Tommy Borrelli

Wahoo's was founded in Costa Mesa, California in 1988 by Chinese-Brazilian brothers Eduardo Lee, Mingo Lee and Wing Lam, who mixed traditional Chinese and Brazilian flavors with dishes they encountered while traveling in Mexico. They are a fast-casual taco chain, serving up grilled fish tacos with Asian and Brazilian influences in brightly colored restaurants where the walls are covered floor to ceiling with stickers and surfing memorabilia. An ode to the brother's upbringing in Orange County, the chain's laid-back Southern California attitude is central to the business model. "Not everyone surfs, but it's an aspirational state of mind," Lam said. Wahoo's has expanded across California, Colorado, Hawaii, New York, Nebraska, and Texas. The corporate headquarters are in Santa Ana, California.