The road to the perfect Mexican fast-food chain is paved with a lot of bad tacos.
However, in Southern California, two mega-chains rise above the rest: Taco Bell and Del Taco.
Taco Bell is the Goliath of the pair, with roughly 6,600 locations around the world. Meanwhile, Del Taco has just 550 locations in 15 states.
Despite Taco Bell's power in numbers, Del Taco has a cult following on the West Coast who promise the smaller chain more than makes up for its size in strength of flavor.
This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? Log in.So, on a recent trip to Los Angeles, we decided to visit both chains to see which reigned supreme.
Taco Bell started out on the wrong foot.
After a routine visit to Del Taco's drive-thru, we almost drove by Taco Bell due to a dark, malfunctioning "bell" sign.
Then came the drive-thru, where we faced an aggravating wait that took easily three times longer than the same process at Del Taco. As seconds ticked by, we sat in the nearly-empty drive-thru line for at least 10 minutes — essentially a lifetime in the world of fast-food.
Advantage: Del Taco
Unpacking the bags of fast-food seemed to confirm Del Taco's superiority over Taco Bell.
We ordered a chicken Del Taco, two classic grilled burritos (one with and one without secret sauce), and chili cheese fries, which cost a total of $10.74. Laying out the bounty, we were presented with a cornucopia of Mexican flavors — plus the perplexing but delightful side of fries.
In comparison, Taco Bell's offerings looked a bit puny.
We ordered one crunchy taco, two shredded chicken burritos (one without avocado ranch), and a Crunchwrap Supreme. One of the chicken burritos was scarfed down before it could be photographed. However, even with the second burrito, this spread looked like there was no way it could measure up to Del Taco.
At least the price was right — $9.96, slightly less than Del Taco's similar servings.
However, something unexpected happened when it came time to actually test the tacos.
While Del Taco (right) has a taller shell, Taco Bell's taco is thicker and packs more of a punch. Taco Bell's ground beef simply has better seasoning — the true test of a fast-food taco.
Ultimately, Taco Bell's taco remains iconic. Del Taco just ends up feeling like a weak imitation.
Advantage: Taco Bell
When it came to foods you can't get at other chains, Del Taco's fries overpowered the Crunchwrap Supreme.
Taco Bell is known for its stunt foods, from its Doritos Locos Tacos to the the Naked Chicken Chalupa, which used fried chicken as its shell. So, it came as a surprise when Del Taco's fries triumphed over the Crunchwrap Supreme.
Part of the reason for the fries' triumph is the element of surprise.
As an East Coast resident, I didn't expect to see fries on the menu of a Mexican chain. However, in the fast-food fusion utopia of California, it's not uncommon for burger chains like Jack In the Box to carry tacos, or for Del Taco to serve up chili cheese fries.
And what fries! The sturdy crinkle-cut structure is the perfect, hearty base to allow diners to shovel cheesy chili into their mouths. It's not elegant — but it's tastier and more interesting than the Crunchwrap Supreme, which tastes pretty much like a gussied up Taco Bell taco.
Advantage: Del Taco
The final test came with the burrito — a comparison that illuminated the basic difference in culinary philosophy between Del Taco and Taco Bell.
Del Taco takes well-known Mexican-American favorites and serves them as speedily as possible.
"We have the speed and the convenience of a drive-thru, but we also have good-quality food at lower price points," Del Taco's CEO, Paul Murphy, told Business Insider in January.
Del Taco's straightforward burrito, on the left, showcases this strategy. It's a bit lacking in flavor, but it is also a perfectly fine burrito — a sizeable portion of grilled chicken, cheese, lettuce, tomato, and secret sauce.
Meanwhile, Taco Bell's burrito is unabashed in its lab-created glory.
While Taco Bell has quietly become one of the healthiest fast-food chains around, the chain's shredded chicken burrito doesn't give off the same quasi-authentic vibes as Del Taco. Instead, it floods the brain's pleasure centers with one thought — "I don't know what this is, but it's delicious."
The mushy mix of shredded chicken, rice, cheese, and avocado ranch sauce forms a neatly packaged burrito begging to be finished in just a few bites. It's not a big as Del Taco's offering, but the flavor is more distinctive — and seemingly custom-made to fulfill late-night cravings.
Advantage: Taco Bell
In this Mexican fast-food death match, Goliath defeated David.
I'll admit, when I set up the showdown between Taco Bell and the California cult classic Del Taco, I thought the smaller chain would easily win.
Del Taco isn't without its strengths. The food is... fine, and if we had purchased pricier, more upscale options like the new plated Platos, it may have triumphed.
But Taco Bell dominates the competition by refusing to play it safe. Its dishes are more flavorful, weirder, and ultimately more craveable than the competition. A Taco Bell taco doesn't taste like something you could make at home or buy at a taco stand — but that's the point. It's a chain that, for better or for worse, tastes like nothing else on the planet.
Winner: Taco Bell
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7o8HSoqWeq6Oeu7S1w56pZ5ufony1rcKoZJudnKF6t7HRrKysZZSauW7AwJymZqqVq7amw4xrZ2pvXWk%3D