Big Burrito Restaurant Group
Big Burrito Restaurant Group is a privately held Pittsburgh-based hospitality company operating nine distinct restaurant brands — including Mad Mex, Alta Via, Casbah, Eleven, Kaya, Soba, and Umi — plus a catering arm, serving individual diners, non-profits, and corporate clients across the Pittsburgh metro and Erie, PA.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1993
- HeadquartersPittsburgh, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Big Burrito Restaurant Group does
Big Burrito Restaurant Group is a privately held, Pittsburgh-based multi-concept restaurant operator founded in 1993 by three high school friends from New York City. The company owns and operates nine distinct restaurant brands — Mad Mex (California-Mexican, 9 locations across Pittsburgh and Erie), Alta Via and Alta Via Pizzeria (Italian), Casbah (Mediterranean), Eleven (contemporary American), Kaya (Filipino), Soba (Asian), and Umi (Japanese Omakase) — plus a corporate catering arm branded big Catering. Headquartered at 5740 Baum Boulevard, Pittsburgh, PA, the group employs 501–1,000 people and operates as a holding entity for separate concept-level P&Ls under a unified hospitality platform.
The company monetizes through on-premises dining, online/takeout ordering, gift card sales (physical and digital, any denomination, with promotional bonus programs such as the Holiday Burrito Buck$), and corporate/private event catering. Its technical footprint is light and consumer-facing rather than proprietary: a Webflow-based CMS stack across restaurant websites, Open Table reservation integration, secure online gift card storefronts, and standard online ordering for takeout and delivery. There is no disclosed proprietary technology platform, mobile app, loyalty system, or data/AI infrastructure; the digital layer functions primarily as a marketing and transaction surface over the physical restaurants.
Commercially, Big Burrito runs a direct-to-consumer model across a horizontal segmentation approach — individual diners are the primary segment, with non-profit organizations served via the recurring benefit dinner program and corporate clients served through catering. Distribution is regional and physical-first, concentrated in the Pittsburgh metro and Erie, PA, with no evidence of geographic expansion beyond Pennsylvania. The company does not disclose revenue, headcount trends, or capital structure in the public domain, and no investor backing, parent company, M&A activity, or restructuring has been identified. Strategic emphasis visible in the data centers on 30-year brand stewardship (Mad Mex celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2023 with local artist and brewery collaborations and a full-night donation to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank) and community-facing positioning rather than scale-driven expansion.
Big Burrito Restaurant Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Big Burrito Restaurant Group
- Legal name
- Big Burrito Restaurant Group
- Website
- https://bigburrito.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1993
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Big Burrito Restaurant Group is a privately held Pittsburgh-based hospitality company operating nine distinct restaurant brands — including Mad Mex, Alta Via, Casbah, Eleven, Kaya, Soba, and Umi — plus a catering arm, serving individual diners, non-profits, and corporate clients across the Pittsburgh metro and Erie, PA.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Big Burrito Restaurant Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Multi-Cuisine Restaurant Hospitality
- NAICS
- Full-Service Restaurants (722511), Restaurants and Other Eating Places (72251), Special Food Services (7223)
- SIC
- Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Retail-Eating Places (5812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Ethnic & Regional Cuisine Restaurants (THAFACAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Chef’s Table & Tasting Menu Restaurants (THAFACAG), Fine Dining Restaurants (THAFACAA), Special Occasion & Destination Restaurants (THAFACAK), Local Chef/Restaurant Meal Boxes & Marketplace Prepared Meals (CRAHAJAI)
Keywords
Where Big Burrito Restaurant Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Pittsburgh
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Big Burrito Restaurant Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Restaurant Dining: On-site dining revenue from multiple restaurant concepts including Mad Mex, Alta Via, Casbah, Eleven, Kaya, Soba, and Umi. Revenue generated through food and beverage sales during operating hours.
- Gift Card Sales: Physical and digital gift cards sold at all locations and online. Gift cards available in any denomination for all restaurant brands.
- Community Events and Catering: Catering services through big Catering brand, plus benefit dinner events where non-profits host dinners and collect proceeds.
