US fast food chain brings ‘best’ menu item to UK for first time
In the UK, it seems we’re always waiting for our favourite fast food chains to bring cult US menu items over the pond.
Sometimes we get lucky and our wishes come true, case in point: McDonald’s is finally giving us the Shamrock Shake this month, after years of begging.
And now another brand is treating us to a fan-favourite from its American menu and if reviews are anything to go by, it’s bound to be popular.
Chipotle Mexican Grill, which is more commonly known as Chipotle, has announced it’s bringing Honey Chicken to restaurants across Europe for the very first time.
But you’ll have to be quick if you want to try it, as it’s only around for a limited period.
The new menu item is said to balance the unique heat of Chipotle peppers and the sweetness of wildflower honey, and will be available to order in Europe from March 7.
The Honey Chicken can be added to burritos, bowls, tacos, salads and quesadillas and was first launched in the US in 2024, but only in Nashville and Sacramento.
Customers in these cities got to try the chicken which they hailed on Reddit as ‘the best’, ‘so good’ and ‘fire’.
It was such a hit that people began demanding the chain make it a permanent feature on the menu, and it looks like it might be heading that way in the States.
While we’re only getting it for a short time in the UK, that hasn’t stopped people from getting excited about the announcement after the chain teased the news on Instagram.
@jennyvalff repied: ‘Omg omg it’s happening.’
And @gemmahitchon.pr commented ‘OMG favourite’ as @mrsmarkwebber told the chain to bring the flavour to Scotland.
‘Chipotle Honey Chicken was our top performing limited time offer in test markets and we’re excited for guests to taste this bold, new protein with their go-to order,’ said Chris Brandt, Chipotle’s chief brand officer. ‘The delicate balance of heat and a touch of sweet pairs perfectly with our real ingredients prepared fresh every day.’
Chipotle has 19 locations across the UK in London, Greater London and Guildford and you’ll be able to order the new Honey Chicken at all of them for a limited time.
Fans who have the Chipotle app can get an early taste from March 6, with exclusive access ahead of the launch.
Everything you need to know about Chipotle
Chipotle, specialises in tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and bowls, which are made to order in front of customers.
The chain prides itself on having no frozen food, artificial colours, flavours, or preservatives and the menu consists of 53 ingredients such as grilled steak, vegan braised tofu, white rice, black beans, several different types of salsa, guacamole, cheese, and sides such as tortilla chips.
Customers are able to fully customise their order, adding only the items they want to their meal. Or if you can’t be bothered to choose, then there are a couple of lifestyle bowls on the digital menu that will be made up according to a recipe. These include the Protein Pump Bowl (£11.80), the Vegan Bowl (£8.65) and the Keto Bowl (£11.85).
What do customers say about Chipotle?
In the US Chipotle is so popular it’s got its own Reddit thread, with 84,000 members sharing their thoughts and a look at their orders each day.
And it seems the fans over there approve of Chipotle over here, as an American food reviewer known as @chopcuisine recently gave the UK version her stamp of approval.
In a video posted to TikTok, she can be seen ordering the same food she’d usually get in the States and after tasting it, hails her meal ‘delicious’ and ‘amazing’.
Here in the UK, Chipotle has garnered itself a number of glowing reviews on Tripadvisor, with the Charing Cross Road branch being a particular hit with customers.
One incredibly wholesome five star review for the restaurant, posted by Kate Brighton, proclaims: ‘Grandma tries Chipotle — great fun food!
‘My first time in a Mexican fast food joint — what fun! Such deliciously tasty, low price food and very friendly staff. A special thank you to Hayley who made sure I fully understood how it all worked and made my tacos extra special.’
Similarly, a user named Sarper3 gave the restaurant four stars, writing: ‘A great lunch for all of us. After a tiring few hours in London we decided to try Chipotle for the first time. You select your base out of four options and then the ingredients just like a normal burrito joint.
‘Instead of ordering burritos we preferred bowls and it was as filling as a burrito. Better than getting an unhealthy takeaway in my opinion. However, the star of the night was their guacamole, it was delicious, one of the best I have eaten. I have no clue how they make it this good. My only criticism would be that they put lime on their nachos which is not my favourite.’
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