Recently, I happily accepted an invitation to try Qdoba’s new Loaded Tortilla Soup ($7.80-$8.40). Here’s the formula: Take a naked burrito, stick it into an edible tortilla bowl and add soup.
What does that taste like? Well, I mean this in a positive way: If you made chili without chili powder, that’s what you get with this soup. It’s hearty, dense and combines well the various ingredients. I do recommend adding rice to help absorb some of the flavors.
“The crispy tortilla bowl adds a dimension of indulgent flavor and texture that is really mouth-watering,” Qdoba Vice President of Menu Innovation and Strategy John Cooke said in a statement.
I have to agree. In one version I had steak, pinto beans, sauteed peppers and (free) guacamole. In the other, I had chicken, black beans, cheese and sour cream. The soup binds these toppings and takes the dish to another level. In fact, I plan on ordering this instead of the naked burritos from now on.
Regarding the shell bowl, I was impressed how it kept its shape and strength despite holding so much content. At the end, when I was breaking off parts of the shell to eat, the tortilla was surprisingly still crunchy for the most part.
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Let’s take a look at two new items from Burger King. A few months ago, the burger chain introduced the Flame Grilled Chicken Burger ($3.79). The tomatoes, lettuce, mayonnaise, ketchup, pickles and onions make this sandwich mimic the flavor of a Whopper to some extent (though this is not the old Chicken Whopper).
The difference is the patty, which is not a chicken breast, as I mistakenly thought it would be–it’s actually ground chicken formed into a somewhat-rubbery patty. Thus, if you’re looking for a chicken filet, get the Tendergrill sandwich instead.
Hot dogs are on the menu now, too. The classic ($1.99) is buried in ketchup, mustard, onions and relish on a plain bun. The hot dog itself is pretty decent–you can detect the flame-grilled flavor–but it didn’t wow me enough that I would order it again. You also can order a hot dog with chili and cheese on top (get some extra napkins if you do).
I’m glad we have finally have a restaurant to take over the space long abandoned by I’m Here. That restaurant would be 
Nachos, quesadillas and tortas comprise the rest of the menu. Get a beverage with the torta ($7.50). Meat (in this case, the very tender pulled pork), black beans and Mexican rice centering a large bun–while tasty and filling–will make you pretty thirsty.
Wine in a can?
