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Victoria’s Chipotle

• HOURS: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily

• LOCATION: 7002 N. Navarro St.

• MENU: Burritos, bowls, tacos, salads and kid’s items.

• CATERING: Options available upon request.

“Come on in, just don’t tell anyone,” Chipotle representative Kirk LeMaire said to a hungry group at the restaurant’s door.

On Wednesday, Victoria’s first Chipotle Mexican Grill, 7002 N. Navarro St., welcomed about 200 customers lucky enough to receive tickets to the chain restaurant’s soft opening.

Although many arrived at the soft opening without tickets to dine, LeMaire said he couldn’t help but let them have lunch.

The restaurant’s grand opening at 11 a.m. Thursday will mark the first Chipotle location in Victoria, LeMaire said.

“It’s a big step up for Mexican food,” said Joe Torres, 34, of Victoria, as he walked to his car after eating a chicken bowl for lunch.

Torres said he is thrilled to have the restaurant in Victoria.

After eating at Chipotle in other cities, Torres developed a craving for the restaurant. Until Wednesday, he has had to leave town to enjoy its menu.

City officials worked with development consultant The Retail Coach to attract the chain to Victoria, said Jared Mayfield, Victoria’s director of development services.

The firm has helped Victoria settle other franchises such as Panda Express and Firehouse Subs, he said.

Mayfield said his office has received countless emails and requests from Victoria residents asking for a Chipotle.

“I think it’s a welcome addition to Victoria,” he said. “It’s one of the restaurants we have heard our citizens say they wish they had,” he said.

Norberto Galicia, apprentice manager, said it’s the food’s freshness that had Victoria residents clamoring for the store.

“At Chipotle, we don’t use microwaves. We don’t have freezers,” he said. “Everything is fresh.”

Although the food is fast, Chipotle is nothing like its fast food competitors, Galicia said.

“We are trying to change how a fast food restaurant is recognized,” he said. “Just because it’s fast food, doesn’t mean it has to be processed food like McDonald’s or Burger King.”

Earlier in 2015, the restaurant chain experienced a scarcity of carnitas after discovering its supplier was mistreating animals, Galicia said.

That discovery resulted in a six-month shortage.

The Victoria Chipotle franchise received its first shipment of cruelty-free pork only a week ago, he said.

Galicia, who boasts he has eaten at Chipotle twice every day for the past year, said he was relieved to see the braised pork return to the menu.

Carnitas is Galicia’s favorite menu item, he said. And it’s general manager Ramiro Granado’s too.

LeMaire couldn’t help but agree that the braised pork is the best.

“All of our meats are naturally raised, but it’s the one that reminds me of mom’s pork roast on a Sunday,” LeMaire said.

Thursday will be restaurant’s first full day of business.

“We’re very excited,” Granado said. “A lot of people are telling us it’s going to be busy.”

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