Encinal Brands®

A Family of Restaurants
with Energy, Community
Spirit, and Vision

A dedication to our brands, an insistence on authenticity, and a business
model that prioritizes relationships with the communities we serve help
make Encinal Brands® a parent company designed for today and tomorrow.

Owning a franchise under the Encinal Brands® umbrella connects you with a network of authentic franchise brands, and gives you the tools for growth. We’ve created a family of brands our guests crave and come back for again and again, and we’re on the move to spread the Encinal Brands word across the country.

Our Mission:

To delight every guest, in a way that that creates
raving fans

Our Vision:

To be the greatest restaurant brand in the world by
delighting one guest at a time.

We have created brands like no other, with a dedication to the people we serve and a belief in
the power of quality, community, and simplicity to drive our brand growth

A Family of Brands

At Encinal Brands®, we’re on a mission to delight every guest, in ways that can create raving fans. It informs our business model, and keeps our brands all moving in the same direction. Each one of our franchise brands brings its own special magic to the mix. The combination is a blend of the traditional and contemporary, and helps give Encinal Brands® the family energy and mutual support that powers us and keeps us focused on the future.

Blue Burro

A simple menu with fresh ingredients of burritos, fries & shakes that keeps guests coming back for more.

Mighty Birds

Featuring an incredible selection of Nashville-style chicken dishes at customer
friendly prices.

Tacomasa

Enjoy delicious authentic Tijuana border tacos, served up
fast & tasty at Tacomasa.

The Buffalo Spot

Serving up the best wings, shakes, and more! Home of the world-famous
Buffalo Fries. 

Blue Burro

A simple menu with fresh ingredients of burritos, fries & shakes that keeps guests coming back for more.

Mighty Birds

Featuring an incredible selection of Nashville-style chicken dishes at customer
friendly prices.

Tacomasa

Enjoy delicious authentic Tijuana border tacos, served up
fast & tasty at Tacomasa.

The Buffalo Spot

Serving up the best wings, shakes, and more! Home of the world-famous
Buffalo Fries. 

Encinal Brands® In the News

Ivan Flores, Encinal Brands’ founder and CEO, has enjoyed a deep love of Mexican food since his early childhood spent on his grandparents’ El Encinal Ranch in Baja California.

The culture and cuisine stayed with Ivan, and when he opened his first restaurant, there was only one name he could imagine using. El Encinal Restaurant gave Ivan experience in the industry, and taught him how to translate his affection for the heritage and flavors of authentic Mexican food into a new brand.

A Drive to Excel, and
A Brand on the Move

In 2013, Ivan opened his first The Buffalo Spot restaurant in Long Beach, California. The brand was an immediate hit with guests, and gave him inspiration to start work on a larger concept.

When Ivan established Encinal Brands®, in 2018, he began to bring his plan to fruition. The first Blue Burro restaurant opened the next year, and like The Buffalo Spot, soon became a much-loved and craved institution.

Today, Ivan, and Encinal Brands®, are on the move again. And we’re just getting started.

Building a Better Franchise Model
Built for Growth and We’re Just Getting Started

Meet Ivan Flores of Encinal Brands

Encinal Brands® LLC is one of the fastest growing quick-service restaurant groups with more than 40 franchise units located throughout California...

Encinal Brands® Debuts New Blueberry Red Bull Shake at All The Buffalo Spot Locations

Encinal Brands® LLC is one of the fastest growing quick-service restaurant groups with more than 40 franchise units located throughout California...

Encinal Brands® Latches Onto The Soaring Mexican Food Segment

Ivan Flores’ first dive into restaurant ownership came in 2013, with the opening of Mexican concept El...

Encinal Brands® Celebrates Loyal Guests and Franchisees on Cinco de Mayo

Rapidly expanding restaurant group announces new locations and a Third Co-Branded Concept for Blue Burro and The Buffalo Spot.

Buffalo Fries and Wings to Star at the Buffalo Spot in the Southeast

Confidently describing its buffalo fries and wings as “world famous,” rapidly expanding Southern California chain The Buffalo Spot is headed to the...

Business Beat: Tacos, bistros, retail reports — and Christmas?

The newest taco spot in Long Beach has opened on Seventh Street at Park Avenue, near Wilson High School.

California-based Blue Burro opens 1st Arizona location in Gilbert

Blue Burro, which has four locations in California, has opened its first out-of-state restaurant on the southeast corner of...

Simplicity and Drive: Transforming the Fast-Casual Franchise Model

The quick-service, or fast-casual franchise model has been part of the American landscape for generations, and the businesses that use it are...

4 Ways Encinal Brands is Building Restaurant Franchises for the Future

The business world is changing, and the people who change with it are best positioned for personal and professional development. Today’s restaurant...

Starting a Restaurant Business the Encinal Brands Way

Becoming a franchise owner, and having a stake in the restaurant business, is the dream for many people with drive, energy, and ambition. It’s an...

Join Encinal Brands® Today!

Ready to start your career with a rising player in the industry?
Contact us today to learn more.