Tortilla
Tortilla is a UK fast-casual Mexican restaurant chain founded in 2007.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Tortilla is a United Kingdom-based fast-casual Mexican restaurant brand operated by Tortilla Mexican Grill plc. It was founded in 2007 by Brandon and Jennifer Stephens, who opened the first restaurant in Islington, London. The concept was built around freshly prepared Mexican-inspired food assembled to order, with burritos, tacos, quesadillas, salads and related dishes forming the core menu. Tortilla’s service model combines counter ordering with dine-in, takeaway, click-and-collect and delivery channels. The brand expanded steadily from its original London base and developed a broad UK estate. By October 2022, it had 84 UK branches, making it one of the country’s largest branded fast-food Mexican operators. Its expansion model has included conventional high-street and shopping-centre restaurants as well as non-traditional locations. Partnerships have helped Tortilla enter transport and leisure venues, including Euston railway station, Gatwick Airport, Leeds Skelton Lake Services and Chessington World of Adventures Resort. The company has also used cloud kitchens and an exclusive delivery partnership with Deliveroo to extend its geographic reach and delivery capacity without relying solely on full dining-room restaurants. Tortilla has pursued international growth through franchising rather than treating every market as a directly operated estate. Through a partnership with Eathos, the brand operates locations in Dubai and Saudi Arabia; the cited 2022 information records ten Middle Eastern stores. This arrangement gives Tortilla access to international markets while using a local operating partner for market development and restaurant execution. The menu and sourcing proposition emphasize recognizable ingredients and preparation standards. The company has stated that its barbacoa uses grass-fed British Isles brisket and that its pork is Red Tractor approved. Tortilla is also a signatory to the Better Chicken Commitment, while vegetarian and vegan dishes have been described as approved by the Vegetarian Society and Vegan Society. These commitments support a positioning based on accessible, freshly assembled Mexican food with visible attention to ingredient sourcing and dietary choice. The company has received recognition for marketing, restaurant operations and value, including a Best Marketing Campaign award at the 2020 QSR Media UK Centegra Awards and recognition in the R200 restaurant rankings. It also participated in the UK Government’s Kickstart Scheme in 2021, offering 50 youth employment placements. In May 2022, Tortilla announced the acquisition of Chilango Ltd from RDCP Group for £2.8 million, adding another established Mexican restaurant business to its portfolio and strengthening its position in the UK Mexican food segment. Tortilla is therefore best understood as a specialist restaurant-chain brand rather than a packaged-food tortilla manufacturer. Its business combines a UK company-operated restaurant network, selected venue partnerships, digital ordering and delivery, cloud-kitchen activity, and international franchising. The brand remains active, although the precise current store count, ownership structure and executive roster require verification from up-to-date company disclosures.
History
Tortilla was established in the United Kingdom in 2007 by Brandon and Jennifer Stephens. The founders opened the first restaurant in Islington, London, introducing a fast-casual format centred on Mexican-inspired food prepared and assembled for each customer. The format combined the speed and convenience of quick-service dining with a more customizable menu and a visible preparation process. From its London starting point, Tortilla expanded across the UK and became a prominent branded Mexican fast-food operator. Its core offer developed around burritos, tacos, quesadillas, salads and related sides, with customers able to choose different fillings and formats. The brand supported several consumption occasions through dine-in, takeaway, click-and-collect and delivery. This multi-channel model became increasingly important as the company broadened its estate and sought to serve customers outside traditional restaurant visits. Tortilla’s growth included a move into high-traffic and non-standard venues. In 2019, the brand expanded into major travel locations, including Euston railway station, through a partnership with SSP Group. In May 2021 it opened at Chessington World of Adventures Resort in partnership with Merlin Entertainments. Later in 2021, Tortilla announced locations at Gatwick Airport and Leeds Skelton Lake Services. These partnerships placed the brand in railway, airport, roadside and leisure environments, allowing it to reach customers in transit and at attractions as well as on high streets. The company also developed delivery-oriented infrastructure. Its activities included a cloud-kitchen estate and an exclusive delivery partnership with Deliveroo. These initiatives complemented physical restaurants by supporting delivery coverage and providing additional capacity in areas where a conventional dining site might not have been practical. International development followed a franchise-partnership model. Tortilla operates in the Middle East through Eathos, with locations in Dubai and Saudi Arabia. The information available for October 2022 recorded ten stores in those markets. This approach enabled the brand to expand beyond the UK while relying on a local partner for elements of development and operations. Tortilla’s stated operating values include ingredient sourcing, food choice and employment opportunities. The company has described its barbacoa as using grass-fed British Isles brisket and its pork as Red Tractor approved. It is a signatory to the Better Chicken Commitment, and its vegetarian and vegan dishes have been described as approved by the Vegetarian Society and Vegan Society. In January 2021, the company announced 50 youth placements through the UK Government’s Kickstart Scheme. The brand received industry recognition during its expansion. Awards and rankings cited for Tortilla include the 2020 QSR Media UK Centegra Award for Best Marketing Campaign, Restaurant Marketer & Innovator recognition, an R200 award for value among restaurant chains with more than 20 sites, and FEJ Awards recognition for operator of the year and best new kitchen concept. A significant corporate development came in May 2022, when Tortilla announced that it had acquired Chilango Ltd from investment company RDCP Group for £2.8 million. The transaction brought together two UK Mexican restaurant businesses and was intended to strengthen Tortilla’s scale and market position. By October 2022, the brand was reported to have 84 branches in the UK, alongside its Middle Eastern franchise locations. Tortilla’s history is consequently defined by the development of a specialist UK Mexican restaurant concept, measured estate expansion, partnerships in travel and leisure venues, investment in delivery channels, international franchising and the acquisition of Chilango. Current store numbers, leadership and corporate details should be checked against the latest company filings because the available reference material is centred on 2022.
