The ingredients seemed fresh but the veggie burrito was bland, even though ordered with the hottest sauce. Â The main selling point of the burrito was supposed to be the guacamole. Unfortunately they were out because the "truck was late". Â No offer was made to substitute another premium ingredient for the guacamole, and $7 is just too much to pay for beans, veggies and rice.
Review Source:The location is great being right inside of the Merch Mart food court. Â The service was good. Â The people were nice and helpful. Â
The food as the 3 stars says its "a-ok", it couldn't be truer. Â I hadn't had Chipotle/ Fast Cas Mexican in a while so I was excited to try Habanero. Â The burrito was ok. Â I wish I knew the fact they have seafood before, I would have tried it.
Got the 3 shrimp tacos deal bc I've heard from coworkers they were good and i had a hankerin' for shrimp tacos.
The flavor was indeed good but what a jip- Â 2 shrimps in each taco, a sprinkling of lettuce and pico- $8.74. Â For 6 shrimp total.
Flavor was great, portion is LAME. Â Won't be going back.
At the bottom of the barrel when it comes to Fresh Mex/Fast Casual places. It's pretty much a complete rip off of Chipotle only about a fraction as good and more expensive.
With all the other options in the Merchandise Mart food court you're better of elsewhere, but it is an option if you just gotta have something similar to Chipotle.
As a guy who used to work in the Merchandise Mart, I am happy to see they got some new eateries in the food court although, I still think the building is too big to have that small of a selection though (I think its about 8-9 places to choose from). This is one of the newer places in the food court so I was really interested in trying as it is a Chipotle style joint. My lady didn't have to try too hard to influence this decision...lol
I got 2 soft chicken tacos with 2 sides of rice...I didn't want any beans. The tacos were pretty good as chicken juice dripped out of the tacos which is a good thing as it added flavor to the bland ass rice. You get to have all the same toppings you would select if you were to go to Chipotle. Not a place I would break my neck to get to, but if you work in the Mart its all good.
This place is definitely modeled after Chipotle's "station-centered" ordering system. Â However, I'm not a fan of Chipotle. Â Habanero is as close to Americanized, but still relatively genuine, Mexican cuisine as you can get downtown. Â The food is always fresh, the protein portions are always generous (except for the shrimp), the topping options are appropriate (not too many, not too few) and the line moves surprisingly quickly. Â You have to come to this place knowing and respecting that the ambiance is very casual, though -- you can't expect too much from the Merch cafeteria. Â
The reason why I gave it 4 stars as opposed to 5, however, is because although I really appreciate  the food, I feel it lacks an acid component.  I've asked for  - and received - lime on a few occasions in the past, which made the meal perfect.  But now, it seems they "don't have lime."  I definitely call BS on that.  That definitely diminishes the experience for me, and I've gone so far as to bring my own.  No decent Mexican(ish) restaurant should go without making lime available to its patrons.
I was genuinely surprised by the tacos at this Chipotle-modeled restaurant. The idea is the same as Chipotle, only Habanero offers more choices in ingredients in toppings.
This place suffers from location, unfortunately-- I'd love to visit it somewhere other than busy Merch Mart, but alas, that cannot be helped. Definitely worth a try for lunch.
I am a fan only for their fiesta salad with either shrimp or fish. Extremely generous fish portion and it's oh so tasty. If you get this remember to tell them to be easy on dressing coz otherwise they will just pour a huge ladle of dressing on your poor little lettuce.
They usually have a super long line at lunch hours at this location but the people move very quickly and are always very friendly. A salad lasts me the entire afternoon.
So I got here like 2-3 times a week because I'm in a routine...well maybe a rut. Â Anyway the rice bowl here is decent for sure. Â It is what it is. Â not bad at all.
PLEASE stop asking me what I want when I'm way back in line. Â The problem is they only have on register and it get way backed up. Â But the dude (or worse if it is the short lady) asks you what you want because he has nothing to do and thinks it going to help move the line. Â all it does it give you cold food by the time you pay.
