- NEWS
- Car plows into concrete wall, house 2 hours & 29 minutes ago
- Freeway connector road closed 31 minutes ago
- Weather service issues red-flag fire warning 4 minutes ago
- Another up month for home prices 1 hour & 17 minutes ago
- SPORTS
- Hudler, Physioc fired by Fox 1 minute ago
- UCLA-USC: Ten things to look for 1 hour & 30 minutes ago
- O.C. players make an impact in NFL 1 hour & 5 minutes ago
- USC football: 10 reasons why it went wrong 32 minutes ago
- BUSINESS
- Be thankful for this: $1 million in cash
- More homeowners struggle in Surf City
- Stop acting rich, start getting rich 21 minutes ago
- Zippiest O.C. home market? Los Alamitos 3 hours & 38 minutes ago
- ENTERTAINMENT
- Who will win 'Dancing With The Stars'? 35 minutes ago
- Rattle, Berlin Phil, awash in Brahms 1 hour & 23 minutes ago
- Jim Gaffigan brings his new act to O.C.
- 'Little Women' well performed in Anaheim
- LIFE
- Thanksgiving wine picks
- Frumpy Mom: I'm flunking the 7th grade 1 hour & 52 minutes ago
- 7 For All Mankind opens first O.C. store
- Seedless watermelons recalled over bacteria 20 minutes ago
- TRAVEL
- OPINION
Is Del Taco trying to be like Chipotle?
June 24th, 2009, 6:45 am · 59 Comments · posted by Nancy Luna, Staff Writer
When I first got the lowdown on Del Taco’s new chicken fajita burrito, the first thing I asked myself was:
Is Del Taco trying to be like Chipotle?
The new burrito is stuffed with grilled marinated chicken, fire roasted fajita onions and peppers.
But, here’s the new twist: Diners can choose two of the following four extra ingredients: sour cream, fresh salsa, cheddar cheese or guacamole.
So, for $3.69, you get a burrito stuffed with two added ingredients — of your choice.
Choices? Is this really Del Taco?
Although Del Taco personalizes any meal (ex. taco with no cheese, burrito with no sauce), this is the first time I’ve ever seen the chain offer diners ingredient choices. It struck me as odd, so I followed up with the Lake Forest-based chain.
Del Taco "customizes" new burrito.
Sure enough, spokeswoman Barbara Caruso told me this is first time Del Taco has ever advertised a “custom burrito.”
But, what if you want all four ingredients? Does it cost more?
Answer: Yes. Each additional item cost 39 cents, Caruso said after I sent her a few follow-up questions.
This detail, by the way, was left off the press release.
Still, I decided to give the new burrito a try last night.
I ordered one with salsa and cheese, and a second with all four ingredients. After ordering, I waited a few seconds to see if the drive-through cashier would warn me that asking for all four ingredients would cost more.
She didn’t.
Instead, I asked her if ordering more would cost more. She said, “Yes.”
However, she didn’t tell me how much more. I didn’t like that. I want full disclosure when added “fees” apply to any order. Don’t you?
As for the taste? Meh.
It tasted like a chicken soft taco, but with grilled onions and green and red peppers. Now, don’t get me wrong. I like Del Taco’s chicken soft tacos. But, what disturbed me was that the peppers were cold, yet they had “grill” marks on them. The burrito was cold to the touch too.
The fresh salsa was more like chopped tomatoes. The grilled peppers were cold.
Final thoughts: I paid $4.49 for the “fajita works” and wasn’t really impressed. For roughly the same price, I would have been much more satisfied with a chicken burrito from one of my favorite taquerias or Custom Burrito King Chipotle.
- For more information on the latest menu changes at local restaurants, bookmark my New on the Menu section — found to the right of this blog.
Related stories:
59 Comments
Leave a Reply
-
ADVERTISEMENT
-
The Catch: Burger Contest Results
The soon-to-be-open The Catch in Anaheim held a burger contest this month. Some of the "killer burgers" will be featured on the restaurant's revamped menu. To view a photo gallery of the burgers, click on the image or CLICK HERE .