- 2022
Chilango acquisition announced
[1]Tortilla announces the acquisition of Chilango Ltd from RDCP Group.
- 2022
UK estate reaches 84 branches
[1]The cited October 2022 information records 84 Tortilla branches in the United Kingdom.
- 2021
Chessington World of Adventures opening
[1]The brand opens a restaurant at Chessington World of Adventures Resort through a partnership with Merlin Entertainments.
- 2021
New airport and roadside locations announced
[1]Tortilla announces new sites at Gatwick Airport and Leeds Skelton Lake Services.
- 2019
Expansion into major travel hubs
[1]Tortilla expands into prominent travel locations, including Euston railway station, through a partnership with SSP Group.
- 2007
First Tortilla restaurant opens in Islington
[1]Brandon and Jennifer Stephens open the first Tortilla restaurant in Islington, London.
Products and positioning
A fast-casual Mexican restaurant brand focused on freshly assembled, customizable meals, convenient omnichannel ordering, and accessible pricing. Tortilla combines a UK restaurant estate with delivery, travel-hub and leisure-venue locations, plus international franchising.
Mexican fast-casual food
Burritos
Made-to-order burritos are one of Tortilla’s central menu formats. Customers select fillings and accompanying ingredients, allowing the brand to provide a customizable and portable meal for dine-in, takeaway and delivery occasions.
Mexican fast-casual food
Tacos
Tacos form part of Tortilla’s core Mexican-inspired offer. They provide a smaller, adaptable format that can be ordered as an individual meal or combined with sides and other menu items.
Mexican fast-casual food
Quesadillas
Tortilla offers quesadillas as a grilled Mexican-style menu option. The format complements burritos and tacos and can accommodate different meat, vegetarian and vegan ingredient choices.
Mexican fast-casual food
Salads
Salads provide a lighter, bowl-based alternative within Tortilla’s customizable menu. They extend the brand’s appeal to customers seeking Mexican-inspired flavours without ordering a wrapped tortilla product.
Menu filling
Barbacoa
Barbacoa is a prominent slow-cooked meat offering. Tortilla states that its barbacoa uses grass-fed British Isles brisket, making sourcing and slow cooking part of the product proposition.
Special-diet menu
Vegetarian and vegan dishes
The brand provides vegetarian and vegan choices across its Mexican-inspired menu. These dishes have been described as approved by the Vegetarian Society and Vegan Society, supporting Tortilla’s emphasis on clearly available dietary alternatives.
Marketing campaigns
- 2021Kickstart youth employment placements
United Kingdom
Tortilla participated in the UK Government’s Kickstart Scheme and offered 50 placements intended to support young people entering employment.
Outcome. The company announced 50 placements under the scheme.
- 2020Best Marketing Campaign recognition
United Kingdom
Tortilla received the Best Marketing Campaign award at the QSR Media UK Centegra Awards, reflecting industry recognition for its marketing activity.
Outcome. The campaign was recognized with an industry award.
Brand decisions
2022
Acquisition of Chilango LtdM&ABackground
Tortilla sought to expand its scale in the UK Mexican restaurant sector by acquiring the established Chilango chain from RDCP Group.
Action taken
In May 2022, Tortilla announced the acquisition of Chilango Ltd for £2.8 million.
Aftermath
The transaction broadened Tortilla’s restaurant portfolio and strengthened its position in the UK Mexican food market. The long-term operating integration outcome is not specified in the supplied material.
Acquisition price. £2.8 million (May 2022 announcement)
Recent events
- 2022
Tortilla acquires Chilango[1]
M&A
Tortilla announced the acquisition of Mexican restaurant chain Chilango Ltd from RDCP Group, expanding its presence in the UK Mexican restaurant market.
- 2021
Tortilla opens a restaurant at Chessington World of Adventures Resort[1]
Other
Tortilla entered Chessington World of Adventures Resort through a partnership with Merlin Entertainments, extending the brand into a major leisure destination.
- 2021
Tortilla announces new Gatwick Airport and Leeds Skelton Lake locations[1]
Other
The company announced two new sites in travel and roadside-service environments, continuing its expansion beyond conventional restaurant locations.
- 2021
Tortilla launches youth placements through the Kickstart Scheme[1]
Other
Tortilla offered 50 placements under the UK Government’s Kickstart Scheme as part of an initiative aimed at supporting youth employment.
Sources1 sources
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