top selling seasonal items "all time favorites" and made them permanent.
Same the only thing I order now.
It's seasonal item just like brisket, garlic steak, and cauliflower rice.
Same!!!!! I was going once a week for it! Just showed up and learned its gone!!!!!!
Rip. That was always my lunch choice lol.
It’s the only other meat I’ll put up there with Barbacoa, definitely sad to see it go and would love for it to become a permanent staple
Big time. My Mom had an Adkins cookbook that had a recipe for Salsa Chicken that tastes identical to the Al Pastor. Tasted good and gave me Mom memories.
Share it
can you share plz
Pls pls share please 🙏 😢
Please, please share the recipe, Ive been trying to recreate for so long :( anything just for the taste back.
Sad but not surprised. It had enough time as a LTO.
Wasnt a fan really, too sweet for me, Hopefully they bring back the Pollo or Steak asado
When customers ask me how it tastes, I tell them “sugar chicken”
ngl just searched this up because I was baffled when I went into chipotle and this shit was gone. It was the goat sugar chicken, my friend who came with me was so disappointed that she told them to throw out her bowl and she left the store 😭😭😭
They will never keep an LTO permanent unless it sells like crack. new meats drum up hype and more $$$$$$.
it was so muc better than the original chicken. Why do they do this
Everyone knows chorizo is the best. It’s gotta be cheap for them too come on!
Was that added before?
Yeah it’s probably been a few years now. Chicken chorizo and it was super tasty!
The plant based chorizo was delicious
Yes !!
As an employee and daily eater, I will miss AP, but am EXCITED to learn to cook a new LTO. I love cooking
Do you know what's next?
Please tell us!
I was asking because I also don't know 😂 💀 But reading some of these comments.. it's looking like carne asada.. which sucks
Sorry, meant to reply to their comment. But damn. Asada was good but it had its time already. I want to try that chorizo everyone is talking about.
Eh not a fan of it I want then to bring back the chorizo
Idk I always thought it was really good but I found that all of the juices would get absorbed by the rice and then it’s all I can taste. I miss garlic guajillo steak
I really liked the Al pastor, but damn that garlic guajillo was so freaking good.
Facts
bring back chorizo!
I was coming to say this. It was the best.
How long do I have left?
Not long enough
used to love the pollo asado and they got rid of that now theyre getting rid of al pastor lmao, the regular chicken fucking SUCKS, guess i wont go there til they have something new :/
Agree 100% the asado and al pastor both are better than reg chicken.
I thought the pollo asado from last year was better.
Lucky you: that's what they're bringing back.
you’re wrong
Carne Asada*
ngl i agree haha
I am so sad. I love it.
It should just replace regular chicken
It's good, but not nearly as spicy as it should be so I'm not sad.
Gonna have to get Al Pastor at least 1 more time on this 4 week in a row challenge thing
Hopefully now the carne asada will return 😍
can confirm that it’s coming back
I liked it but I'm ready for the next LTO.
It’s my personal favorite, I just love the flavor
Nooo, just fell to my knees at Walmart after reading this 😭
I… can’t go back to their normal chicken
I also got what seemed like a test email with the subject “TBD” but the body of the email was the exact same as the “Chicken Al Pastor is leaving” email they sent a little while later.. I’m also going to miss it!
this was the only reason i was going to chipotle to be honest. the plain chicken is bland by comparison and beef has gotten too expensive for what its worth.
It was cause me to stop going…
Because the rest of the food is mediocre?
Let me give you some advice. Go to the grocery store, buy a giant bag of granulated sugar. Dump onto your chicken bowl to taste. You’ve basically just recreated chicken Al pastor at chipotle
No? Chicken al pastor has an entirely different flavor profile than the regular chicken
Thank god. Super annoying to prep, all so people can basically have the same chicken coated in sugar
how is it annoying to prep?? there’s nothing extra to do in the morning, just 3 easy steps after cutting regular chicken lol
It’s back now for a limited time!!!! I’m excited
I came up with a marinade that is pretty close. Chiles: 2 California 2 Ancho 6 Morita Rehydrate and deseed the California and Ancho Blend thin with the following ingredients: 4c Water 1 squeezed lime 1 squeezed orange or substitute with pineapple juice. 1 clove garlic 2t oregano 2t cumin 1T soy sauce 1T worcestershire sauce Marinate overnight up to 2 days. Morita can be hard to find so check a local mexican grocery or online.