- Online Ordering and Takeout: Takeout and delivery orders placed through various online platforms and direct restaurant ordering.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Physical Gift Cards |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Digital Gift Cards |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Restaurant Menu Items |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Big Burrito Restaurant Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Big Burrito Restaurant Group owns and operates a portfolio of nine restaurant concepts in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area and Erie, Pennsylvania, spanning California-Mexican, Italian, Mediterranean, contemporary American, Filipino, Asian, and Japanese cuisines. The group also operates a corporate and event catering service (big Catering) and sells physical and digital gift cards usable across all of its restaurant brands.
Product overview
Big Burrito Restaurant Group is a multi-concept restaurant operator based in Pittsburgh, PA, operating nine distinct restaurant brands spanning casual to upscale dining across various cuisines. The portfolio includes Mad Mex (California-Mexican), Alta Via (Italian) with its pizzeria concept, Casbah (Mediterranean), Eleven (contemporary American), Kaya (Filipino), Soba (Asian), and Umi (Japanese Omakase). The group also offers corporate catering services through big Catering and sells gift cards for all locations in both physical and digital formats.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Mad Mex: California-Mexican cuisine restaurant brand with 9 locations (8 in Pittsburgh area and 1 in Erie, PA). Known for Big Azz Margaritas, craft beer, and laid-back vibe. Founded 1993.
- Alta Via
- Alta Via Pizzeria (AVP)
- Casbah
- Eleven
- Kaya
- Soba
- Umi
- big Catering
Products and services
- Mad Mex California-Mexican cuisine restaurant chain, founded in 1993 and celebrating 30 years of operation, known for signature Big Azz Margaritas, craft beer, and a laid-back vibe. Operates 9 locations across the Pittsburgh area and Erie, PA, offering dine-in, takeout, and delivery.
- Alta Via Italian restaurant featuring fresh handmade pastas, sauces, and Italian dining at Market Square and Fox Chapel locations in Pittsburgh. Sells retail pasta and sauce kits at Market District locations.
- Alta Via Pizzeria (AVP) Pizza restaurant concept offering dine-in and takeout, including specialty pizzas for holidays and events, located in Market Square, Pittsburgh.
- Casbah Mediterranean restaurant offering seasonal menus with duck features, special tasting dinners, and New Year's Eve four-course experiences. Also hosts monthly benefit dinners for non-profit organizations.
- Eleven Contemporary American restaurant in Pittsburgh offering holiday lunch service, chef's tasting menus, and special New Year's Eve feasts. Also hosts monthly benefit dinners.
- Kaya Filipino cuisine restaurant featuring Kamayan dinners, fried chicken nights, and seasonal special events such as Kamayan feasts with lumpia, whole fish, and shrimp.
- Soba Asian-inspired restaurant offering à la carte selections including Lobster Udon Carbonara, Chilean Sea Bass, Filet Mignon, and house-made ice creams. Also hosts monthly benefit dinners.
- Umi Japanese restaurant featuring Omakase dining experiences and New Year's Eve reservations in Pittsburgh.
- big Catering Catering service for corporate events, private dining, and office functions that draws on the menus and culinary teams of all Big Burrito Restaurant Group locations.
- Gift Cards Physical and digital gift cards available in any denomination and redeemable at all Big Burrito Restaurant Group restaurants. Physical cards are sold at restaurant locations; digital e-gifts are delivered via email with options for immediate or scheduled future delivery. Holiday promotional bonuses include Burrito Buck$ incentives on qualifying purchases.
Quantifiable outcome
- Hundreds of non-profit organizations supported through benefit dinners and donations over the years
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Big Burrito Restaurant Group
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Big Burrito Restaurant Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Big Burrito Restaurant Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Greater Pittsburgh Community Food BankminorMad Mex donated all dinner sales on October 30 (30th anniversary celebration) to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank.
- Rick BachcoreLocal artist-in-residence collaborated with Mad Mex to create artwork for 30th anniversary celebration. Limited-edition glassware designed featuring anniversary designs for giveaway to customers ordering Tres Decadas Margarita.
- Fat Heads BreweryminorLocal brewery created Tres Decadas collaboration brew for Mad Mex 30th anniversary celebration.
