Birria Mania Sweeps Nation: From Food Truck to Franchise Empire

• Mike's Red Tacos, a San Diego-based birria chain, is launching a nationwide franchising initiative.
• Early investors from Dave's Hot Chicken are backing the expansion, projecting significant growth.
• The menu includes birria tacos, burritos, loaded nachos, fries, and even birria ramen, targeting a broad audience.
• Franchising deals are already in place for over 200 locations, with some set to open by the end of the year.

From Kung Fu to Consommé: My Take on the Birria Boom

Hello, I am Jackie Chan. Yes, the one who sometimes does movies! But today, I am talking about something very important: FOOD! Specifically, this birria taco thing that is taking over America. I have seen many crazy things in my life – stunts gone wrong, exploding watermelons, and even Chris Tucker trying to understand kung fu. But this birria craze? It is something else.

Hot Chicken Investors Spice Up the Taco Game

So, I read about these smart folks, the ones who made Dave's Hot Chicken a big deal, are now betting on Mike's Red Tacos. Good move! They say it has 'legs'. Like a good stunt, it needs a solid foundation. These investors, Bill Phelps and Andrew Feghali, they are like the stunt coordinators of the food world. They see the potential for flying kicks and delicious landings. Just like in a fight scene, you need the right ingredients. These guys found them. And like any great martial artist, it's about knowing when to strike. Speaking of fights, have you heard about the AI Wars The Empire Strikes Back in China's Tech Arena? That's a different kind of spicy, but equally important!

Birria: Not Just Another Regional Dish

This birria, they say it is traditionally a beef or goat stew. Slow-cooked, lots of spices. Sounds like my kind of recipe! But instead of just a stew, they put it in a taco. And you DIP it. Dipping is important. In movies, I dip my hand in water before I punch someone. It adds impact! I guess dipping the taco adds flavor. And people seem to like it. It is on almost 4% of menus now, which is… a lot! It is like suddenly everyone wants to do kung fu.

From Pretzels to Pizza to... Birria?

Bill Phelps, this guy has been around. Wetzel's Pretzels, Blaze Pizza, Dave's Hot Chicken. He is like the Bruce Lee of the food business – adaptable, innovative, always finding the next big thing. He says this birria appeals to everyone. Old people, young people, little kids. Just like my movies! I make movies for everyone. Unless you are a bad guy. Then, watch out.

The Franchise Playbook: Growing the Empire

So, the plan is simple: franchise, franchise, franchise. Like making sequels, but hopefully better. They are already planning hundreds of locations. That is a lot of tacos. But they know what they are doing. They have the experience. Vincent Montanelli, he used to run Wetzel's. Now he is the president of Mike's. Smart move. It's like bringing in a master to teach the students. Just remember, “Don’t think about what you’re doing, feel it.”

Competition: The Ultimate Training Montage

Of course, there will be competition. Taco Bell, Qdoba, the whole gang. But Phelps is confident. He says the menu is simple, the food is good, and the marketing will be aggressive. Like a good fight scene, you need to be prepared. You need to be fast. You need to be… well, you need to be Jackie Chan! But in the food world, you just need to make really good tacos. So, good luck to Mike's Red Tacos. May your birria be spicy, your tacos be delicious, and your franchise empire be… unstoppable.