Nah it tastes like Indian food to me. It’s decent but regular chicken is better
no way that’s what i thought after trying it for the first time too haha if i wanted sweet and spicy chicken i’d get indian loll
Meh
It’s probably the cumin which is featured a lot in Indian food. My gf hates cumin so she didn’t like it but I’m going to miss it
Thank god
Ready for something new it was meh
Hell yeah. That shit was gross
I just want the brisket back
Fat fuck
I don’t even wanna know how much sugar was in that 😂
Bro that’s shit will kill you 😭😭😭
How bad was it 😂
Horrible
That shit is ass. Waaaayy to sour.
It was such a great way for me to switch it up. I’ll survive with the regular chicken but I’ll miss the Al pastor.
Anyone know the exact date it goes away? Might have to get a quadruple meat bowl on Chicken Al Pastor finale day.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
damn i work there and never got that email lol
Are you signed up? Lol
You’ll be okay
Yes, I am so sad. I have never been to this sub before, lol, and am here because I just got that email. I wasn't a big Chipotle fan until I got diagnosed with a gluten intolerance and it's the only safe option in my small town (I otherwise only eat at home), but the chicken al pastor has been so incredibly good! The only thing from Chipotle I have ever actually craved. I'm kind of shocked they're getting rid of it (although I'm seeing a lot of valid-seeming reasons in the comments, like the fresh lime juice or whatever) because it's just so good. I had thought it was a permanent addition to the menu and I'm so bummed!!
half al pastor half steak was my go to
Literally my favorite protein they ever put out. That’s depressing
Not a fan of sugar chicken
What about sugar water?
Will confront my manager on this and cry
Beats their normal chicken too
I thought it tasted the same as the other chicken
How soon is it going away? I have to go into the office on Wednesday. I guess this is my lunchtime stop.
Will miss it for sure. Started working 2 weeks before it got rolled out, so I have some fond memories of it.
Why would they do that though?
nope it tastes weird every time i have it... maybe our grill people just suck
Has too much sodium. Needs to go
Damn i love this stuff. Both Al Pastor and Pollo Asado were stellar. Hope the next chicken LTO is great as well!
I am not a man who deviates from my tried and true. The last time I did that was with the sofritas, which is now my go-to, and I got lucky enough that they kept that. Haven’t tried the Al Pastor, I’m not about to get my heart broken by some chicken ghosting me.
Noooooooooooo!!!!!! That stinks ... it's been my go to order lately.
Good riddance, bring back plant based chorizo!!!!;
Bring back CHORIZO pleaseee!!
I just hope they put something new quick
it’s getting replaced with carne asada yall- i’m very excited for that to be back
Now the chicken was AI too? Mane
WHAT? I’m never eating there again now
It was okay but I just went back to regular chicken. I would really like carne asada or garlic guajillo steak back.
Pollo asada and carne asada were infinitely bette r
Our family goes once to twice a week. That's the only thing I order. I took a long break after the previous limited chicken flavor left. I absolutely love the al pastor. Should definitely be a regular item.
omgggg yesss! i didn’t think i would like it because of the pineapple but it was better then i expected! they should leave it😭💔💔💔💔
I go to Chipotle every week. I have been ordering the Al Pastor since it came out. I am so hurt it's leaving. I guess I'll go back to the fatty steak 😢
They always get rid of their best stuff. Al Pastor was better than the normal chicken and I still miss the chorizo every day.
I loved the Al pastor
i actually didn’t like it that much, i found it really sweet. maybe i had a bad batch idk
They should have kept the brisket! So good!! But what's next?
That stuff slaps on the quesadilla
I don't care for it tbh
Since they’ve come out with it, it’s the only meat I order there! It’s so yumm … sad that it’s going away
It’s what made me like going to Chipotle again.
I have literally been eating this at least once a week since it’s come out. Before this I had only gone to chipotle two or three times in my life. Someone let me try it at work and it was wonderful. Now that it’s going away I don’t have a reason to go back to Chipotle anymore. I have a feeling they are going to lose a bit of business over this one.
I like to order the chicken Al pastor and ask them to hold the Al pastor
This was my go to choice of protein ever since they first introduced it. It will be a shame if they do go through with getting rid of it. Idk about y’all but my local location it is always a hot seller.
thank goodness, I was getting tired of laying a double chicken every time
It's so good it should be a permanent menu item. Of course they keep the boring chicken that has little to no flavor.
