We Ranked This Mexican Restaurant Chain First In Quality And Freshness

When it comes to the ever-recurring question of what's for dinner (or lunch, for that matter), a stop at a good Mexican restaurant chain is usually a perfect option. But in the world of fast-casual Mexican restaurants, not all deliver quite the same quality. In fact, Tasting Table ranked 11 fast-casual Mexican joints from worst to best, and overall, one reigned supreme in quality and freshness: Moe's Southwest Grill.

If you've never had Moe's Southwest (and you're lucky enough to have one in your area), this is your sign to try it. We ranked it best based on a number of factors, including its friendly, welcoming atmosphere. But our top consideration was quality and fresh ingredients. In a Mexican food landscape that's been dominated by the likes of Taco Bell and Chipotle for years, Moe's Southwest Grill stood out — particularly because of its variety of menu items, many of which are made from scratch. In a recent Reddit post about a user's positive experience trying out a Moe's pork carnitas bowl, one previous Moe's employee chimed in about the restaurant chain's quality, recalling "cutting tomatoes daily, anywhere from 25 to 100 [pounds]," as well as large quantities of other fresh produce served on the cold line. Unlike beloved menu items at Taco Bell, which use lots of processed ingredients, Moe's menu items' taste aligns with what the brand calls on its website "a stubborn obsession with fresh ingredients" and bold flavors.

In addition to fresh ingredients, Moe's has some quality food items that keep customers coming back. Most notably, the queso, chipotle ranch, and an array of fresh salsas to choose from. Besides its noteworthy fast food tacos, burritos, and bowls, the chain is also known for serving free chips and salsa with its meals (which many other chains charge for these days), and $9.95 value meal deals and special occasion offerings like $2 tacos on National Taco Day. 

Speaking of value, Moe's is known to pile its bowl high with all the good rice, toppings, and cheese. On the aforementioned Reddit post about the restaurant chain, a photo of the poster's hefty burrito bowl sparked an opinionated conversation about whether Moe's versus Chipotle. While many said they did prefer Chipotle, the comments were split. One user wrote, "I don't really compare [Moe's] to Chipotle. [Moe's] is way more southwestern and good in its own way to me lol." Though the chain was founded in Atlanta, Georgia, it does offer different menu items than chains like Chipotle or Q'doba, including its popular "stack" — with the choice of delicious toppings, cheese, and protein stacked and cooked between crunchy tortillas. On the Reddit post, some people wrote in comments like "MOE'S ALL DAY, EVERY DAY" and "Moe's Beats Chipotle any day of the week!" At the end of the day, we agreed, ranking Moe's best — especially for its quality, fresh taste.