Chronic Tacos
An American fast-casual restaurant chain built around customizable tacos, burritos, bowls, and other Mexican-inspired foods.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Chronic Tacos is an American fast-casual restaurant brand specializing in customizable Mexican-inspired food. The chain began in 2002, when Daniel Biello and Randy Wyner opened its first restaurant in Newport Beach, California. The concept drew on the informal taquerias the founders had encountered locally, while emphasizing a customer-directed format in which diners could assemble meals around their preferred proteins, vegetables, toppings, and sauces. The brand initially expanded within Southern California. A second restaurant opened in Huntington Beach in 2005, followed by a San Clemente location in 2006. That third location marked the beginning of the company’s franchising phase. Chronic Tacos subsequently developed as a franchise-oriented chain rather than solely as a company-operated restaurant group. As the business grew, Biello and Wyner relinquished their controlling interest, citing burnout. Randy Wyner later became involved in efforts to regain control of the company. International expansion began in 2010, when Chronic Tacos opened its first Canadian location. In 2012, Wyner and franchise-financing executive Michael Mohammed acquired majority control of the business. The new control group paused franchising for a period and resumed franchising in 2015. The company later entered Japan, opening its first Japanese location in 2018. By 2020, the chain was reported to have more than 60 locations across the United States, Canada, and Japan. The menu is centered on tacos and includes Mission-style or California-style burritos, tostada bowls, carne asada fries, and churros. The customizable format is a central part of the brand experience: customers select a base and build a meal using available fillings and toppings. Chronic Tacos has also expanded its menu to address changing dietary preferences. In 2016, it introduced a vegetarian protein option based on fajita vegetables. In 2019, the chain partnered with Beyond Meat to offer Beyond Beef Crumbles as a vegan protein choice. Chronic Tacos has also pursued marketing through food and entertainment partnerships. Since 2011, it has worked with Gringo Bandito, the hot-sauce company associated with Dexter Holland, on the Gringo Bandito Chronic Tacos Challenge, a competitive taco-eating event. Takeru Kobayashi set reported world records in the contest in 2015 and again in 2017. The event connected the restaurant brand with competitive eating and helped distinguish its promotional activity from conventional menu advertising. The available reference material identifies Chronic Tacos as an operating multi-country restaurant chain, but does not establish a current headquarters, ultimate owner, public listing, financial results, or a complete current location count. Those fields therefore remain unspecified.
History
Chronic Tacos was founded in 2002 by Daniel Biello and Randy Wyner, who opened the first restaurant in Newport Beach, California. Their concept was influenced by the local taquerias they had grown up eating at, but adapted around a more customizable fast-casual service model. Customers could select from taco and burrito components and tailor meals with different fillings and toppings. The company’s early growth remained concentrated in Southern California. It opened a second restaurant in Huntington Beach in 2005. In 2006, a third location opened in San Clemente, and the business began franchising. As the chain expanded, the founders gave up their controlling interest, reportedly because of burnout. The change created a later opportunity for Randy Wyner to seek renewed control of the company. Chronic Tacos opened its first Canadian restaurant in 2010, beginning its international development. In 2011, Wyner entered discussions with Michael Mohammed, a franchise-financing executive, concerning the possible reacquisition of the brand. In 2012, Mohammed and Wyner acquired majority control. Under the new ownership structure, Chronic Tacos temporarily stopped franchising, with franchising activity resuming in 2015. The brand continued expanding its geographic footprint in the following years. Its first Japanese location opened in 2018. By 2020, reference material described Chronic Tacos as operating more than 60 locations across the United States, Canada, and Japan. The available sources do not provide a complete current store count or clarify the company’s present ownership and executive structure. Menu development has focused on the chain’s core Mexican-inspired offerings while adding options for different dietary preferences. Its principal categories include tacos, Mission or California burritos, tostada bowls, carne asada fries, and churros. In 2016, the chain added a vegetarian protein option composed of fajita vegetables. In 2019, it partnered with Beyond Meat to offer Beyond Beef Crumbles as a vegan protein alternative. Marketing has included a recurring competitive-eating event created with Gringo Bandito, the hot-sauce company associated with Dexter Holland. The Gringo Bandito Chronic Tacos Challenge began in 2011. Takeru Kobayashi reportedly set records at the competition in 2015 and again in 2017, giving the brand a high-profile promotional association with competitive eating. No scandals, lawsuits, recalls, or bankruptcy events are identified in the supplied reference material.
- 2019
Vegan protein partnership
[1]Chronic Tacos partnered with Beyond Meat to introduce Beyond Beef Crumbles.
