Operations

The biggest Mexican restaurant chains in the U.S.

Here are the largest Mexican-centric restaurant companies, according to the Technomic Top 500 Chain Restaurant Report.
Mexican chains Technomic sales
Photo courtesy of Taco Bell

The Mexican restaurant sector continued to perform well in 2020, led by the largest chains Taco Bell and Chipotle Mexican Grill. 

2021 RankChain Name2020 US Sales ($000,000)2020 US Units
4Taco Bell$11,2946,799
10Chipotle Mexican Grill$5,9212,724
48Del Taco$852596
50Qdoba Mexican Eats$818741
68Moe's Southwest Grill$561681
93Taco John's$388389
104Chuy's$32192
111Torchy's Tacos$291*83
115Cafe Rio mexican Grill$273*135
127Taco Cabana$250149
133On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina$221122
151Uncle Julio's$185*37
154Rubio's$178158
163Fuzzy's Taco Shop$168140
185Taco Bueno$142*130
194Tijuana Flats$131*128
223Costa Vida Fresh Mexican Grill$112*97
230Lupe Tortilla$107*27
241Pappasito's Cantina$101*25
Source: Technomic's Top 500 Chain Restaurant Report; *Technomic estimate

Multimedia

Exclusive Content

Financing

Inside the Starbucks turnaround

The coffee shop giant has spent the past 18 months returning to its roots as a coffee shop where customers want to stay. Now the company plans to go on offense.

Technology

Why a Dunkin' franchisee is using AI to count its doughnuts

Tennessee-based Bluemont Group was throwing away millions of dollars' worth of unsold doughnuts a year. Enter Do’Cast, an AI camera system that is helping it match supply with demand.

Financing

Chipotle and Taco Bell had very different years in 2025

The Bottom Line: The two Mexican chains have long been among the industry’s most consistent performers. But that changed last year, at least for one of them.

Trending

More from our partners