Mike’s Red Tacos, a San Diego concept known for its birria, has signed an agreement with franchise group JM Foods to bring 18 units to Los Angeles and Orange County, according to a release.
JM Foods, helmed by Victor Fiss and John Thomas, currently owns and operates 25 Jersey Mike’s locations. Fiss told What Now Los Angeles that the team is looking toward Downey and Long Beach for their first locations and are in the final stages of lease negotiations for locations in those areas. They hope to open the first location by the end of 2026 and the second in early 2027.
“After visiting Mike’s Red Tacos and trying the food for ourselves, we knew right away it was something special,” Thomas said in the release. “The birria was incredible, and for us, the food always has to speak for itself before we consider bringing a concept to our community. We were also impressed by the people behind the brand and the care they put into every detail. Mike’s is a natural fit for our family of restaurants, and we’re excited to introduce a fresh, flavorful dining experience to Orange County and Los Angeles County that we believe guests will truly love.”
Founded by Mike Touma, Mike’s Red Tacos launched in 2021 as a food truck and gained traction for its popular birria. Mike’s now operates three locations in the San Diego area.
“We’re proud to welcome the partners behind JM Foods to the Mike’s Red Tacos family as they expand our authentic birria experience across Los Angeles and Orange County,” Vince Montanelli, president of Mike’s Red Tacos, said in the release. “John and Victor bring decades of experience operating successful restaurants in Southern California, along with a deep understanding of what it takes to build strong teams and serve communities well. Their track record of running high-performing locations and growing thoughtfully over time gives us tremendous confidence that they’ll introduce Mike’s the right way — with a focus on quality, hospitality and creating a destination guests are excited to visit again and again.”
The deal with JM Foods is part of a larger expansion for the brand, which has 200 units committed nationwide.
