Over the years, Carlsbad has become known as the home to some of the world's best golf equipment companies.

Callaway, Cobra, TaylorMade, Titleist and others have developed and produced clubs, balls and other tools of the trade that are used by professional golfers and those who dream of mastering the game.

But, with little fanfare or attention, the city has also become home for the headquarters of a group of companies in the casual and fast-food industry.

While most of these companies got their starts somewhere else, they have gradually migrated to the region.

You could probably say that Rubio's Fresh Mexican Grill got its start on the beaches of San Felipe, Mexico. It was there that Ralph Rubio first discovered the fish taco while on spring break from classes at San Diego State. Rubio knew a good thing when he tasted it and, with some financing help from his father, he opened the first Rubio's restaurant near Mission Bay in an old, converted A&W stand.

Today, there are more than 180 Rubio's restaurants, mostly in Southern California. To date, they have sold more than 50 million fish tacos.

Rubio's is the only one of the Carlsbad food companies that is publicly traded. It held an initial public offering in 1999, and the stock prices have mostly traded in single digits. The recent volatility in the market saw Rubio's shares peak at $12.61 in 2007 only to fall to $2.21 in November of last year. Since that time it has moved up to nearly $6 a share.

While Rubio's has a diversified menu, another locally-based company keeps it simple as its name applies. Hot Dog on a Stick also has its root in the sand: It started in Muscle Beach in Santa Monica in 1946.

Founder Dave Barham quickly grew his company into a favorite, and by 1990 had 60 stores in 12 states, not to mention the popular carts that showed up at many county fairs where most people got their first taste of the hot dogs dipped in a secret recipe cornmeal batter and, of course, the fresh-squeezed lemonade. And, those uniforms, too.

After his death, the company became an employee-owned corporation that has been honored recently for its communications and education programs for employees.

The company says that because it is 100 percent owned by its employees, it is able to reduce turnover and create loyalty.

A little bit higher up the chain in the casual dining sector of the food industry is Coco's Restaurant and Bakery. Like Rubio's and Hot Dog on a Stick, Coco's is a transplant to Carlsbad.

It got started in 1948 with a single restaurant along Pacific Coast Highway in Orange County. It has expanded over the years and now has 110 restaurants in California, Arizona, Nevada and Colorado.

Coco's is a major player in the family dining category and claims much of its success comes from the commitment to the fresh bakery products it features in all of its stores.

As Callaway seemed to have served as a magnet for other golf companies to come to Carlsbad, maybe the attraction of fish tacos, hot dogs, and fresh pies and muffins will attract other restaurant chains to move their HQs here, too.

George Chamberlin is a financial journalist. He also appears on NBC 7/39. Contact him at georgeccsd@yahoo.com.