What Countries Have Chipotle?
The list of countries Chipotle is in changed more between 2024 and 2026 than in the previous fifteen years combined. It added its first new market in over a decade in 2024, and has since opened in Mexico, Saudi Arabia and South Korea. That last group includes the one most people assumed would never happen, and it means a widely repeated line about Chipotle is now out of date.
Chipotle operates in eleven countries as of October 2026. It owns and operates its restaurants in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France and Germany. It works with partners in Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar, Mexico, Saudi Arabia and South Korea. Mexico opened in July 2026 and Seoul in September 2026.
- Eleven countries as of October 2026.
- Chipotle HAS entered Mexico — July 2026, in Nuevo León.
- South Korea opened September 2026 — its first in Asia.
- Five markets are company-owned; six are partner-operated.
- Kuwait in 2024 was its first new country in over a decade.
- Singapore is planned for 2027.
All Eleven Countries
| Country | Entered | Model |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 1993 | Company-owned |
| Canada | 2008 | Company-owned |
| United Kingdom | 2010 | Company-owned |
| France | 2012 | Company-owned |
| Germany | 2013 | Company-owned |
| Kuwait | April 2024 | Partner |
| United Arab Emirates | October 2024 | Partner |
| Qatar | — | Partner |
| Mexico | July 2026 | Partner |
| Saudi Arabia | August 2026 | Partner |
| South Korea | September 2026 | Partner |
The Five It Runs Itself
In these markets Chipotle owns and operates every restaurant. It describes itself as the only restaurant company of its size that owns and operates all its restaurants in the United States, Canada and Europe.
- United States — 4,074 restaurants as of 30 June 2026.
- Canada — entered 2008, over 80 restaurants as of October 2026.
- United Kingdom — entered 2010, 21 restaurants.
- France — entered 2012, 6 restaurants.
- Germany — entered 2013, 2 restaurants.
Europe is small and has stayed small. Twenty-nine restaurants across three countries after thirteen years is modest next to the North American estate, and it is one reason the recent expansion has gone through partners instead.
The Six Run by Partners
Chipotle signed its first international development agreement in July 2023, with Alshaya Group for the Middle East. That changed the growth model.
Alshaya Group — the Middle East
- Kuwait, from a grand opening on 23 April 2024 at The Avenues mall in Kuwait City. Seven restaurants by August 2026.
- United Arab Emirates, from 2 October 2024, opening at The Beach at Jumeirah Beach Residence in Dubai. Seven restaurants by August 2026.
- Qatar, two restaurants, first disclosed in August 2026. Chipotle never issued a separate announcement for Qatar, so the entry date is not documented.
- Saudi Arabia, announced 13 August 2026, opening at Sidra in Riyadh beside Granada Mall.
Alsea — Mexico
16 July 2026, in San Pedro Garza García, Nuevo León, in the Monterrey metropolitan area. The partner is Alsea, S.A.B. de C.V., under a development agreement announced in April 2025.
Sangmidang Holdings — South Korea
2 September 2026, at 423 Gangnam-daero in Seocho-gu, Seoul — Chipotle first restaurant in Asia. The partner is Sangmidang Holdings, which was previously known as SPC Group, through a joint venture operated by its affiliate Big Bite Company.
Worth noting if you read older coverage: the original announcement in September 2025 named the partner as SPC Group. The company has since been renamed, so both names refer to the same partner.
The Mexico Question
For years the most repeated observation about Chipotle was that it had never opened a restaurant in the country whose cuisine it is built on. It was a reliable line and it is no longer true.
The route in was a partner rather than a direct entry, which matters: Alsea is one of the largest restaurant operators in Latin America and runs other international brands in the region, so Chipotle entered with local operating expertise rather than on its own.
What Is Coming
- Singapore — 2027. With Sangmidang Holdings. Originally announced for 2026, now pushed to 2027.
- Mexico City — 2027. With Alsea, alongside further Nuevo León openings.
- South Korea — two further locations were planned by the end of 2026.
Chipotle filings describe the pipeline as partner-operated restaurants in the Middle East, Mexico and Asia, and its 2026 guidance includes 10 to 15 partner-operated openings. International business development is led by its Chief Business Development Officer, Nate Lawton.
It is worth keeping the scale in perspective: all of this amounted to 15 partner-operated restaurants out of 4,201 as of 30 June 2026. The international story is real and accelerating, but Chipotle remains overwhelmingly a North American company — its stated long-term target of 7,000 restaurants covers the United States and Canada alone.
The full count is on our locations guide, the ownership structure on our ownership guide, and the company timeline on our history guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What countries have Chipotle?
Eleven as of October 2026: the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Mexico, Saudi Arabia and South Korea. The first five are owned and operated by Chipotle directly; the other six are run by partners under development agreements.
Is there a Chipotle in Mexico?
Yes, since 16 July 2026. Chipotle opened its first Mexican restaurant in San Pedro Garza García in Nuevo León, in the Monterrey metropolitan area, with the partner Alsea under a development agreement announced in April 2025. Expansion into Mexico City is planned for 2027.
Is Chipotle in Asia?
Yes, since 2 September 2026, when it opened its first Asian restaurant in Seoul, South Korea, on Gangnam-daero in Seocho-gu. The partner is Sangmidang Holdings, formerly known as SPC Group, through a joint venture. Two more South Korean locations were planned by the end of 2026, and Singapore is planned for 2027.
Is there a Chipotle in the UK?
Yes. Chipotle entered the United Kingdom in 2010 and operated 21 restaurants there as of October 2026, all owned and operated by Chipotle itself rather than franchised. The United Kingdom is one of five markets where Chipotle runs every restaurant directly.
Which countries are Chipotle franchises?
Chipotle does not franchise in North America or Europe. Its partner-operated markets are Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Saudi Arabia with Alshaya Group, Mexico with Alsea, and South Korea with Sangmidang Holdings. Those accounted for 15 restaurants as of 30 June 2026.
Where is Chipotle opening next?
Singapore is planned for 2027, with Sangmidang Holdings, having originally been announced for 2026. Chipotle also plans to expand into Mexico City in 2027 with Alsea, and had two further South Korean openings planned by the end of 2026. Its filings describe the pipeline as partner-operated restaurants in the Middle East, Mexico and Asia.
Methodology
Company figures, leadership, ownership, restaurant counts and historical detail on this page are taken from Chipotle filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, from Chipotle company press releases and from chipotle.com, all checked in October 2026. Where a figure is derived from Chipotle own store directory rather than published by the company, this page says so. Where Chipotle does not publish something, that is stated rather than filled in from third-party sources. Company data changes with each quarterly report; confirm current figures in Chipotle latest filing.
