Newport Beach, Calif. — Chipotle Mexican Grill is opening the first Chipotle restaurant in Mexico on July 16 in San Pedro Garza García, Nuevo León, part of the Monterrey metropolitan area, in partnership with Alsea, a leading restaurant operator in Latin America and Europe.
The opening marks a significant milestone in Chipotle’s international growth strategy. Building on this market entry, Chipotle and Alsea 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, chief executive officer of Chipotle. “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.”
“We’ve spent years evaluating opportunities to bring Chipotle to Mexico, and this week’s opening reinforces our confidence in the market,” says Nate Lawton, chief business development officer of Chipotle. “Our initial focus is on opening one great restaurant and learning alongside our guests and our partners at Alsea. This first location will serve as an important proof-of-concept, giving us the opportunity to better understand local consumer preferences as we thoughtfully grow in Mexico.”
The Monterrey metropolitan area was selected as Chipotle’s first location in Mexico due to its strong economy, growing population and status as one of the country’s leading business and innovation hubs. The restaurant represents the first step in Chipotle and Alsea’s broader expansion strategy as the companies evaluate opportunities across Mexico’s largest metropolitan markets.
Chipotle signed its first international development agreement in July 2023 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, a leading South Korean food and bakery company, 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 of owned and operated restaurants includes more than 80 locations in Canada, 20 in the UK, six in France and two in Germany. The company currently operates more than 4,100 restaurants worldwide and expects to open between 350 and 370 new restaurants in 2026, with a target goal of operating 7,000 locations in the U.S. and Canada.
Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. is the only restaurant company of its size that owns and operates all its restaurants in North America and Europe. For more information, visit www.chipotle.com.
SOURCE: Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc.