Arkansas-based fast-casual taco restaurant opens first of five planned Charlotte area restaurants

This is the first Tacos 4 Life location in North Carolina and their 11th overall location. The restaurant is known for tacos, rice bowls, salads, quesadillas and nachos.

Additionally, for every item purchased, the company donates 22 cents to Feed My Starving Children, a nonprofit organization committed to ending childhood hunger. “Each restaurant provides about 1,000 meals a day to kids in need,” said Austin Samuelson, co-founder of Tacos 4 Life — who believes that God can use Tacos 4 Life to help solve the world’s most solvable problem.

“I’m driven knowing that the more Tacos 4 Life thrives, the more nutritious meals will be provided for children worldwide,” said franchisee Chip Ladigo. “And I’m confident people will appreciate that Tacos 4 Life is dedicated to more than making delicious tacos and that they can eat locally, while making a global impact.”

During their soft opening on Friday, Tacos 4 Life in Concord set the record for most meals donated in one day — 5,068. Very cool.

As you’d imagine, tacos are Tacos 4 Life’s most popular menu item. Here are the three most popular tacos:

• Grilled Chicken – grilled chicken (marinated in cilantro, spices and citrus) with house-made queso, lettuce, sour cream, pico de gallo on a puffy flour tortilla
• Classic Beef – ground beef (simmered in house seasonings) with lettuce, sour cream, pico de gallo, cheddar-jack cheese on a puffy flour tortilla

• Chicken Bacon Ranch – grilled chicken (marinated in cilantro, spices and citrus) with bacon, poblano ranch, lettuce, cheddar-jack cheese on a puffy flour tortilla

You’ll have a total of 14 taco varieties to choose from. Other notable tacos include their Carnitas with house-made queso, Korean BBQ Steak with cabbage, Hawaiian shrimp with pineapple and Blackened Mahi-Mahi with tomato aioli.

Non-taco popular menu items include their Mexican Cobb salad, Chicken Quesadilla, Southwest Rice bowl and Ultimate Nachos.

“Tacos 4 Life is so excited to be coming to North Carolina,” said co-founder Austin Samuelson. “It’s our hope that as you come in to eat awesome tacos, you’ll experience the difference you can make in our world. When you buy a taco, rice bowl, salad, quesadilla or nachos, you’re providing a meal to a child in need.”