The Catch Burger Contest
-
Restaurants Out of Business
The recession is forcing many Orange County restaurants to shutter, and we're trying to track them all for you. Check out our O.C. Restaurant Closure List for the latest updates. -
O.C. Frozen Yogurt Shops
-
-
-
-
Report: Restaurants on Twitter
Special report: Restaurants are jumping on the Social Media bandwagon. But is Eating and Tweeting luring diners? READ FULL STORY
- How Twitter-savvy are chains? CLICK HERE to see how the Fast Food Maven rates local and national chains on Twitter.
-
Contact the Fast Food Maven
Follow the Fast Food Maven on Twitter or 'Friend Me' on Facebook.
Send tips reviews, gripes to nluna@ocregister.com
Nancy Luna, the Fast Food Maven
The Orange County Register
625 N. Grand Ave.
Santa Ana, CA 92711-1626
-
-
-
-
-
16th annual People's Choice
From your favorite restaurants and shops to the best day spa in town, here are your choices for the number one places to eat, shop and play in O.C.
Browse the 2009 Best of Orange County winners -
ADVERTISEMENT
I had one yesterday for lunch and mine was really good. Nice and hot, and I subbed jalapenos on mine instead of the tomatoes. Del Taco is like all chains, it depends on where you go and who you order from. I do prefer Del Taco to Taco Bell because they will make special orders that are off menu, and will let you sub extra cheese or tomatoes or beans, etc. for ground beef at no extra charge-at my location, anyway. As for “trying to be ike Chipolte”, Mexican food is just Mexican food.
Mexican food is not just Mexican food. There are different tastes from one place to another! And Del Taco along with Taco Bell isn’t even real Mexican food. It’s Americanized Mexican food!
I’ve never heard of Chipotle. I’m presuming it’s a California-only fast food joint like Del Taco (but, I lived in SoCal up until a few years ago, so I’m guessing this Chipotle place must be new)?
I do miss Del Taco’s macho burrito…
Archie: Chipotle Mexican Grill is a based in Denver. It is one of the fastest growing quick-serve Mexican fast-food chains..We have more than a dozen in O.C….It’s known for serving custom, made to order burritos. As for my cold veggies..Here’s what DT told me this morning, when I checked my email –”We’ve had very positive customer feedback so far, so this seems odd. It is possible the restaurant ran out of vegetables and just hadn’t grilled the new batch all the way through when you came through…. sorry!!!”
If you want to be warned about “fees,” you probably don’t want to eat out much. Go to Wahoo’s and see if they try and sell you the guacamole without mentioning it costs extra. Go to any burger place and see if they ask if you want cheese without mentioning it costs extra. If the item on the menu says “choose two,” you have to assume that more than two costs extra. Otherwise, it’d just come with all four and you could select which you don’t want on it.
Blake — I think fee disclosure is important. Other chains like Togo’s or Subway or Chipotle tell you that avocado, for example, is extra. so, not everyone is pulling a “Wahoo’s” like you said.
I LOVE Chiptole and there is no way Del Taco can even compete with them. I do Del Taco if I am in a hurry and just need a snack to tide me over and it’s almost always through the drive-through. When I want good Mexican food and have the time to sit down and enjoy my meal (without actually going to a restaurant), I do Chiptole. To me, there is no comparison.
Maybe I’m just used to it, but I think Blake got it right about assuming anything extra is going to cost extra. I consider “would you like cheese?” the same as “would you like fries with that?” (i.e., an attempt to upsell me). The one no-cost food extra I can think of is the onions for Wendy’s chili. They’ll ask if you want cheese and onions, but the onions are free. Speaking of off-menu items, years ago I felt nostalgic for a bun taco, so I asked for one at a Taco Bell and was surprised to be charged several bucks for what I expected to be about one buck.
Yadthink: I want to go out to lunch with you — and you are paying the tab. I will order all those “extras” since you don’t care about how much it will cost you.
Wow Nancy,
Have some class…!
Anyways, del taco vs. Chipotle is like comparing Mc Donalds to Fat Burger… its oranges to apples.
I have tried the fajita burrito, and thought it was a great improvement to their menu, and I hope they keep it. The sign clearly says “any 2 items” but I ordered all 4 anyways.. The drive through attendant said “it will cost extra is that OK?” and I said “i don’t care”…. So what 4.50 total or so for the burrito with all 4? Now how much is the fajita burrito at Chipotle, with guacamole… Its $8.05, not including a drink… :shifty
Do you want to go out to lunch? My treat… You can order anything you like.
