Florida-based chain restaurant I Heart Mac & Cheese just made its Northern California debut. The fast-casual chain, which functions like a Chipotle but with customizable macaroni and cheese bowls instead of burritos, celebrated the grand opening of its new Stanislaus County store in the city of Turlock on Monday. 

I Heart Mac & Cheese has been quickly growing since its first store opened in 2017, and it now has 42 stores nationwide in 30 different states. Nearly 100 additional franchise locations are slated to open by 2024, according to the I Heart Mac & Cheese website. The chain has already expanded to Southern California with stores in Los Angeles and Palm Springs. 

Aside from the new Turlock location, I Heart Mac & Cheese also is planning to bring its mac and cheese bars to San Francisco, Fresno and Sacramento in the summer of 2024 and San Jose in the winter of 2024, according to its website. However, the exact locations of these stores remain unknown, as SFGATE could not reach I Heart Mac & Cheese for comment in time for publication. 

The chain celebrated the opening of its new Turlock store at 1205 W. Monte Vista Ave. by offering the first 25 paying customers free “classic” mac and cheese bowls for one year. Aside from the titular macaroni and cheese, the chain also serves grilled cheese sandwiches, tater tots, and gluten-free and vegan bowls with quinoa and vegetables.