Taco Bell is expanding its footprint into Northern Ireland with the opening of its first location in the region. The American fast-food chain will be situated at an Applegreen motorway service station in County Down.
The arrival of the California-based brand was confirmed following the appearance of signage at the Applegreen Lisburn South site on the M1, heading toward Belfast. The signage indicates that the restaurant is opening soon
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Strategic Expansion via Applegreen
The entry into Northern Ireland follows a broader strategy of partnering with Applegreen, one of the leading retail brands in Ireland. Applegreen has established nearly 200 locations within the Irish market since launching its first service station in Ballyfermot, Dublin, in 1992.
The partnership has previously facilitated the expansion of other North American brands. Applegreen recently opened the first branches of the U.S. Chicken chain Chick-fil-A outside of North America at its Templepatrick and Lisburn locations.
Taco Bell has already established a presence in the Republic of Ireland. The chain currently operates five locations there, including several Applegreen service stations and a site at Blanchardstown Retail Park, some of which opened in 2025.
The very first Taco Bell in Ireland was opened by Applegreen as part of a €15 million investment in a new motorway service area in Dunshaughlin, County Meath, located at Junction 6 on the M3.
Market Context and Offerings
Taco Bell operates a global network of more than 8,700 restaurants. The company focuses on Mexican-inspired fast food, with a menu that includes its signature Crunchy Taco, Burritos, Quesadillas, Nachos, and the Crunchwrap Supreme.
The signage at the Lisburn South location teases the brand’s arrival by stating crunchy, cheesy, spicy, soon, you’ll discover the reason why we’re known for tacos
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While the presence of the signage confirms the planned opening, an exact date for the commencement of operations at the County Down site has not yet been provided.