It's not news that Chipotle has been facing hard times of late—what with the e. coli outbreaks and slumping sales that followed. But it's still a shock to hear that the beloved burrito restaurant has been ousted from its throne as the king of Tex-Mex chains in America. According to this year's Harris Poll, the most favored fast-casual Mexican restaurant in America has also been named Brand of the Year by the survey. The winner: Moe's Southwest Grill. 

For reference, Chipotle has held the number one slot for the last three years in a row. This year, it didn't even place in the top four—getting pushed aside by the likes of Taco Bell, Qdoba, and Baja Fresh. Ouch.

So what's so special about Moe's? The Atlanta-based company has been around since 2000 and, with a little over 650 locations worldwide, has less than half the number of restaurants as Chipotle. Maybe it's the queso...

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Twitter / Moe's Southwest Grill

Or that the guac isn't extra? 

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Or the free chips and salsa?

Or the cheeky, millennial-minded social media accounts? 

After analyzing the responses of more than 97,000 restaurant-goers, the poll praised Moe's for its "willingness to listen and respond to diner feedback and needs," Eater reports. Not causing multi-state foodborne illness outbreaks probably helps, too. 

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