PLEASE stop! Â wait for people to get to the glass. Â It's rude to shout you order over people and it DOES NOT help move the line along. Â The bottle neck is where you pay. Â Â Do it again and I'm never going back
Habanero is my go-to if I don't bring a lunch to work (maybe once every two months?) because it's close, fast and fairly cheap. Folks, the key to a cheap lunch is not ordering guac-- although theirs is sooo good/fresh/chunky/cilantroy-- everywhere charges a ton for guac. When I worked in streeterville I would go to the Burrito Beach on Ohio on days I didn't bring lunch, and while I occasionally miss their salads with the yummy salsa ranch dressing, Habanero is a good trade up. I usually get the rice bowl, sometimes the tacos, w/ chicken, black beans, veggies, green salsa, and cilantro. If I'm feeling spendy I'll get their guac, 'cause I really do love it. I'm just a sucker for cilantro, to be honest.
I wouldn't recommend eating there if you have serious food allergies, though. I never ever order cheese, but I'll occasionally find a stray shred of cheese fallen into the tomatoes or lettuce. I won't go into anaphylactic shock or anything, so I personally don't care...but just know they're a very busy assembly line and when they're moving through lines of tacos and burritos, cheese can fly.
I mostly like this place because, for the merch mart, it's fresh and light and taste like what it is. I like my rice to taste like rice, my beans to taste like beans, my tomatoes to taste like tomatoes. And that's what Habanero gives you!
I honestly dig this place! Â I was skeptical of Habanero Baja Grill at first thinking it was just another restaurant similar to Chipotle. Â
I have only had the fiesta salad and my fave meat option is the mahi mahi. Â They also have great prices (comparable to their competitors) and their portions are rather large. Â The salad itself lasts me two meals. Â It's very tasty and delicious. Â The ingredients taste fresh and I LOVE tortilla strips in my salads. Â Their salads are so flavorful, they don't really need dressing. Â You can choose to have all the ingredients or customize to your preferences. Â It's nice to have that option.
Habanero Baja Grill is located in the food court at the Merchandise Mart, prone to lunchtime traffic and passersby that just got off the CTA. Â As I usually say of loop lunch spots, "go early or go late." Â If you go during, the lunch hour rush, be prepared to wait. Â The line moves relatively quickly, but if you were hoping to grab-n-go during a short lunch, be warned.
Please know I've only had the fiesta salad but I am surprised by the low reviews.
FIRST, the line issue everyone complains about- guess what, you go at noon, in one of the biggest buildings in the city, this place employs maybe 5 people at the same time, you're going to see a line, just the way it is. And you will NOT wait long, it goes very fast, I was about 15 people deep and I was up and out within about 7-10minutes. (play with your phone or something)
Now for the food. First let me say this is the first fast food place I have ever tried the fish, and the Mahi Mahi here is delicious for some quick grilled topping on a salad. It has flavor, good texture, and never burnt or "fishy" taste.
The salad ingredients are fresh and I really enjoy their house sauce, let me also recommend putting a little salsa (a few ones to pick) too, adds a little kick. All together, I really enjoy their salad and its a great option if you don't want a heavy salad like Chipotle, but you dont want to sit at work with a full burrito in your stomach! (your employees will thank you later)
I am a fan because I go here regularly, and I enjoy it. The price vs value is just about right in my book.
You like Chipotle? Come here to eat. The lines are surprisingly long everytime we go but it moves fast. Â I'm never sure why people are so obsessed with Chipotle-like places. It never hits the spot for me really... but I've had a burrito a taste of their chicken burrito bowl - it's all good but really, I'd just say "Whatever" to this place. It's kind of just "whuteverz".
Review Source:The line for this place is out of control! I don't do lines, so one day when I ate a little later and there was no line, I figured I'd see what the hype was about. I got a steak taco, a veggie taco, and a side of beans and rice. I tend to judge Mexican places by how good their rice and beans are, and Habanero failed. Both the beans and rice were just bland. Maybe the tacos would be better? The veggie taco came with guacamole on it, and the guac was chunky and surprisingly fresh. But that's where the good news ends. The steak and veggies were just OK. And it was kind of expensive. Boo.