Nancy, sorry if I came across the wrong way. We may be looking at 2 different things. 1) I was agreeing with what I think Blake’s point was, that we should assume extras cost extra. And I prefaced it by suggesting my thinking might be because I’m used to extras costing extra. 2) I was not disagreeing with what might have been your point, that the restaurant should disclose that extras cost extra or perhaps how much extra. In fact, I’d be annoyed to be the victim of such nondisclosure. So, when’s lunch? : )
Speaking of extras costing extra, I wish Wendy’s (at least the one I visit) would rename their drink sizes. They have a Small, but then there’s a smaller (and cheaper) size on the value menu. To me, that’s a sneaky upcharge for customers that order the Small assuming it’s the smallest and cheapest size.
That’s OK Yathink..Thanks for the reply.
Nancy-
How does it compare to a Chipotle burrito?
I agree with the others who said not all fast food places cook the same. To get a better idea of it maybe try at a couple different places? If you need help I’ll gladly eat a few for you!
Rob: I was talking about Del Taco offering a custom, made-to-order burrito — which is Chipotle’s whole business model. Is that what you are asking me?
how cares about del taco imitating chipotle. chipotle copies subway.
Chipotle Sux! Flavorless food filled with tons of sodium. Go to a REAL Taqueria for good food & it’s cheaper too.
whats yer favorite Taqueria, any suggestions?
I’ll try this new burrito, it looks hopeful. I like Del they aren’t too bad for a fast food joint.
As far as Chipotle, I like em. They’re delicious. BUT have you noticed they have been making their burritos smaller? Whats up with that!? I bet its due to cost cutting, and the current economic slow down. I go to the one in Fullerton on Chapman and State College.
Anyone notice the smaller burritos? We need to protest..
Since I don’t live as close to Del Taco as I used to, I go there a lot less, and the few times I’ve gone there in the past 6 months have disappointed me compared to in the past.
I’ll just stick to the Contodo Mexican Grill down the street, pretty much the same as Chipotle but closer. But you do have to pay extra for guacamole, everything else is included if you want it.
“And Del Taco along with Taco Bell isn’t even real Mexican food. It’s Americanized Mexican food!”
I think we all know that. But every time there’s a thread about any Mexican fast food chain somebody has to act like they’re offering a profound insight. “That’s not real Mexican food!”
And I might be stopping by the new Chipotle location in the next couple days but I’m still bewildered by the crazy cult following they have. They take a tortilla and put some meat and toppings in it for you and will do it the way you want it. Hundreds of places do that but somehow Chipotle gets all the love. I guess it’s a mass hypnosis thing.
“whats yer favorite Taqueria, any suggestions?”
Just click my name. I’ve covered over 200 Mexican restaurants in the county, and all types of them. But you have to click around the site to get more info. It can’t all fit on the front page but a lot of people come to the site and figure everything on it is going to be exactly like what the first entry is about. For instance, if the entry at the top happens to be about Taco Bell some people will leave the site instantly, thinking, “Hmmph! This guy thinks Taco Bell is Mexican food?! I know better than that!” And they miss the over 200 other reviews there are of all different types of places.
Funny, I moved to Detroit, MI (Yeah I’m sorry too lol) & they just opened a few Del Taco’s out here & the joints are oh so packed. Thank God Del Taco is out here now, good to have a piece of home cooking here LOL
Chipotle is good & I won’t knock it BUT Del Taco will win everytime LOL
Sounds to me that nancy is a bit on the take from chipolte. Myself, I often find better or more taste from DT then many of the nicer OC so-called “mexican” places to eat..at a 1/3 the price. As far as service, these people work fast food, you are not going to get A+ service with all of the required information; most of them speak limited english (exception-in and out Burger)
boywonder: I’m not “on the take.” PERIOD.
And, Stephan….What does Class have anything to do with wanting accurate information?
Can’t people just like something just to like something? Or is that against the law now?
tried both. agree the del taco version is poor. chipotle produces a “quality and high end” burrito w/ substance and bulk. Del Taco for $3.70+ should not produce a cheap version of an alleged fajita burrito. The Del Taco one I had was cold and not filling at all. I always leave Chipotle full and stuffed with their mammoth burritos albeit a little more pricey than most chains.
