Del Taco offers a new $2 savings menu

Based on the number of outlets, Del Taco is the second-largest Mexican fast-food restaurant chain in the United States, second only to the giant Taco Bell corporation. Since opening in 1964, the brand has enjoyed immense popularity in its home state of California and now operates nearly 600 outlets across the country. It’s safe to say that Del Taco now sells far more than the 900 tacos it sold on opening day. Also likely contributing to this success is its competitive pricing, including the chain’s newly introduced Economy Menu, which features an impressive 15 dishes priced at $2 and under.

Debuting as Del’s Real Deal Menu, this curated collection of $2 Mexican-inspired food includes the usual nachos, burritos, quesadillas and three different taco varieties, but also introduces at least one surprise menu item. It’s the chips and guac combo, featuring house-made tortilla chips and Del Taco’s popular fresh guacamole, made in-house daily using fresh pico de gallo and Hass avocados. While it’s available in a larger size on the standard menu, it’s new to the value menu concept, albeit in a snackable version.

Named in a nod to Del Taco’s stated promise of “real ingredients at a real price,” this new value menu features a few more notable dishes, including two meatless options. Both the Crunchtada Tostada and the triple-layered Queso Nachos feature the company’s slow-cooked-from-scratch refried beans. The crispy chicken tacos range from regular marinated chicken to crispy chicken strips with three sauce options.

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Cheap offers are nothing new for this grocery chain

The Del’s Real Deal menu is certainly not the only time the chain has offered a value meal. It’s a comeback of sorts after a similar deal in 2022 that featured 20 dishes under $2. This newly released value meal appears to have a permanent place on the menu, at least for now, with no mention of a limited-time status. Del Taco has had other temporary specials recently, including one earlier this year with two separate deals for $3 each. That was preceded by a Del’s Deal Value Meal in 2023 with four options for $5, including fries and a drink.

There are many competitors in the quick-service restaurant market, many offering comparable value menus. This includes Del Taco’s main rival, Taco Bell, which is famous in the world of fast-food tacos. The chain updated its existing Craving’s Value Meal in early 2024, but the items included cost $3 or less, making them significantly more expensive than the $2 Del Taco offerings. There is also a limited-time Taco Bell Luxe Cravings Box for $7 and a separate permanent offer that allows Taco Bell customers to build their own vegetarian and flexitarian Cravings boxes for just under $6.

The chain is reaching a broader customer base with inexpensive menu items like Del Taco’s fresh guacamole and house-made tortilla chips. These types of offerings are more commonly found at Mexican restaurant chains with a fresh-Mex approach, including Chevy’s Fresh Mex and Qdoba.

Read the original article on Tasting Table.