Food & Drink
Built Different Brands Signs 36-Unit Florida Deal for Mike's Red Tacos
Tampa-based Built Different Brands will develop 36 Mike's Red Tacos locations across Florida starting in 2027.
Tampa Bay Certified staff
· 1 min read
Built Different Brands, a Tampa-based franchise group, has signed a 36-unit development deal with San Diego's Mike's Red Tacos, the company announced in a press release dated Oct. 21, 2026. The Tampa Bay Times reported on the agreement.
Built Different Brands already holds Tampa Bay franchise rights for Dave's Hot Chicken, Marco's Pizza, and PopUp Bagels, and manages wellness and beauty concepts alongside its restaurant franchises. Chief executive Kal Gullapalli told the Tampa Bay Times, "We've been looking for the right brand to bring home."
Mike's Red Tacos launched as a food truck in San Diego in 2021, founded by Mike Touma. The menu centers on birria, which Restaurant Business describes as slow-braised beef dipped in consommé. The brand uses certified Halal beef.
LeBron James has invested in the brand's corporate side. Gullapalli said James is not involved in the Florida expansion.
The 36 units are planned across greater Tampa, greater Orlando, and Florida's East Coast. No specific sites have been named. The first Florida restaurant is planned for 2027.
Source: wtsp.com.
Key facts
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- Built Different Brands, a Tampa-based franchise group, signed a 36-unit development deal with San Diego's Mike's Red Tacos, per a press release dated Oct. 21, 2026.
- Built Different Brands holds Tampa Bay franchise rights for Dave's Hot Chicken, Marco's Pizza, and PopUp Bagels.
- CEO Kal Gullapalli told the Tampa Bay Times, "We've been looking for the right brand to bring home."
- Mike's Red Tacos started as Mike Touma's San Diego food truck in 2021.
- The menu centers on birria, which the material describes as slow-simmered beef in cheesy tacos dipped in consomé.
- The brand uses certified Halal beef.
- LeBron James invested in the brand's corporate side.
- Gullapalli says LeBron James is not involved in the Florida expansion.
- The 36 units are planned across greater Tampa, greater Orlando, and Florida's East Coast; no specific sites have been named.
- The first Florida restaurant is planned for 2027.
- According to the Instagram caption, photos used in coverage show food from California restaurants, including one in San Diego, and no Florida location exists yet.
- Built Different Brands manages wellness and beauty concepts in addition to its restaurant franchises.[4]
Sources
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