Skip the line and go explore your other options in the food court.
I went during the lunch rush today and was surprised at the lenghth of the line. I was also surprised on just how fast that line went. I ordered the mahi fish tacos and added a little sour cream, the ancho mayo stuff, a little lettuce, and off I went. First off, I am a fish taco nut. I spent years in and around the real baja, so I know how a fish taco should be. Let me just say, this place isn't even close, but that isn't a bad thing. I was impressed with the flavor of the fish, however their slaw is pretty bland, the ancho mayo doesn't belong anywhere near a fish, and with the thickness of their corn tortillas, they do not really need to double wrap. A fish taco needs a mango mole or salsa of some sort to really kick it off. I prefer the blackened fish, which they do here, and it is a little spicy on its own. That ancho mayo adds a little more spice, but once again, that doesn't belong anywhere near a fish. Next time I am going to try steak and see how that is. I noticed everyone, but me of course, was ordering either steak or the shrimp, so there must be something good there.
I would give it a 4, but there is no way I am a fan or will ever be a fan, I am just way to much of a snob to qualify for this Yelp classification. One thing that sucks about River North, you can't get authentic anything!
Price is also pretty good. 3 fish tacos and a medium coke was $9.40 even. That is about what I pay at Johns in Winfield, but their fish tacos are bar none the best in this state, possibly even the midwest.
I LOVE the steak buritto. The seasoning on the steak makes it addicting. I usually go around lunch when there is a huge line, but it moves pretty fast. The manager is attentive and your able to address issues with him. For example, I once had a very badly wrapped burritto and he made me a new one.
Review Source:If you're looking for your run of the meal "americanized" mexican food, this is a great place. the ingredients are good, the service is good, and it's affordable. their big plus is that in the crowded food court they keep the line moving fast. that's a plus when you only have a few minutes to grab some food.
it's not great, it's not authentic, it's just good and reliable.
I am really surprised at the low ratings and tempted to fudge my review to a 5 just to bring it up!  Granted there's stiff competiton in this food court (Mickey D's, quizno's, billy goat (not as good as the others imo), lai lai oriental express, potbelly's downstairs, jamba juice a gyro place and the awesome salad/sausage place).  I had the shrimp burrito and it was awesome! A lot of juicy medium-sized shrimps, the mexican slaw balances out the tang and the ancho mayo makes it the creamiest burrito I ever had.  Warning - I got the spicy salsa (and i can handle spicy: check my resume  - 10 xxx melnick's wings, bull and bear's "Unbearabulls", etc) and it give my mouth a good, fiery bite...
Review Source:This place would get four stars if their website was up and there was some kind of ahead ordering. For someone that has to order for up to 5 people, not having this option is beyond annoying.
The food isn't really spicy, which is great for me because I'm a wimp when it comes to that.
I've had the steak bowl and veggie bowl. The steak bowls were a lot better when they first opened. Now the meat is usually hard, cold and overcooked by the time i get back to my office. (which is a block away)
The veggie bowl however, has been pretty consistent.
Why does this place always have a huge line... I gotta try it out... so the first time I saw the line under 5 people I jumped at the chance....first thing I noticed was its resemblance to Chipoltle: Pick your dish, pick your meat, pick your toppings... who doesn't like customization !
I opted for the chicken tacos in the corn tortillas and man was that a mistake, as I watched the girl in front of me get the same thing I thought to myself, wow that chicken looks really cold they probably heat it up somehow after applying it to the tortilla, um no they don't. Know correct me if I am wrong but the CHICKEN is generally a pretty significant part of a CHICKEN taco and when it is cold and stiff it kinda ruins the whole meal !! Adding insult to injury the whole taco was quite bland. ick
Being in the mart at lunch rush this place is always busy and always has a line, how hard can it really be to keep the chicken warm when your serving it 5 times a minute, though honestly I don't think they meant it to be warn, an even bigger let down.
