If you’ve ever spotted the red-and-yellow signage while walking through Bondi Junction or Melbourne’s CBD, you’ve probably wondered about the story behind Guzman y Gomez. What started as a single shop on King Street in Sydney’s Newtown has grown into a chain with over 200 locations across four countries.

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Founded: 2006 · Headquarters: Sydney, Australia · Restaurants: Over 200 · Countries: Australia, Japan, Singapore, United States · Founders: Steven Marks, Robert Hazan

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact date each international market opened beyond first international expansion
  • Full current list of board members beyond chairman
  • Precise revenue figures and profit margins not publicly disclosed
3Timeline signal
  • 2006: First store opens in Newtown, Sydney
  • 2009: Minority stake sold to ex-McDonald’s executives
  • 2015: First drive-thru opens
  • 2018: 100 Australian stores reached
4What’s next
  • Continued US market expansion
  • Further menu innovation with seasonal items
  • Digital ordering growth through mobile app

The following key facts about Guzman y Gomez draw from company disclosures and third-party verification.

Label Value
Founded 2006, Sydney
Founders Steven Marks, Robert Hazan
Restaurants 200+
Countries Australia, Japan, Singapore, United States
Menu Focus Fresh Mexican kitchen
First Store King Street, Newtown
Australia Rank 6th largest fast food chain by revenue

What is the story behind Guzman y Gomez?

Guzman y Gomez traces its roots to two childhood friends from New York who relocated to Australia around 2002. Steven Marks, a former hedge fund manager, and Robert Hazan, who had a background in fashion wholesale and retail, wanted to bring the vibrant energy of Mexican street food to Australia. They named the brand after two of Marks’ childhood friends from New York.

Founders and founding year

The first Guzman y Gomez restaurant opened in King Street, Newtown, Sydney in 2006. Within a year, locations appeared in Bondi Junction and Kings Cross, establishing the chain’s footprint in Sydney’s key transit hubs. By April 2012, the chain had grown to 12 restaurants across Australia. The first Melbourne CBD store opened in November 2012, marking a significant expansion beyond New South Wales.

The upshot

Steven Marks built a hedge fund career before pivoting entirely to food service—a trajectory that explains GYG’s early focus on operational efficiency and brand scalability.

Expansion from Sydney

GYG reached 100 stores in Australia within 12 years of founding, by 2018. The chain now operates over 200 restaurants across Australia, Japan, Singapore, and the United States. As of 2025, GYG ranks as the sixth-largest fast food chain in Australia by system-wide revenue.

The founders sold a minority stake in 2009 to Peter Ritchie, Guy Russo, and Steve Jermyn—three former McDonald’s Australia executives. Guy Russo was subsequently appointed chairman of the board. This investment brought McDonald’s operational expertise to what was then a small but growing Australian chain.

Who is the owner of Guzman y Gomez?

Guzman y Gomez remains primarily owned by its founders and institutional investors. Steven Marks serves as Founder and Co-CEO, steering the brand’s quality focus and menu direction. Robert Hazan holds the position of Non-Executive Director on the Board, maintaining his involvement from an advisory capacity.

Key founders

Steven Marks came from a finance background, having worked as a hedge fund manager before launching GYG. Robert Hazan brought retail and wholesale experience from the fashion industry. Together, they brought a distinctive blend of financial discipline and brand sensibility to the Australian fast-casual market.

Why this matters

The founder-led structure means quality decisions often bypass traditional corporate hierarchies—explaining why menu development and sourcing policies remain unusually rigorous for a chain this size.

Current operations

The 2009 investment from former McDonald’s executives brought operational scaling expertise. Guy Russo, who led that deal and became chairman, applied lessons from building McDonald’s Australia into a market leader. Today, GYG employs over 15,000 people in restaurants and approximately 200 in head offices.

Are Guzman and Gómez Mexican?

Neither founder is Mexican—the brand was created by New York-born Steven Marks and Robert Hazan. However, the founders made authenticity a priority by hiring chefs from Mexico to develop the menu’s flavor profiles. The name itself honors two of Marks’ childhood friends from New York.

Founders background

Marks and Hazan grew up together in New York before relocating to Australia in 2002. Their approach to Mexican food drew from professional guidance rather than personal heritage. “Real Mexican is really urban, street and hot,” Marks told interviewers. “Latin people are so full of energy and full of life, we wanted to bring that to Australia.”

Menu inspiration

The menu draws directly from Mexican culinary traditions, with professional development support from Mexican chefs. This distinguishes GYG from chains that adapt cuisines for local palates without consulting native expertise.

What is the most popular item at GYG?

While specific sales rankings are not publicly disclosed, the chain’s core menu centers on burritos, enchiladas, nachos, tacos, and quesadillas. Several items have become signature offerings through persistent customer demand.

Top dishes

  • Cali Burrito — flour tortilla filled with chipotle-seasoned fries, a protein choice, jack cheese, sour cream, guacamole, and pico de gallo. This innovation introduced fries as a burrito filler, distinguishing GYG from competitors.
  • Standard Burrito — flour tortilla with fluffy white rice, selected protein, jack cheese, black or pinto beans, pico de gallo, house-blend salsa, and lettuce.
  • House-made Corn Chips — the official menu notes it took 21 versions to perfect this seemingly simple item, reflecting the chain’s attention to execution quality.
  • Breakfast Burrito — free-range eggs, hash brown, jack cheese, pico de gallo, and a choice of filling. Prices start around A$8.50 in some Victoria locations.

