For the first time in its 30-year history, Chipotle Mexican Grill is heading south of the border.
The California-based restaurant chain announced plans on Monday to open its first location in Mexico in early 2026. The move marks a major milestone for the company, which has long operated in the U.S. and recently began expanding into international markets.
To bring the concept to Mexico, Chipotle is partnering with Alsea, a prominent Mexico City-based restaurant operator responsible for franchises like Domino’s, Starbucks, Burger King, and Chili’s across Latin America and parts of Europe.
Alsea will lead the launch of Chipotle’s first restaurant in Mexico City and is expected to explore additional growth opportunities throughout the region.
Nate Lawton, Chipotle’s Chief Business Development Officer, expressed optimism about the move.
“The country’s familiarity with our ingredients and affinity for fresh food make it an attractive growth market for our company,” Lawton said in a statement.
The expansion comes at a time when trade relations between the U.S. and Mexico are shifting. The U.S. Commerce Department recently announced plans to end a 2019 agreement that had paused an antidumping investigation into tomato imports from Mexico. The change, which could impose a 20.91 percent tariff on most fresh tomatoes, is set to take effect in July.
While tomatoes may soon carry higher costs, Chipotle’s avocado supply—which is sourced roughly 50 percent from Mexico—remains unaffected by current tariffs.
Founded in 1993 in Denver, Chipotle now operates more than 3,700 restaurants and is on pace to open up to 345 more locations this year. The brand has increasingly prioritized international expansion, launching its first new market in over a decade last year by opening locations in Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates through a partnership with the Alshaya Group.
