Opens in a new tab

FRANCHISE RESALES

Buy a Taco Rico Tex Mex Cafe Franchise

Taco Rico Tex Mex Cafe is a fast-casual Tex-Mex restaurant brand founded in 1992 that grew from a single budget-friendly spot serving college students into a South Florida favorite with roughly ten locations across the Miami area. The menu covers Tex-Mex staples such as tacos, burritos, quesadillas, enchiladas, fajitas, chimichangas and salads, alongside a dedicated salsa bar, vegan options and daily lunch and dinner specials.

The model is built around multiple revenue streams: dine-in, takeout, third-party delivery and a catering and party-platter business. Taco Rico franchises within Florida under the Taco Rico name and nationally under the trademark Taco Works, offering the same recipes, menu and support under both. Franchisees operate a protected territory of a five-mile radius or roughly 50,000 residents, and can buy in as a single unit, multi-unit operator, area developer or master franchisee.

Founder-led since its start, the brand positions itself on made-to-order food, fresh ingredients and a relaxed, family-style dining experience. Its entry cost is pitched as economical relative to comparable Tex-Mex concepts, which has shaped its appeal to first-time restaurant owners.

Latest Resales

  • There are currently no Taco Rico Tex Mex Cafe resales available
Register your interest

Why buy a Taco Rico Tex Mex Cafe Franchise?

Buying a Taco Rico franchise offers entry into a long-running Tex-Mex concept with a multi-channel revenue base. The mix of dine-in, takeout, delivery and catering gives owners several ways to build sales rather than relying on a single daypart or order type, and the catering and party-platter side adds a stream beyond walk-in traffic.

The brand’s relatively low entry cost compared with competing Tex-Mex concepts is a central part of its pitch, and franchisees gain access to established recipes, exclusive vendor relationships, marketing and staffing support, and a protected territory. Owners can run the business hands-on behind the counter or in a more managerial capacity, which widens the pool of operators the model suits.

Taco Rico Tex Mex Cafe Franchise Costs & Information

  • Minimum Qualifications

    • Initial Franchise Fee

      $49,900

    • Initial Investment

      $150,000 - $310,000

  • Royalty

    • Royalty Fee

      5% - 6%

  • Training & Support

    • 4 days classroom training

    • 3 weeks on-site hands-on training

Taco Rico Tex Mex Cafe – Additional  Information

  1. Training & Support

    Initial training runs 4 days of classroom instruction at the company's Miami, FL headquarters followed by 21 days of hands-on training at the franchisee's own location, covering menu preparation, customer service, bookkeeping and daily operations. On an ongoing basis, the franchise team connects owners with exclusive vendors and provides marketing, staffing and operational support to maintain brand standards across units. Resale buyers should confirm with Taco Rico what initial or transfer training the franchisor extends to an incoming owner and existing staff when a unit changes hands.

  2. Ideal Owner

    Taco Rico suits hands-on, hospitality-minded operators who enjoy customer interaction and are comfortable leading a small restaurant team. Prior restaurant experience helps but is not required, since training covers food preparation, service and bookkeeping. The model fits owners willing to be the local face of their restaurant, maintain consistent quality and engage with their community. Because the business can be run owner-operated behind the counter or in a more managerial role, it appeals both to working operators and to those planning to oversee staff across multiple units.

  3. Recognition & Awards

    Operating since 1992, Taco Rico has built its reputation primarily through local recognition and customer loyalty rather than national franchise awards. Local press has highlighted the brand, including a Miami New Times listing of its Coral Gables location among the area's top cheap eats, and individual restaurants carry strong customer-review reputations across Miami. For resale buyers, brand-level recognition should be weighed alongside the specific territory's reputation: its local reviews, repeat customers, catering relationships and community visibility, which drive performance more directly at the unit level.

  4. Industry / Market

    Mexican and Tex-Mex food is one of the most established cuisines in US dining: the US Mexican restaurants industry is worth roughly $105 billion in 2026 (IBISWorld). The fast-casual segment Taco Rico operates in continues to outpace traditional fast food, as diners trade up for fresher, made-to-order meals at moderate prices. Demand is supported by broad, cross-generational appeal and the format's flexibility across dine-in, takeout, delivery and catering. For resale buyers, category strength matters less than how well a specific location captures local lunch, dinner and catering demand.

Learn more about
how to own a Taco Rico Tex Mex Cafe franchise resale

Please fill out the form below and a Franchise Flippers expert will be in touch with you shortly.

The Franchise Brand Index

This page is part of Franchise Flippers’ independent franchise Index, designed as an educational resource to help potential buyers explore the franchise resale market and compare brands.

Trademark & Affiliation Disclaimer

This website is an independent, informational resource. All trademarks, logos, and brand names displayed are the property of their respective owners and are used solely for identification and educational purposes. Their use does not imply any affiliation with, endorsement by, or sponsorship from the respective trademark holders.