The Melt Franchise Reaches 20 Locations With San Marcos Opening

The Melt has officially opened its 20th location with a new restaurant in San Marcos, California, continuing a growth run that has accelerated over the last several years. The opening was first reported by QSR and comes as the fast-casual brand pushes through what company leadership describes as its largest expansion year to date.

The San Marcos restaurant adds to a growing footprint that already includes locations in Brea and Torrance, with seven more units expected to open this year. The company is also preparing to open its first airport location at San Francisco International Airport’s Harvey Milk Terminal 1.

The company is also coming off a record sales year. In 2025, The Melt reported more than $58.2 million in revenue, while same-store sales continued climbing, driven largely by more guests visiting its restaurants.

“It’s simple,” said Ralph Bower, CEO of The Melt. “To be a truly great restaurant company, you have to start with great food. At The Melt, the food is the star — everything else follows from that.”

The menu centers around the company’s MeltBurger, which features Angus and Wagyu beef topped with aged cheddar cheese. The chain also serves melted classics, crispy chicken, mac and cheese and handspun shakes.

According to Bower, the company’s recent growth has been fueled by repeat traffic and strong customer response across its existing restaurants.

“Our passion is to have the absolute best burgers and melted sandwiches in the restaurant industry, and we believe we have done that, with guest feedback on Yelp and Google among the very best in North America,” he said. “The energy around The Melt right now is unlike anything we’ve seen. Guests keep coming back, we keep opening doors, and this year we’re doing it faster than ever.”

The San Marcos opening marks another step forward for the California-based chain as it prepares for broader expansion, including its expansion into franchising this year.