Miami’s Coyo Taco brand is preparing to enter the UK market after signing a franchise partnership with investment firm Kuvi Hospitality.
The company is close to finalising a flagship London location, slated to open in early 2026. It will act as the springboard for a broader nationwide rollout.
Coyo Taco was established in 2015 in Miami’s Wynwood Arts District by Alan Drummond, Sven Vogtland, and Chef Scott Linquist.
Celebrated for its vibrant menu of tacos, salsas, and Mexican street food, the brand has drawn a high-profile following that includes Will Smith, David Beckham, and even Barack Obama—who visited in 2018 and famously left a $40 tip, doubling his bill.
Coyo Taco has grown into an international brand with 11 locations worldwide, including six in the US, as well as outposts in Panama, Portugal, Colombia, and the Dominican Republic.
The London debut will be driven by Kuvi Hospitality, an investment platform focused on introducing US brands to the UK. The firm is headed by Shereen Ritchie, former managing director of Leon and chief executive of Buns from Home.
Ritchie said: “Coyo Taco is more than a restaurant — it’s a cultural experience. The freshness of the food, the vibrancy of the speakeasy and the authenticity of its Mexican roots make it stand out from anything else in the UK market. It’s soulful, fun and full of energy. We believe Coyo Taco will strike a powerful chord with Londoners and has the potential to thrive nationwide.”
Coyo Taco co-founder Sven Vogtland said Kuvi Hospitality had “ambition and a strong financial backing” to grow the brand in the UK.
The company joins a growing wave of US restaurant brands preparing to enter the UK market over the next year, among them Velvet Taco, Raising Cane’s, Chick-fil-A, and Which Wich.
Beyond her role at Kuvi Hospitality, Ritchie is also the co-founder of Boardwalk, a mentoring initiative developed alongside hospitality leaders Ann Elliott and Christine Martin, aimed at supporting women in the industry as they take on their first board-level positions.