Prefer the Del Beef or Combo Burritos instead of the experimental Fajita one. Good article
“Sounds to me that nancy is a bit on the take from chipolte.”
Uh . . . nice try.
Thanks for the great review, it’s interesting to see the picture, it looks disappointing to say the least. I also think restaurants should disclose extra add-ons price, I really dislike when they don’t and then I’m left wondering why the advertised meal costs 3 dollars more… Thanks again!
I might have tried it but the picture that goes along with the article? It looks like whomever was eating the burrito threw it up and then took a picture of it.
I agree w/ rock star cat. That photo is extremely unappetizing. Good reporting, Nancy.
In my experience burritos are hard to take pictures of. They all look like white lumps on the outside and not much to write home about on the inside.
Interesting…I’ll have to try this Chipotles place when I ever get back to Calif. The custom burrito thing sounds like Moe’s, which we have out here.
Any comparison to Chipotle should only be done if the restaurant is serving a Mission-style burrito, which is what Chipotle’s signature burrito is. These originated in the Mission District in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Mission-style burritos don’t have peppers or onions in them. They usually have rice, beans, guacamole, sour cream, and whatever meat you want in there. They are usually wrapped in foil, hence the nickname “Silver Torpedo” as some people like to call them.
To my knowledge, there are no restaurants beyond Chipotle serving Mission-style burritos in Southern California. And Chipotle’s version isn’t really that good compared to those in the Bay Area. It’s decent, but not great.
Come on, it’s just a freaking burrito. We’ve been making them like that at home for years and it wasn’t because we first found them in San Fran.
Tortilla, meat, rice and beans, salsa, sour cream, cheese, lettuce (if you must).
The salsa has peppers and onions in them. Heck most places I go to make the burritos pretty much the same. What makes this a “mission” style burrito.
Dan, if you’re interested in learning some different burrito styles, here is a good article discussing the Mission-style burrito, and some other burrito styles.
If you can give me a list of places in Southern California that make a Mission-style burrito, I’d be grateful. Most places tend not to serve rice or sour cream in their burritos.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2001/04/29/CM162769.DTL
Just about every place I know of that makes a burrito will put whatever you want in it if you ask. In fact most sit down Mexican restaurants I go to put the rice and beans inside, instead of putting them on the side.
Taco Bell does.
Seems like Nancy needs to chill out! No true foodie would blog about Del Taco!
Wow: May I direct you to the name of this blog: Fast Food Maven.
You can stick to you $30 a plate meals, give me a meal under $15 any day.
“No true foodie would blog about Del Taco!”
So there’s foodie snobbery? Don’t be too surprised when a blog that says it’s about fast food actually mentions fast food.
Fast-food does have to be about the fast-food corporate chains. Venture out of your cooperate sponsorships a little!
Meant to say
‘Fast-food does not have to be about the fast-food corporate chains. Venture out of your cooperate sponsorships a little’
IMO, most of us are interested in the chains because they’re available no matter where we live or travel in the area. If nonchain restaurants are not located near me, they don’t qualify as fast food for me and I’m going to tend to skip news and reviews about them. Nancy’s focus appeals to a wide audience, as it should.
NO DAN, NO DEAL!!!!! Bring back Dan, or I’ll never eat there again!!!
Del Taco is not the only place mentioned here. Proves what I said earlier about people thinking an entire blog is only about what its top entry is about.
Chick Little, did you ever eat at Del Taco *before* Dan was their spokesperson?
Christian… stop babysitting.
Just saying it’s funny you think a blog about fast food shouldn’t be mentioning something that fits firmly into the realm of fast food. That’s all.
Chipotle is very overrated. For one, would it kill them to EVER MIX the ingredients before wrapping it up??? There is nothing like 3 bites in a row of rice and then a bite of beans, etc. Would it kill you guys to run a spoon or fork through it to mix it a little?
Two, cost. In terms of money, they are expensive and in terms of calories, Chipotle is always on the list for worst possible foods to eat. One of there burritos always has over 1000 calories! That is worse than a bacon cheeseburger!
