Burrito restaurant chain Poncho 8 to open third London restaurant ahead of ambitious expansion plans
Poncho 8, which was founded in 2009 by college friends Frank Yeung and Nick Troen, will open the doors to a new site on Cullum Street, Leadenhall at the end of the month; it will join two existing restaurants in Spitalfields and St Paul’s.
Co-founder Troen said the opening would kick off a busy year of new openings in 2013 as the group looks to operate 20 sites in the capital by the end of 2015.
"At Poncho 8, we’re delighted to be bringing our fresh Mexican food to a third outlet here in London, just a month after our third birthday. We’re constantly updating our offering to ensure that the City’s workers have an exciting, healthy meal when they visit our restaurants," he said.
Another site in Soho was disposed of earlier this year.
The privately-funded business was created with the opening of a site in Steward Street three years ago and features a menu which asks diners to choose from a burrito, skinny box (light burrito with salad), nacho box or tacos before deciding on fillings, toppings and extras.
Mexican London
The growth of the City-focused brand is the latest development in the ever-increasing popularity of Mexican-based concepts in the capital:
- US-based burrito chain Chipotle has recently announced plans to open restaurant number six and was the focus of Restaurant magazine's August Business Profile.
- Fast-casual Mexican chain Tortilla announced similar growth targets to Poncho 8 earlier this year after securing new funding from banking group Santander.
- Speaking to BigHospitality earlier this year, Ben Fordham, founder of Mexican group Benito's Hat, said the company's move into the revamped King's Cross was a 'statement of intent' for the growing brand.
- Elsewhere, mid-range and high-end Mexican concepts such as Chimichanga, Lupita and Death By Burrito have all opened sites in the capital this year.
Ahead of its latest opening, Poncho 8 has produced a video showcasing its trademark dish:
