“Chipotle boys” are everywhere — but who are they?
If you walk into a Chipotle during the lunch rush, you’ll likely see a plethora of men waiting in line to order their to-go bowl while tapping away at their phones, dressed in their business casual workwear with AirPods in their ears.
As reported by Bustle, these are Chipotle boys — young men who order from the chain restaurant more than one might find a normal amount — despite skyrocketing prices.
“Overheard two twenty-something women discussing the concept of a ‘Chipotle boy,’ apparently a boy who eats Chipotle 5-7 days a week, ‘the Chipotle boys are everywhere,’” New York-based writer Jackson McHenry posted on X, formerly Twitter.
Of course, many people found the post to be extremely accurate, with one person writing, “This is actually every guy between the ages of 18-28.”
“Someone must teach the Boys about seasoning + get them rice cookers. Perhaps a federal program,” one user quipped.
The company itself even chimed in, with the official Chipotle account on X writing, “Boys really try 1 Chipotle order at 15 and decide that’s enough flavor for life.”
A man in finance named John, 24, told Bustle that he’s a “huge Chipotle advocate” because “it’s simple, it’s somewhat cheap, and it’s quick.”
Others told the outlet that the fast-casual Mexican chain simply “tick[s] all the boxes.”
“My office is right upstairs, so it’s so easy for me,” Sosa, a 27-year-old who also works in finance, told Bustle. “More often than not, I eat it at my desk.”
Aside from the finance bros taking Chipotle by storm, many gym bros also find themselves eating there for lunch.
“I’m into fitness, so I like to see what I’m eating,” Kevin, a 41-year-old engineer, told Bustle, while another man said that “gym boys tend to be Chipotle Boys.”
A user on X agreed, noting that “it’s gym dudes who don’t know how to cook and too lazy to learn.”
Meanwhile, people on TikTok have been criticizing Chipotle for cutting back on food servings — but the company denies any change.
Laurie Schalow, chief corporate affairs and food safety officer at Chipotle, told People that “there have been no changes in [the company’s] portion sizes.”
“Our intentions are to provide a great experience every time, and our meals have always been completely customizable so guests can vocalize or digitally select their desired portions when choosing from the list of real ingredients,” she said, adding that customers have always been allowed to request more or less of something when ordering.
Despite the shrinking portions, sky-high prices and viral outrage over both, these young men are still bringing their business to Chipotle — and it certainly shows.
The company’s stock value is up nearly 50% since last year, according to CNBC.
