Chipotle to Open First Mexico Location

Chipotle is known for its Mexican fare, but it doesn't actually have any locations in Mexico—yet. The fast-casual chain will open its first Mexican outpost on Thursday in San Pedro Garza García, part of Nuevo León's Monterrey metro area, under a development deal with Latin American restaurant giant Alsea, CNBC reports. The launch marks the start of a broader push into the country, with Mexico City slated to get locations starting in 2027. CEO Scott Boatwright said the company is approaching the move with "deep respect" for Mexico's food traditions and sees strong demand for customizable, freshly prepared meals.

The Monterrey-area site will mirror the US menu, as Chipotle leans on international growth to shake off a sluggish year. The company plans to debut 350 to 370 new restaurants globally in 2026 and already runs more than 4,100 locations, including in Europe and the Middle East. Chipotle said it picked the Monterrey region for its strong economy, population growth, and role as a business and innovation hub. The BBC notes that US restaurant chains have been known to run into problems when expanding into the countries that inspired their menus, with Taco Bell pulling out of Mexico and Domino's pulling out of Italy.