This little-known Mexican food chain run by a former Chipotle exec is ranked one of the best in America

Melia Robinson/Business Insider

Rubio's is on the fast-track to becoming fast-casual dining royalty.

The San Diego-born chain, founded by a college-aged surfer and made famous for its fish taco recipe, topped Chipotle in yet another consumer report. Rubio's was just named the fast-casual restaurant where customers say they're most likely to return, in Technomic's Chain Restaurant Consumers' Choice Awards.

Rubio's serves tacos, burritos, bowls, and other seafood fare, and it has roughly 160 restaurants on the West Coast. By comparison, Chipotle has nearly 1,700 locations across the US.

We visited one of Rubio's recently renovated stores in Vallejo, California, to see what the buzz is about.