California Tortilla has launched the CalTort Games, a limited-time promotional event running from February 6 to February 22, 2026. The campaign offers Burrito Elito loyalty program members a mystery reward with every qualifying purchase of $1 or more, with participants eligible to earn one reward per day during the promotional window.
The promotion is designed to capitalize on the seasonal excitement surrounding international winter competitions, bringing a "go-for-the-gold" spirit to the restaurant's customer experience. Each reward appears instantly and remains valid for seven days, encouraging repeat visits to maintain what the company describes as a "winning streak." This structure creates a gamified element that differentiates the promotion from standard loyalty point accrual systems.
To participate, customers must link their purchase to a Burrito Elito account through the California Tortilla app, online ordering, or in-store transactions. The company notes that app users with push notifications enabled receive immediate reveal of their surprise reward, leveraging technology to enhance the customer experience. The promotion is available at all California Tortilla locations, which according to the company's information, number 27 restaurants.
For business leaders and technology observers, this campaign illustrates several contemporary retail trends. The integration of a gamified rewards system directly into a mobile app demonstrates how restaurants are using technology to create more interactive and engaging customer experiences beyond simple transactional relationships. The requirement for additional spend on each transaction to earn a reward represents a clear strategy to increase average ticket size while providing perceived value to customers.
The timing of the promotion during February is strategically significant for the restaurant industry, as this period often experiences a post-holiday slowdown in consumer spending. By creating an event tied to seasonal excitement, California Tortilla aims to drive traffic during what might otherwise be a slower business period. The company's emphasis on its Burrito Elito loyalty program highlights the growing importance of first-party data collection in the restaurant industry, as businesses seek to build direct relationships with customers rather than relying solely on third-party delivery platforms.
California Tortilla, which has operated since 1995 and describes its menu as "California-style" Mexican food, has received various industry recognitions including being named one of FastCasual.com's "Top 100 Movers & Shakers." The company provides more information about its locations and menu at https://CaliforniaTortilla.com. The promotional strategy reflects how established restaurant brands are adapting to changing consumer expectations around digital engagement and personalized offers in the competitive fast-casual segment.
