Rubio's Fresh Mexican Grill
Encyclopedia
Rubio's Fresh Mexican Grill, formerly known as Rubio's Baja Grill, also simply known as Rubio's, is a fast casual "Fresh Mex" or "New Mex" restaurant
chain specializing in Mexican food, with an emphasis on fish
taco
s. As of 2007, Rubio's operates, licenses or franchises more than 170 restaurants in California, Arizona, Colorado, Utah and Nevada. Rubio's was voted "Best of the Best (Cheap Eats)" in the June 2008 issue of San Diego Magazine
. Its headquarters are in Carlsbad
.
According to founder Ralph Rubio, he and some friends were on spring break from San Diego State University
in San Felipe
when he first encountered fish tacos at a local stand, and was inspired to open a restaurant serving them in his hometown, San Diego, California
. Since then, the popularity of fish tacos has spread throughout California
, although they remain uncommon elsewhere. Rubio’s standard fish tacos are made from Alaskan pollock
, which is battered, fried
, and served in a corn
tortilla
, although optionally offered with a flour tortilla. Grilled mahi-mahi
is also available at all locations.
The first Rubio's restaurant was opened in 1983 at a former Orange Julius
site on Mission Bay Drive in the Pacific Beach area of San Diego. The first restaurant offered french fries, calamari, and fish tacos, among other cuisine.
In 2005, a class action lawsuit was brought against the company complaining that the “Lobster Burrito” offered at the restaurant contained squat lobster
(also known as Langostino
) rather than clawed lobster
from the Nephropidae family. Rubio’s subsequently changed the name of their product to the “Langostino Lobster Burrito” to avoid future confusion. The burrito is currently only occasionally sold as a “Limited Time Offer”.
On Aug 24, 2010 Rubio's Restaurants, Inc. announced the closing of its merger with a subsidiary of Mill Road Capital, L.P. to take the company private. Rubio's former stockholders are receiving $8.70 per share in cash in the transaction. The transaction is the result of a comprehensive strategic alternatives review process under the supervision of a Special Committee of the Board of Rubio's.
Restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
chain specializing in Mexican food, with an emphasis on fish
Fish (food)
Fish is a food consumed by many species, including humans. The word "fish" refers to both the animal and to the food prepared from it. Fish has been an important source of protein for humans throughout recorded history.-Terminology:...
taco
Taco
A taco is a traditional Mexican dish composed of a corn or wheat tortilla folded or rolled around a filling. A taco can be made with a variety of fillings, including beef, chicken, seafood, vegetables and cheese, allowing for great versatility and variety...
s. As of 2007, Rubio's operates, licenses or franchises more than 170 restaurants in California, Arizona, Colorado, Utah and Nevada. Rubio's was voted "Best of the Best (Cheap Eats)" in the June 2008 issue of San Diego Magazine
San Diego Magazine
San Diego Magazine is a monthly publication concerning life in the San Diego region. This is the city’s longest running lifestyle publication and has continued to prosper and evolve throughout its 60-year history...
. Its headquarters are in Carlsbad
Carlsbad, California
-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Carlsbad had a population of 105,328. The population density was 2,693.1 people per square mile . The racial makeup of Carlsbad was 87,205 White, 1,379 African American, 514 Native American, 7,460 Asian, 198 Pacific Islander, 4,189 from other...
.
According to founder Ralph Rubio, he and some friends were on spring break from San Diego State University
San Diego State University
San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system...
in San Felipe
San Felipe, Baja California
San Felipe is a town on the Gulf of California in the Mexican state of Baja California, 190 km south of the United States border and within the municipality of Mexicali. It also serves as a borough seat of its surrouding area....
when he first encountered fish tacos at a local stand, and was inspired to open a restaurant serving them in his hometown, San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
. Since then, the popularity of fish tacos has spread throughout California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, although they remain uncommon elsewhere. Rubio’s standard fish tacos are made from Alaskan pollock
Pollock
Pollock is the common name used for either of the two species of marine fish in the Pollachius genus. Both P. pollachius and P. virens are commonly referred to as pollock. Other names for P...
, which is battered, fried
Frying
Frying is the cooking of food in oil or another fat, a technique that originated in ancient Egypt around 2500 BC. Chemically, oils and fats are the same, differing only in melting point, but the distinction is only made when needed. In commerce, many fats are called oils by custom, e.g...
, and served in a corn
Maize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
tortilla
Tortilla
In Mexico and Central America, a tortilla is a type of thin, unleavened flat bread, made from finely ground maize...
, although optionally offered with a flour tortilla. Grilled mahi-mahi
Mahi-mahi
The mahi-mahi or common dolphinfish is a surface-dwelling ray-finned fish found in off-shore temperate, tropical and subtropical waters worldwide. It is one of only two members of the Coryphaenidae family, the other being the pompano dolphinfish...
is also available at all locations.
The first Rubio's restaurant was opened in 1983 at a former Orange Julius
Orange Julius
Orange Julius is a chain of fruit drink beverage stores. It has been in business since the late 1920s. The eponymous beverage is a mixture of orange juice, milk, sugar, ice and vanilla flavoring.- History :...
site on Mission Bay Drive in the Pacific Beach area of San Diego. The first restaurant offered french fries, calamari, and fish tacos, among other cuisine.
Squat lobster
Squat lobsters are decapod crustaceans of the families Galatheidae, Chirostylidae and Kiwaidae, including the common genera Galathea and Munida. They are not lobsters at all, but are more closely related to porcelain crabs, hermit crabs and then, more distantly, true crabs...
(also known as Langostino
Langostino
Langostino is a Spanish word with different meanings in different areas. In America, it is commonly used in the restaurant trade to refer to the meat of the squat lobster, which is neither a true lobster nor a prawn. It is more closely related to porcelain crabs and hermit crabs. Crustaceans...
) rather than clawed lobster
Lobster
Clawed lobsters comprise a family of large marine crustaceans. Highly prized as seafood, lobsters are economically important, and are often one of the most profitable commodities in coastal areas they populate.Though several groups of crustaceans are known as lobsters, the clawed lobsters are most...
from the Nephropidae family. Rubio’s subsequently changed the name of their product to the “Langostino Lobster Burrito” to avoid future confusion. The burrito is currently only occasionally sold as a “Limited Time Offer”.
On Aug 24, 2010 Rubio's Restaurants, Inc. announced the closing of its merger with a subsidiary of Mill Road Capital, L.P. to take the company private. Rubio's former stockholders are receiving $8.70 per share in cash in the transaction. The transaction is the result of a comprehensive strategic alternatives review process under the supervision of a Special Committee of the Board of Rubio's.