French tacos has become one of the most exported French culinary revolutions. And in this battle, two brands have been competing for years: O’Tacos, the pioneer from Grenoble, and Chamas Tacos, the premium Lyon challenger. Who is the best?
O’Tacos: the creator of the French taco. Founded in Grenoble in 2007 by Patrick Pelloux, O’Tacos invented a unique concept: a grilled sandwich filled with meat, fries, and white sauce. The recipe was a hit, and the chain now has over 300 restaurants in France, with spectacular international expansion (Canada, Belgium, Netherlands, Morocco).
O’Tacos strengths: very accessible prices (starting from €5.90), generous portions, strong brand recognition, presence on the 3 main platforms, accessible franchise (€150-300k).
Chamas Tacos: the premium rival. Founded in Lyon in 2014, Chamas Tacos has positioned itself on a more premium segment with superior ingredients, exclusive sauces, and more attentive service. With 80-100 restaurants, the brand is more focused but generally displays a higher level of customer satisfaction.
Strengths of Chamas Tacos: superior quality ingredients, exclusive signature sauces, premium image, strong reputation in Lyon and major cities.
Price comparison of franchise: O’Tacos requires an investment of €150,000 to €300,000 with a royalty of 3-5% of turnover. Chamas Tacos requires a similar investment but with higher quality standards which implies a higher operating cost.
On the platforms: both brands are on Uber Eats and Deliveroo. O’Tacos is also on Just Eat. O’Tacos has a specific agreement with the aggregator RusHour for the management of its orders in multi-sites.
O’Tacos wins on volume, price, and notoriety. Chamas Tacos wins on quality and customer satisfaction. For a franchisee, the choice depends on the type of clientele targeted and the location. In areas with strong young and university clientele, O’Tacos dominates. In more affluent, upper-middle-class (CSP+) neighborhoods, Chamas may have a better unit profitability.
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