Founded by local entrepreneur Michael Touma, Mike’s Red Tacos started as a Bay Park food truck in 2021 before expanding to brick-and-mortar locations in Clairemont Mesa and Point Loma, with a third on the way in Mira Mesa. According to multiple industry sources, Mike’s Red Tacos is at nearly the same point in its growth curve that Dave’s was when it made the leap from cult favorite to billion-dollar brand.
Mike’s Red Tacos already shares a visual and operational DNA with Dave’s Hot Chicken. The numbers also echo those of Dave’s Hot Chicken in its early expansion phase, when the then-tiny L.A. pop-up secured major investment and began franchising at a national scale. Both brands started as modest street concepts, built momentum through social media virality, and grew by sticking to compact menus with bold branding and quick service.
Dave’s, founded in 2017 in an East Hollywood parking lot, rocketed from a few LA locations to hundreds across the country after partnering with the founders of Blaze Pizza and a roster of celebrity investors including Samuel L. Jackson, Maria Shriver, Michael Strahan, and Drake. The company’s combination of street-food swagger and franchisable simplicity eventually attracted the attention of Roark Capital - the same powerhouse behind Dunkin’, Arby’s, and Subway - which acquired Dave’s in a deal valued at roughly $1 billion earlier this year.
Touma seems to be positioning Mike’s Red Tacos for a similar trajectory. The brand’s operations have already scaled beyond what most local eateries achieve, with unified branding, consistent product execution, and high-volume throughput that rivals national fast-casual chains. Insiders say Touma has been consulting with experienced franchise developers, including operators tied to Dave’s Hot Chicken’s San Diego network, to develop franchise manuals, operational systems, and investment materials.
The appeal is clear. Birria, once a niche regional dish, has exploded in mainstream popularity over the past five years, and Mike’s Red Tacos has become synonymous with the trend in San Diego. Its red-stained tacos and beef consommé dipping cups are already a fixture on San Diego’s food scene, but the franchise model could push the brand into entirely new markets. If successful, Mike’s could become the next major concept to emerge from San Diego’s dining landscape, following the exact growth arc that transformed Dave’s from a single parking-lot pop-up into one of the fastest-growing restaurant chains in America.
Franchising, however, is a double-edged sword. Rapid expansion demands consistency, capital, and a willingness to relinquish some control. Many regional brands have stumbled in the jump from homegrown success to national scalability. But Mike’s Red Tacos appears to have a blueprint - and the partners - to pull it off. If all goes according to plan, San Diego’s own birria empire could soon be serving up its signature tacos from coast to coast.
For more information about Mike's Red Tacos, visit mikesredtacos.com.
Originally published on November 22, 2025.
