Chipotle bowls have made up a major portion of my diet for as long as I can remember. They were once a constant craving and the default choice for dinner with friends or family. They felt fresh, but mostly, they were easy and reliable.

Recently, though, I’ve noticed inconsistencies in the bowl industry’s quality. What were once giant bowls packed to the brim now look staler and emptier. According to Business Insider, the “corporate bowl” has started to go out of style in 2025. Chipotle, Sweetgreen and Cava, the biggest names in the bowl industry, have all seen drops in their stock prices. CNN also reported declines in store visits, with Sweetgreen down 12 percent and Chipotle and Cava seeing even steeper drops.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve started exploring more local restaurants around South. La Taquiza, across from Plaza Del Prado, is just over a seven-minute drive from the West Lot. From workers who seem to remember everyone’s name to walls covered in bright murals, it feels far more personal than any corporate chain. It also has some of the best quesadillas I’ve ever had. If I hadn’t stepped away from my bowl habit, I never would have discovered it.

Since then, I’ve searched Glenview for local alternatives to my former fast-food favorites. As a former Jimmy John’s regular, I found Delishka Sandwiches on Waukegan even more satisfying. At Koffeelicious near the Glenview Metra station, the workers know me by name and offer service more personalized than Starbucks.

Just over 75 percent of South students visit one of the “big three” bowl restaurants once a month or more, according to a non-scientific survey conducted by The Oracle of 315 students. That doesn’t surprise me. However, only 18 percent said they would likely choose a local restaurant instead, the same survey reported. 

Supporting local restaurants gives Glenview character and also stimulates the local economy. Forbes reports that local businesses recirculate more revenue back into their communities. In 2023, 44 percent of Illinois employees worked at a local business, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration.     So next time your muscle memory steers you toward Chipotle on Willow during open lunch, try somewhere new instead. You may never want to go back.