QDOBA (Gladstone, KC)

Do you have those nights where you're tired and cranky and don't feel like cooking anything? Where there's nothing you'd rather do but lay on the couch watching bad reality television? That was me a couple weeks ago after work one night. As the school year gets closer and closer to its end, I am more and more exhausted! Between standardized testing, trying to finish our novel units, and the usual "end of year" concerts and activities, I feel like I never get a chance to stop and relax a little bit! This fateful night led me to trying QDOBA...

Let me be honest, the basis of its appeal was that it is about 1.5 miles from my house, so it didn't take me long to get there. Plus, as far as fast-food taco joints go, I'd heard this one was worth trying even thought it's a chain establishment. Off I went...

 

Having never been to QDOBA before, I was anxious to see what options they had on the menu. I ended up ordering the following [pictured in order]:

• Drunken Yardbird: Tequila lime chicken, guacamole, salsa verde, cilantro, minced onion and cotija cheese
• Two Timer: Pulled pork, salsa roja, shredded cheese, lettuce, pico de gallo and cotija cheese in a crispy taco... wrapped in a flour tortilla spread with 3-cheese Queso
• Gladiator: Grilled steak, bacon, pico de gallo, lettuce, Mexican caesar dressing, cilantro and cotija cheese

 

Now for what you're here for... my taco thoughts:

• The Drunken Yardbird: the chicken was okay, but kind of dry. It had guac on it, but it was very much a fast food guac with no fresh taste at all. The salsa verde had a medium level of spice. Mushy overall.
• Two Timer: pork was tender! With this taco having both a soft shell and then a crunchy shell inside, you're afforded a great textural element. Queso was creamy and decent.
• Gladiator: This taco had steak and bacon, both of which were overcooked for my liking, but this may more typical of Mexican style? Too much pico. The Mexican Caesar dressing was good and creamy, but let me with a weird spice in my mouth.

As far as experience, I thought the feel of QDOBA was kind of neat. Basically a modern spot with metal and exposed ceilings/lights. The location I visited had only been open for about a week at the point of my going, so things ran a little slow with workers being unsure of what was on each taco. I think this has probably ironed itself now that they've had the chance to get their footing. I will probably go back and each here again when I'm having ONE OF THOSE NIGHTS, but as far as my quest...

Rating (out of 5):