Del Taco Named #1 Fast Food Restaurant in 2024

The results are in for the USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice Awards! Del Taco won in two categories including BEST Fast Food Restaurant & BEST Fast Food Fries! Thank you to all of our loyal guests. We truly are so honored.

Ready to join our award-winning franchise? Let's get started!

Del Taco USA Today Taco Fast Food
 
 

Why Del Taco?

At Del Taco, we've noticed there's a wide range of reasons our franchisees decide to invest in our brand. Watch this short video or scroll down to find a few of the most common reasons to own a Del Taco Franchise.

 

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Fresh Ingredients

Fresh tastes better. Our menu starts and ends with fresh ingredients.

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Voted the #1 Taco

The Del Taco was named the Best Fast Food Taco by Thrillist.

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#2 Mexican Concept

We are the second largest Mexican QSR concept in the United States.*

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Sales Growth

9 consecutive years of Total Franchise Same Stores Sales Growth*

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Market Experience

Proven performance and demand in new markets supported with an omni channel marketing approach.

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Grow Your Income

Take advantage of an opportunity to grow your wealth with a QSR brand on the rise.

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Differentiators

Positioned for continual growth with a compelling QSR+ proposition that resonates with consumers.

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World-Class Support

Franchisees receive initial and ongoing training from our seasoned staff members.

 

Del Taco Instant Watch Webinar

Access our Instant Watch Webinar to take a deep dive into our franchise opportunity at Del Taco. This fifteen minute presentation will cover our financial requirements, available markets, and so much more.

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The Taco Franchise You've Been Dreaming Of

Freshly prepared, craveable food at an unbeatable value!

For more than 60 years, Del Taco has been serving freshly prepared, craveable food at an unbeatable value. This rare combination is one of the many reasons that we are one of the leading brands in the fast-growing Mexican quick-service restaurant (QSR) category.

 

A Taco Franchise Built on Fresh

Del Taco has the unique ability to deliver QSR speed and convenience with value and affordability under the same roof as our freshly prepared ingredients.

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The Numbers

Get to know Del Taco with some numbers behind our better taco franchise.

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Average Unit Volume**

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Del Taco Restaurants

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Years in Business

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States Del Taco Operates In

See Investment Breakdown

 

Del Taco Fresh Flex Store Design

The bold, new prototype holistically reconceptualizes Del Taco restaurants. The Fresh Flex design's striking exteriors and distinctive interiors evoke a contemporary feel, while lowering net investment costs, improving real estate flexibility, and providing ultimate convenience for guests and operators.

With innovative additions like third-party pick-up stations and double drive-thru lanes with a dedicated lane for mobile orders and delivery pickups, the future-focused model optimizes operational efficiencies and caters to modern consumer expectations like accessibility, speed of service, and brand transparency.

 

 

Market-Specific Growth Incentives

Del Taco offers an enhanced franchise growth incentive program for multi-unit operators interested in expanding their portfolio with a winning brand.

 

View Our Incentives

 

How Much Does a Del Taco Franchise Cost?

Costs, Fees, and Investment Facts
  • Estimated Initial Investment: $1,312,200-$3,085,000
  • Minimum Liquidity: $500,000+***
  • Minimum Net Worth: $1MM+ ***
  • Franchise Fee: $35,000 per Location
  • Royalty Fee: 5% of Net Sales
  • Advertising Fee: 4% of Net Sales

***Will Vary By Commitment

 

 
 

Del Taco Available Territories

Where is Del Taco Growing?

Available Markets

Future Growth Opportunity

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Find Your Market

 

Del Taco Site Requirements

We have broad appeal in communities with these characteristics:
  • Population: 35,000+ residential population with 10,000+ daytime population in primary trade areas
  • Median Household Income: $40,000 – $100,000
  • Age Groups: Prefer areas with higher concentrations of 18 – 49 year-olds
  • Ethnicity: Menu appeals to broad consumer audience
  • Traffic: Minimum 25,000+ cars per day at intersection
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Our Ideal Candidate

WHAT DOES DEL TACO LOOK FOR IN A FRANCHISEE?

