Chipotle Mexican Grill heads to Mexico to open its first location south of the border, daring to serve American-style Mexican dishes where tacos actually originated. The bold move mixes cultural pride with fast-food ambition in a spicy culinary twist.

But this isn’t Taco Bell’s déjà vu—Chipotle’s gamble leans on fresher ingredients and a partnership with Alsea, the Mexican powerhouse behind Starbucks and Domino’s. For global fast food, this marks a spicy new chapter in the international restaurant business boom.