A popular fast-casual taco chain is gearing up for major expansion, with plans to grow its presence across Orlando and Tampa.
Mike’s Red Tacos, which bills itself as home to the best birria tacos, signed a 36-unit development agreement with Built Better Brands, a multi-brand, multi-unit franchise group led by CEO Kal Gullapalli.
The group has experience working with other major brands including Dave’s Hot Chicken, Marco’s Pizza and PopUp Bagels.
“Birria and consome offer a craveable, shareable experience with genuine authenticity that has a real draw for consumers. In addition to the incredible menu, our team has already built the well-oiled machine needed to work through site selection and real estate considerations as we grow Mike’s Red Tacos across Florida. The Birria is enough to make this brand stand out, but it’s truly the people behind the company who will drive its success,” Gullapalli said in a statement.
The president of Mike’s Red Tacos shares the enthusiasm, especially with an experienced franchise team on board.
“I’m confident residents across Florida will come to love Mike’s as much as we do. As we advance our nationwide franchise growth strategy, we’re focused on bringing experienced operators like Kal into the system who have the infrastructure and expertise to bring our vision to life. We look forward to seeing what his team accomplishes across Florida,” Vincent Montanelli said in a statement.
Mike’s Red Tacos launched in 2021 as a food truck operated by its namesake, Mike Touma, and has grown rapidly in the five years since. Touma opened the brand’s first brick-and-mortar location in San Diego in 2022. A year later, Mike’s Red Tacos earned a spot on Yelp’s 2023 Top 100 Places to Eat list, becoming the only taco shop to make the cut that year.
The menu features customer favorites, including the signature birria taco topped with cheese, cilantro and onions; the Crunchstack, layered with guacamole, queso, tostadas and beans; and loaded nachos or fries topped with queso, guacamole, sour cream, beans, cilantro and onions. All dishes feature halal-certified beef.
Mike’s Red Tacos now operates four locations in San Diego, with 350 units confirmed nationwide, bringing its birria taco craze to communities across the country.
The first location is expected to open in 2027, with additional locations planned over the “next several years.”
Visit the Mike’s Red Tacos website and follow along on Instagram and Facebook for the latest expansion updates. Stay tuned!
