| Real Mex Restaurants | |
| Industry: | Restaurant / Mexican |
| Defunct: | October 27, 2018 |
| Location: | Cypress, California, United States |
| Key People: | Brian Lockwood (President, CEO) |
| Founder: | Larry Cano |
Real Mex Restaurants is the parent company for several chains of full-service Mexican restaurants in the United States. The company is headquartered in Cypress, California and operates more than 120 full service Mexican restaurants under eight brand names.[1]
The company claims its origin to Larry Cano who, in 1954 with the opening of the first El Torito 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.,[2] which expanded it into Real Mex Restaurants, acquiring El Torito, Chevy's Fresh Mex and other Mexican full-service chains.[3] The company's reach is now nationwide, and the company claims to be the largest Mexican restaurant chain in the United States.[4]
In October 2011, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.[5] In February 2012, it was sold to a group of debt holders.[6] The company is now owned by an investment group that includes Z Capital Partners.[7]
Real Mex Restaurants portfolio includes:El Torito, 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.