Chipotle Opens First Restaurant in Mexico

Chipotle Mexican Grill will open it first restaurant in Mexico this Thursday, July 16. The restaurant will open in San Pedro Garza García, Nuevo León, part of the Monterrey metropolitan area. Alsea, a restaurant operator in Latin America and Europe, serves as Chipotle’s partner on the expansion.

Chipotle and Alsea first announced their development deal in April 2025. The companies plan to open additional restaurants in Nuevo León later this year and expand into Mexico City in 2027.

“We are entering Mexico with deep respect for the country’s culinary heritage and a commitment to delivering the Chipotle experience with excellence,” says Scott Boatwright, CEO of Chipotle, in the release. “Our research has reinforced our belief that there is strong interest in high-quality, freshly prepared food served with the customization and convenience that Chipotle offers. Nuevo León is an ideal place to begin this journey, and with Alsea’s operational expertise and deep local market knowledge, we look forward to serving new guests and earning a place in Mexico’s vibrant dining culture.”

The Monterrey metropolitan area became the site of the first Chipotle in Mexico because of its strong economy, growing population and status as one of the country’s leading business and innovation hubs, Chipotle states.

Checking In on Chipotle’s Global Growth
Three years ago, in July 2023, Chipotle signed its first international development deal with Alshaya Group to open restaurants in the Middle East. Alshaya Group currently operates 15 restaurants across the UAE, Kuwait and Qatar. In September 2025, Chipotle announced a joint venture with SPC Group to expand the brand into Asia for the first time, with plans to open its first restaurant in South Korea later this year and in Singapore early next year.

Chipotle’s existing international portfolio includes more than 80 locations in Canada, 20 in the U.K., six in France and two in Germany. It currently operates more than 4,100 restaurants worldwide and expects to open between 350 and 370 new restaurants in 2026. It has a target of operating 7,000 locations in the U.S. and Canada.

In other international expansion news this week, Inspire Brands announced Jimmy John’s has launched in Chile.

Peter Cryan, Chipotle’s vice president of facilities, will speak at FER’s How To Spec Live this September in California. Register today at fermag.com/how-to-spec-live.