California Burrito Co. to Enter Panama Tex-Mex Game

Last year, The Panama Digest reported on the face-off between Taco Bell and The Taco-Maker, as both franchises arrived to compete in the Panama fast food Tex-Mex arena.

There is soon to be another, perhaps fresher, contender:  California Burrito Co.

Young entrepreneurs Jordan Metzner and Sam Nadler, 2005 Indiana University graduates, opened the first California Burrito Co. in Argentina in 2006.  Now, they have several chains in Argentina and have expanded into Colombia and Chile.

“The idea is to come with six locales, and in the long run, become the leading Mexican fast food chain,” said Metzner.

According to the California Burrito Co. website, there are theoretically over 15,000 possible combinations for clients to create their own burrito, modeled after the Denver-based Chipotle franchise.  The Panama franchise will be located in Albrook Mall’s newer food court next to Johnny Rockets, also coming soon.

No word how the other Tex-Mex chains are reacting to this new competitor.  An informal and infrequent survey of Taco Bell and The Taco Maker seems to indicate that between the two, Taco Bell is more of a fan favorite.