Del Taco ~ regional chain : Colorado Springs, Colorado

Latest visit: Feb 2024 (Academy / Austin Bluffs)

First visit: Sometime in 1982 (Irving, TX)

HQ: Lake Forest, CA (near Irvine)

Locations: Currently Del Taco operates 594 restaurants (+1 from last year) in 17 states (+2). There are 20 in Colorado (same), and 3 in Colorado Springs (same). They are not currently operating in Texas and all of our old locations there are now closed. 

Today was my first visit to Del Taco this year. The Austin Bluffs location has become my go-to primarily out of convenience when I'm dong the "thrift shop rounds". I like this store, as it's usually clean and the workers are friendly. As noted below, I did move away from the Snack Tacos and onto their regular "Del Taco". It's essentially the same especially since I don't include the tomato - except about three times the size. They load them with meat and cheese, and I've come to really appreciate the taste more than prior. Even their soda fountain works properly haha. My last visit to a Taco Bell (last year) was a total disaster, so I have to think Del Taco is making inroads on that competition. In fact I read just that very thing - Del Taco intends on being #1 at some point. While I hope they succeed, that growth could easily derail their quality. There was a time (1980s and early 90s) where Taco Bell was excellent as well. Long ago. In any case, Del Taco is a favorite stop for a quick, light lunch. Oh, you now have to ask for the hot sauce packets separate. Apparently some stupid customers were grabbing them by the sack full while not even ordering anything. Who does this?

---2/26/23 update

Back for our annual review. Last year it was first, but didn't get around to stopping by until today. A fairly straightforward update this will be. Went with my usual 6 pack of snack tacos and a water. The single cheapest meal in town that can fill you up for a few hours! I should explore their menu more, but that's usually all I get at these old fashioned crunchy fast food places (I said the same thing last year). On today's visit, the meat was cooked nice and hot, the packets of hot sauce were available, and all was clean. I probably go here (or the one further south on Academy near Austin Bluffs) about four times total a year. 

Currently Del Taco operates 593 restaurants (down 6 from last year) in 15 states. There are 20 in Colorado (down 1), and 3 in Colorado Springs (same). They are not currently operating in Texas and all of our old locations there are now closed. California by far has the best representation with 363 stores.

---1/4/22 update

I had hoped to feature a new (to us) taqueria to start the year, but I didn't enjoy it that much. But given the place was packed with the locals, I feel I must give it another shot - and try something else - before passing judgement. So the next day I went to an old standby to get us rolling for the year.

So they've renamed "Value Tacos" to "Snack Tacos" and jacked up the price to like 88 cents a piece. Haha. Still the best bargain around. To quote last year's annual review: "You can eat a reasonably healthy meal for under $5 with a cup of ice water. I like their Del Inferno sauce, and the tacos aren't that chintzy, with ground beef, lettuce, and cheese. Sometimes that's all that is needed to hit the spot." So maybe now it's "under $6". I probably should get something else from their menu, but the tacos are my comfort zone with Del Taco.

I also recently read that Jack in the Box bought them out in December of last year. And that they plan on expanding (once again - see original notes). For a long time, JitB seemed to be the magic touch that Qdoba needed. But I haven't been impressed lately with that chain either. Probably ought to try it again as well. So we'll see if they improve the quality of Del Taco or they just figure out a better way to cut costs, regardless of the outcome. We'll let you know next year...

---original 1/4/12 review (Hurst, Texas)

My history with Del Taco goes back many years to when I was still in high school in the early 1980s. For those of you who were in the DFW area back then, you may recall this fact as well. But like many chains, they grew too fast and eventually shuttered all across the state. It would be nearly a dozen years before I ate at a Del Taco again - on Sunset Blvd in Los Angeles (1994)! In fact I was with Mr. Music (wonder if he remembers?)  Fast food tacos are a guilty pleasure for me, so I try to sneak a couple in everywhere I travel - and I would run into Del Taco's at various California locales over the years. Until they finally ended up in Denver around 2001 or so.

For such a large chain, it's truly remarkable how well managed their stores tend to be - at least the ones I've been too (I'm sure there are exceptions - no need to write in and tell me). It seems they learned their lesson back in the early 1980s, and now they are growing very slowly while not giving up on quality for profit's sake. And perhaps best of all - they're willing to push the envelope a little bit. You want a spicy salsa? OK, they'll give you one. We both love their tacos and after all these years they're still priced at a bargain (they're small - yes - but add a couple of more to the bag...). 

The following section we have not seen at the Colorado Springs stores. [section] The hot sauce is dispensed in metal containers similar to how the burger chains now offer up ketchup, mustard, etc... It's a great idea, and very sanitary. As well, Del Taco has just introduced two more traditional salsas - including a truly spicy variety. The latter reminding me quite a bit of Baja Fresh's most fiery option. [/section]. 

It is what it is: A fast food crunchy taco place. But in that category, Del Taco is one of the finest.

Despite what I said above, they ended up closing all of those Texas locations once again.

1982; 11/6/94; 4/30/02; 5/13/04; 1/10/07; 6/5/10; 1/4/12 (new entry); 10/26/14; 10/10/16; 11/20/20; 7/11/21; 1/4/22; 2/26/23; 2/16/24

Irving, Texas; Los Angeles, California; Sacramento, California; Aurora, Colorado; Phoenix, Arizona; Parker, Colorado; Hurst, Texas; Colorado Springs, Colorado (3)