San Diego — San Diego-based Mike’s Red Tacos is planning to open more than 200 new locations across the country. A team of restaurant industry leaders, along with the original Mike’s Red Tacos founder Mike Touma, have secured development agreements with franchisees from Dave’s Hot Chicken, Jersey Mike’s, Blaze Pizza, Dunkin’, Little Caesars, Carl’s Jr. and Wetzel’s Pretzels.
Company president and restaurant industry executive Vincent Montanelli is leading the expansion, while Bill Phelps and Andrew Feghali will support the concepts as early-stage investors and advisors.
The 200-plus locations now in the brand’s development pipeline come from multi-unit deals in markets such as California, Michigan, Minnesota, New England, Nevada, Texas, Virginia, Arizona, Indiana and Illinois. Construction will begin in the coming months on the initial set of franchise restaurants, with the first to open by the end of 2026.
Additionally, Mike’s Red Tacos is investing in a new Pasadena, California, corporate-run location set to open this spring, which will serve as a prototype for stores in the development pipeline, as well as its brand training center. Meanwhile, Touma is opening his third restaurant location this March in San Diego.
Mike’s Red Tacos was originally founded in 2021 as a food truck.