Real Mex Restaurants is the parent company for several

chains A chain is a serial assembly of connected pieces, called links, typically made of metal, with an overall character similar to that of a rope in that it is flexible and curved in compression but linear, rigid, and load-bearing in tension. A ...

of full-service

Mexican restaurants Mexican may refer to: Mexico and its culture *Being related to, from, or connected to the country of Mexico, in North America ** People *** Mexicans, inhabitants of the country Mexico and their descendants *** Mexica, ancient indigenous people ...

in the United States. The company is headquartered in

Cypress, California Cypress is a city in northwestern Orange County, California. Its population was 50,151 as of the 2020 census. History Cypress originally was nicknamed "Waterville" due to the preponderance of artesian wells in the area, but was incorporated ...

and operates more than 120 full service Mexican restaurants under eight brand names.

History

The company claims its origin to Larry Cano who, in 1954 with the opening of the first

El Torito El Torito (Spanish language, Spanish for "the little bull") is an American Restaurant chain, chain that serves Mexican food. El Torito operates 25 restaurants all in California. El Torito is one of several Mexican cuisine restaurant chains ope ...

restaurant, which expanded into a chain. Another origin was the founding of Acapulco Mexican Restaurant and Cantina in 1960. In 1998, Acapulco became owned by the private equity firm Bruckmann, Rosser, Sherrill & Co., which expanded it into Real Mex Restaurants, acquiring

, Chevy's Fresh Mex and other Mexican full-service chains. The company's reach is now nationwide, and the company claims to be the largest Mexican restaurant chain in the United States. In October 2011, the company filed for

Chapter 11 bankruptcy Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code ( Title 11 of the United States Code) permits reorganization under the bankruptcy laws of the United States. Such reorganization, known as Chapter 11 bankruptcy, is available to every business, w ...

. In February 2012, it was sold to a group of debt holders. The company is now owned by an investment group that includes Z Capital Partners. Real Mex Restaurants portfolio includes:

, Acapulco Mexican Restaurant and Cantina, Chevy's Fresh Mex, El Paso Cantina, Who Song and Larry's and the Southern California landmark Las Brisas of Laguna Beach.

References

External links

*{{Official website, http://www.realmexrestaurants.com Companies based in Orange County, California Restaurant chains in the United States Private equity portfolio companies Mexican-American cuisine Mexican restaurants Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2011 Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2018