el Restaurante 2026 Top 50 Mexican Multi-Units
el Restaurante 2026 Top 50 Mexican Multi-Units
By Ed Avis
The state of the restaurant industry is rough. That fact came into clear focus when we were researching this year’s Mexican Multi-Unit Report, our 13th. The primary indicator of the situation is that 26 of the top 50 chains closed more locations in the past year than they opened.
Every year there is churn among Mexican multi-units — some are up and some are down, and nearly all of the largest open and close units regularly. It’s totally normal. But this year is special — the fact that more than half of the list ended the year with fewer units than they started is unprecedented.
In comparison, 14 of the top 50 ended 2024 with fewer units than they had in 2023. And 12 of the top 50 ended 2023 with fewer units than they had in 2022.
For some of the chains that dropped in count, 2025 was a continuation of a years-long slide. Taco Johns, for example, had 393 units at the end of 2022 (by our count), then dropped to 370 in 2023, 365 in 2024, and 327 in 2025. Another example is Taco Cabana, which reached 178 units in 2018, and despite a few up years, has averaged a loss of about 5 units per year and now stands at 136.
For others, the drop was more sudden. Del Taco, for example, has had more than 590 units since 2021, but dropped to 572 at the end of 2025. And On the Border Mexican Grill & Cantina, which filed for bankruptcy in 2025, dropped from 134 units at the end of 2023 to 77 at the end of 2025.
Another interesting fact: The total number of units among the top 50 Mexican multi-units has steadily grown over the past few years — from 17,278 in 2022 to 18,853 in 2025. However, if you exclude the two behemoths, Taco Bell and Chipotle, you get a different story. In 2022, the top 50 excluding the two biggest had a total of 6,377 units, and in 2025, it was 6,037. Wondering how it looked pre-COVID? At the end of 2019, the total number of units with Taco Bell and Chipotle included was 15,818.
Take them out and it was 6,198. That means there are fewer Mexican multi- unit locations among the top 50 today than before COVID (not counting Taco Bell and Chipotle).
WHAT’S GOING ON?
The current woes of the restaurant industry are well documented — higher food prices, higher wages, customers who are wary to spend, fear of immigration enforcement hassles, etc. — so it’s not that surprising that multi-unit owners are closing more locations than they’re opening.
The case of On the Border reflects the overall situation. At its height, the restaurant had 155 units in 2016, according to our data. It’s a casual restaurant, but full service. Those types of restaurants, similar to Red Lobster or Olive Garden, grew strongly in the early 2000s to mid 2010s, but have faded as consumers look for lower prices.
According to reports from the chain’s bankruptcy court appearance, the restaurant had difficulty recruiting and maintaining its workforce and was paying millions of dollars on leases for underperforming locations. The chain closed 40 of those locations in February 2025 but still faced cash flow problems. The chain is hanging in there and seeking a buyer to get it out of bankruptcy.
Another multi-unit Mexican restaurant that has closed some units in recent years is Tijuana Flats, which went from 124 units at the end of 2023 to 92 now. The company filed bankruptcy in April 2024 and closed 11 locations at that point. The closures were “a result of a unit-by-unit analysis of financial performance, occupancy costs, and market conditions,” the company said in a statement.
Tijuana Flats was then acquired by a new ownership group, Flatheads LLC, which sold the restaurant again about 18 months later to a company called Latitude Food Group. Latitude also owns pizza concept &pizza.
“This is an exciting milestone for us,” said Mike Burns, CEO of Latitude Food Group, in a press release in November 2025. “&pizza and Tijuana Flats are a natural fit. Step into either location and you’ll immediately feel the energy. These aren’t your average concepts. From their innovative use of technology and bold design to their shared commitment to community and purpose, the alignment is clear. We’re excited to harness the unique strengths of both brands and apply proven strategies and efficiencies to build a strong foundation for future growth.”
BRIGHT POINTS: MILESTONES, SMALL CHAIN GROWTH
Naturally, not all the news in Mexican multi-units is about downsizing.
Several of them passed major milestones: Chipotle reached 4,000 locations when it opened a store in Manhattan, Kansas on December 12. Qdoba opened its 800th location, in Miami, in June. And El Pollo Loco opened its 500th location, in Colorado Springs, Colorado, on October 14 (2025 was also El Pollo Loco’s 50th birthday).
“Behind this milestone is one of the strongest development pipelines we’ve ever had,” said El Pollo Loco Chief Development Officer Tim Welsh in a press release. “In addition to Colorado Springs, we have restaurants under construction in El Paso, Dallas, Albuquerque, and the Greater Seattle area, to name a few.”
Many smaller chains also are succeeding. Hot Heads Burritos, for example, added net six new units in 2025, including new locations in Ohio and Indiana. The restaurant, founded in 2007 and headquartered in Dayton, Ohio, now has 89 locations.
“Our focus on convenience and innovation has been a driving force behind our success,” said Kelly Gray, co-owner and vice president of Hot Head Burritos, in a statement. “By streamlining the ordering process and our continued emphasis on craft recipes, we’re committed to meeting our employees and guests where they are — whether at an event, in our restaurants or on the go.”
Another smaller multi-unit that is bucking the closure trend is Abelardo’s Mexican Food, which was founded in 2002 in Omaha, Nebraska. Abelardo’s jumped from 55 units at the end of 2024 to 70 at the end of 2025.
Technology has been part of Abelardo’s rapid growth, according to a December press release about its installation of PAR POS technology. “We’ve always focused on delivering a great product for our customers, but we reached a point where we needed a more modern, connected platform to innovate, integrate new channels, and elevate our loyalty experience,” said Alejandro Luna, marketing director of Abelardo’s, in the release.
Another success story is Plaza Azteca, a full-service Mexican multi-unit primarily located in the East. The restaurant added 10 locations in the past year, reaching 61. The restaurant had just 35 units eight years ago.
One of Plaza Azteca’s new locations was outside its normal territory — in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Victor Magana, a manager at the new location, explained in a local newspaper article that the restaurant’s success is due in part to offering a rich experience, such as guacamole made tableside and margaritas featuring fresh fruit.
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