PASADENA, Calif. — LeBron James is joining Mike's Red Tacos as an investor, the Southern California birria brand announced Tuesday, a deal that comes as the fast-growing chain prepares to open its first Los Angeles-area restaurant in Pasadena in the coming weeks.

Mike's Red Tacos began as a single San Diego food truck before building one of the region's most devoted followings around a focused menu built on slow-braised birria served with its signature consome for dipping. The brand earned that following largely through word of mouth and social media well before birria became one of the fastest-growing menu trends in the country, according to the company.

The chain has since scaled rapidly, with more than 300 franchise locations currently in development nationwide as it enters what the company describes as its most significant growth chapter yet. Leading that expansion alongside founder Mike Touma are Chief Executive Officer Andrew Feghali and Chairman Bill Phelps, two restaurant industry operators who previously helped build Dave's Hot Chicken into one of the country's fastest-growing restaurant brands. James and his longtime investment partner, Main Street Advisors, were also fellow investors in Dave's Hot Chicken, giving him an existing relationship with the Mike's Red Tacos leadership team ahead of his decision to invest.

James, whose enthusiasm for tacos has become a recurring fixture of his public persona, framed the........

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