- Grist House BreweryminorRegional brewery created Tres Decadas collaboration brew for Mad Mex 30th anniversary celebration.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Big Burrito Restaurant Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Bloomin' Brands: Multi-brand casual and upscale casual restaurant operator (Outback, Carrabba's, Bonefish, Fleming's). Closely comparable business model to Big Burrito's portfolio-of-concepts approach with both everyday and special-occasion dining.
- Brinker International: Operates Chili's Grill & Bar and Maggiano's Little Italy, a portfolio spanning casual and upscale-casual dining. Directly comparable to Big Burrito's mix of mass-market (Mad Mex) and refined (Alta Via) concepts.
- Hillstone Restaurant Group: Privately held multi-concept operator (Hillstone, Houston's, R+D Kitchen, Bandera). Comparable diversified-concept portfolio with elevated casual and special-occasion dining in select U.S. markets.
- Cheesecake Factory Incorporated: Operates full-service restaurants with broad menus and strong catering/gift card programs. Comparable to Big Burrito's full-service, multi-occasion positioning with significant per-location revenue scale.
- Landry's Inc. Privately held multi-brand hospitality operator (Morton's, Bubba Gump, Mastro's, Rainforest Cafe) with strong gift card, catering, and event programs. Closely comparable portfolio-led model with diversified cuisine exposure.
- Dine Brands Global: Restaurant group operating Applebee's and IHOP under a multi-brand holding structure with franchise and company-owned models. Comparable multi-concept platform strategy and gift card/loyalty infrastructure.
Broad incumbents
- Texas Roadhouse: High-volume casual dining chain emphasizing value and guest experience. Comparable unit-economics discipline and category; relevant benchmark for Big Burrito's mass-market concepts like Mad Mex.
- Darden Restaurants: Largest U.S. full-service multi-brand operator (Olive Garden, LongHorn, Capital Grille, Yard House, Ruth's Chris). Comparable portfolio construction and unit-economics discipline, but at vastly larger scale.
- Cracker Barrel Old Country Store: Multi-location full-service restaurant operator with strong gift card, catering, and community engagement. Comparable broader incumbent with similar gift card and B2B catering depth.
Regional players
- Bravo Italian Kitchen / Bravo Brio Restaurant Group: Was a Pittsburgh-area-based multi-concept Italian casual dining operator (Bravo, Brio, Bon Vie) before being acquired by Darden. Closest historical peer given shared Pittsburgh roots and multi-concept casual-upscale model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Big Burrito Restaurant Group social profiles
Digital presenceBig Burrito Restaurant Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Big Burrito Restaurant Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Big Burrito Restaurant Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Big Burrito Restaurant Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Big Burrito Restaurant Group
What does Big Burrito Restaurant Group do?
Big Burrito Restaurant Group owns and operates a portfolio of nine restaurant concepts in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area and Erie, Pennsylvania, spanning California-Mexican, Italian, Mediterranean, contemporary American, Filipino, Asian, and Japanese cuisines. The group also operates a corporate and event catering service (big Catering) and sells physical and digital gift cards usable across all of its restaurant brands.
Is Big Burrito Restaurant Group a public or private company?
Big Burrito Restaurant Group is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Big Burrito Restaurant Group founded?
Big Burrito Restaurant Group was founded in 1993. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Big Burrito Restaurant Group based?
Big Burrito Restaurant Group is headquartered in Pittsburgh, United States, in the North America region.
How does Big Burrito Restaurant Group make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Restaurant Dining is the primary driver. The others are gift Card Sales, community Events and Catering and online Ordering and Takeout.
Who are Big Burrito Restaurant Group's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Bloomin' Brands, Brinker International, Hillstone Restaurant Group, Cheesecake Factory Incorporated, Landry's Inc. and Dine Brands Global. Broad incumbents are Texas Roadhouse, Darden Restaurants and Cracker Barrel Old Country Store. Bravo Italian Kitchen / Bravo Brio Restaurant Group is listed as a regional player.
Does Big Burrito Restaurant Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for Big Burrito Restaurant Group.
What industry is Big Burrito Restaurant Group in?
Big Burrito Restaurant Group's product category is Multi-Cuisine Restaurant Hospitality. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAFACAD, Ethnic & Regional Cuisine Restaurants, with a secondary code of THAFACAG, Chef’s Table & Tasting Menu Restaurants. Its NAICS code is 722511 and its SIC code is 5810.