Three, they are jerks with charging for the tacos. You get 3 or 4 tacos depending on crispy v. soft, yet they charge you the highest price for whichever meat you get. Say two chicken and one carnitas, be ready to pay as if you got 3 carnitas. So sketchy. But on that note, I do love their carnitas. It is really well done.
The price is different for carnitas and chicken? (I just checked the price difference is 25 cents). Is it really worth getting upset over 25 cents? That is like 8 cents a taco (or 6 if soft).
Also I’m sure if you asked them too they would mix the stuff up, but usually they are pretty good with speading the stuff out.
$6 bucks for a burrito that one person can eat but be bloated or two could eat and be pleasantly full doesn’t seem too bad, IMO. The things are twice the size of the $3 Del Burritos and much more delicious.
Get it in a bowl - that way you can mix it up yourself and it’s easier to eat.
What I meant by Mexican food is Mexian food is that nobody can claim it, any restaurant can make Mexican food like fajita burritos without people saying they are trying to be like Chipolte. No place owns Mexican food.
As for this is new offering I’d have to say back to the drawing board. While I’m all for BYOB (Build Your Own Burrito), this was lacking, namely in the chicken dept, the taste just wasn’t there. It did not taste like a fajita burrito, aside from the peppers and onions, the chicken was bland.
Though you should try the jalapeno rings, those are great!
Tastes like a dog’s breakfast. Same chicken as the classic chicken burrito. Ever since Sagittarius Brands, LLC bought them they’ve gone downhill. innovation is fine but this product is too expensive and tastes nothing like real fajitas. Nasty!
Everybody chill about Nancy. She works hard and does a great job.
BTW, my advice to Del Taco - be Del Taco, and don’t copy Chipotle. Follow the business model of In-N-Out burgers and keep the prices down and the quality up, as you have for years now. That’s why I go back to DT - freshly prepared food at reasonable prices, way better than Taco Bell (although I eat there, too).
Nancy, how ’bout a review of the McDonald’s coffee situation? Might be a good story idea. Quality seems poor for the price, and way too many choices for a drive-thru fast food place.
Also … food qualty at the new Sonic in Mission Viejo is average at best. To me, it’s the drink menu that makes their menu special, in addition to the cute carhops on roller skates (please don’t hire any more chubby young “dudes” to bring food to the cars, puh-leeze!) - but there still is a huge wait at certain times on certain days to get into the place.
Lastly … have you ever heard of Nation’s burgers? We ate there a few years ago in the Bay Area - it’s a small chain if I remember correctly. Food was terrific - are they still in business, and if so, any chance they might be looking to open a place in OC?
Keep up the good work, Nancy!
Wow what’s with the attacks today?? Absolutely ridiculous and they make no sense whatsoever.
First of all, we’re not dumb. We realize what some extra ingredients cost extra but wouldn’t you want to know HOW MUCH extra change it’s going to cost you? If I go into a burger joint, I know that at most places, they would charge for extra tomatoes, extra cheese, and the like. Wouldn’t it make a difference if that extra slice of tomato costs 50 cents or a dollar?
And the post about being a “true” foodie, what an absurd comment. You want to stick your head in the sand and ignore corporate establishments because you’re too good for them? Of course, like Christian mentioned, obviously you’ve only read this single entry of the entire blog, just trying to cause trouble…
Keep up the great work Nancy, love reading your entries everyday!
I work at Del Taco! Del Taco will always try ro upsell you and rip you off. I know, it sucks. I hate working there but i need the money. The fajitas are frozen, and when a customer orders them, you have to grill them, thats when theyll taste fresh. in your case, they were probably cooked already and placed outside in the container, but theyre not supposed to do that. They have to make it when you order them. i do like the burrito, but thats cuz i make it! jaja. it does depend a lot on the del taco store, the manager, the cooks, the cashier, it suxa
Del Taco had the fajita burritos up till 5 years ago. Avocado, sour cream, bell peppers and salsa. The staff hate making them so DT does not sell them. They are great and, ( this sounds so pathetic, but tipping the staffer a 2 or 3 bucks on this special order usually makes it worth while.) I was friends with a manager and always got good and gave an extra buck or two.
Fast food is a grind, minimum wage and a complicated tip worthy meal leaves the staffers a little fatigued….. ( slows the kitchen ect )