Chipotle secret menu can spice up a cold night

A lot's changing on Chipotle's menu these days.

The chain added tofu, which made some people happy. And it took away pork (temporarily), which made others very unhappy.

But if you're not satisfied with what's happening on the menu board, then order off the "secret" menu.

Almost endless options

Chipotle has so many options when it comes to making that burrito or bowl.

But what most people don't know is that it has many more options not posted.

The website HacktheMenu.com says Chipotle has one of the most extensive secret menus in the fast food world, and unlike at many burger joints, employees don't mind being creative.

Among the secret items Chipotle staffers are trained to make:

• Cheese Quesadilla.
• Nachos smothered in anything from the food bar.
• Taco salad.
• Single Taco: for those watching their calories. You can get just one, or two, instead of the standard 3.
• Burritodilla: A burrito-quesadilla combo.
• Quesarito: The website calls this the "holy grail" of Chipotle offers: a burrito with a cheese quesadilla wrapped around it.  This is now an official item on Taco Bell's menu, but you can get it on Chipotle too, if you ask.

Cost? Nothing out of line, ranging from around $3 for a quesadilla to $7 for a quesarito.

Read more about these items at hackthemenu.com.

Caution before you order

But from the "doesn't that stink" file: the wrong way to order from the secret menu.

If you don't know exactly what the item is, don't order it: You'll just confuse everyone.

And if the restaurant is very busy, such as at noon, you may want to skip the secret order, or  the person behind you in line may give you a look that says "doesn't that stink?"

In that case you may want to stick with the simplest secret item: An extra burrito shell on your burrito. It is typically no cost.

So don't be afraid to order off the secret menu, as long as you don't have 30 people in line behind you.

And that way you don't waste your money.

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