Another struggling Mexican restaurant chain closes locations

Mexican restaurant chains have been battling economic challenges this year, as they face rising costs of labor and food products driven by inflation, higher interest rates on their debt obligations, and consumer reluctance to spend money on dining out in uncertain times.

Dining chain operators have been cutting costs to reduce financial losses, which has included the closing of underperforming restaurant locations.

Mexican chains shut restaurants

Among the chains to close locations in recent months was Mexican fast-food chain Taco Cabana, which had operated 146 restaurants in New Mexico and Texas, before closing five units in September 2025, Nation's Restaurant News reported.

Some smaller Mexican dining chains are also facing financial distress and closing locations. Fast-food chain Quesadilla Gorilla revealed on social media that it will close two locations in November and December.

The Visalia, Calif.-based fast-food chain, which was founded in 2013, said on its Facebook page that it will close its Tulare, Calif., location on Nov. 9, 2025, and its Hanford, Calif., location on Dec. 20, 2025.

More closings:

• Major trucking company closes Home Depot distribution facility
• 63-year-old bankrupt retail chain closes all stores permanently
• Discount retail chain closes half its store locations

The restaurant chain said it will continue operating Quesadilla Gorilla locations in Fresno, Calif., and Visalia, Calif., along with a franchise in San Luis Obispo, Calif. The company still has plans to open a new location in Clovis, Calif., at the beginning of 2026.

A smaller Mexican chain, Matteo’s Authentic Mexican Food, closed all four of its locations in Texas and New Mexico, the company said on Nov. 10, KTSM reported.

Session Taco closes down restaurants

And now, Mexican restaurant chain Session Taco, which once operated nine locations in the St. Louis and Kansas City, Mo., metro areas, closed its Town and Country location at 1000 Woods Mill Plaza in St. Louis less than two years after opening, St. Louis Business Journal reported.

Session Taco, which was forced to change its name from Mission Taco Joint after a trademark infringement lawsuit, currently operates five locations at 908 Lafayette Ave., and 6235 Delmar Blvd., in St. Louis; 409 E. 18th St., in Kansas City; 105 E. Jefferson Ave., in Kirkwood, Mo.; and 1650 Beale St., Suite 130, St. Charles, Mo.

The Mexican chain's Kirkwood and St. Charles locations both offer modern arcade games for customer amusement and event space rentals.

Session Taco settles trademark lawsuit

Session Taco settled a lawsuit with Mission Foods parent Gruma in November 2023, agreeing to change its name from Mission Taco Joint, after the Mission tortillas maker sued the restaurant chain for trademark infringement, KTVI-TV Fox 2 in St. Louis reported.

The Session Taco chain, which opened as Mission Taco Joint in 2013, completed the name change in September 2024, acording to St. Louis Magazine. The chain has either closed or rebranded four locations since expanding to as many as nine locations by 2022.

Restaurant changes its name

The Mexican restaurant chain's owner explained that the restaurant dropped the M and the I in the Mission Taco Joint name and added an S and an E to come up with its new name.

"And yes, if you drop the M and the I, you have Session Taco. And yes, this was intentional," owner Adam Tilford told KTVI-TV.

Session Taco menu items

• 13 different taco choices
• 5 burrito options
• 9 starter choices
• 6 side dishes
• Chicken fajita quesadilla
• Fajita bowl
• Carne asada fries
• LA Street Dog
• 4 different kid's meals.

Session Taco's menu features 13 different taco choices, 5 burrito options, 9 starter choices, 6 side dishes, and other items, such as chicken fajita quesadilla, a fajita bowl, carne asada fries, and an LA Street Dog. The menu also offers 4 different kid's meals.

Session Taco locations

• 908 Lafayette Ave., St. Louis, Mo.
• 6235 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, Mo.
• 409 E. 18th St., Kansas City, Mo.
• 105 E. Jefferson Ave., Kirkwood, Mo.
• 1650 Beale St., Suite 130, St. Charles, Mo.

Related: 88-year-old dining chain closes all restaurants, no bankruptcy