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A Mexican fast-food chain you've probably never heard of was just named best in America
Taco Bueno
A regional Tex-Mex chain has been named the best Mexican restaurant in America.
Taco Bueno ranks as Americans' favorite Mexican chain, according to Market Force Information's annual quick-service-restaurant study.
It beat out restaurants like Chipotle and Qdoba, which tied for first last year, as well as Rubio's Fresh Mexican Grill and El Pollo Loco.
With 175 locations in seven states, the Farmers Branch, Texas-based chain is significantly smaller than much of the competition. For comparison, Chipotle has more than 1,500 locations.
The first Taco Bueno opened in Abilene, Texas, in 1967.
Taco Bueno
The chain emphasizes the freshness of products, with salsa made in-house and pinto beans boiled overnight to refry in the morning.
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Items unique to the Taco Bueno menu include Machacos, which are tacos made with soft pieces of pitas as the shells, and MexiDips and Chips, with made in-house tortilla chips and signature guacamole.
Taco Bueno
Taco Bueno also serves some super-sized meals unique the chain. The Big Freak'n Taco is a "two-handed beast," while the Wholotta Platter packs in a taco, Muchado, rice, refried beans, a side of queso, and a "chilida" — a chili-and-queso-covered enchilada.
The menu also includes more standard Tex-Mex fare, like burritos, nachos, and tacos.
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Taco Bueno has been offering breakfast since 2007 — seven years before Taco Bell began serving the first meal of the day.
While most people outside Texas and Oklahoma may not know about the chain, Taco Bueno loyalists are a vocal force on social media.
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If your date takes you to taco bueno before prom, he's a keeper. pic.twitter.com/A0102vt1T0
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@tacobueno will do I never cheat on you with Taco Bell psstt your burritos and Quesadillas are the loves of my life
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@tacobueno you're totally right! I could eat taco Bueno every single meal! & so could my daughters!
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Taco Bueno > Taco Bell.
Don't @ me.
The company began franchising in 2005 and was acquired by TPG Growth last year.
Now the chain has been making a franchise push in states including Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, and Louisiana. Unlike rivals Chipotle and Taco Bell, the chain does not seem to be currently interested in international growth, focusing on expansion in the Southwest.
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"We've fought head-to-head battles against our rivals in Mexican QSR [quick-service restaurants], and we know how to carve our own niche and win loyal guests," reads the company's franchise website.
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