The dining hall is a convenient place with lots of variety to grab a quick bite between classes. But, sometimes a break is desperately needed from the overcrowded University Center. Luckily, Colorado Mesa University offers several other places to eat on campus. One of the most popular is Tres Habaneros. Upon trying their food, I can say that this spot on campus pales in comparison to the beloved Chipotle or Qdoba.

Let me begin by saying that I am a food-lover. I am not picky; I will eat anything within reach, whether it be an earthy piece of kale or a greasy double cheeseburger. Maybe my expectations were too high, since I am not often disappointed with my food choices, but eating at Tres Habaneros did not delight me, like a trip to Qdoba most certainly does.

To start, the line was extremely long. I know that CMU is growing immensely, but that doesn’t change the fact that waiting for your food when you are hungry is excruciating. Although the staff was very friendly, they seemed extremely rushed when building my burrito. It was wrapped sloppily, however, I’m not too worried about that. I would rather have a loosely wrapped burrito than have to wait in a long line for my food.

I noticed that the tortilla was slightly hard, perhaps it was overcooked or stale. For meat, I ordered barbacoa; it was good, but there were several fatty pieces that I found whilst eating, that I had to pull out, which slightly disgusted me. The rice, however, was one of the best parts of my meal. The cilantro within provided for amazing flavor! The lettuce was also fresh and crisp, which was very refreshing to have sprinkled in my burrito. The sour cream was also surprisingly enjoyable. They put on just the right amount of sour cream throughout the entire burrito and not just a glob of it in one spot like Chipotle and Qdoba often do.

While there were some things that I did not particularly enjoy about the burrito, overall I left feeling satisfied. It was a good amount of food and they had plenty of fresh toppings and something for everyone. My expectations upon reviewing Tres Habaneros were based on my experiences at Chipotle and Qdoba. Although satisfying and a nice change of pace from the dining hall, the food was a little disappointing. If you’re looking to try something different, it’s worth a shot, but as for me… I’m sticking with the dining hall.