El Torito closes many locations amid competitive market
El Torito, a 72-year-old Mexican chain, has closed over 150 restaurants.
The chain once operated 187 restaurants in 25 states, but now operates roughly two dozen locations in California.
Mexican cuisine is widely established in America’s restaurants, with 11% of restaurants serving Mexican food and 85% of U.S. counties having at least one Mexican restaurant.
About 4 million people live in counties without any Mexican restaurants, which is just 1% of the total U.S. population.