Taco Cabana, owned by Fiesta Restaurant Group Inc., is a quick service chain of about 160 stores. Fiesta, which is based in San Antonio, Texas, also owns and operates the brand Pollo Tropical. Fiesta is listed as a public traded company with the stock ticker FRGI. As of September of 2014, it traded at around $50 per share. The company claimed sales overall were up 3.3 percent in the second quarter of 2014.

Company History

Taco Cabana opened its first restaurant in 1978 in midtown San Antonio. The company was incorporated in 1991 and went public in 1992. In 2001 it became part of the Carrols Restaurant Group, which was separated in 2011 into Fiesta Restaurant Group. As of 2014, the company claimed annual sales of $239.1 million, and that sales overall were up 3.3 percent in the second quarter of that year.

Franchise Options

The standard Taco Cabana is usually a freestanding 3,200 square feet restaurant with an outdoor patio. In fact, the company brands itself as a Mexican Patio Cafe. The entrees are prepared fresh to order and the menu prices fall into what the restaurant industry terms highly affordable. Taco Cabana's salsa bar is stocked with fresh recipes made in-store. Most of the franchises are in Texas. Locations in the Lone Star state, as well as some in New Mexico and Oklahoma, become available from time to time.

The menu consists of Tex-Mex Style quick service burritos with the standard choices of steak, chicken or vegetarian (bean and cheese). They also have combo plates, cabana bowls quesadillas, nachos, a chicken fajita salad and fajita and skillet plates. Morning options include breakfast burritos, meat and egg plates and breakfast tacos sold by the dozen. It has a kid's menu and the standard soda fountain and salsa bar. Extra beverages are offered like bottled Mexican Coke and bottled Orange-Fanta. Vitamin waters, milks and orange juice are also available.

Sales and Startup

Fiesta does not reveal start-up costs unless contacted directly with a formal inquiry. These costs and franchise fees vary depending on the demographics of the location. Training and support is available from Fiesta, but financial support is not. Delivery and full service catering are available as sales options to help increase overall profit margins.