- 2018
Japanese market entry
[1]The chain opened its first location in Japan.
- 2015
Franchising resumes
[1]The company resumed franchising after a temporary pause following the change in control.
- 2012
Majority control changes
[1]Randy Wyner and Michael Mohammed acquired majority control of Chronic Tacos.
- 2010
Canadian expansion
[1]Chronic Tacos opened its first location in Canada.
- 2006
Franchising begins
[1]A third location opened in San Clemente, California, as Chronic Tacos began franchising.
- 2005
Second location opens
[1]The brand expanded to Huntington Beach, California, with its second location.
- 2002
First Chronic Tacos restaurant opens
[1]Daniel Biello and Randy Wyner opened the first Chronic Tacos restaurant in Newport Beach, California.
Products and positioning
A customizable, franchise-based fast-casual taqueria brand offering Mexican-inspired comfort food with a casual Southern California identity and selected vegetarian and vegan options.
Mexican-inspired fast-casual food · 2002
Tacos
Tacos are the brand’s core offering and are prepared through a customizable fast-casual format. Customers can select fillings and toppings to create an individualized meal. The menu has included meat-based choices as well as vegetarian and vegan alternatives introduced during later menu development.
Mexican-inspired fast-casual food · 2002
Mission and California burritos
Chronic Tacos offers burritos identified with Mission-style and California-style preparations. They form part of the brand’s broader build-your-own menu approach and provide a larger-format alternative to tacos, using combinations of fillings, vegetables, and toppings.
Mexican-inspired fast-casual food
Tostada bowls
Tostada bowls are a bowl-based menu format within the chain’s Mexican-inspired offering. They allow customers to combine the brand’s characteristic fillings and toppings in a bowl rather than a tortilla-based format.
Side and specialty food
Carne asada fries
Carne asada fries are a specialty item listed among Chronic Tacos’ principal menu categories. The dish reflects the chain’s Southern California-oriented fast-casual positioning and extends the menu beyond tacos and burritos.
Dessert
Churros
Churros are the brand’s documented dessert offering, complementing its savory Mexican-inspired menu.
Vegetarian menu option · 2016
Vegetarian fajita-vegetable protein
In 2016, Chronic Tacos introduced a vegetarian protein option made from commonly used fajita vegetables. The addition broadened the chain’s menu for customers seeking a meat-free filling while retaining the customizable structure of its core menu.
Vegan menu option · 2019
Beyond Beef Crumbles
Beyond Beef Crumbles were introduced through a 2019 partnership with Beyond Meat. The product served as a vegan protein alternative for Chronic Tacos menu items and represented the brand’s move to add a plant-based substitute beyond its earlier vegetable-based option.
Marketing campaigns
- 2011Gringo Bandito Chronic Tacos Challenge
United States
Chronic Tacos began working with Gringo Bandito, the hot-sauce company associated with Dexter Holland, to stage a competitive taco-eating contest.
Outcome. The event became a recurring brand promotion. Takeru Kobayashi reportedly set world records in the contest in 2015 and 2017.
Brand decisions
2019
Beyond Beef Crumbles added to the menuProduct launchBackground
Chronic Tacos sought to expand its plant-based menu choices beyond its existing vegetable-based option.
Action taken
The chain partnered with Beyond Meat to offer Beyond Beef Crumbles as a vegan protein.
Aftermath
The launch added a branded meat substitute to the chain’s customizable menu.
2016
Vegetarian protein option introducedProduct launchBackground
The chain expanded its menu to serve customers seeking a meat-free alternative.
Action taken
Chronic Tacos began offering a vegetarian protein option based on fajita vegetables.
Aftermath
The vegetarian option preceded the company’s later plant-based partnership with Beyond Meat.
2012
Wyner and Mohammed acquire majority controlM&ABackground
After the founders had given up controlling interest, Randy Wyner discussed reacquiring Chronic Tacos with Michael Mohammed, a franchise-financing executive.
Action taken
Wyner and Mohammed acquired majority control of the company and subsequently paused franchising.
Aftermath
Franchising resumed in 2015, and the chain later continued international expansion.
Recent events
Chronic Tacos announces voter sticker promotion[3]
Reported:
Chronic Tacos announced a planned November 3 promotion offering customers who show an “I Voted” sticker a free combo upgrade with the purchase of a listed meal. The offer is for walk-in orders at participating locations.
Chronic Tacos introduces Family Taco Kit[4]
Reported:
Chronic Tacos began offering a $35 Family Taco Kit at participating locations. The kit serves four people and includes tortillas, two protein choices, rice and beans, cheese, chips, pico de gallo, and salsas.
Sources5 sources
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