I am only judging my the tacos or I guess more accurately by the cold chicken, but I will be avoiding this place like the plague from now on, like seriously would rather go to McDonald's
First off, I think Chipotle sucks, especially their salsa.  It tastes like "gourmet" salsa you'd buy at a fancy grocery store. I love Habanero.  Their fish is seasoned pretty well, as are  their meat and beans. Their tortillas are fresh, and tasty.  And they've got a variety of salsas, which are wonderful.  If you've spent time in California and enjoy Baja-type restaurants--not the real-deal ones, but the ones you'd encounter along PCH, like Wahoo's--Habanero is probably acceptable for you.  I also think Habanero is way better than Baja Fresh.
Review Source:I haven't been to the Merchandise Mart food court for awhile and had no idea this place was even here. It sounded good...at the time. I thought about getting the tacos (3 tacos), but they use soft tacos, which didn't thrill me. Eh, I ended up getting the taco salad. They give you the typical meat options - chicken, pork, beef - and then whatever else ingredients you want. I said yes to chips when asked and watched them top off the chicken salad with 3 chips. Whoa! Exciting, right? I ended up ordering an extra side of chips ($1.95 I think). Bleh. The salad as so-so but enjoyed the chips more. I think next time I'll just order the side of salsa and chips as my meal.
Review Source:This place is a Chipotle rip-off, right down to picking the name of a chili pepper, and nearly identical -- but vastly inferior -- menu items. Â The burrito was bland, the chips boring, and they even forgot to give me the guacamole I paid for to go with the chips. Â Don't waste your time, money, or taste buds; just find a Chipotle.
Review Source:There is a vegetarian option on the menu, but yet.. 3 different people attempted to put chicken on my burrito!? They sprinkle bits of what you ask them for.. always having to say.. "Could I have a little more, please?" Then.. at the end..I was charged for a steak burrito (it was the vegetarian). And charged another $2.25 for guacamole (which is free on the vegetarian).
I get to my desk.. and I have a poorly wrapped albeit expensive burrito with no taste that can't make up for the high price and experience.
I
Gross, gross, gross.
This place is terrible. Â I love Chipotle and there isn't one real close by in this area. Â So I thought I'd try it and I even lowered my expectations because I knew it wasn't going to be Chipotle. Â However, it didn't matter. Â The food was just DISGUSTING. Â It tasted bland, watered down, and cold. Â I tried to force myself to eat as much as I could of my burrito bowl because I was starving, but I could barely do it. Â I didn't even eat half of it whereas at Chipotle I have to try to slow down because it's so good I eat too fast. Â I will NEVER go here again. Â I had heard people in my office didn't like it but I thought I'd give them a few months of being open and then go try it......well, it's still gross.
My experience was definitely somewhere in between everyone who has posted already. Â Hadn't been in the Merch's Food Court since last August so this was new to me.
Saw it right away as a Chipotle rip-off. Â (they don't even have their website up yet)
Anyway, so that I could compare with my "gold standard" of Chipotle, I ordered exactly the same burrito I'd get there. Â It wasn't as bland as everyone says but it was definitely "wetter" if that's a description.
The barbacoa is in some sort of juice and when they slap it into the burrito, it carries the juice with it. Â The hot salsa was too loose as well, versus the nice red tomatillo that Chipotle uses. Â So this made for a very wet, messy burrito. Â Dangerous since I was heading into a meeting with a client just after eating.
It wasn't horrible, I'd probably try it again. Â Service was actually quick at High Noon so they probably have that bit sorted, price was what you're going to spend at any other spot in the court. Â But this was definitely NOT better than a Qdoba or Chipotle like Shannon posted, but then we all have different levels of taste when it comes to spicy.
Every food court needs a Mexican choice, but I would prefer a Taco Bell than this joint.
Like everyone else said, a Chipotle wannabe. Â The ordering, the menu. Â You'll definitely know how to order from this joint without missing a beat.
Oh well, the drool from my mouth was from eyeing the Billy Goat cheese fries.
I just had a Chicken Burrito from Habanero for lunch today and it was so terrible I felt compelled to create a Yelp account just to review this restaurant and warn others.
