The burritos aren’t rolled in the Burit region of Mexico so they’re just sparkling carnitas.

I’d categorize it firmly under “tex-mex”, with some “california cuisine” influences thrown in. Very heavy Mexican influence, but not exactly how Mexicans cook it.

Could also just call it “southwestern” or “mexican-american” if you want, both work. Probably southwestern would be most precise.

I consider Chipotle as Mexican as I consider Panda Express Chinese.

It’s modeled after mission burritos. You could say it’s San Franciscan. That’s essentially Mexican.

Going from first principles is a different story. Did you know potatoes come from Peru, South America? Shouldn’t they be called Peruvian Fries? Not French? Like half of all food is South American. It’s wild. Same for beans; which make up a part of a Chipotle.

Anyway, when dealing with cultural categories there’s no real facts to rely on. See sandwich vs hot dog.

I’d say it’s Mexican, but not sit-down-Mexican. That’s something different. You usually get wet burritos at sit down Mexican. There’s a million places call like El Rodeo, or La Michoana, or whatever. They aren’t a chain, but you know what you’re gonna get at a sit down Mexican. It’s never a Chipotle style burrito.

let’s just call it “Mexican-inspired”

The same way that Olive Garden is authentic Italian food

I think it’s pretty solidly in the Tex-Mex category, which is so much more popular in America than actual Mexican food that “Mexican” is better considered a casual alternative to saying Tex-Mex. If you actually mean authentic Mexican, you should probably specify that, or even better, name the specific region. It’s normal to see a restaurant advertised as Oaxacan or Yucatan, for example.

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Tex-mex. There is an authentic mexican restaurant in my town: menudo, lengua, jaritos…and they would laugh about Chipotle being considered mexican.

lol no. taco bell is more “mexican” than chipolte

It’s Tex mex just like Taco Bell

It’s Americanized Mexican, at best. Personally, I cannot stand the taste though, so I’m also not the best judge probably.

I always thought of it as Californian, but now that I say that, I have no idea where it originates.

Edit: it was founded in Colorado, but is now headquartered in California.

I’ve never really thought about it but chipotle has always been a Mexican/Spanish type thing in my mind.

I mean the same way Taco Bell is Mexican, Olive Garden is Italian, or any American Chinese food is Chinese. It’s not “food from that area” but instead “food that reminds you of that area.” That’s how American culture works. People say America has no culture because everyone brings their own. Well, this is American culture, a bunch of food that’s not from the places your family is from but food that might remind you of those places.

That said I personally would consider it Mexican-flavored American food along with Taco Bell, Taco Time, Taco Del Mar, etc. That said when I say “I feel like Mexican food tonight” I’m thinking of Mexican-flavored American food because you simply can’t get Mexican Food in America as readily.