Fuego Tortilla Grill, the College Station-born fast-casual favorite known for its made-from-scratch tortillas and roasted poblano queso, has quietly slipped into the Dallas-Fort Worth scene with a new Burleson location this fall. The restaurant took over an old Taco Cabana just off I-35 and is geared toward feeding late-night cravings six days a week. The opening is part of a broader expansion push from Dallas-based Uncommon Brands and its CEO, former NFL tight end Garrett Mills, with company officials saying the Burleson spot will bring roughly 50 jobs to the city.
A DFW Debut Off I-35
Fuego lists the Burleson address as 955 N. Burleson Blvd and notes that the new store joins sister locations in College Station, Waco, San Marcos and San Antonio, according to Fuego Tortilla Grill. Local coverage reported that the Burleson restaurant opened in mid-October and that it occupies the former Taco Cabana building just south of Alsbury Road, as noted by CultureMap Fort Worth. Early visitors also talked up giveaways and a soft launch while the kitchen settled into its groove, according to local reporting.
Uncommon Brands' Playbook
Dallas-based Uncommon Brands, backed by Crux Capital and led by Mills, closed on Fuego in late 2023 as the holding company looks to scale college-town concepts, according to Crux Capital. Since then, Mills and his team have been building out management and operations infrastructure to push the brand beyond its original Texas footprint, a strategy outlined in a company release. “Burleson was certainly high on the list because it's a growing market and it's up 35 from Waco,” Mills told Fort Worth Inc.
From Tight Ends To Tortillas
Mills first made his name on the football field, turning in a standout college career at Tulsa, where he piled up 1,235 receiving yards as a senior in 2005, according to the University of Tulsa athletic department. After his playing days, he shifted from playbooks to spreadsheets, earning an MBA at Northwestern and moving into restaurant mergers, acquisitions and operations, a path detailed by D Magazine. His pro career across multiple NFL teams is summarized on Pro-Football-Reference.
What This Means For Burleson
For Burleson, Fuego’s arrival fills a vacant spot left by a national chain and, company officials say, will create about 50 jobs in the city. Fort Worth Inc. reports that the Burleson store has “opened strong” and is viewed by executives as an on-ramp into the broader DFW market. With its late-night hours and value-focused pricing, the location is aiming at families, shift workers and students running the I-35 corridor between Fort Worth and Waco.
Uncommon Brands says Burleson is only the first step. The chain's site also lists a Fayetteville, Ark., opening slated for December, signaling Fuego's first move outside Texas. If the rollout stays on schedule, North Texas could see more Fuego units in the coming year as the company tests market and real-estate plays in smaller suburban centers.
