# Del Taco

> Del Taco is the second-largest Mexican quick-service restaurant chain in the United States, running roughly 580 restaurants across 18 states. Born in the Mojave Desert town of Yermo in 1964, it built a following on a two-menu trick most rivals never tried: real Mexican-inspired food - tacos, burritos, house-made guacamole, freshly grilled chicken, slow-cooked beans - sold beside American drive-thru staples like crinkle-cut fries and cheeseburgers, at value-menu prices. After a three-year run under Jack in the Box, the brand was bought in December 2025 by California franchise operator Yadav Enterprises, which is now steering a turnaround built around menu innovation, the Del Yeah! Rewards program, and sharper store-level execution.

- **Founded:** 1964
- **Headquarters:** Lake Forest, California, United States
- **Founders:** Ed Hackbarth (Co-Founder), David Jameson (Co-Founder)
- **Team size:** ~7,800 employees
- **Products:** Tacos, Burritos, Crinkle-Cut Fries & Burgers, House-Made Guacamole & Slow-Cooked Beans, Breakfast Menu
- **Notable:** Grew from a single 1964 desert taco stand into the second-largest Mexican QSR chain in the United States., Operates roughly 580 restaurants across 18 states., Merged with the Naugles chain in 1988, adding 171 locations and lasting brand loyalty.

## Products & services

- **Tacos** — Hard-shell, soft, snack, chicken, carne asada and seasonal tacos - the core of the menu since 1964.
- **Burritos** — Bean, beef, chicken and combo burritos, including the value-menu Del Taco staples and larger 'Epic' burritos.
- **Crinkle-Cut Fries & Burgers** — American drive-thru items - crinkle fries, Del Cheeseburger and Double Del - sold alongside the Mexican menu.
- **House-Made Guacamole & Slow-Cooked Beans** — Prepared on-site rather than shipped frozen, part of the brand's fresh-prep positioning.
- **Breakfast Menu** — Breakfast burritos, tacos and toasted wraps served during morning hours.
- **Del Yeah! Rewards** — Mobile loyalty program with four heat-themed tiers - Queso, Scorcho, Inferno and Epic - offering points, challenges, badges and surprise perks.
- **Online & App Ordering / Delivery** — Order-ahead and free-delivery options through the Del Taco app and delivery partners.
- **Burgertaco** — A cheeseburger-taco mashup limited-time item that captures the brand's cross-menu personality.

## Achievements

- Grew from a single 1964 desert taco stand into the second-largest Mexican QSR chain in the United States.
- Operates roughly 580 restaurants across 18 states.
- Merged with the Naugles chain in 1988, adding 171 locations and lasting brand loyalty.
- Went public in 2015 via Levy Acquisition Corp., one of the era's restaurant SPAC listings.
- Early mover on plant-based fast food with a nationwide Beyond Meat rollout in 2019.

## Latest updates

- **2025-12** — Yadav Enterprises completed its acquisition of Del Taco from Jack in the Box for $115 million, closing December 22, 2025.
- **2026-01** — Del Taco named a new leadership slate under Yadav, including Noah Chillingworth returning as Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer.
- **2025-04** — Jack in the Box announced it was exploring strategic alternatives for Del Taco, including a possible divestiture.

## Links

- Website: https://deltaco.com
- LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/del-taco
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/deltaco
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/deltaco
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deltaco
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/deltaco
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@deltaco

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/del-taco
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-08-12