Frijoles was opened in 2009 in a style VERY reminiscent of Chipotle. According to the blog From Tokyo to the World, "Frijoles is essentially the Japanese local version of America’s Chipotle chain. In fact, it is so very much like Chipotle, down to the decor and the menu, that I wouldn’t be surprised if the owner was breaking several international copyright laws. That is completely fine by me, however, because it’s just what Tokyo needed."
Mexican food hasn't ever taken off in Japan. That makes Frijoles extremely helpful for Americans craving a little taste of home. All 3 locations are concentrated around the areas where expatriates live - Akasaka, Roppongi, and Azabu-Juban.
The menu is all in English, the servers all speak English, they have unlimited refills on drinks (unheard of in Japan), and they provide napkins (whoa, another Japan first).
Mike's carnitas tacos looked and tasted almost the same, but less filling for almost $14. My chicken burrito bowl was about half the portion size (and twice the cost at $12). The burritos looked about 2/3 the size of what Chipotle serves. Although most of the ingredients were similar, the rice was not the cilantro rice, and the chicken had a different seasoning. All the salsas looked the same, including the pico de gallo, corn salsa, tomatillo salsa, and so forth.
Overall, Frijoles didn't satisfy my Chipotle craving exactly, but if I lived in Tokyo, I would definitely be a regular at this place.
Map to the Frijoles, Azabu-Juban location.