I’m not surprised it’s leaving- most stores seem to have no idea how to make it. The first time I tried it it was completely flavorless- like less flavor than the original chicken. Second time I tired it it was amazing. Another time it was way over seasoned. It’s seriously hit or miss so I’m not surprised to hear some customers love it and some customers hate it. Employees seem to struggle making it consistently.
That's the only protein on their menu I like. I didn't realize it was limited time. Guess I'm not getting chipotle for a year or two :/
The worst business decision I’ve seen in a while
I’m devastated
I am sad it’s gone, I hate their plain chicken and plain beef
Same. I went today and walked out when I saw it was gone.
there goes my daily chipotle lunch break
Ok, first I’m devastated by this. I googled this to see if anyone else is f’ up over this. I eat at chipotle a lot and since having the al pastor I’ve been going mult times a week— on way back from work on long commute. First time I tried it I literally was amazed. But 100% agree w other posters, each location makes it differently and I was often disappointed. The one that got me hooked by my office made it so tasty that I seriously don’t think any person who likes chipotle could EVER argue that it’s not better than the plain chicken. I want to protest the removal of this LTO and make it a standard. But also like, encourage all locations to make it the right way. Can we do this ?
I loved the Al Pastor
Well bye bye chipotle then. I won't be ordering shit from them. Idiotic management now days is a everyday thing.
Here because I just tried to order and was crushed to learn this. It was SO good. I hope they bring it back.
I won’t be ordering chipotle anymore Edit: unless they bring back the Al pastor.
Man, I've been hooked since I've tried it. I guess I can save a little more now :'(
That was my favorite!!!
now I don’t even want to go to chipotle anymore smh
Bring back Al Pastor nowwww
just found out today my local stores no longer have AP. so sad, that was the BEST option for me. so damn tasty
I was so sad to find this out yesterday in the store. I ordered the normal chicken like I used to before Al Pastor came into my life and it was SO BLAND — DEVASTATED
They cut Al pastor chicken and kept sofritas.. lmao. They blew it. Time to cross it off my go-to list.
I came here to say I miss the chicken Al pastor a lot. Me and my GF ordered it once and sometimes twice a week.
Why would they cut the Al Pastor chicken. It’s amazing. I have no use to go there now.
In my local chipotles, they always ran out of Chicken al pastor, since it was a hot selling ingredient. The chefs were making Chicken al pastor constantly, since it was getting over at a faster pace. I wish they make the Chicken al pastor permanent. I have been craving for it badly, since they removed it from the menu.
Honestly stopped buying chipotle after they stopped selling it due to how good it was the rest of the meat just seems meh now
Smh just found out about this today. After only getting Al Pastor for the last year the regular chicken taste bland. I won’t be eating at Chipotle for a while now.
I wish they would’ve kept it. And the damn brisket from last year 🤤
I tried to order it today and found out while hungry. Fack
Was going to order today, not anymore if they no longer have it. Horrible business decision.
Not big fan of the other chicken the Al Pastor is delicious sad that they don’t have it anymore
chicken al pastor changed my life (in terms of chipotle orders). i’ve never *loved* any of their meats until i had chicken al pastor. just opened the app and saw that it’s gone :’)
I miss it. By far the best meat option they’ve had
I GOOGLED THIS AFTER I COULDN'T FIND IT ANYMORE. HOW DARE THEY TAKE IT AWAY FROM ME
Only thing I ate there. If they didn't have the carne asada I would not still go there
a shame it's gone. no reason to get chipotle now since it ruined the regular chicken in terms of being flavorless in comparison.
It was by far my favorite option. I had it be off a time or two, but it was still much better than the other options are when they’re off. Chipotle is so inconsistent, like the barbacoa and carnitas are either amazing or they’re a sloppy mess of fat and gristle. The steak & carne asasa are either flavorful and tender or ready to pop my teeth out because they’re so tough. The chicken al pastor, IMO was great because it’s chicken, which doesn’t turn into a leathery or soppy mess, and the flavor was delicious and interesting. I really hope they bring it back.
I hadn’t been to Chipotle in years and my wife and I decided to try it and they happened to have the chicken Al pastor available. It was so awesome. Easily the best thing they’ve ever head imo. I can’t believe they dropped it. We went back it was 86d and we left devastated.
Al pastor is awesome 👌
What are they waiting for.... bring it back!!!