Slice Factory, a Chicago-based pizza franchise and home of the city’s original jumbo slice, today announced it is entering a new category with the launch of Leñasada, a wood-fired Mexican street eats concept.
Leñasada will debut inside Slice Factory’s River Grove location at 8800 Grand Ave, bringing two brands under one roof and marking its first co-branded location. A ribbon-cutting ceremony takes place on Thursday, April 16, with $1 tacos and a “Free Tacos for a Year” giveaway for the first 50 guests in line. To round out the festivities, guests can also enjoy a limited-time offer of three tacos for $9.99 through the end of the month.
At the heart of Leñasada is a wood-fired identity that shapes the entire menu. Proteins include tender, richly-seasoned asada (arrachera skirt steak), alongside chicken, al pastor and shrimp. There are also house-made salsas and street corn.
The opening marks a new chapter for Slice Factory as the brand expands into innovative, culturally-rooted offerings that align with evolving consumer preferences. Guests can expect to enjoy Slice Factory favorites alongside Leñasada’s Mexican street-inspired menu, which emphasizes wood-fired flavor and a more protein-forward approach to everyday dining.
Slice Factory has a total of eight locations in the Chicagoland area. It recently announced that all stores would start closing on Sundays.
“Slice Factory has always been about bold, craveable food and meeting people where they are,” said Dom DiDiana, founder and CEO of Slice Factory. “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 for Leñasada came about when DiDiana partnered with Juan Alcauter, a self-taught chef with a deep passion for Mexican culinary traditions. Raised in the flavors, techniques and fire-driven cooking of his heritage, Juan began cooking at a young age and developed a distinctive approach centered on wood-fired meats, house-made salsas and bold, authentic flavors. What started as a personal interest in smoking meats gradually evolved into something larger, as the opportunity emerged to bring his culinary perspective to a broader audience. From there, the vision for Leñasada took shape.
“Cooking has always been a part of who I am, and it’s shaped how I create flavors that feel authentic and personal,” said Alcauter said. “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.”
There are plans to open additional co-branded Slice Factory and Leñasada locations this year, along with standalone Leñasada locations as the brand continues to expand.
