The aroma of lightly sauteed peppers and onions, juicy steak, and fresh guacamole welcomes the herd of Latin students ready for their favorite lunch spot, Chipotle. From 11:10 a.m. to 12:40 p.m., the corner of North and Wells buzzes with rowdy Latin students scarfing down their hefty burrito bowls and $5 kids quesadillas. Some dart through the endless stoplights, rushing to devour a quick lunch before their 30-minute lunch period ends. Others stroll with friends, laughing and relishing in the joy of a long lunch.

Chipotle ranks as the most popular choice among Latin students, but what exactly causes the storm of students daily?

Out of the 121 Upper School students who responded to a poll questioning how students choose to spend their free blocks off campus, 72 chose Chipotle as their top pick. The quality food and quick service allow most students, including sophomore Dylan Hessell, to unite in their love for Chipotle.

“Chipotle is my favorite because it has the best food out of the three restaurants nearby compared to Potbelly and McDonald’s,” Dylan said.

After Latin students were banned from Chipotle in 2021 due to their mess and noise, they have worked to regain a respectful reputation with the restaurant. Chipotle worker Carnation (who declined to give her last name) said she has noticed behavioral improvements.

“Y’all bring us the money, so it’s a great feeling to have you here,” she said. “We love it when you guys come in, and it’s sad when you guys don’t have school.”

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Alexa Nasatir

Latin students in line at Chipotle.

Although Chipotle stands strong at number one, Chicago’s own Potbelly packs a punch at second place. Potbelly’s variety of sandwiches and milkshakes makes it a favorite for many students.

“Potbelly is consistently good, priced better than Chipotle, and better quality,” sophomore Elliot Keske said.

Eighteen other students agree with Elliot about Potbelly, ranking it as their first choice for best food option. Potbelly is “easily the best restaurant around Latin,” sophomore Jonah Kaufman said.

Next up, salty fries whose fragrance drifts throughout the street, savory Big Macs, crispy sodas, and melty McFlurrys help McDonald’s take home a shiny bronze medal. Only eight people voted for McDonald’s as the best food around Latin, although nationwide they exceed both Chipotle and Potbelly in popularity. According to Enterprise Apps Today, 69 million people visit the Golden Arches daily.

Although not as popular globally as McDonald’s, Aloha Poke, another Chicago-based chain, places fourth. Their fresh ingredients, inspired by traditional Hawaiian cuisine with an American twist, allow for a considerably healthier and more nutritious lunch option than other fast food places. However, a $14 average poke bowl makes Aloha one of the pricier options for fast food around Latin.

“I love Aloha because it is always fresh and delicious,” sophomore Naomi Herman said. “I think it is overlooked among many students, and more people should give it a try.”

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Lily Dumas

Sophomores Ariya Desai and Sadie Cohen getting food at Starbucks.

As exemplified by restaurants as varied as Aloha and McDonald’s, being in the center of a major metropolitan city with vast choices creates daily opportunities to try new places. The freedom to visit these restaurants has allowed students to enjoy spending time in fresh air while wandering the neighborhood. Freshmen like Lola Hoke—used to their middle school’s closed campus—are ecstatic to have this new luxury.

“I like [open campus],” Lola said. “I think another reason that an open campus is really useful [is] because it prevents us from sneaking out and getting into trouble, something I recognize as a pattern from people at other schools without an open campus.”

Although many freshmen enjoy getting lunch at nearby restaurants, HandCut Foods remains a popular lunch option for many students, including junior Lauren Rosenberg.

“I usually eat lunch at Latin,” she said. “Since I am kosher, it is easier to find options.”

Junior Ariel Goodman also dines at school most days due to her distaste for the restaurants around Latin.

“I wish Foxtrot closed and opened something better, but luckily the food here is good,” Ariel said.

Although the food isn’t Ariel and Lauren’s favorite part of having an open campus, they still appreciate the independence.

“I also love to go out as it provides a change of scenery during a stressful school day,” Ariel said.

Unlike Ariel, many students enjoy the restaurants around Latin, but that doesn’t mean they don’t dream of new possibilities. Buffeted by trends on social media that display bucketfuls of its tangy and creamy sauce, Raising Cane’s won the title of the most wanted restaurant by Latin students. At least 29 students desperately yearn for crispy chicken tenders and decadent toasty bread.

“We need more options around Latin, and Cane’s is really good,” junior Sienna Meyers said.

Despite Cane’s indisputable popularity, Chick-fil-A comes in close behind. The endless selection of sauces atop delectable chicken nuggets and crunchy waffle fries maintains Chick-fil-A’s status as a beloved fast-food restaurant for Latin students.

If Chick-fil-A opened near school, sophomore Myles Antelis, one of the many Chick-fil-A lovers, would be elated.

“I really like Chick-fil-A because it is a great restaurant and the chicken nuggets are to die for,” Myles said. “The fries are absolutely out of this world, and the chicken melts in your mouth. If it opened around Latin, life would improve, but not my weight.”

Whatever might be coming next to Old Town, Latin students will flock to new additions. But will anyone succeed in dethroning Chipotle?