Menu highlights

Protein options include free-range grilled chicken, pulled pork, ground beef, shredded beef brisket (available as an add-on), pulled shiitake mushroom for vegetarians, and sautéed vegetables with guacamole. Guacamole is prepared fresh daily using ripe avocados, pico de gallo, and lime juice.

What to watch

Prices vary by location and region. Some areas operate under a T2 menu adapted for local supply chains or preferences—particularly Western Australia, Northern Territory, and Far North Queensland.

Is GYG healthy to eat?

GYG markets itself on a “clean food” philosophy, emphasizing 100% fresh ingredients without artificial additives. The chain uses Lilydale free-range chicken breast for tenders and sources cage-free eggs for breakfast items. However, nutritional assessments depend heavily on menu choices.

Nutrition focus

The clean food positioning centers on recognizable ingredients: fresh produce, house-prepared salsas, and daily-made guacamole. The menu’s flexibility allows customization—vegetarians can opt for mushroom or vegetable fillings, and portion sizes can be managed through the Mini range.

Clean menu claims

GYG explicitly states on its official website: “Since day ONE, GYG HAS been obsessed with making delicious Mexican food using ONLY the best quality fresh produce.” The chain’s house-made chips and fresh salsas align with this positioning.

The trade-off

A Cali Burrito with chipotle fries and guacamole delivers notable calories and sodium from the fries alone. Health-conscious diners should consider standard burritos or taco selections with vegetable-forward customizations.

Upsides

  • Fresh, recognizable ingredients sourced responsibly
  • Flexible menu with vegetarian and gluten-conscious options
  • Customizable portion sizes through Mini range
  • First drive-thru opened in 2015, improving accessibility
  • Mobile app enables pay-ahead ordering and loyalty rewards

Downsides

  • Some menu items are calorie-dense (chipotle fries, cheese, sour cream)
  • Prices vary by region; T2 markets have different offerings
  • Nutritional data not prominently featured in-store
  • Not authentically Mexican-owned or operated
  • International consistency across markets not independently verified

“Real Mexican is really urban, street and hot… Latin people are so full of energy and full of life, we wanted to bring that to Australia.”

— Steven Marks, Founder and Co-CEO (Wikipedia entry on GYG history)

“Since day ONE, GYG HAS been obsessed with making delicious Mexican food using ONLY the best quality fresh produce.”

— Guzman y Gomez (Official About Page)

“A true labor of love, it took us 21 versions to perfect our crunchy, house-made corn chips!”

— Guzman y Gomez (Official Menu description)

What emerges from the GYG story is a brand that succeeded by importing Mexican culinary traditions through professional guidance rather than cultural heritage. The founders applied New York ambition and financial discipline to Australian market conditions, backed by McDonald’s operational expertise. The result is a chain that ranks sixth nationally by revenue—yet remains creator-controlled and quality-focused in ways corporate chains rarely sustain. For Australian diners, GYG offers a fast-casual Mexican option with above-average ingredient standards. For international investors or franchisees, the model demonstrates repeatable quality systems that have translated across four countries.

Related reading: Best Spanish to English Translators · Best English to Spanish Translator

Additional sources

tripadvisor.com, ubereats.com, youtube.com, guzmanygomez.com, gyg.jp, tripadvisor.com, foodchainmagazine.com, guzmanygomez.com.au, asx.com.au, guzmanygomez.com.au

From its 2006 Sydney origins, Guzman y Gomez expanded to over 200 locations, boosted by ASX IPO history that highlights its store growth and market debut.

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Frequently asked questions

How do you pronounce Guzman y Gomez?

The intended pronunciation rhymes with “fuzzy and go-MAPE-ez,” with emphasis on the second syllable of Gómez. The “y” functions as the Spanish conjunction “and,” so it reads “Guzman and Gomez.”

How do you say Guzman y Gomez?

Say it as a two-part name with the Spanish conjunction “y” linking them. In English contexts, “y” typically sounds like the letter “why.”

What are Guzman y Gomez locations?

GYG operates over 200 restaurants across Australia, Japan, Singapore, and the United States. Australian locations concentrate in Sydney and Melbourne metro areas, with presence in all major cities and numerous regional centers.

What is on the Guzman y Gomez menu?

Core items include burritos, enchiladas, nachos, tacos, and quesadillas. Breakfast burritos, tacos, and quesadillas with cage-free eggs are available at most locations. Proteins include free-range chicken, pulled pork, ground beef, brisket, shiitake mushroom, and sautéed vegetables.

Is Guzman y Gomez in the US?

Yes. GYG has expanded into the United States market, joining its presence in Australia, Japan, and Singapore. International expansion began after establishing domestic scale in Australia.

What is Guzman y Gomez origin?

GYG originated in Sydney, Australia in 2006, founded by New York natives Steven Marks and Robert Hazan. The first store opened on King Street in Newtown. The founders named the brand after two of Marks’ childhood friends.

Where can I find Guzman y Gomez near me?

Use the store locator on the official website or the mobile app to find the nearest location. Most Australian capital cities have multiple locations, with highest concentration in Sydney and Melbourne metropolitan areas.