Torchy’s Tacos Is Aiming to Double Its Number of Locations By 2023 | Eater Austin

"An Austin-based taco chain that began when founder Mike Rypka bought a food trailer and a red Vespa, it emphasizes fresh ingredients—each restaurant makes tortillas in-house—and has built a reputation for strong per-store sales (about $4 million annually, well above typical peers). Leadership plans an aggressive expansion, aiming to grow from 71 locations to roughly 160 by the end of 2023 and to operate in around 15 states, with current footprints in Arkansas, Colorado (largely Denver), Oklahoma and imminent openings in Louisiana while remaining heavily concentrated in Texas (especially Austin, Dallas and Houston). Investors have shown interest, and the brand’s strategy favors expanding outward from its Texas hub into nearby states and into small- and mid-sized cities (e.g., Lake Charles) rather than only chasing major coastal markets; solid performance near the Mexican border also makes New Mexico and Arizona plausible targets." - Tim Forster