Chipotle to Test Vegetarian 'Sofritas' in Bay Area

Chipotle Mexican Grill will test a new vegetarian menu item called “Sofritas” in seven Bay Area restaurants beginning next month. You can get a look at the Chipotle in the Stanford Shopping Center.

Sofritas—described by the chain as shredded tofu braised with chipotle chilis, roasted mild poblano chiles and a blend of aromatic spices—will begin being served at Chipotle on Feb. 12, the company announced in a statement last week.

Sofritas will be available in burritos, tacos, burrito bowls and salads and can be combined with other signature ingredients, including white or brown cilantro-lime rice, pinto beans or vegetarian black beans, house-made salsas and guacamole, and cheese or sour cream.

Chipotle expects Sofritas to appeal to vegetarian and vegan customers, as well as those who are looking for an exciting new taste, the company said in a statement released this week.

“We are changing the way people think about and eat fast food,” Steve Ells, Chipotle founder, chairman and co-CEO, said in the statement. “Sofritas is a very different menu item not just for Chipotle, but for any fast food or fast causal restaurant. It was really conceived with vegetarians and vegans in mind, but it’s so delicious that we believe it will have a broad appeal on taste alone.”

Sofritas will be available in seven Bay Area restaurants beginning on Feb. 12 including:

San Francisco - 525 Market Street; 121 Fourth Street; 126 New Montgomery Street

Millbrae - 135 El Camino Real

San Mateo- 2019 Chess Drive; 251 East 3rd Avenue

Palo Alto - 180 El Camino Real in Palo Alto

Chipotle’s tofu supplier, Hodo Soy, is already well known in the Bay Area for its organic, non-GMO (genetically modified organisms) tofu and artisanal methods of production, according to the Oakland-based company.

Chipotle tested another vegetarian menu item, Garden Blend, but was never fully satisfied with it and instead began developing Sofritas. Depending on results in the Bay Area, Chipotle may look to expand the test to other markets in the coming months.

Vegetarians, will you try this new offering? Omnivores, what do you think?