BarBurrito-barBURRITO Penticton grand opening with Pradeep and Family in Centre

Image Credit: BarBurrito

If it seems like you are suddenly seeing a series of new Tex-Mex restaurants popping up around the Okanagan Valley, well, you would be correct. barBURRITO is Canada's largest Tex-Mex food chain, and they’ve opened new locations across the Valley. Their success was so rapid that the chain was opening a new store every 2 months!

Family + Community Support = Success

According to the owner, strong family bonds and community support are the reasons behind this rapid expansion of the barBURRITO food chain.

Pradeep Raghuvansi owns the barBURRITO chain's newest Okanagan locations, along with his wife Darshana and their family. In a recent chat, Pradeep told me what barBURRITO’s food philosophy is all about, and why the restaurants are so popular. Spoiler alert: delicious, multinational cuisine prepared fresh before your eyes.

Fresh and Delicious Food Wins Over the Locals

What’s been the driving force for his family's success? "Fresh and delicious is the slogan we use," Pradeep tells me, because that is what they continually hear their customers want. For example, roasted chicken is a popular item in their list of options, and it is cooked fresh daily. This often means that individual restaurants cook chickens 3 or 4 times a day. Other proteins, like the chain's very popular Bang-Bang shrimp and Barbacoa beef, are cooked fresh to order - a big difference from many fast-food restaurants. "Fresh is what makes us unique," Pradeep says. New patrons have been quick to notice that this is not just another Mexican-inspired chain.

The Tex-Mex designation is accurate, as the menu features items heavily influenced by south-of-the-border cuisine. Burritos, as the name says, are their signature item, along with Texas-inspired melt-in-your-mouth Barbacoa beef tacos (marinated with cola-infused BBQ sauce). Still, restaurant patrons love their multinational approach to other menu items. You will also find salads, hearty-but-healthy bowls, and international items like Falafels and Asian-fusion shrimp.

"The barBURRITO franchise has been experiencing rapid growth across Canada in 2024, with BC being the latest province to welcome the chain," Pradeep states. That growth is driven by the chain's unique menu. While the name implies Mexican, and the chain identifies itself as Tex-Mex Cuisine, that is only part of what barBURRITO offers. Delicious Mexican street tacos saddle up next to Mediterranean-inspired salad bowls. Vegan Burritos with veggie ground appear on a menu board with a pulled-pork wrap. In a melting pot of culinary creations, wheat or corn tortillas are just as popular as gluten-friendly wraps.

In our conversation, Pradeep's passion for great food really shines through — and his new restaurants in Kamloops, Kelowna and Penticton are evidence of this — but it was the Raghuvansi family's commitment to their communities that really struck home. When Pradeep is at his most enthusiastic, he is discussing giving back — giving back and giving thanks to his family. "We could not have done what we did without the community support we have received," Pradeep tells me.

BarBurrito-barBURRITO Penticton team at counter

Image Credit: BarBurrito

He is excited to tell me how grateful the Raghuvansi family was to donate barBURRITO meals to the people and work crews involved in last year's extensive Kelowna wildfire. Handing out over 500 meals in an arena filled with hungry (and grateful) people allowed Pradeep and his family to say thank you for the warm support they had been receiving at each community where they have opened a new restaurant.

The Raghuvansi family now has restaurants in every main city in the Okanagan. You can sample the fabulous barBURRITO food in Kamloops, Salmon Arm, Vernon, and Westbank locations, and now at the newest one in Penticton. It has been a whirlwind for the Raghuvansi brothers; that much is clear. "Our success is a testament to the communities we live in and my family," Pradeep reiterates. "I cannot say thank you enough to the great cities we are part of, and especially to my family - my mom and dad, my wife Darshana, and my brothers Dilip and Deepak."

Come sample the delicious, fresh food that Pradeep is so excited about at any of their Okanagan locations. For your next event, consider barBURRITO Catering. Whether it’s a corporate gathering or a family picnic, you will find a great selection on the barBURRITO website. Or order online for pickup or delivery; there’s a special code offer PENTICTON10 for 10% off Taco Kits right now!

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