Here’s what $9.19 buys at Del Taco

Del Taco has relaunched its value lineup as Del’s Real Deal Menu.

The move comes in the midst of what the “Today” show has dubbed the fast food value wars launched by McDonald’s and joined by Taco Bell and other chains.

This is the biggest change Del Taco has made to its budget offerings since the Lake Forest-based chain introduced its 20 Under $2 menu in January 2022.

The menu, which Del Taco stylized as Real Deal$, includes 15 items that still cost less than $2. There is one addition, snack-sized chips with house-made guacamole.

Most of the items on the 20 Under $2 menu remain, including a bean and cheese burrito, Chicken Cheddar Rollers, Crispy Chicken Tacos, Chicken Taco Del Carbon, Snack Tacos with ground beef, 3-Layer Queso Nachos, Crunchtada Tostada and a Snack Queso Quesadilla.

Del Taco gets to 15 items the same way it got to 20 on the earlier menu, by counting variations on items such as the Crispy Chicken Tacos as separate.

Most of the items that dropped off the 20 Under $2 menu are still available and still under $2 at my local Del Taco. They include mini shakes, iced coffee, Donut Bites and Mini Cinnamon Churros.

Del Taco cautions that prices vary by location in the news release announcing Real Deal$.

I made a test run to see what I could get for $10. Four Real Deal$ food items plus a beverage came in at $9.19. They were chips and guac, $1.69; 3-Layer Queso Nachos, $1.79; Crunchtada Tostada, $1.69; Snack Queso Quesadilla, $1.49; and a mini Strawberry Shake, $1.79.

On Wednesday, Del Taco came in No. 1 in a poll of fast food restaurants by USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. In-N-Out Burger came in fourth, after KFC and Chick-fil-A. Taco Bell was seventh.

Del Taco also came in first for best fast food fries and second in the best breakfast category.

Other Southern California winners included The Habit Burger Grill, for best burger and best side, and Jollibee, for best fast food fried chicken.

Contestants are chosen by panels of experts and then voted on for four weeks by the public, according to the contest website.

Information: deltaco.com