By Nick Robertson

Traveling Austinites with a taste for “monster” burritos can rejoice, as Freebirds World Burritos will be opening 20 more locations in Texas by the end of next year. The expansion of the Austin-based Mexican food chain (which was founded in Santa Barbara, California) will add between 1,000 to 1,500 jobs to the state, the company said in a November press release.

Demand is the inspiration for the new stores, said Bryan Lockwood, president of Emeryville, California-based Tavistock Group, the company that owns Freebirds. “There are legions of fanatics that write us and ask  for more Freebirds, and we are excited to bring it to many more communities throughout Texas,” said Lockwood.

Freebirds currently operates 40 locations in the state and employs more than 2,500 people. The privately held company’s first Texas location opened in 1990 in College Station. The chain will open stores in cities where it currently operates as well as in Baytown, League City and Pasadena.

Named after the Lynyrd Skynyrd rock anthem “Free Bird,” the company features a rock ‘n’ roll style in its restaurants, with lyrics painted on the walls and piped-in rock music. Austin restaurant patron Chris Runyon was more impressed with the food than the ambiance: “I guess it’s got more of an attitude than Qdoba [another Mexican food chain], but I come for the burritos.”