Document:

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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.44

                      FOURTH AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT

        This FOURTH AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of December 30, 2001
(this "Amendment"), among RUBIO'S RESTAURANTS, INC AND RUBIO'S RESTAURANTS OF
NEVADA, INC. (collectively the "Borrower") and FLEET NATIONAL BANK formerly
known as BANKBOSTON, N.A., (the "Bank").

        WHEREAS, pursuant to the Credit Agreement (as defined below), the Bank
has agreed to make Revolving Credit Loans to the Borrower as provided in the
Credit Agreement (as defined below);

        WHEREAS, the Borrower and the Bank wish to revise certain provisions of
the Credit Agreement as provided below amending certain covenants and making
certain other changes to the Credit Agreement.

        NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the agreements
contained herein, the parties hereby agree as follows:

1)      REFERENCE TO CREDIT AGREEMENT.

        Reference is made to the Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement dated
as of May 13, 1998 (as the same may be amended and restated from time to time,
the "Credit Agreement") between the Borrower and the Bank. Capitalized terms
used herein which are defined in the Credit Agreement have the same meanings
herein as therein, except to the extent that such meanings are amended hereby.

2)      AMENDMENTS.

        The Borrower and the Bank agree that the Credit Agreement is hereby
amended, effective as of the date hereof, as follows:

        a) Section 1.1 of the Credit Agreement is amended by amending the
        definition of Consolidated EBITDA to read as follows:

        "Consolidated EBITDA" means, for any period, the sum of (a) Consolidated
        Net Income of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, if any, (determined in
        accordance with GAAP), plus (b) the consolidated income tax expense and
        consolidated Interest Expense of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, if
        any, plus, (c) consolidated depreciation and amortization expenses of
        the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, if any, plus (d) other consolidated
        non-cash charges of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and for the fiscal
        quarter ending December 2001 the cash reserve items listed on Schedule
        EBITDA, if any, minus (e) other consolidated non-cash credits of the
        Borrower and its Subsidiaries, if any (provided that all of the
        forgoing shall

                                      -1-
<PAGE>
        be calculated without reference to any extraordinary and unusual gain
        during such period).

        b) Section 2.8 (a) of the Credit Agreement is amended in its entirety to
        read as follows:

                (a) The Borrower agrees to pay to the Bank on the daily average
        unused amount of the respective Revolving Credit Commitment, during each
        fiscal quarter from and including the Closing Date any unused commitment
        fees equal to .50% per annum in each fiscal quarter that EBITDA is less
        than $8,000,000 and .375% per annum in each fiscal quarter that EBITDA
        is equal or greater than $8,000,000. Accrued commitment fees shall be
        payable in arrears on each Quarterly Date commencing on the first such
        date occurring after the date hereof. All commitment fees shall be
        computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and shall be payable for the
        actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the
        last day).

        c) Section 5.1 (b) of the Credit Agreement is amended in its entirety to
        read as follows:

                (b) as soon as available and in any event within 30 days after
        the end of each fiscal month of the Borrower statements of income,
        retained earnings and cash flows of the Borrower for such period and for
        the period from the beginning of the respective fiscal year to the end
        of such period and the related balance sheets of the Borrower as at the
        end of such period, setting forth in each case in comparative form the
        corresponding figures for the corresponding period in the preceding
        fiscal year (except that, in the case of balance sheets, such comparison
        shall be to the last day of the prior fiscal year) (provided that the
        Borrower shall deliver the reports under this Section 5.1 (b) (i) for
        each fiscal month in calendar year 2002 and thereafter until EBITDA for
        the last twelve months of the Borrower exceeds $8,000,000),

        d) Section 6.9 (b) of the Credit Agreement is amended in its entirety to
        read as follows:

                (b) Revolving Incurrence Test: The Bank shall not advance any
                additional Loan during any of the periods set forth below unless
                a Senior Officer can certify at the time the Loan is requested
                that the Consolidated EBITDA equals or exceeds the following
                minimums:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
        -----------------------------------------------------------------------
        Period                                Minimum Consolidated EBITDA
        -----------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                           <C>
        First Fiscal Quarter of Fiscal Year   $5,600,000
        2001 for the four fiscal quarter
        then ended
        -----------------------------------------------------------------------
        Second Fiscal Quarter of Fiscal       $5,900,000
        Year 2001 for the four fiscal
        quarter then ended
        -----------------------------------------------------------------------
        Third Fiscal Quarter of Fiscal Year   $6,500,000
        -----------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

