About Del Taco

What Makes Del Taco a Better Mexican Franchise?

 

Fresh For 60 Years

Since 1964, Del Taco has been serving freshly prepared, craveable food at an unbeatable value. This rare combination is one of the many reasons we are the second largest brand in the fast-growing Mexican quick-service restaurant (QSR) category.

food-group-2022
 

What Makes Del Taco Different?

With +590 locations in +15 states, we have an incredibly loyal fan base and strong presence across the United States with plenty of room for franchisees to grow in both existing and untapped markets.

We are aggressively expanding across the United States and seeking passionate multi-unit restaurant operators. Explore this site to learn more about Del Taco's franchising opportunity, then share your contact info so we can discuss your next bold business move!

 

Better Mex_v1

 

 

Del Taco Fun Facts

Get to know our brand with some numbers behind one of the most exciting taco franchises in the QSR Industry.

+0

Del Taco Locations

+0

Different States

+0

Years in Business

 

Del Taco Territories

Available Markets

Future Growth Opportunity

Sold Out

Find Your Market

 

Defining the QSR+ Category

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+ Industry

 

Our Menu

Del Taco's menu includes tacos and burritos as well as burgers and fries. It spans a full complement of dayparts, from breakfast to dinner to late night and everything in-between.

A Better Taco Franchise

The Del Taco is inspired by the original and loaded with more of everything you love, like more seasoned beef, more fresh house-grated cheddar cheese, crisp shredded lettuce and fresh diced tomatoes in a bigger, crunchy corn shell. Additional taco favorites:

  • The Del Taco (Crunchy & Soft)
  • Crunchtada Tostada®
  • Guac'd Up Tacos
  • Stuffed Quesadilla Tacos (Crispy Chicken, Grilled Chicken or Carne Asada Steak)
  • Crispy Chicken Tacos (Ranch, Chipotle or Habanero)
  • Beer Battered Crispy Fish Taco
  • Taco Del Carbon (Grilled Chicken or Carne Asada Steak)
The Del Taco Best Fast Food Taco

A Better Burrito Franchise

Our Epic Fresh Guacamole Burrito is loaded with your choice of freshly grilled, marinated chicken or grilled carne asada steak, slow-cooked beans made from scratch, cilantro lime rice, fresh house-made guacamole, and fresh house-made pico de gallo, all in a warm, oversized flour tortilla. Check out our other burrito menu items:

  • Epic Fresh Guacamole Burrito (Grilled Chicken or Carne Asada Steak)
  • Epic Loaded Queso Burrito (Grilled Chicken or Carne Asada Steak)
  • Epic Cali Bacon Burrito (Grilled Chicken or Carne Asada Steak)
  • Epic Crispy Chicken & Guac Burrito
  • Epic Combo Beef & Beef Burrito
  • Del Combo™ Beef & Beef Burrito
  • Del Beef Burrito
  • 8 Layer Veggie Burrito
Del Taco Epic Fresh Guacamole Burrito

A Better Quesadilla & Nacho Franchise

Our quesadillas and nachos are loaded with your choice of seasoned beef, freshly grilled chicken or carne asada steak with plenty of fresh house-grated grated cheese. Take a look at all the ways you can get our mouthwatering quesadillas:

  • Chicken Cheddar Quesadilla
  • Carne Asada Cheddar Quesadilla
  • Snack Queso Quesadilla
  • Queso Loaded Nachos (Seasoned Beef, Grilled Chicken or Carne Asada Steak)
  • Chips & Queso Dip
  • 3 Layer Queso Nachos
Del Taco Queso Loaded Nachos

A Better Burger & Fries Franchise

At Del Taco, our 100% beef patties are grilled to order and served with fresh tomato slices, burger sauce, crisp shredded lettuce, and diced onions on a grilled sesame seed bun. Don't forget to add a side of our famous Crinkle Cut Fries. Craving a burger?

  • Double Del® Cheeseburger
  • Bacon Double Del® Cheeseburger
  • Del Cheeseburger
  • Crinkle Cut Fries
  • Carne Asada Steak Fries
  • Deluxe Chili Cheddar Fries
  • Chili Cheddar Fries
  • Queso Loaded Fries
Bacon Double Del Cheeseburger

A Better Chicken Franchise

Our crispy chicken strips can be served as a taco, burrito, or basket layered on top of fries with a side of creamy ranch, creamy habanero, or chipotle dipping sauce. How do you like to eat your chicken at Del Taco?

  • Crispy Chicken Taco (Ranch, Chipotle or Habanero)
  • Epic Crispy Chicken & Guac Burrito
  • Crispy Chicken Guac'd Up Taco (Ranch, Chipotle or Habanero)
  • Crispy Chicken & Fries Box
Ranch Crispy Chicken Taco

A Better Breakfast Franchise

At Del Taco, our guests can get their morning started with a delicious breakfast taco, wrap, burrito, or roller served with a side of hashbrown sticks or donut bites. Is breakfast your favorite daypart? Check out our breakfast menu items:

  • Double Cheese Breakfast Tacos (Egg & Cheese, Hashbrowns & Bacon, or Hashbrowns & Seasoned Beef)
  • Breakfast Toasted Wrap (Egg & Cheese, Bacon, or Carne Asada Steak)
  • Breakfast Burrito (Egg & Cheese, Bacon, or Carne Asada Steak)
  • Breakfast Roller (Egg & Cheese or Bacon)
  • Hashbrown Sticks
  • Simply Orange® Juice
  • Café Del Olla Coffee
  • Café Del Olla Iced Coffee
  • Donut Bites
Breakfast Burritos Three Del Taco

Del Taco Value Menu

The Value Menu at Del Taco is one of the last great value menus in the QSR and QSR+ Industry. It offers a wide variety of items at an unbeatable prices. What are your go-to favorites on the Value Menu?

