RETAIL / LEISURE

Two Pesos Twist: The owners of the Two Pesos Mexican restaurants scheduled to open in La Habra and Costa Mesa later this year say they think there is room for more Mexican restaurants in Orange County. Their restaurants, they say, will offer a new twist on Mexican dining.

For one thing, the restaurants will be mostly open air, with large doors open to the outside and atriums. For another, they say their combination of limited service--customers order and pick up their food at the counter--and cheap prices has proven to be a hit in other places it has been tried.

Joe Johnston, chairman of Mexico Patio Cafes Inc., the corporation formed to develop the California franchises, said the two restaurants, along with another in Stockton, will be prototypes for what could become up to 100 Two Pesos restaurants in the state.

He said that despite the sheer number of Mexican restaurants, there is still plenty of room for more.

“Mexican food is the most popular food in California,” he said.