                                      -2-
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<S>                                           <C>
        -----------------------------------------------------------------------
        2001 for the four fiscal
        quarters then ended.
        -----------------------------------------------------------------------
        Fourth Fiscal Quarter of Fiscal       $6,400,000
        Year 2001 for the four fiscal
        quarter then ended
        -----------------------------------------------------------------------
        First Fiscal Quarter of Fiscal Year   $6,500,000
        2002 and each Fiscal Quarter thereafter
        for the four fiscal quarters
        then ended
        -----------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

        e) Section 6.9 (e) of the Credit Agreement is amended in its entirety to
        read as follows:

                (e) Minimum EBITDA. The Borrower shall have minimum Consolidated
                EBITDA at the end of each fiscal period as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
        Fiscal Period                                   Minimum EBITDA
        -------------                                   --------------
<S>                                                     <C>
        Fourth Fiscal Quarter of Fiscal                 $5,000,000
        Year 2000 for the four fiscal
        quarters then ended.

        First Fiscal Quarter of Fiscal                  $5,000,000
        Year 2001 for the four fiscal
        quarters then ended.

        Second Fiscal Quarter of Fiscal                 $5,500,000
        Year 2001 for the four fiscal
        quarters then ended.

        Third Fiscal Quarter of Fiscal                  $6,500,000
        Year 2001 for the four fiscal
        quarters then ended. and at the
        end of each fiscal quarter
        thereafter for the four fiscal
        quarters then ended.

        Fourth Fiscal Quarter of Fiscal                 $6,400,000
        Year 2001 for the four fiscal
        quarters then ended.

        First Fiscal Quarter of Fiscal                  $6,500,000
        Year 2002 and each Fiscal
        Quarter thereafter for the four
        fiscal quarter then ended.
</TABLE>

        f) Section 6.9 (f) is added to the Credit Agreement to read as follows:

        (f) Application Against Cash Reserve. Borrower may expend no more than
        $1,500,000 each fiscal year against the cash reserve created under
        Schedule EBITDA and only for expenditures related to reserve items
        listed in such Schedule EBITDA as cash reserves.

                                      -3-
<PAGE>

3)      AFFIRMATION OF SECURITY AGREEMENTS AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY
        AGREEMENTS.

        a) The Borrowers affirm that the Security Agreements (as defined in the
        Credit Agreement) remain in full force and effect and secure all of the
        Obligations either current or future due to the Bank.

        b) The Borrower has delivered this date revised Perfection Certificates
        in the form appended hereto as Exhibit A for each of them, which are
        true and correct.

        c) The Borrowers affirm that the Intellectual Property Security
        Agreements (as defined in the Credit Agreement) remain in full force and
        effect and secure all of the Obligations either current or future due to
        the Bank.

        d) The Borrowers have delivered this date revised Schedules for the
        Intellectual Property Security Agreement, which are true and correct.

4)      NO DEFAULT; REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES, ETC.

        The Borrower hereby confirms that: (a) the representations and
warranties of the Borrower contained the Credit Agreement are true on and as of
the date hereof as if made on such date (except to the extent that such
representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date), as modified
by any amendment of Schedules presented herewith; (b) the Borrower is in
compliance in all material respects with all of the terms and provisions set
forth in the Credit Agreement on their part to be observed or performed; and (c)
after giving effect to this Amendment, no Event of Default, nor any event which
with the giving of notice or expiration of any applicable grace period or both
would constitute such an Event of Default, shall have occurred and be
continuing.

5)      CONDITIONS TO THIS AMENDMENT.

