Taco Bell vs Del Taco: Menus, Prices and Nutrition Compared
A TacoBellMenuOnline guide — every figure below comes from our dataset of sampled prices and published nutrition (compiled October 2026).
Del Taco is Taco Bell's most direct rival — same Californian roots, same Mexican-inspired core — and the two menus have quietly diverged into different bets. This comparison puts our Taco Bell dataset on the table in full and describes Del Taco's side structurally; we do not track Del Taco's prices or nutrition row by row, so no figures are invented for them.
The Taco Bell side, from the dataset
| Items tracked (unique) | 297 |
|---|---|
| Menu categories | 12 |
| Average sampled item price | $5.59 |
| Cheapest sampled item (excluding free packets) | Duo Habanero Sauce — $0.20 |
| Average calories across listings with data | 355 Cal |
| Value depth ($3.00 or less) | full value table |
Where the menus differ
Scope. Taco Bell runs a single-cuisine menu at greater depth — twelve categories of Mexican-inspired items, with the value line and the rotating LTO programme as its engines. Del Taco splits its bet: a smaller Mexican menu alongside burgers, fries and shakes, which makes it the broader generalist and Taco Bell the deeper specialist.
Value. Both chains fight on price, but differently: Del Taco's identity is a long budget list, while Taco Bell's is the boxed bundle and the sub-$3 full-size burrito — the value hub shows the current Taco Bell table, and our menu & prices hub shows the whole field it competes in.
Late night. Taco Bell owns the late-night position, with closing times running to 1:00 AM and beyond across much of the network (see the hours hub); Del Taco matches in some markets, particularly in the West, but does not market the daypart the same way.
The verdict the data supports
If you want Mexican fast food at depth — more builds, more data, more ways to customise — Taco Bell's menu is the larger instrument, and this site exists because it can be fully mapped. If you want a burger with your taco in one stop, that is Del Taco's structural advantage and no amount of Taco Bell data changes it.
Category by category: where Taco Bell's depth sits
The structural fact underneath every comparison above is the shape of Taco Bell's own menu — twelve categories deep, with the item counts and cheapest sampled entry points below. This is the list a smaller Mexican menu is competing against, category for category:
| Category | Items | Cheapest sampled |
|---|---|---|
| Tacos | 31 | $1.44 |
| Burritos | 31 | $1.49 |
| Quesadillas | 8 | $2.00 |
| Specialties | 28 | $1.44 |
| Nachos | 7 | $2.99 |
| Bowls | 6 | $6.49 |
| Cantina Chicken Menu | 11 | $3.19 |
| Breakfast | 16 | $0.00 |
| Combos & Boxes | 19 | $5.00 |
| Groups | 14 | $4.39 |
| Sides & Sweets | 67 | $0.00 |
| Drinks | 59 | $2.19 |
Depth is also the moat: replicating any single category is easy, but the cold-drink program, the breakfast daypart and the rotating limited-time lines each need their own supply chain — which is why the honest comparison is never really Del Taco versus Taco Bell item for item, but a focused regional menu against a national system that can afford to spend money teaching you a new craving.
About this guide's data
Every figure in this guide comes from one dataset: sampled Taco Bell prices and published nutrition, compiled and verified in October 2026 (prices are re-checked monthly, and every data page carries its verification stamp). Rankings state their rule in the open and are computed from those rows — never voted on, never estimated. Where a value is missing it is shown as missing, and each named item links to its own page, where the full label, allergen record and sampled price range can be checked. Prices vary by location; nutrition values are the published figures for the standard build.
Frequently asked questions
Is Taco Bell or Del Taco cheaper?
Both run deep budget lines. On Taco Bell's side the sampled data shows an average item price of $5.59 and a large sub-$3 table; Del Taco competes with a long fixed budget list. Store-level prices vary on both sides.
Which has more menu items?
Taco Bell's Mexican menu is the deeper one — 231 unique items in our tracking across 12 categories. Del Taco's menu is broader in kind (it includes burgers and shakes) but smaller within Mexican items.
Which is open later?
Taco Bell markets and staffs late night more aggressively: 1:00 AM or later is typical across much of its network. Del Taco has late locations in western markets but not the same network-wide pattern.