How many Mexican style restaurants dot downtown Iowa City? Chipotle, Panchero's, Taco Bell, and the Saloon are just a few that immediately come to mind. A mile south of the Pentacrest, meanwhile, Los Portales, el Ranchero, and Carlos O'Kelly hover over Hwy. 1.
So how do you separate the good from the bad; the cheap from the pricey? In this blog we'll occasionally offer comparisons of restaurants, and this seems like a decent place to start.
Los Portales v. Chipotle
Los Portales, located at 1402 S. Gilbert St., has one of the best lunch specials in town. Their extensive menu includes an entire page of lunch specials available during the early afternoon hours; prices range anywhere between $3-6. Not only is the food better than the fast-food offerings of Chipotle, you get more bang for your buck, too. And for hungry--yet poor--college students, this is exactly what we have in mind.
A steak burrito at Chipotle costs $6.47, including tax. If you include a drink, that price climbs to nearly $8. Hungry for chips and salsa, too? Well, now it's time to pull out a Hamilton--this meal has struck double-digit prices.
The same meal at Los Portales costs about three dollars less. It includes a burrito, refried beans and rice, unlimited chips and salsa, and a drink. If you substitute a drink for water, the entire meal costs only $5.25 (before tip). If you're keeping track, that's more than a dollar less than one burrito at Chipotle.
It doesn't hurt to wander away from campus now and again. Sure, the food is convenient, but it's not always cheap. Iowa City has more to offer than bars and fast food restaurants. If you're willing to take a look, you might just find a better meal at a better price.
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