Guac Mexi Grill, a Canadian fast-casual Tex-Mex franchisor, announced a 95-unit U.S. development agreement on October 26, 2026. The 10-year phased plan targets Georgia, South Carolina and Florida, with the first American restaurants expected to open in 2027.
The agreement is a build-out commitment rather than a single-store sale. Guac Mexi Grill plans to roll out in Georgia, South Carolina and Florida in phases, and the order of the three states has not been announced. The U.S. program runs through Guacmexigrill Franchising LLC, and U.S. franchise registration is still in progress, so availability for prospective franchisees varies by state.
The brand’s U.S. site, guacmexigrillusa.com, describes Guac Mexi Grill as a premium fast-casual Tex-Mex brand with 56+ locations across Canada.
Founder Trushna Makadia started the chain in Oakville, Ontario, and it grew largely by word of mouth before moving to a franchise-only model. L’Express reports that the brand adds 10 to 15 restaurants a year in Canada. The format is an inline or end-cap unit of 1,000 to 1,400 square feet, with seating and on-site cooking, in strip plazas and street-front sites.
According to the brand’s franchise development materials as cited by L’Express, a U.S. location carries a total initial investment of $350,000 to $380,000, a $25,000 franchise fee, a 6% royalty and a 2% brand development contribution. Eligibility includes at least $150,000 in liquid capital. These are the brand’s stated U.S. terms and may change as registration completes.
The U.S. deal is the brand’s second international development announcement of 2026. Earlier this year it entered India through a master franchise partnership; the unit count and timeline for that market were not made public. The brand’s 10th anniversary falls in 2026.
“Incredible things are happening at Guac, and this anniversary is only the beginning.”
The company statement, as quoted by L’Express, frames the two announcements as one story of growth.
Guac Mexi Grill is using two different structures at once: a multi-unit development schedule in the United States and a master franchise in India. It shows how one concept can be licensed differently from market to market.
For operators in Asia Pacific and the Gulf, the useful comparison is with recent deals of the same type, such as the 75-unit master franchise agreement for India, the multi-unit development deals in Wichita and Houston and the 30-store Riyadh agreement. Our report on the master franchise structure for Sri Lanka covers another recent master franchise.
What Guac Mexi Grill has not yet shown is how the format performs outside Canada. With the first U.S. openings set for 2027 and the India timeline undisclosed, early results from both markets will be the evidence investors want.
Source: L’Express Franchise — Canadian Brand Guac Mexi Grill Targets 95 U.S. Locations
