Taco Bueno was named the best Mexican Restaurant chain in the U.S. dislodging last year's winners Chipotle and Qboda, which previously tied at first place.
The regional chain beat bigger rivals like Chipotle, Qboda, El Pollo Loco and Rubio's Fresh Mexican Grill according to Market Force Information's yearly QSR (quick service restaurant) ranking according to a Yahoo article by Kate Taylor.
In case the restaurant's name doesn't ring a bell, it is most likely because the chain hasn't yet established an outlet in your area. Currently, the Texas-based Tex-Mex restaurant chain has only 175 locations spread in only seven states and is considerably smaller than most of the competition. For instance, giant Chipotle has around 1,500 outlets.
So what sets Taco Bueno apart? According to an article in FastFoodMenuPrices, Taco Bueno doesn't serve the unhealthy, greasy variety of Tex-Mex dishes that most people are probably familiar with. Utilizing only the freshest of ingredients available, each dish offered by the chain is said to represent the best of its kind.
The chain prefers to make its salsa from scratch and boils its pinto beans overnight. It's this kind of freshness that patrons love about Taco Bueno's dishes according to Kate Taylor's Yahoo article.
Among Taco Bueno's top selling items are Machacos - tacos using soft pieces of pitas as shells - and the MexiDips and Chips - the chain's signature guacamole and its in-house tortilla chips. Customers fond of oversized meals will not be disappointed as well with the Big Freak'n Taco described as a "two-handed beast" and the Wholotta Platter which include taco, rice, refried beans, Muchado, "chilida" and a side of queso.
Sounds mouth-watering, doesn't it? But fret not, a Taco Bueno outlet is coming your way soon. The chain actually began franchising in 2015 and with its recent acquisition by TPG Growth, the franchising pace is bound to pick up especially in Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas and Louisiana. And with its recent crown as the king of Mexican cuisine is the U.S., the clamor for additional outlets is bound to increase as well.