We Got An Early Taste Of Chipotle's New Pollo Asado And Chili Lime Chips

Remember Chipotle‘s Pollo Asado? Back in 2022, the burrito-bowl giants launched a limited-time variant of their classic chicken to wide acclaim. Despite the praise, this new protein didn’t stick around for good… and the new version won’t either. Yes, starting this week for a limited time only, Chipotle is reviving the Pollo Asado concept with a brand-new recipe, plus a first-ever seasoned chip variant. A few days ago, Chipotle gave us a sneak peek at these new menu items; let’s find out whether they were worth making room for on the prep line.

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Chipotle Pollo Asado Chicken Review

New-ish Chipotle Protein!

Pros: This returning-but-also-new protein is seasoned with garlic, Mexican spices, and cilantro, then finished with citrus that delivers a bright zip alongside smoky, savory goodness. Since I’m not cursed with the soap gene, I’m pretty happy with this spiced herbal take on chunked chicken.

Without Chipotle’s original pollo asado to compare, I can’t speak to how this new recipe improves on the formula. That said, I’m definitely happy with what’s being presented here as a fresh alternative. As someone who’s been on a chicken-over-beef kick for a few years now, I’m never going to complain about any build-your-own brand giving some shine to an often-overlooked protein option.

Cons: As with any Chipotle protein, this will work as well as the ingredients you pair with it. Chipotle’s chef-recommended bowl contains white rice, black beans, roasted chili-corn salsa, and guacamole. I’m sure some ingredient combinations mesh less successfully than what I taste-tested; your mileage may vary.

Credit: Griffin Parker / Chipotle

Rating:

9.5/10

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Chipotle Chili Lime Chips Review

New Chipotle Side!

Pros: Plenty of chili lime products lean too hard on chili, but these chips balance both flavors in aroma and taste both. Compared to Chipotle’s classic chips, these are a huge step up in flavor… which is to say, they have a flavor! It’ll be a sad day when this limited-edition side leaves the menu; these should be a year-round option for sure.

This might be sacrilege, but I held off on eating most of these until I finished my meal. I crushed up the remaining chips in the bag, poured them into the empty bowl, and dumped in the remaining queso. After some vigorous shaking, I had a fantastic tossed-chili-lime-queso-chip bowl that the guys across the street would consider an entree. That’s a free pro-tip for you and yours.

Cons: This is a positive for me, but likely a negative for most: I really enjoyed these chips… and I have very little spice tolerance. If you were hoping for proper chili chips, these don’t come close to Flamin’ Hot.

Credit: Griffin Parker / Chipotle

Rating:

8.5/10

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