Operations

Slice Factory launches wood-fired Mexican street concept Leñasada

Photo: Slice Factory/ Leñasada

April 14, 2026

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Slice Factory, a Chicago-based pizza franchise, has launched Leñasada, a wood-fired Mexican street food concept. Leñasada will debut inside the Slice Factory location at 8800 Grand Ave., marking the brand's first co-branded location, according to a press release.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Thursday to begin the grand opening. The event will include $1 tacos and a giveaway of free tacos for a year for the first 50 guests. The restaurant is also offering three tacos for $9.99 through the end of the month.

The menu at Leñasada features wood-fired proteins including asada, chicken, al pastor and shrimp, alongside house-made salsas and street corn. The 2,200-square-foot space is designed for dine-in, takeout and catering.

"Slice Factory has always been about bold, craveable food and meeting people where they are," Dom DiDiana, Founder and CEO of Slice Factory, said in the press release. "What excites me about Leñasada is that it brings something different to the table — real wood-fired flavor, a strong protein-forward menu and an option guests can enjoy more regularly as part of their lifestyle. It complements Slice Factory perfectly; broadens our customer base and gives us a concept we believe can scale in both co-branded and standalone locations."

The concept was developed through a partnership between DiDiana and Juan Alcauter, a chef specializing in traditional Mexican fire-driven cooking. The menu includes tacos, burritos, quesadillas and bowls.

"Cooking has always been a part of who I am, and it's shaped how I create flavors that feel authentic and personal," Alcauter added in the press release. "Chicago is home to some of the best pizza and taquerias in the country, and working with Dom, who knows what it takes to differentiate a concept in a crowded category, felt like the perfect fit. With Leñasada, we're bringing the richness of Mexican street food and wood-fired cooking to the community in a way that's true to my roots and exciting for local guests."

Slice Factory plans to open additional co-branded and standalone Leñasada locations later this year.

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