Bubbakoo's Burritos threw open the doors on its newest Maryland restaurant this month, setting up shop at 16822 Georgia Ave. in Olney on October 2. To mark the occasion, the build-your-own Mexican fusion chain gave its first 50 paying customers a grand-opening gift: one free burrito every month for an entire year.
The giveaway, reported by Rockville Patch, is more than just a clever marketing hook. The Olney shop marks Bubbakoo's first standalone brick-and-mortar storefront restaurant in Montgomery County, a step up from its November 2025 debut in the county, which was a food stall tucked inside the Market Hall at Clarksburg Premium Outlets, according to the same report.
Local restaurant owner Amarvir Brar now owns and operates the Olney location, according to the Maryland Daily Record. Brar said Bubbakoo's is eager to bring its bold flavors to Olney and introduce the community to its variety, creativity and customization, adding that the location is surrounded by families, shoppers and people traveling through the area, per the Daily Record.
From Pet Store to Abandoned Ramen Spot to Burrito Counter
The Georgia Avenue suite has seen plenty of turnover before Bubbakoo's moved in. The space was previously occupied by pet supply retailer Loyal Companion and was later slated to become Japanese noodle restaurant Ramen Ya, before Bubbakoo's signed its lease in June 2025, according to The MoCo Show. Ramen Ya had reportedly delivered kitchen equipment to the site before abandoning its plans.
Turning the vacant storefront into a working restaurant wasn't cheap. Montgomery County officials approved an interior construction permit valued at $350,000 in early 2026 to cover the buildout, the outlet reports, a figure that underscores the capital investment behind the franchise's suburban push.
Georgia Avenue's Fast-Casual Mexican Food Fight
Bubbakoo's isn't wandering into empty territory. The Olney restaurant joins an active fast-casual Mexican market along the corridor that includes local mobile vendor Tacos El Pariente, which opened a gas-station lot unit at 18000 Georgia Avenue back in February 2023, alongside an upcoming Qdoba location, according to Hoodline's earlier reporting on the chain's expanding Montgomery County footprint.
The new restaurant's arrival also fits a broader pattern reshaping Olney's commercial strip. Regional fast-casual chains such as Mezeh Mediterranean Grill, Qdoba, and Chicken Salad Chick have been occupying storefronts once held by local single-location service businesses, according to DMV Living.
Menu, Hours and Maryland Footprint
Diners at the new location can build their own meals from Bubbakoo's customizable menu, which includes items like the Southwest Chicken Shredder, according to the Maryland Daily Record. The chain's broader lineup features more than a dozen signature flavors along with dishes like the Papi Hibachi Steak, shrimp burrito, crispy buffalo chicken quesadilla, Nashville hot crispy chicken burrito and California Steakhouse burrito, the outlet reports. The menu also includes a signature item called The Chiwawa, a panko-crusted, lightly fried cheesy rice ball topped with nacho cheese, protein and customizable toppings, according to Bubbakoo's own website.
Operating in the shopping center anchored by Roots Market next to Salon H2O, the Olney restaurant serves customers daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., per Rockville Patch. The Olney eatery is Bubbakoo's 15th location in Maryland, joining existing restaurants in Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Carroll County, Anne Arundel County, Harford County and Prince George's County, according to the Daily Record.
Company Leadership Touts Statewide Growth
Bubbakoo's Burritos CEO Chris Ives said the company is continuing to grow its presence in Maryland with its 12th location in the state and first in Montgomery County, according to the Daily Record. Ives added that Olney provides an opportunity to introduce Bubbakoo's to more guests and connect with local community members and commuters, per the same report.
The chain traces its roots back to 2008, when restaurant industry veterans Paul Altero and Bill Hart founded Bubbakoo's in Point Pleasant, New Jersey, after Altero was inspired by build-your-own burrito concepts while attending the University of Delaware, according to Ocean County College. The brand reached 100 operating locations in early 2023 and partnered with private equity firm Thompson Street Capital Partners to fuel national franchise expansion, per Bubbakoo's own account. Today the chain operates more than 140 locations across 17 states, according to the Daily Record.
Whether Bubbakoo's can carve out lasting loyalty against both established regional chains and popular local fixtures like Tacos El Pariente remains to be seen as Olney's fast-casual Mexican food scene keeps getting more crowded.
