<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-01-26</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001058090</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CHIPOTLE MEXICAN GRILL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CMG</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001350889</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Charlesworth John S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>115 KENDELTON PLACE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CARY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>27511</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-01-26</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>22000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>22</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>22000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Effective January 31, 2006, immediately prior to the anticipated closing date of the Issuer's initial public offering (&quot;IPO&quot;) of its class A common stock, par value $.01 per share (the &quot;Class A Common Stock&quot;), the Issuer will amend and restate its certificate of incorporation.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The amendment and restatement of the Issuer's Certificate of Incorporation will, among other things, (i) create two new classes of stock, the Class A Common Stock and the class B common stock, par value $.01 per share (the &quot;Class B Common Stock&quot;), which Class B Common Stock will be convertible into Class A Common Stock on a one-for-one basis, and (u) reclassify each of the Issuer's then outstanding shares of Common Stock, Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, Series C Convertible Preferred Stock and Series D Convertible Preferred Stock into one-third of one share of Class B Common Stock (the &quot;Reclassification&quot;). The Reclassification was structured to comply with Rules 16b-3 and 16b-7 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the &quot;Exchange Act&quot;).</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Thomas Barnes</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-01-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
