Fresh ingredients. Great prices.

King Burrito: local taqueria has recipe for success

It’s been a dozen years since King Burrito debuted in Northwest Arkansas. It’s a standout among Mexican taquerias here, and its popularity just keeps growing.

“What makes us special is we are locally owned,” says Emmanuel Fernandez (Manny), one of the partners in King Burrito. “Plus, we always use the best and freshest ingredients, which also separates us from some of the other taquerias and restaurants in the area.”

Manny says they try to keep the prices competitive too. “We always try to keep them lower than everybody else. Great food and great prices is why we have built up such a following over the years.”

Another feature that sets King Burrito apart from the competition in Northwest Arkansas is something that is particularly relevant during the current health crisis. King Burrito is the only Mexican taqueria restaurant in the region to offer drivethrough service.

“Other restaurants have take-out windows but you can’t order at the window. But at King Burrito we have a drive through where you can order your food at one window and then pick it up at the next,” Manny notes. “And, unlike other restaurants that can take 15 or 20 minutes to fill your take-out order, we try to move everyone through in under 5 minutes so you can order and be on your way fast.”

King Burrito also introduced a catering menu last year. And in that short time, King Burrito has gained a new following from local churches, businesses and schools.

“We’ve catered for local businesses like J.B. Hunt and Tyson,” Manny points out. “We also have northwest area car dealerships that take advantage of our catering. They know we have good prices and give them great food.”

Of course, the real proof of any winning eatery is reviews from customers. And, King Burrito is the “king” of 5-star reviews, from both local fans and out-oftowners just passing through:

“I was completely shocked at how much food you get for your money. These burritos are absolutely enormous. But the icing on the cake is the variety of different sauces. So far I’ve had: The chipotle, diablo and verde. You can tell when you’ve had a fresh homemade sauce and these are all absolutely outstanding.” - Dan L.

“I had the burrito verde and it was outstanding and way more food than I could eat. My wife had the chimichanga combo and it was also outstanding as well as a lot of food!! Needless to say we took half of our food home and had a second meal from it!” J.B.

“Love the food at King Burrito. So much food for a great price…the burritos are huge! We always stop by when traveling through NW Arkansas. Good vegetarian options. My go to is the relleno burrito. My only regret I don’t live nearby!” - Billy R.

Manny has only been involved with King Burrito for a few years but he has already become the face and voice of the popular Mexican eating establishment. A savvy businessman, Manny knew a good thing when he saw it, and tasted it, a few years ago. The first location was in Rogers. A second followed in Bentonville. But the real expansion didn’t begin until two years ago.

“Adan Soto, who is the original owner of King Burrito, and I were partners in some other businesses,” Manny continues. “I told him he really had a great product and concept here at Burrito King and suggested he let me take it to the next level.”

Partnering up with the visionary Manny and Carlos Arrguin, their third partner, was the best move Adan could have made. In just two years, they have expanded to 6 locations, with the newest now open in Tontitown. They are also planning two more locations: a second one in Fayetteville and another in Fort Smith.

“I am a businessman first and foremost,” Manny says. “I knew the food was great and I just believed this was an outfit that could really be successful with the right person guiding them into the future.”

The team of Adan, Manny and Carlos have a vision to eventually franchise King Burrito nationwide. The goal is to have a total of ten locations by the middle of next year and demonstrate how successful they can be. At that time they plan to present the idea to investors who are already showing interest.

Luckily for Northwest Arkansas locals, we don’t have to wait for King Burrito to go national, we can enjoy the fresh, homemade Mexican delicacies every day, just a short drive away from wherever we are. And with Manny in charge, you can bet it is going to be around for a long, long time.