Chipotle $CMG Mexican Grill announced Monday that it will open its first restaurant in Mexico on Thursday in San Pedro Garza García, Nuevo León, part of the Monterrey metropolitan area, in partnership with Alsea, a restaurant operator in Latin America and Europe.
The opening is the first location to open under a development agreement Chipotle and Alsea announced in April 2025, the company said. Chipotle and Alsea plan to open additional restaurants in Nuevo León later this year and expand into Mexico City in 2027.
Chipotle Chief Executive Officer Scott Boatwright said in a statement that the company is entering Mexico with "deep respect for the country's culinary heritage" and that its research confirmed demand for convenient, customizable food. Chief Business Development Officer Nate Lawton described the first location as an "important proof-of-concept" that will help the company understand local consumer preferences.
Chipotle said it chose the Monterrey area for its robust economy, expanding population, and reputation as one of Mexico's premier centers for business and innovation. The new restaurant's menu will mirror what Chipotle serves at its other locations, offering burritos, bowls, tacos, salads, and quesadillas.
The move has drawn skepticism on social media, according to Yahoo Finance. Commenters drew comparisons to Taco Bell, which has attempted to enter Mexico twice and withdrew from the country in 2010, and to Domino $DPZ's Pizza, which closed its last Italian locations in 2022, according to Yahoo Finance.
Alsea Chief Executive Officer Christian Gurría said in a statement that bringing Chipotle to Mexico is part of the company's growth and portfolio diversification strategy, and that it is confident in Mexico's growth potential.
Chipotle's global footprint now exceeds 4,100 restaurants, with a presence spanning Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and the Middle East. The company expects to open between 350 and 370 new restaurants in 2026. Among those partnership-driven efforts is a joint venture with South Korea's SPC Group that will bring Chipotle to South Korea later this year and to Singapore in early 2027, the company said.