        This Fourth Amendment shall not become effective until the date on which
each of the following conditions is satisfied:

        a) Counterparts of Agreement. The Bank shall have received from each
        party hereto a counterpart of this Agreement signed on behalf of such.

        b) Corporate Matters. The Bank shall have received such documents and
        certificates as the Bank may reasonably request relating to the
        organization, existence and good standing of the Borrower, the
        authorization of the Transactions and any other legal matters relating

                                      -4-
<PAGE>

        to the Borrower, this Agreement, the other Loan Documents or the
        Transactions, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the
        Bank and its counsel.

        c) Perfection Certificates. The Borrower has delivered to the Bank
        updated Perfection Certificates

        d) Fees and Expenses. The Bank shall have received all fees and other
        amounts due and payable at or prior to the Closing Date, including, all
        out-of-pocket expenses required to be reimbursed or paid by the Borrower
        hereunder (including reasonable attorneys' fees and costs).

        e) Other Documents. The Bank shall have received such other documents as
        the Bank and its counsel shall have reasonably requested.

6)      MISCELLANEOUS.

        a) Except to the extent specifically amended hereby, the Credit
        Agreement, the Loan Documents and all related documents shall remain in
        full force and effect. Whenever the terms or sections amended hereby
        shall be referred to in the Credit Agreement, Loan Documents or such
        other documents (whether directly or by incorporation into other defined
        terms), such defined terms shall be deemed to refer to those terms or
        sections as amended by this Amendment.

        b) This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of
        which, when executed and delivered, shall be an original, but all
        counterparts shall together constitute one instrument.

        c) This Amendment shall be governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of
        Massachusetts and shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the
        parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Amendment
        which shall be deemed to be a sealed instrument as of the date first
        above written.

                                        RUBIO'S RESTAURANTS, INC.

                                        By
                                           -------------------------------------
                                        Name:  Ralph Rubio
                                        Title: President

                                      -5-
<PAGE>

                                        RUBIO'S RESTAURANTS OF NEVADA, INC.

                                        By
                                           -------------------------------------
                                        Name:  Ted Frumkin
                                        Title: President

                                        FLEET NATIONAL BANK
                                        formerly known as BankBoston, N.A.

                                        By
                                           -------------------------------------
                                        Name:  Thomas Tansi
                                        Title: Director

                                      -6-
<PAGE>

                                                                 SCHEDULE EBITDA

                                   MARKET RATIONALIZATION PROJECT
                                       ONE TIME RESERVE DETAIL

AMTS IN 000'S

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          ONE TIME           BOOKED
                                                           RESERVE             IN
                                                          --------           ------
<S>                                                       <C>                <C>
      - FAS121 writedown                                   $  (3,219)          Q3

      - Writedown Las Vegas in order to franchise               (838)          Q3

      - Writedown Salt Lake in order to franchise               (323)          Q3

      - Writedown Tucson in order to franchise                  (884)          Q3

      - Writedown Denver in order to franchise                (1,046)          Q3

        ONE TIME CHARGE IN THIRD QUARTER                   $  (6,310)
                                                           =========
      - Close 11 stores in November                           (3,171)          Q4

      - Close additional 4 stores in next 12 months           (1,259)          Q4

      - Store Closure Severance                                 (171)          Q4

      - Reduction-in-force Severance                            (151)          Q4

      - Franchise Transfer Retention payment                    (187)          Q4

      - Reserve for Signage Change (13 stores at $10K
        each)                                                   (130)          Q4

      - Reserve for Franchise Broker Fees                        (80)          Q4

      - Aurora lease termination                                (150)          Q4

      - Legal costs                                              (48)          Q4

      - Deferred Rent reversal                                    267          Q4

      - Employee travel to close markets & other support        (35)           Q4

        ESTIMATED ONE TIME CHARGE IN FOURTH QUARTER        $  (5,114)
                                                           =========
        TOTAL                                              $ (11,424)
                                                           =========
</TABLE>

                                      -7-<PAGE>

                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.45

                           RUBIO'S RESTAURANTS, INC.

