Imagine this: You’re relaxing in your favorite chair, maybe catching up on the latest episode of your favorite show or chatting with the grandkids, when suddenly you hear a gentle whirring outside.

You peek out the window, and there it is—a sleek, futuristic drone, gracefully lowering your piping-hot burrito bowl right onto your doorstep.

No delivery driver, no doorbell, no hassle. Science fiction? Not anymore!

What once felt like science fiction is now becoming reality, and Chipotle is testing it first.


Welcome to the future of fast food, where Chipotle is teaming up with Zipline, a cutting-edge drone delivery company, to bring your favorite meals to your front door—by air.

For years, drone delivery has been the stuff of tech expos and futuristic movies. Now, it’s landing (quite literally) in the real world. Here’s how Chipotle’s new “Zipotle” service works:

• Order as Usual: You place your Chipotle order through the app or website, just like you always have.
• The Zipping Point: Instead of a delivery driver, a Chipotle employee places your meal into a special “Zipping Point”—a secure station where the drone picks up your order.
• Autonomous Flight: The Zipline drone, which is quiet and fully electric (so no noisy engines or carbon emissions), takes off and navigates its way to your address.
• Precision Delivery: When it arrives, the drone gently lowers your meal to the ground, avoiding trees, power lines, and other obstacles, and places it right at your doorstep.

Currently, the drones can carry up to 5.5 pounds—enough for a couple of burritos and chips or a family-sized taco spread.

Chipotle says they plan to increase that limit to 8 pounds soon, so you can feed the whole crew without breaking a sweat.


Zipline CEO Keller Rinaudo Cliffton said, “With Zipline, you tap a button, and minutes later food magically appears—hot, fresh, and ultra-fast.”

He added, “What once felt like science fiction is soon going to become totally normal.”

Chipotle stated that Zipotle is designed to give customers faster, more convenient service while keeping food “dine-in fresh.”

The use of drones also eliminates common delivery challenges such as traffic delays or long wait times.


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For now, this futuristic service is only available at the Chipotle location at 3109 Lakeview Parkway in Rowlett, Texas.

A select group of Zipline users in the Dallas area will get first dibs, with a wider rollout planned in the coming weeks.

The service will run every day from noon to 8 pm Central Time, with plans to extend hours to 10 pm as the program grows.

If you’re not in Dallas, don’t worry—Chipotle and Zipline are keeping a close eye on how things go, and if all goes well, you could see drones buzzing over your neighborhood soon. (We’ll keep you posted!)

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Would you trust a drone to deliver your dinner? Are you excited about this new technology, or do you prefer the personal touch of a human delivery driver?