  • Chicken Taco Del Carbon (Regular or Guac'd Up)
  • Crispy Chicken Taco (Regular or Guac'd Up)
  • Bean & Cheese Burrito (Red or Green Sauce)
  • Chicken Cheddar Rollers (Original, Rancho, or Chipotle)
  • Crunchtada Tostada®
  • Snack Taco
  • Snack Queso Quesadilla
  • 3 Layer Queso Nachos
  • Mini Cinnamon Churros
  • Donut Bites
  • Mini Shakes (Vanilla, Chocolate, or Strawberry)
  • Real Strawberry Sprite® or Lemonade
  • Café Del Olla Iced Coffee
  • Gold Peak® Real Brewed Tea
Del Taco Crunchtada Tostada

A Better Salad Franchise

If you're in the mood for something light, our taco salads served with a side of our signature salsa casera are a great option! We have three delicious salads you can choose from:

  • Taco Salad with Seasoned Beef
  • Taco Salad with Grilled Chicken
  • Taco Salad with Carne Asada Steak
Del Taco Salad with Seasoned Beef

A Better Vegetarian Friendly Franchise

Del Taco has a wide variety of vegetarian options like our 8 Layer Veggie Burrito with slow-cooked beans made from scratch, cilantro lime rice, fresh house-made guacamole, fresh house-grated cheddar cheese, crisp shredded lettuce, fresh diced tomatoes, zesty red sauce, and cool sour cream wrapped in a warm flour tortilla. Our vegetarian items include:

  • 8 Layer Veggie Burrito
  • Bean & Cheese Burrito (Red or Green Sauce)
  • Crunchtada Tostada®
  • Cheddar Quesadilla
  • Snack Queso Quesadilla
8 Layer Veggie Burrito Del Taco Vegetarian

Don't Forget About Dessert

Top your meal off with one of our rich and creamy hand-blended shakes available in your choice of classic vanilla, sweet chocolate, or real strawberry.

  • Classic Vanilla Shake
  • Sweet Chocolate Shake
  • Real Strawberry Shake
  • Donut Bites
  • Mini Cinnamon Churros
  • Caramel Cheesecake Bites
Del Taco Vegetarian Milk Shakes
 

The History of Del Taco

Take a look at how Del Taco has transformed throughout the years since our iconic brand was founded in 1964.

1960's

A BRAVE NEW FUTURE

Ed Hackbarth and David Jameson opened the first Del Taco in Yermo, CA in 1964. With a menu of 19¢ tacos, tostadas, fries and 24¢ cheeseburgers, Del Taco brought in $169 in sales on its first day in business - the equivalent of 900 tacos. Things were off to a bold start.

Del Taco A Brave New Future

1970's

GROWING RAPIDLY

Del Taco thrived during the 1970s. By 1977 there were 50 restaurants and by 1978 there were 100. The menu also grew, expanding to include items like the bun taco, quesadilla, and ice cream sundaes.

Del Taco Growing Rapidly

1980's

DEL ACQUISITIONS

In 1988, Del Taco greatly increased in size and geographic reach by merging with Naugles restaurant chain. Del Taco also began to stay open all night to serve the growing needs of the new 24/7 lifestyle.

Del Taco Acquisitions

1990's

DARING TRANSITIONS

In the 90s Del Taco set the stage for extreme growth by launching a series of initiatives to improve the total customer experience and grow the brand's image, including a new logo design.

Del Taco Daring Transitions

2000's

GOING BOLD

By 2006, Del Taco nearly doubled in size and opened the 500th restaurant in 2008. An exciting new dessert was also introduced to the menu that has since become a fan favorite: Caramel Cheesecake Bites. Additionally, the Del Taco Super Special Show launched, treating our fans to a humorous take on our brand.

Del Taco Going Bold

2010's

A FRESH APPROACH

By introducing the Buck & Under Menu, Epic Burritos, and Handcrafted Ensaladas, Del Taco has continued to demonstrate you can get delicious food made with fresh ingredients for an UnFreshing Believable price. In 2016, Del Taco launched THE Del Taco, inspired by the original and loaded with more of everything you love. Everything Del Taco stands for is represented by this new signature taco.

Del Taco A Fresh Approach
 

Corporate HQ & RSC

Our Corporate Headquarters / Restaurant Support Center is located at: 25521 Commercenter Dr, #200, Lake Forest, CA 92630

Del Taco Corporate HQ RSC

 

 

Ready to Get Started?

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

Taco Franchise vs Pizza Franchise: Everything You Need to Know

Are you interested in learning the differences between owning a taco franchise vs pizza franchise? At Del Taco, we...

7 Best Hotel Franchises to Start in 2024

Are you looking for a list of the best hotel franchises to start from this year? If so, you’re in the right place. At...

5 Best Taco Franchises for Convenience Stores

Are you searching for a list of the best taco franchises for convenience stores or travel plazas? At Del Taco, we...