Last Updated on April 20, 2023 by Shari Mason
Are you looking for the best fast-food taco? Well, this article is for you.
We compared two famous taco fast-food chains and discovered which has the better taste, price, and more.
This in-depth comparison of Taco Bell vs Del Taco will tell you which of the two has better offerings in this battle for the best taco chain. Keep reading.
Taco Bell & Del Taco Main Differences
Del Taco is better than Taco Bell’s menu in many aspects. However, the latter is more accessible because they have 7,772 stores in the US, while Del Taco only has 592 stores. [1]
Taco Bell and Del Taco are Mexican-inspired cuisine fast-food chains with the same Tex-Mex food items but significantly differ in taste, flavor, quality, prices, and dining ambiance. [2]
In the store interior, branch stores of Taco Bell offer a relaxing atmosphere while you eat. But in terms of food quality, taste, and savor, Del Taco excels in many menu items.
Price points at Del Taco are considerably lower, making it much more affordable for customers.
A Closer Look
Burritos
Basic Burritos
Taco Bell beans taste like powder and mix- bean-flavored mush in a tortilla.
Add spicy sauce, and it’s a satisfying supper. Nonetheless, it is a gut bomb, so refrain from ordering more than one because it can upset your stomach.
Del Taco’s bean and cheese is larger and features shaped beans. When you add hot or mild sauce, it becomes a meal. It enhances the regular burrito with a spicy sauce.
Deluxe Burritos
The deluxe cheese burrito of Taco Bell has additional beans, lettuce, pico de gallo, and sour paste. This seems like a blessing, but it turns into a mouthful of sludge.
Del Taco burrito options are more like the fast-food “gourmet” Mexican restaurant that emerged decades ago.
Meanwhile, the fantastic burrito blends rice, guacamole green sauce, whole beans, and chicken. Fresh avocado (guacamole) with chili sauce tastes great.
Del Taco excels at making high-quality Mexican food, like this burrito.
Tacos
Hard-Shell Tacos
Warm, crispy tortillas of Taco Bell taste homemade. They’re delicious and crunchy when pressed against crispy lettuce. The flavor makes up for the low quality of Taco Bell’s beef.
Similarly, Del Taco’s tacos are tiny and brittle, and the cheese is oddly gooey even when not melted. The meat needs lots of Del Scorcho sauce to taste good.
Both restos used low-quality beef or commercial-graded meat because of the gooey textures. [3]
Soft Tacos
Taco Bell chicken soft tacos have grill-marked bits, which are about as authentic as Cheez Whiz.
They fill the toasty flour-soft tortilla and taste lean and clean. Crisp lettuce and shredded cheese make a soft taco delightful.
Del Taco’s chicken soft taco supreme resembles the other, but smaller. They add sour paste, turning a tasty dish into a soggy mess. The flavors of the fresh ingredients clash.
Churros & Cinnamon Twists
Taco Bell Cinnamon tastes like rice crisps dusted with sugar and cinnamon, and when eaten with over-seasoned meat and smokey hot sauce, it enhances the food.
Del Taco churros like fish tacos and French fries must be eaten hot.
Saving the churros for dessert will result in a bitter, stale pastry with too much sugar and cinnamon. The greasy, crispy flavor only works straight out of the fryer.
Fries & Potatoes
Taco Bell fiesta potatoes are cheesy. Sour cream and cheese overpower the potatoes. They’re good if you get a non-dairy potato.
They might be passable if not cheesy and covered in hot sauce.
Del Taco crinkle-cut fries are delicious and crunchy enough to keep your mouth engaged. They stand up to ketchup and taste fresh.
Quesadillas
Taco Bell quesadilla is not cheesy. It tastes like lumpy, sour curdled milk badly seasoned with pepper sauce.
Del Taco’s queso isn’t that great. The quesadilla contains a spicy sauce and works in a pinch.
Tostadas
Taco Bell sold “Mexican pizza”—two-layer tostadas. For a flat, crunchy taco meat delivery vehicle, try the Crunchwrap Supreme.
A cheesy tostada with beans and a flour tortilla is a good crunch wrap. It’s good, but too much for a tostada.
Del Taco tostada evokes high school cafeterias. It’s mediocre, but it’s crunchy.
Specialty Items
Taco Bell’s inventions include deep-fried tortillas for the greasy chalupa and shells dusted with Dorito dust called Doritos Locos Tacos. To add crunch, they put tortilla chips in the burrito.
Both street tacos and the tamales from Del Taco are widely available, and both are superior to the food served at average Mexican restaurants.
Del Taco offers hamburgers. They are average but not bad.
Bowls
Taco Bell chain makes Power Bowls that don’t have heavy tortillas. They added cheese and sour cream, ruining the “healthy” dish.
This chain should stick to rice, chicken, lettuce, and beans. But adding sour cream, cheese, and guacamole wrecks everything.
The bowl at Del Taco is more straightforward than Taco Bell’s because it has no dairy that can upset your stomach.
Tomatoes and guacamole taste much lusher than Taco Bell. Del Taco’s cilantro lime rice is a terrible imitation of Chipotle’s.
Store Ambience
Most venues have curated Southwestern art at Taco Bell. Their adobe-colored walls and mellow gold lighting make it quite relaxing.
Most locations feature ordering displays so you can order your burrito supreme without confusing the crew behind the counter.
With rough plastic seats and harsh white lights, Del Taco’s dining rooms need cleaning. Though we enjoy the roughness, it feels archaic compared to Taco Bell’s drive-in now.
Prices
The glory days of low prices at Taco Bell are long gone. The regular taco from Taco Bell costs around $5, while combo meals can cost around $10.
Del Taco’s chips and combination meal costs are lower than Taco Bell’s, but taco prices are comparable.
Their tasty Del Combo burrito costs a little over $3. Epic Burritos are a feast for about $6.
“You don’t need a silver fork to eat good food.”
– Paul Prudhomme, American Chef
FAQs
Is Del Taco healthier than Taco Bell?
Del Taco and Taco Bell are both healthy. Choosing healthier option meals in both Mexican fast-food restaurants is up to your preference.
However, the healthiest taco meals must have whole-grain tortillas, lean protein, and many veggies. [4]
Which is cheaper, Taco Bell or Del Taco?
Del Taco is generally slightly cheaper than Taco Bell menu items because their basic burrito only costs $3, a couple of dollars cheaper than Taco Bell.
In Summary
In general, Del Taco wins this face-off. It excels in taste and flavor, especially the seasoned beef in its tacos. Del Taco is also cheaper and won in several menu categories battle.
However, Taco Bell wins in the ambiance of the store’s interior and the number of locations. They are more accessible for people craving tacos.
References:
- https://www.britannica.com/topic/Taco-Bell
- https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/destinations/2014/01/04/best-tex-mex-mexican-restaurants-food/4308625/
- https://ask.usda.gov/s/article/What-do-beef-grades-mean
- https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/are-tacos-healthy
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