Undercover Boss USA

Mike Roper, the chief executive of the fast‑service Tex‑Mex chain Taco Bueno, adopts a disguise to join his own employees incognito. By working alongside them, he seeks a deeper understanding of day‑to‑day operations and staff challenges before expanding the company.

Taco Bueno is a programme presented as a single episode that centres on the quick‑service Tex‑Mex restaurant chain of the same name. The show follows the chain’s chief executive, Mike Roper, and offers a glimpse into his unconventional approach to leadership. It is framed as a behind‑the‑scenes look at the business, rather than a traditional drama or documentary. In the episode, Mike Roper decides to conceal his identity and take on a covert role working alongside his own employees. By disguising himself, he can blend in with the staff and observe the everyday workings of the restaurants without the usual deference that his position would attract. This secret immersion is designed to give him a clearer picture of how the outlets operate on the shop floor. Roper’s primary aim in going undercover is to gather fresh insight that can inform the chain’s next phase of expansion. He hopes that experiencing the routine tasks and challenges faced by his team will highlight areas for improvement and reveal opportunities that aren’t visible from the boardroom. The knowledge he gains is intended to guide decisions as the business looks to grow further. The programme therefore follows Roper’s discreet stint among his workers, highlighting the lengths he’ll go to understand his company from the ground up before embarking on its next growth push.