Ordering at the El Chubby’s drive-thru in Aurora goes smoothest when you know two things before you pull up: which of our five burrito styles you want, and which chili you want on it. Our burritos come Plain, Chili, Special, Smothered or Deluxe, and our chili comes hot green, mild green or red. Decide those two, pick your filling, and you’re ready. Our restaurant at 1191 S Abilene St is open Monday through Saturday from 7am to 9pm and Sunday from 9am to 9pm, and if you want to double-check drive-thru hours on a holiday or a busy night, a quick call to 303-755-1414 settles it.
If you’ve ever wondered what a “Special” is, you’re not alone, and this guide answers it, along with a few tips for ordering for a whole family and for knowing when online ordering for pickup is the better fit.
What are the five burrito styles at El Chubby’s?
This is the part of our menu that surprises people the most, so it’s worth learning once. Every burrito on our menu can be ordered in one of five styles.
A Plain burrito has no chili or cheese inside. It’s just the filling in a tortilla. A Chili burrito has green chili inside. A Special has green chili and cheese inside. A Smothered burrito is smothered with green chili and cheese on top. And a Deluxe is smothered, then topped with lettuce and tomatoes.
For the drive-thru, here’s the practical way to think about it. Plain, Chili and Special keep everything inside the tortilla, so they’re easy to eat in the car or at your desk. Smothered and Deluxe are best eaten with a fork at a table, so they’re the ones to choose when you’re heading home to sit down.
Once you have the style, pick the filling. Our burritos come in bean, beef, beef and bean, chicken, Mexican Hamburger, carnitas, carne asada and Philly cheesesteak. So a complete order sounds like “beef and bean Special, hot green” or “chicken Smothered, mild green.” Say it that way and you’ve given us everything we need. If you want to understand burritos more broadly, we wrote about what makes a burrito a burrito.
How do you pick your chili before you pull up?
We make our green chili fresh every day, and you have three choices.
Hot green has real heat and is the one we’re best known for. If you like spicy food, this is your chili. Mild green has the same green chili flavor with a gentler kick, and it’s a safe pick if you’re ordering for someone whose spice level you don’t know. Red is a different, earthier flavor, and it’s worth trying if you’ve only ever had green.
If you can’t decide, ask for a side of chili. You can order chili by itself in sizes from a side up to a quart, which makes it easy to add a little heat at home without committing a whole burrito to it. A side of hot green next to a mild green burrito is a good way to find your level.
Chili goes on more than burritos, too. Any burger on our menu can be smothered with your choice of chili, and we also make Smothered Fries. If someone in the car wants a cheeseburger, they can still get it Colorado style.
How should you order for a family at the drive-thru?
Ordering for a carload takes a little planning, and the best time to do it is before you pull into the lane. A few habits make a family order go easily.
First, collect everyone’s order before you get to the speaker, and write it down or put it in your phone. Say each item in the same order: filling, style, chili. “Bean burrito, Plain” for the picky eater. “Beef and bean, Special, mild green” for the one who likes a little flavor. “Carne asada, Smothered, hot green” for whoever likes it hot.
Second, check the kids menu. It’s for children 10 and younger, and it has a bean burrito with rice, a cheese enchilada with rice, a cheese quesadilla and fries, popcorn chicken and fries, and a beef taco with rice and beans. Every kids meal includes a sopapilla, which might just make the ride home a little quieter.
Third, think about sharing. Carne Asada Fries are our signature dish, and a plate of them goes a long way for a family. Add chips and salsa or queso con chorizo with chips, and you’ve got something for everyone to pick at.
Last, read the order back to yourself when you get your bag, and ask if anything is missing before you pull away. Everything is made to order, and almost anything can be prepared the way you like, so if you asked for chili on the side, it’s worth a quick look.
When does online ordering for pickup make more sense?
The drive-thru works well for a few items when you know what you want. For a big family order, a lunch run for the office, or an order with a lot of special requests, ordering online for pickup can be easier. You can take your time choosing burrito styles and chili for everyone, double check the whole order on your screen, and avoid reading a long list into a speaker.
Online ordering runs Monday through Saturday from 8am to 8pm and Sunday from 11am to 8pm. Those hours are a little different from our in-store hours, so if you’re ordering early in the morning or late in the evening, the drive-thru or the counter is the way to go. Delivery is also available through DoorDash and Uber Eats if you’d rather stay home.
Where is the El Chubby’s drive-thru?
You’ll find us at 1191 S Abilene St, Aurora, CO 80012, the same address where our family has been cooking since 1991. We serve breakfast, lunch and dinner, with dine-in, takeout and the drive-thru. If you have a question about the menu before you head over, call us at 303-755-1414.
Whether you’re picking up a breakfast burrito on the way to work or picking up dinner for the whole house, we’re glad to see you in the lane. And when a big order calls for it, you can order online for pickup or delivery and skip the long list at the speaker.
