I'm a huge Taco Bell fan, but after trying Del Taco for the first time I now prefer the West Coast chain
Mary Meisenzahl
Taco Bell's new vegetarian menu.Taco Bell
- I tried Del Taco for the first time as a die-hard Taco Bell lover.
- I was impressed by Del Taco's fresh ingredients, housemade guacamole, and plant-based protein.
I'm a huge Taco Bell fan, so on a recent West Coast trip I was eager to try Del Taco and see how the two chains compare.
Taco Bell. Shutterstock
Taco Bell is the bigger of the two chains, with 7,900 locations around the world as of August 3, according to earnings.
Mike Blake/Reuters
It's a part of Yum! Brands, which also owns Pizza Hut and KFC.
KFC SOPA Images
Del Taco has just a fraction of those, with 600 US locations in 16 states, according to the company.
Hollis Johnson/Business Insider
The chain was just acquired by another franchise, Jack in the Box, for $585 million.
Getty Images/David McNew
Source: Nation's Restaurant News
Taco Bell is a global chain with locations in 26 countries, while Del Taco remains a regional US chain mostly limited to the West coast.
Taco Bell just introduced a taco subscription. Taco Bell
Taco Bell did over $13 billion in sales in 2021 according to the company's earnings, but Del Taco was privately owned until recently and didn't release that information.
Kate Taylor
I visited an Orange County, California location to test it out.
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The decor inside the restaurant I visited definitely had a Southwestern feel.
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Words and images across the design emphasized fresh ingredients prepared on-site.
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All the decor promised bold flavors and made-to-order food.
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There was a toppings bar that looks like it might typically have salsa, cheese, or other typical taco additions, but it was empty when I was there.
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The menu was almost overwhelming with how large it was, but luckily I'd already ordered on my phone, so I could take my time.
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Through glass next to the counter I could see the refrigerator with ingredients including tomatoes, cheese, and limes, another acknowledgement of fresh ingredients.
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I wanted to sample almost the entire menu, so I ended up with two large bags of food.
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I started with the Nachotada Crunchtada, a new addition to the menu.
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It was a crunchy tortilla shell topped with beans, beef, cheese, tomatoes, sour cream, and jalapeños.
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It reminded me a lot of Taco Bell's Mexican Pizza, and it was absolutely delicious.
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Next up, I tried the Beyond guacamole taco, with plant-based meat.
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The taco was pretty standard, but the guacamole definitely took it over the top.
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It's a solid plant-based option, and swapping guacamole for sour cream makes it easy to go vegan without feeling like you're missing out.
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Next up was a bean and cheese burrito, a classic cheap fast food meal.
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For just $1.49, it was tasty and exactly what I wanted from a small burrito.
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It comes with "zesty red" or "tangy green" sauce. I went with the red, and was very happy with my decision.
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I had to try the namesake Del Taco, with all the fixings.
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It comes in crunchy and soft options.
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It was a basic fast food taco with beef, cheese, tomatoes, and lettuce, but it hit the mark perfectly.
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I was really excited to try the beer battered crispy fish taco, which I can't remember having anything like at a fast food chain before.
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It comes with a shredded cabbage, pico de gallo, and secret sauce in a soft tortilla.
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I loved the touch of a lime wedge, which I squeezed onto my taco.
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It was smaller than the other dishes I ordered, but it was crispy and light, a perfect break in the middle of my giant fast food meal.
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The stuffed quesadilla taco was one of my favorites, thanks to the queso blanco between the two tortillas.
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The crispy chicken and all the cheese went together perfectly, and it was exactly what you want out of a fast food taco.
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The crispy chicken taco was especially good and filling for just $1.49.
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The crispy chicken adds a nice texture to each bite, and I'd definitely order again.
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The only item I didn't completely love was also the most expensive.
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The chili cheddar fries weren't bad, but they weren't as impressive as everything else I ordered.
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The toppings were great, but the fries were middling.
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The Del cheeseburger was shockingly good, the biggest surprise of my meal.
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Before I visited, I didn't even know Del Taco sold burgers, but my Uber driver told me I had to try it.
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It was juicy and cheesy, with the right amount of crunch from the vegetables. Somehow, Del Taco sold one of the best fast food burgers I've ever had.
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My huge order came out to $26.09, and was easily enough food for several people, so it felt like a very good deal.
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I only visited Del Taco because it was convenient, but I'm so glad I did, because it was one of the best West Coast chains I tried.
Hollis Johnson/Business Insider
I went to Taco Bell, one of my favorite fast food restaurants, to compare.
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I got a basic supreme soft taco, a classic.
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I got a Doritos Locos Supreme Taco, which is one of the chain's best innovations to me.
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I never leave Taco Bell without one, they add the perfect tasty crunch to an already good taco.
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I added another favorite, a Crunchwrap Supreme.
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It's classic Taco Bell, and basically a full meal itself.
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It's got beef, cheese, and all the usual fillings wrapped up perfectly.
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The grilled cheese burrito is a limited time offer that's back on menus, so I was happy to try it again.
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It's representative of the best kind of Taco Bell LTO — cheesy, hearty, and unexpected.
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The beefy melt burrito was surprisingly large for $2.69.
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It's not part of my normal rotation, but it might be after this.
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I'd forgotten how good the toasted cheddar chalupa was.
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The toasted cheddar shell is so good, I could eat just about anything on it.
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Some other dishes, like the cheesy gordita crunch, aren't quite as impressive.
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It wasn't horrible, but it was missing a good crunch from the inner shell, and didn't feel worth the nearly $5 price.
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The spicy potato soft taco is a clear star of Taco Bell's menu among vegetarians and meat eaters.
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It's only $1.49 and consistently delicious, so I completely understand why fans were outraged when potatoes temporarily left the menu.
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Source: Insider
I wasn't able to try the Mexican Pizza, which also led to an outcry from fans, on this visit because they won't be back in stock until mid September.
Taco Bell's Mexican Pizza. Joshua Blanchard/Getty Images
Source: Insider
While I enjoy the Mexican Pizza, it's basically the same thing as the Nachotada from Del Taco, which is readily available. I see no reason to wait for Mexican Pizza in the meantime.
Taco Bell's Mexican Pizza. Taco Bell
Taco Bell's guacamole is a clear loser compared to Del Taco's version. The chain doesn't make it's own guacamole, and it shows.
Taco Bell Online
Source: Insider
Now that I've tried both chains, I surprised myself by preferring Del Taco.
Hollis Johnson/Business Insider
In fairness, I've eaten at Taco Bell dozens of times, and I'm fairly used to the menu, while Del Taco is still novel to me.
Taco Bell opening Hammersmith, London Tom Murray / Business Insider
And I'm by no means a Taco Bell hater. It's still one of my favorite fast food chains, and I'll likely be back soon.
Customers line up at a Taco Bell restaurant inside Miami International Airport in Miami. AP/Wilfredo Lee
The chains are very similarly priced, with a big emphasis on value and deals.
Del Taco
Del Taco's fresh seeming ingredients and somewhat smaller menu made the dishes tastier and more satisfying.
Hollis Johnson/Business Insider
Then again, maybe that's just the price of expanding into a fast food superpower, and Del Taco will look different as it grows.
Matt Marton / AP Images
Do you have a story to share about a retail or restaurant chain? Email this reporter at mmeisenzahl@businessinsider.com.
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