Moe’s Southwest Grill Opens in Clinton

Moe's Southwest Grill recently opened in Clinton.
Moe’s Southwest Grill recently opened in Clinton.

 

Just when it seems Northern Utah is saturated with fresh-Mex restaurants, Moe’s Southwest Grill opened in Clinton last week at 1867 North 2000 West. And from what I saw when I visited on Tuesday, it’s packed with customers already.

The Homewrecker signature burrito at Moe's Southwest Grill.
The Homewrecker signature burrito at Moe’s Southwest Grill.

This fast casual chain, founded in 2000 in Atlanta, has over 600 locations, mainly in the Eastern U.S.  The made-to-order concept is similar to Chipotle, Cafe Rio, Costa Vida, and Barbacoa Grill, but with several twists.

The Homewrecker Burrito is a signature menu item at Moe's Southwest Grill.
The Homewrecker Burrito is a signature menu item at Moe’s Southwest Grill.

This is the second Moe’s Southwest Grill in Utah; the first one is on Antelope Drive in Layton, near Popeye’s Chicken. That location did well enough to launch a second one,  according to franchise owner/operator Michael Lin.

The Layton store’s proximity to Hill Air Force Base helped build an enthusiastic fan base with people from out-of-state who were already familiar with Moe’s.

“People in the military have traveled all around the country, so they know Moe’s,” said Lin. “When we first put up signs that we were opening the first Utah store, we were nervous. But the phone rang off the hook.”

As I mentioned, Utah has its share of fast-casual “big burrito” restaurants, where you order at the counter and customize your meals while it’s being built in an assembly line. And each of these places has little differences that attract its fans.  For many, it’s Cafe Rio’s sweet pork. For my husband, it’s Costa Vida’s mango salsa. I like Chipotle’s fajita veggies and Cafe Rio’s sugar-free lemonade. I’m not saying that one is better than the other; I’m just saying they’re all a little different. And that’s a good thing.

When I was invited to check out Moe’s, here are some of the differences I noticed:

  • “Welcome to Moes!” is shouted to every customer as they walk in the door. It can be a little startling, but it’s also welcoming. And you’ll always know where you are!
  • The menu items are named after pop culture references, which I failed to “get,” since I never watched ‘Seinfeld” or “The Hangover,” and I don’t remember scenes from the Chevy Chase movie, “Fletch.”  But I’m sure others will catch on to things like Homewrecker burrito, the John Coctostan quesadilla, Wrong Doug taco stack, and Earmuffs burrito bowl.
  • moesThere’s a bigger variety of ingredients to customize your meal, including non-traditional items like bacon, cucumbers, grilled mushrooms, and tofu. Plus, there’s the usualseasoned rice, pinto or black beans, cheese, shredded lettuce, grilled peppers and onions, chopped tomatoes, sour cream, roasted corn pico de gallo, fresh cilantro, guacamole, olives and more.
  • Guacamole at Moe's Southwest Grill.
    Guacamole at Moe’s Southwest Grill.

     

  • The queso has a creamy melted-Velveeta texture.
    Smooth, creamy queso.

     

    Creamy Queso comes on many dishes and can be ordered on the side for chip-dipping. Moe’s version reminds me of melted white Velveeta-type cheese, with a mild kick.

  • The self-serve salsa bar at Moe's Southwest Grill.
    The self-serve salsa bar at Moe’s Southwest Grill.

    Free chips and salsa come with every meal, and the help-yourself salsa bar with interesting options such as a medium-hot cucumber mojito and flavorful tomatillo salsa.

Moe’s is carving out its own niche in Utah’s world of Big Burrito eateries, and you just might find you like it.

 

 

 

 

 

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