Tex-Mex franchises are surging in popularity, with investors turning their attention toward emerging opportunities within the market. QSRs, fast casuals, dine-in restaurants–no matter how you slice it, the delicious fusion of American and Mexican flavors has become a staple in diets across the country. But while Tex-Mex and other Mexican food types are undoubtedly popular, a growing contingent of diners are seeking experiences, flavors, and high-quality ingredients that bigger brands just can’t facilitate.
With over 20 years of brand experience, OriZaba’s Scratch Mexican Grill is more than prepared to meet this demand head-on. Keep reading to learn about some of our well-known competitors, their drawbacks, and what sets Ori’Zaba’s apart.
Table of Contents
Understanding Big Brands
Brand recognition is a powerful factor influencing prospective Tex-Mex franchise investors. There is a certain confidence that can come with investing in a strong, well-known brand, but there are potential downsides too. Larger franchises typically require a more substantial initial investment and have much stricter requirements for new franchisees, which can end up locking out many would-be investors. That said, if you’re able to clear the financial hurdles and red tape, the reliability of a big name brand’s business model, their suite of resources, and their consistent demand from the public can be helpful to you on your franchise journey.
What larger brands often lack in personality and focus, though, wea offer in spades. With O, investors have the opportunity to join a growing franchise family that offers wholly unique, fresh, authentically inspired Mexican dishes in an unforgettable environment. Our women-led leadership team understands what goes into opening a business, which is why franchisees can count on support throughout the onboarding process. Our shoulder-to-shoulder training approach, project management tools, and brand fund marketing resources help to support you as you grow and give you confidence at every step of the way.
Tex-Mex Franchises and Their Shortcomings
The popularity of Tex-Mex, both in the form of QSRs and more traditional dine-in venues, is evident in nearly every town across America. Several popular Tex-Mex joints are successfully doing business across the country, but in order to clearly understand the strength of an investment in Ori’Zaba’s Mexican Grill, let’s take a look at a few franchises you’ve likely encountered and what some of their potential downsides are.
Moe’s
Sporting a lower initial investment requirement, Moe’s has been a fast-casual franchise to watch for over 20 years. Moe’s has a reputation among its most avid fans, as evidenced by their 600+ locations in the US, but newer investors will want to pay careful attention. They require potential franchisees to have prior restaurant experience, so bear in mind that, if this is your first time franchising, you may not be eligible for this opportunity.
Qdoba Mexican Eats
After several brand alterations and name changes, the company finally settled on Qdoba Mexican Eats in 2015. Since then, they’ve been serving up Tex-Mex favorites at over 400 locations and remain in a period of expansion. However, paying close attention to their popular menu items is pivotal; perhaps their most famous product, queso dip, is a bit of a one-trick pony. Queso is a very popular item at many Mexican restaurants, but heavy reliance on a side dish is potentially precarious.
Del Taco
Del Taco’s unique blend of QSR speed and quality ingredients makes it a tempting franchise opportunity, particularly for those looking to serve guests on the go. That said, investors seeking to offer more intricate dishes to their guests will likely be left wanting more, and the transient nature of the concept encourages folks to order, dine, and depart. Things may run smoothly, but guests do not have much of an experience inside of a Del Taco restaurant.
Fuzzy’s Tacos
Investors familiar with the Texas franchise scene are likely aware of Fuzzy’s Tacos. With several dozen locations across the US, Fuzzy’s has been a Tex-Mex outfit on the move since 2007. Investors looking into Fuzzy’s will find much to admire, though they should be warned of stiff competition within the market. Other aforementioned concepts like Qdoba are a little too similar in several ways and have a more solid foothold in the Tex-Mex game, making Fuzzy’s a bit of an underdog investment.
Capital Tacos
Capital Tacos’ made-from-scratch approach strikes a chord with Tex-Mex lovers all over. If fusion is what you’re after, they’ve got you covered, but investors eager to expose their guests to the diverse, rich flavors of Mexico specifically will need to look elsewhere. Many of their items are also available from their competitors, giving customers less of an incentive to return there for specific, harder-to-find items.
Taco Bell
Perhaps the most famous Tex-Mex restaurant franchise on this list, Taco Bell continues to innovate within the fast food realm, with their new riffs on old favorites keeping customers consistently hooked. That innovation does come at a price, though; aside from requiring a hefty franchise investment well into the seven figures, investors are also signing on to sell fast food specifically–a crucial distinction for those who aim to put quality at the forefront

The Ori’zaba’s Difference
As an Ori’zaba’s franchisee, you can expect, first and foremost, to have access to the highest quality ingredients. Our intense dedication to fresh, never-frozen offerings sets us apart from the competition and makes us a Mexican restaurant unlike most others. Our dishes are inspired by the Mount Orizaba region of Mexico, and we pay homage to the sacred land with every meal we prepare. For us, it’s either Hecho Fresco (made fresh) or it’s simply not made at all.
Just as important is the experience of being inside of an Ori’zaba’s Mexican Grill. Proper vibe curation is paramount, and we aim to satisfy guests with an environment that is relaxed, fun, and easy to spend time in. From welcoming beach-vibe finishings and lively music, by creating the right atmosphere, we can successfully feed the soul of every guest with old-world Mexican flavors, made every day with care in our scratch kitchens, with the finest, freshest ingredients.
As we continue to expand outside of our beloved home of Las Vegas, we want franchisees to be reminded that support is always available to them. With our OZU (Ori’zaba’s University) program, franchisees will have access to guides regarding cash handling, customer service, equipment, food safety, food station training, marketing, safety, and security. We look forward to welcoming more eager investors to our franchise family and can’t wait to give them the resources they need to succeed.

Ready to get started? We can’t wait to hear from you. Head over to our franchise website and fill out an inquiry form today to learn more about why a Tex-Mex franchise opportunity with Ori’zaba’s is right for you!