                              CONSULTING AGREEMENT

                THIS CONSULTING AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is made and entered
into as of the 25th day of October, 2001 (the "Effective Date") by and between
RUBIO'S RESTAURANTS, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and JACK
GOODALL ("Consultant"). The Company desires to retain Consultant as an
independent contractor to perform consulting services for the Company and
Consultant is willing to perform such services, on the terms set forth below. In
consideration of the mutual promises contained herein, the parties agree as
follows:

1. SERVICES AND COMPENSATION

        a. The Company agrees to engage Consultant, and Consultant agrees to
provide services to the Company, under the terms and conditions herein provided.
Consultant agrees to serve the Company by advising and consulting with the
Company's President and Chief Executive Officer, including consultation in the
following principal areas:

        -       market rationalization;

        -       marketing review; and

        -       real estate review.

                Consultant will report to the Company's Board of Directors
concerning the second and third items indicated above (marketing review and real
estate review).

        B. The Company shall compensate Consultant for his services hereunder by
granting to Consultant Non-Statutory Stock Options to purchase an aggregate of
50,000 shares of Common Stock of the Company. Twenty-five thousand (25,000)
options will be granted on the date of this Agreement pursuant to the Company's
1999 Stock Incentive Plan and the remaining 25,000 options will be granted on
the date of this agreement outside of the 1999 Stock Incentive Plan
(collectively, the "Options"). The Options will be subject to approval by the
Company's Board of Directors or Compensation Committee, as applicable.
Consultant understands: (i) that the first 25,000 Options shall be immediately
exercisable; (ii) the second 25,000 Options shall become exercisable on the six
(6)-month anniversary of the Effective Date if, and only if, this Agreement has
not been terminated before such date; and (iii) in the event of any conflict
between the terms hereof and the Options, the terms of the Options shall govern.

                The Company shall reimburse Consultant for pre-approved and
reasonable expenses, such as telephone, travel and lodging expenses, incurred by
Consultant at the Company's request, consistent with the Company's general
policies for employee/consultant expenses.

2. OWNERSHIP AND ASSIGNMENT OF IDEAS

        A. Consultant will promptly and fully disclose and assign to the Company
all Ideas (defined below) made by Consultant (either alone or jointly with
others) resulting from or arising out of services hereunder. All such Ideas will
be the sole property of the Company. Consultant represents and warrants that
Consultant has no obligations to any third party which prohibit or restrict the
right to assign to the Company exclusive right, title and interest in and to any
and all Ideas made by Consultant resulting from or arising out of services
hereunder. Consultant agrees to assist the Company at Company's expense, and to
execute any further documents that are necessary or appropriate, to obtain,
maintain, or enforce patents on any Inventions described above in the United
States and elsewhere.

        B. As used in this Agreement, the term "Ideas" means any and all
inventions, discoveries, designs, formulas, technology, improvements, trade
secrets, results of experiments, processes, techniques and know-how, whether or
not patentable, which result from or arise out of services rendered to the
Company and are invented, conceived, discovered, developed or reduced to
practice by Consultant, either alone or jointly with others.

3. CONFLICTING OBLIGATIONS

        Consultant certifies that Consultant has no outstanding agreement or
obligation that is in conflict with any of the provisions of this Agreement, or
that would preclude Consultant from fully complying with the provisions hereof,
and further certifies that Consultant will not enter into such conflicting
agreement during the term of this Agreement. During the term of this Agreement,
Consultant will not improperly use or disclose any confidential information or
trade secrets, if any, of any former employer or any other person to whom
Consultant has an obligation of confidentiality, and Consultant will not bring
onto the premises of the Company any unpublished documents or any property
belonging to any former employer or any other person to whom Consultant has an
obligation of confidentiality. Consultant will use in the performance of his
duties only information which is generally known and used by persons with
training and

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experience comparable to my own, which is common knowledge in the industry or
otherwise legally in the public domain, or which is otherwise provided or
developed by the Company.

4. TERM AND TERMINATION

        This Agreement shall be effective as of the Effective Date and shall
continue until Consultant's services and reports contemplated hereby shall have
been completed and delivered to the Company's satisfaction, which Consultant
agrees shall be for a period not less than six (6) months but may extend to one
(1) year or longer. No additional consideration other than the grant of the
Options as set forth in Section 1(b) above shall be paid to Consultant as a
result of any extension of this Agreement, unless expressly agreed to in writing
by both parties.

        Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may terminate this Agreement
for any reason or no reason upon giving three (3) days prior written notice
thereof to Consultant. The Company may terminate this Agreement immediately and
without prior notice if Consultant refuses to or is unable to perform the
services hereunder or is in breach of any material provision of this Agreement.
Upon such termination all rights and duties of the parties toward each other
shall cease except Sections 3, 5, 7, 8 and 9 shall survive termination or
expiration of this Agreement.

5. INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR

        Nothing in this Agreement shall in any way be construed to constitute
Consultant as an agent, employee or representative of the Company, but
Consultant shall perform the services hereunder as an independent contractor.
Consultant acknowledges and agrees that Consultant is obligated to report as
income all compensation received by Consultant pursuant to this Agreement, and
Consultant acknowledges the obligation to pay all self-employment and other
taxes thereon and that he will not be eligible for any employee benefits.
Consultant further agrees to indemnify the Company and hold it harmless to the
extent of any obligation imposed on the Company: (i) to pay withholding taxes or
similar items; or (ii) resulting from Consultant's being determined not to be an
independent contractor.

6. NO AFFECT ON DIRECTOR STATUS; RELATED MATTERS

        Nothing in this Agreement shall in any way affect Consultant's status as
a member of the Company's Board of Directors or be construed to grant Consultant
the right to continue to serve as a director of the Company. The consideration
for Consultant's services hereunder shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of,
any compensation that may be paid to Consultant for his services as a director.
Consultant understands that the terms of this Agreement and the Option may be
required to be disclosed in, or filed as exhibits to, the Company's annual proxy
statement or other reports filed publicly with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission.

7. EQUITABLE RELIEF

        It is recognized and acknowledged by Consultant that a breach of the
covenants contained in Sections 2 or 3 will cause irreparable damage to Company
and its goodwill, the exact amount of which will be difficult or impossible to
ascertain, and that the remedies at law for any such breach will be inadequate.
Accordingly, Consultant agrees that in the event of a breach of any of the
covenants contained in Sections 2 or 3, in addition to any other remedy which
may be available at law or in equity, the Company will be entitled to specific
performance and injunctive relief.

8. ARBITRATION

        Any dispute or controversy arising under, out of, in connection with or
in relation to this Agreement and Consultant's services to the Company or
termination by the Company shall be determined and settled by final and binding
arbitration in San Diego County, California in accordance with the rules and
procedures of the American Arbitration Association, and judgment upon the award
may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof.

9. MISCELLANEOUS

        This Agreement and the attached Option contain the entire agreement
between the parties and supersedes all preexisting agreements between them
respecting its subject matter. Modification of this Agreement shall only be
binding if made in writing and signed by both parties. If any provision of this
Agreement shall be held illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality, or
enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not in any
way be affected or impaired thereby. The rights and obligations of the Company
under this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and shall be binding upon its
subsidiaries, successors and assigns. Consultant shall not be entitled to assign
any of his rights or obligations under this Agreement. In the event of any
litigation concerning any controversy, claim, or dispute between the parties
hereto, arising out of or relating to this Agreement, the breach hereof, or the
interpretation hereof, the prevailing party shall be entitled to recover from
the other party expenses, including reasonable attorney fees, and costs incurred
therein. This Agreement shall be governed and construed in accordance with the
laws of the

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State of California, without regard to the laws that might be applicable under
conflicts of laws principles. Consultant has engaged his own legal counsel and
other advisors in connection with this Agreement, or has had the opportunity to
do so and has freely elected not to. Consultant acknowledges that the Company's
outside legal counsel in connection with this Agreement has represented solely
the Company, and has not represented Consultant in connection with the
preparation and negotiation of this Agreement.

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused to be executed or
executed this CONSULTING AGREEMENT as of the day and year first above written.

Consultant:                             The Company:

                                        RUBIO'S RESTAURANTS, INC., a Delaware
                                        corporation

Signature:                              By:
         --------------------------        ------------------------------------
Name:    JACK GOODALL                   Name:
                                        Title:

Address:                                Address: 1902 Wright Place, Suite 300
        ---------------------------              Carlsbad, CA 92008

        ---------------------------

                                       3

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