Calling all raging guac-a-holics. You and I both know that not all guac is created equal. And while homemade guacamole is always better, the convenience of fast food is oh so appealing. So here’s the scoop on which fast food guacamole is worth your money (because we all know it’s always extra).
The Lineup
Rubios
Rubios is a fast food chain known for its tacos and different seafood choices, like their seasonal swordfish or mahi mahi. Rubios provides a nutrition guide on their website to help customers determine what meal is right for them and this guide also claims that their guacamole is vegan. Their guacamole literally tasted like mashed avocados (which, isn’t a bad thing). It just wasn’t guacamole. Their weren’t any seasonings but, it did taste extremely fresh. Also, it was chunky, but not chunky enough. Overall, I really did like it but, it’s not my soulmate.
Sara: 3/5
Lora: 3/5
QDOBA
If you’re familiar with Chipotle (which you probably are unless you live under a Patrick Star size rock) then, you’ve probably heard of Qdoba. It’s essentially the same idea as Chipotle, you know, the whole make your own burrito or bowl lineup. I personally prefer Chipotle’s food and that also officially applies to their guacamole as well. At least their guacamole is vegan friendly though! Qdoba’s guacamole was chunky but, lacked flavor. As far as fast food guacamole goes, it was fresh but, mediocre compared to other options. I’ve also read that their guacamole used to be free but, now you get charged for it with your meal. Finding that out was like getting a Christmas gift, unwrapping it, then getting it taken away. Not cool Qdoba.
Sara: 3/5
Lora: 3/5
Filibertos
Filibertos is a fast food place that has everything from tacos to carne asada fries. But, I’m going to skip the fluff and get to the point: Filibertos has the worst fast food guacamole ever. Oh, and the worst guacamole I’ve ever had in my life. It was so runny and tasted like water. It had zero flavor or texture. Was it even guacamole? I’d rather receive an envelope filled to the brim with glitter than ever encounter that guacamole again. My dad even commented that it looked like pureed split pea soup. So looks like it’s a Bo-no-appetit from me.
Side Note: When I went to get it, I noticed how awful it looked so I decided to give Filibertos the benefit of the doubt and go to another location in hopes that their guacamole would be better. It wasn’t.
Sara: 0/5, wait no, -1/5
Lora: 1/5 (She’s being generous.)
Taco Bell
Taco Bell is cheap and convenient. They offer all the typical Mexican food options with a few sporadic creations like their Nacho Cheese Doritos Locos Taco Supreme or their Cheesy Gordita Crunch. Even though their power bowls are like Chipotle’s trashy burrito bowl cousin, they are pretty tasty when you want something cheap and quick. Taco Bell’s guacamole is vegan but, does contain preservatives, which is probably why the guac was still hulk green in my fridge on day 3 (guacamole usually turns brown quick when its made ‘clean’ or fresh). Overall, the texture was less runny then the guacamole soup at filibertos and it tasted strongly of lemons and chemicals. It wasn’t awful but, like it wasn’t good.
Sara: 1/5
Lora: 1/5
Chipotle
You know it. You love it. Chipotle is a fan favorite and lives up to the hype. They pride themselves on using all clean and fresh ingredients and have the best chicken around in my opinion. Their website has a nutrition calculator that can accommodate a variety of diets and allergies. Chipotle has recently leaked their guacamole recipe and it’s not only delicious but, also vegan. Their guacamole was chunky, fresh and had tons of flavor. You really can’t go wrong with anything at Chipotle and out of all the fast food guacamole I tried, this isn’t one to pass up on.
Sara: 4.5/5
Lora: 4/5
El Pollo Loco
El Pollo Loco is a fast food chain that has its own healthy take on Mexican food. For example, instead of rice as a side, you can choose broccoli or a side salad. They also offer vegetarian options. Along with the healthy choices they offer, you can know exactly what you’re eating by checking out the nutritional information they offer on their website. I gotta admit, their guacamole didn’t disappoint. It tasted extremely fresh and had the best texture of the bunch. It had a ton of tomatoes and was delightfully chunky. It was a pleasure eating your guacamole El Pollo Loco.
Sara: 4/5
Lora: 4/5
Cafe Rio
Cafe Rio is simply delicious. Their food is always fresh and you can count on the fact that you’ll leave satisfied with a full belly. Their website provides a section that discusses vegan and vegetarian options (the guac is both vegan and vegetarian). They also provide an allergen menu and nutritional menu. I found their guacamole to be tasty but, lacking something. It looked the most appetizing out of all the guacamoles I tried, but I guess looks can be deceiving? It was still great but, it wasn’t my overall favorite.
Sara: 4/5
Lora: 4/5
Baja Fresh
Baja Fresh is known for it’s clean ingredients and phenomenal food. Oh and they also have THE BEST GUACAMOLE EVER. Seriously guys, I’d buy this stuff by the gallon. Their guacamole tasted fresh, had so much flavor, and exceptional texture. The guacamole trifecta. Drum roll please. And the winner of the best fast food guacamole goes to Baja Fresh!
Sara: 5/5
Lora: 5/5
Want more guac? Check out these posts!
5 Tips to Make the best Guacamole