Mike's Red Tacos Will Open Pasadena Location
The new restaurant will host a grand opening featuring free meals for the first 100 guests on October 16, 2026.
Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in Dining Out
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Mike's Red Tacos is set to open its fourth restaurant in Pasadena on October 16, 2026. The new 3,400-square-foot facility, located at 899 E. Del Mar Blvd., will feature seating for 62 guests.
Why it matters
The opening marks a significant milestone for the rapidly growing brand, which has gained national attention since being named a Yelp Top 100 U.S. Restaurant in 2023. Investors include high-profile figures such as LeBron James as the company moves toward broader expansion.
The new Pasadena restaurant features a 3,400-square-foot dining area with 62 available seats. The company is currently developing over 300 additional franchise locations nationwide.
The players
Mike's Red Tacos
This rapidly expanding restaurant chain was founded in San Diego and gained significant notoriety after being recognized as a Yelp Top 100 U.S. Restaurant.
LeBron James
He is an active investor in the restaurant brand who supports its nationwide growth strategy.
Mike Touma
He is the founder of the restaurant brand who established the business after becoming interested in the preparation of birria in 2020.
The details
The grand opening ceremony will begin with a ribbon-cutting event at 9:30 a.m. Guests who join the brand's loyalty program in person can participate in a spin-the-wheel contest to win prizes.
Timeline
Founder Mike Touma became captivated by birria in 2020.
The company opened its first brick-and-mortar location in August 2022.
The brand was named a Yelp Top 100 restaurant in 2023.
The Pasadena restaurant opens to the public on October 16, 2026.
Culture Shift
This expansion reflects the broader trend of high-growth dining concepts leveraging social media popularity and viral reviews to scale quickly. The brand is capitalizing on a shift in consumer preference toward specialized regional culinary experiences like birria.
Pasadena residents can attend the grand opening ribbon-cutting event at 9:30 a.m. on October 16, 2026. Attendees who join the loyalty program at the restaurant may win prizes through a spin-the-wheel contest.
The takeaway
The opening provides an opportunity for early visitors to receive promotional meals and experience the brand's popular menu. Residents interested in the promotion should arrive early due to the limited availability of the one-year meal offer.
Further reading
Learn more about the local culinary scene in our Pasadena Dining Out section.
More information
For additional information and menu details, visit the Mike's Red Tacos brand website.
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