Personally, I am a fan of a local chain called Pancheros. They started in East Lansing, so anyone who went to Michigan State knows exactly what I'm talking about. Same type of food as Qdoba and Chipotle, with one subtle, but effective, change: They mix the fillings before they wrap. The worst part of a burrito is the first bite. It's always all rice. Not at Pancheros.
I'm amazed at the consistent Chipotle>Qdoba sentiments. I don't think I've met a person who's said otherwise. I guess I give Chipotle marketing a tip of the hat, because they're the ones to thank. The most common answer to why Chipotle is better than Qdoba is usually, "Chipotle uses better ingredients," which is exactly what Chipotle's marketing is founded on. Do they really? Does it really make that much different? Personally, I can't tell the quality difference between a Qdoba chicken burrito and a Chipotle chicken burrito. But they advertise freshness, hire hip people with piercings and tattoos, and watch as young people flock to the internet to declare Chipotle dominance.
Don't get me wrong, I don't dislike Chipotle nor do I mean to offend people who do. They make a good burrito, but I don't get the gushing on how it's better than every other burrito place. Still can't get a quesadilla or queso at Chipotle, which is a bummer sometimes.
Forgot to add: We found a local mexican grocery store near work that sells tacos out the back. It looks like it used to be a deli counter, but now they sell tacos. Fan-freaking-tastic. I envy those that have more access to authentic mexican food.