Not only was it underwhelming, I now feel nauseated. The green peppers were flavorless and undercooked, the chicken was flavorless and gristly, the rice was flavorless and mushy....you get the point. I threw the thing away after a few bites and won't be returning. (Which is unusual behavior for me because I am generally the type to finish a meal after I pay for it, even if it's less than mediocre.)
My recommendation to everyone in the area is to walk the few extra blocks to Chipotle. Heck, buy some frozen Taquitos and microwave them for something more satisfying.
Yet another Chipotle clone done poorly. Â How about something a bit more original? Â The barbacoa burrito I had was mediocre at best. Â Salsa was bland and not spicy at all.
Is it me or are their chips El Ranchero?? Â Not that there's anything wrong with El Ranchero chips (you know, the green bag), but come on...not at a restaurant.
I'll stick with Lai Lai, Arby's or Quizno's when I am at the Mart.
Had lunch here and I regret it. My expectations are not that high for fast food but when food tastes bland, portions are small, and Chipotle tastes better it's not worth eating there. I had to get additional food somewhere else to compliment the "lunch" I had.
Try the Sushi or salad place next to Havanero.
I wouldn't call it bland, boring, or typical Mexican fast food. To me, Mexican fast food is something like La Pasadita.
What I would call this baja grill is overpriced. $8 for some lame steak tacos? Skimpy on the steak and toppings, and moving through the line too quickly. I think that for the first time in my life, I wished that I had gone to taco bell. Much more  worth the squeeze.
Haba will fix your Mexican craving if you're in the mart. It just won't satisfy it.
If you like bland, this is your place. I was looking forward to this opening since I work in the Mart and I usually avoid the food court. I think this might rate slightly better than its courtmate Chinese place that is literally inedible.
I guess they're trying to take Chipotle's recipes and reverse engineering them but then leaving out salt and spice? The rice was hard and tasteless and kinda looks like Chipotle's lime-cilantro rice. Eating it plain as a side dish with tacos was puzzling.
The chicken tacos were single corn tortilla that melted through the bottom by the time I walked back to the office down the hall, so I had to eat them with a fork. The chicken was very bland and boring.
The guacamole was pretty good but the chips seemed to be generic out of a bag.
This food court is really terrible, so it's not a big shocker to me that this place is a dud. I think there's something in the air or water or earth that creates a vortex of bad food on the second floor/east side of the Mart.
Did the managers and employees of this place actually taste anything they've created and said, "Yes, this is as good as it can get?"
Edible. It's best described as edible. I think I'm a bit more forgiving to anything that can situate itself in a food court. That being said, my rice bowl didn't seem to have many redeeming qualities to it. The rice was bland and a bit undercooked. The barbacoa was lacking in flavor. The hot sauce is quite forgettable. (Habanero-level fans will be happy to know that is an optional sauce.)
Otherwise, it wasn't clear to me how I could have constructed my bowl to enhance the taste. My recommendation? Head over to a nearby Chipotle, Qdoba or Taco Fresco, for a cheaper / tastier alternative. This is a reasonable option if you work in the building, and don't like being exposed to the weather.
Absolutely horrible. Â Makes Chipotle look like fine dining. Â The rice wasn't cooked completely ... it was crunchy in the middle. Â The black beans were bland, watery and cold. Â They don't have hot sauce. Â the corn torillas were cheap and disintigrated when I attempted to pick them up. Â And they use store bought chips. Â No really, they just put them in their own paper bags like they made them ...
However, the mahi mahi was marinated well and pretty tasty.
I am absolutely amazed that there was a line for this place. Â I wouldn't go back if it was free.
I believe today was opening day, though you'd never it know it by the efficiency with which the staff handled the massive line that I encountered around noon today.
The food selection is your standard fast food mexican - tacos, burritos, rice bowls, etc, with a selection of chicken, steak, barbacoa, and I believe shrimp or mahi mahi.
I got a steak rice bowl with the pico de gallo, and this blew away both Chipotle and Qdoba in terms of taste. Very spicy, perhaps a bit too much so, but good nonetheless.  The portion size is in line with the other two franchises, as is the price.  Definitely a worthy addition to the  Mart food court.
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