We are looking for a special kind of franchisee — one who wants to be part of our iconic brand and invest in growth! The ideal candidate or investment group will:

  • Be Well-Capitalized
  • Have Strong Business Acumen
  • Have Knowledge of the Local Real Estate Market
  • Have an Understanding of Development
  • Have Passion for Their Local Community
  • Be Willing to Follow Our System
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Defining the QSR+ Category

What's the Definition of QSR+?

Del Taco occupies the space between a traditional QSR and a Fast Casual atmosphere, by offering delicious quality food, prepared with fresh ingredients, and served with the value and convenience of a drive-thru. We're at the forefront of the QSR+ category.

Guests love Del Taco's Mexican-inspired favorites and American classics, prepared with fresh ingredients, hand-chopped, slow-cooked, and grilled in each restaurant's working kitchen. As much as our customers love our food, they also appreciate the convenience our restaurants and drive-thru lanes provide for their busy lives.

Del Taco Defining the QSR+ Category
 

Marketing Support

Our franchise partners enjoy the benefits of customized marketing plans designed to support successful restaurant openings and maintain awareness.

  • Field Marketing Managers
  • Customer Loyalty App
  • Point-of-Purchase (POP) Materials
  • Direct Mailers and Printed Ads
  • Disruptive and Viral PR Campaigns
  • Social Media on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube
  • Mobile to Digital Media on Pandora and Hulu
  • Spot TV, Cable TV, and Radio
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Frequently Asked Questions

 

Franchisee Testimonials

Hear what franchise owners at Del Taco have to say about working with our iconic taco franchise.

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"With strong year-over-year store sales growth, our group believes we are not even close to the number of locations we can own and operate."
Mark Miller
Franchisee Since 2009
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"Del Taco's Leadership Team is incredibly strong. They're guided by data-driven decisions that have measurable results for the brand."
Brent Veach
Franchisee Since 1999
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"I only wish I had become a franchisee sooner. There's never been a better time to be a part of this brand."
Paul Hitzelberger
Franchisee Since 2001
 

Ready to Get Started?

Please submit the form below to begin your franchising journey with Del Taco!

*Table 19-3 Presented below are the same store sales growth/contraction for all franchised Del Taco restaurants that had been operating for at least 18 months, as of the end of each of the 2013 to 2021 fiscal years. The figures compare the same store sales of all franchised Del Taco restaurants reported for the fiscal year against that reported by all franchised Del Taco restaurants for the immediately preceding fiscal year. During the fiscal years surveyed, no freestanding franchised restaurants closed after being open less than 12 months. “Total Franchise” means franchise same store sales growth for each year. Del Taco LLC Franchise Disclosure Document | 2022

**Figures reflect the average sales and operating figures of all freestanding company-operated Del Taco restaurants that have been in operation for at least one year. At the end of our most recent fiscal year ended December 28, 2021, we had a total of 294 company-owned restaurants. Of those, 287 constitute freestanding restaurants, and 282 of them have operated for more than one year. In fiscal year 2021, of the 282 restaurants, 133 restaurants (47%) had sales in excess of the $1,622,531 average

***Figures are for freestanding franchisee-owned restaurants. In FY 2013, 101 or 44% had average sales ≥ $1,075,499; in FY 2014, 95 or 43% had average sales ≥ $1,145,937; in FY 2015, 97 or 43% had average sales ≥ $1,222,865; in FY 2016, 95 or 43% had average sales ≥ $1,316,732; in FY 2017, 98 or 44% had average sales ≥ $1,350,566; in FY 2018, 100 or 44% had average sales ≥ $1,404,461; in FY 2019, 99 or 43% had average sales ≥ $1,414,604; in FY 2020, 112 or 42% had average sales ≥ $1,407,877 and in FY 2021, 118 or 43% had average sales ≥ $1,536,948. See Item 19 of our March 2022 Franchise Disclosure Document for more information. There is no assurance that you will do as well, a new franchisee’s results may differ from the represented results.

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