Real Mex Restaurants is the parent company for several chains of full-service Mexican restaurants in the United States. The company is headquartered in Cypress, California and operates more than 120 full service Mexican restaurants under eight brand names.^[1]

The company claims its origin to Larry Cano who, in 1954 with the opening of the first El Torito restaurant, which expanded into a chain. Another origin was the founding of Acapulco Mexican Restaurant and Cantina in 1960. In 1998, Acapulco became owned by the private equity firm Bruckmann, Rosser, Sherrill & Co.,^[2] which expanded it into Real Mex Restaurants, acquiring El Torito, Chevy's Fresh Mex and other Mexican full-service chains.^[3] The company's reach is now nationwide, and the company claims to be the largest Mexican restaurant chain in the United States.^[4]

In October 2011, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.^[5] In February 2012, it was sold to a group of debt holders.^[6] The company is now owned by an investment group that includes Z Capital Partners.^[7]

Real Mex Restaurants portfolio includes: El Torito, Acapulco Mexican Restaurant and Cantina, Chevy's Fresh Mex, El Paso Cantina, Who Song and Larry's and the Southern California landmark Las Brisas of Laguna Beach.