San Diego-based QDOBA Mexican Eats fast-casual chain is opening up to five new area locations as part of an ambitious expansion plan.
QDOBA Mexican Eats traces its origins to the opening of the Zuma Fresh Mexican Grill in Denver in 1995 by Colorado native Anthony Miller and partner Robert Hauser. The company eventually changed the restaurants name to Z-Teca in 1997, then to Qdoba in 1999. In 2003, San Diego-based Jack in the Box purchased Qdoba for $45 million.
In 2018, Qdoba was sold by Jack In The Box for $305 million to a consortium of funds led by Apollo Global Management. Then in 2022, the 750-unit burrito chain was acquired by Butterfly Equity for more than half a billion dollars. Although the company's headquarters is at 350 Camino De La Reina, #400, in San Diego's Mission Valley, there is only two branches of the chain, one in Mission Valley and another within the San Diego International Airport. This past summer, Qdoba announced plans to open 40 additional restaurants this year, followed by 60 in 2024, and 80 or more annually beginning in 2025.
Qdoba Director of Operations and franchisee Karan Gogri has signed on to open five locations around San Diego, starting with a branch in the space that last housed a Smog Test Auto Repair on the intersection of Jackson Drive and Fletcher Parkway in La Mesa. Like other locations, expect a menu of customizable burritos, bowls, tacos, quesadillas, nachos and salads.
Qdoba is expected to open in 2025 at 8303 Parkway Drive in San Diego's La Mesa. For more information, visit qdoba.com.
