Canada's Mucho Burrito Chain Set to Invade USA, the World

The Ontario, Canada-based fast-casual Mexican chain Mucho Burrito is set to open its first restaurant on US soil in Lynnwood, Washington (just north of Seattle). Described as "Mucho food with Mucho quality," the food is basically Chipotle-style hand-rolled burritos, tacos, quesadillas, and the like. The chain, which launched in June 2006, has 30 restaurants all over Canada, with many more on the way.

Canadians are making burritos now? What's in them? Elk? Moose? Maple syrup? (Really it's just the old standards of beef, pork, and chicken.)

Anyway, on November 20, 2010 at the Lynnwood grand opening, the company will be giving a free 10" or 12" burrito from 11AM to 2PM. In addition, it's giving free burritos for a year to the first 25 customers, as is their tradition. That could mean a lot of free burritos if they continue their rapid expansion!

The Lynnwood franchise is part of its southward expansion plans that, according to the Seattle Weekly, includes an astonishing 50 locations in Washington State.

Mucho Burrito is not only targeting the US, however: There's a truly global expansion plan envisioning over 200 locations in the next five years including China, India, the Middle East (specifically Oman), and Eastern and Western Europe.

What's going on with all these foreign chains are looking to the US to expand? For example, recently the UK chains Yo! Sushi and Wagamama both announced intentions to open in the US.

And what do we call this Canadian-Mexican hybrid? Can-Mex? Mex-i-Can? Has anyone eaten at a Mucho Burrito? How does it stack up?

· Mucho Burrito Brings ‘Mucho’ Flavor to the U.S with its first store opening [Mucho Burrito]
· All Chains Coverage on Eater [-E-]