Taco Bell Vs Del Taco: Which Chain Has The Better Value Menu?

If you are looking for fast and cheap, Taco Bell and Del Taco are two chains with some of the best value. Fast food has always been seen as a budget option when you have no choice but to eat out, yet persistent inflation has cut into that value. But while Taco Bell and Del Taco have also seen price jumps in the last few years, both still tout value menus that offer some of the most affordable items in fast food. Of the two, Del Taco actually offers the wider ranging and cheaper options.

From a price perspective, the Del Taco menu is a little cheaper for comparable items. Because Taco Bell relies largely on unique creations, there aren't a ton of options with direct overlap. However, at the nearby location we checked, Taco Bell's value nachos with cheese were $4.19, while Del Taco's were only $2.49. The most simple burrito on Taco Bell's Lux value menu, the Cheesy Bean and Rice, goes for $1.89, while the Del Taco Bean and Cheese Burrito options are priced at $1.49.

And while the 3 Cheese Flatbread Melt at Taco Bell is a bit bigger than the Grilled Chicken Snacker alternative at Del Taco, the latter is also a dollar cheaper at only $2. But those small price differences aren't Del Taco's main advantage. The chain also offers more value menu items as a whole.

Taco Bell's value menu is no slouch. It currently offers a dozen items that cover a decent range of flavors, like Avocado Ranch Chicken Stacker, a mini taco salad, and the Beefy Potato Loaded Griller. But Del Taco's recently introduced (and on-the-nose) "Get A Lot" value menu boasts more items overall, including sweets, drinks, and meals that Taco Bell doesn't offer. Sure, it offers some more unique items, like two different Crispy Chicken Tacos, but it also features more simple classics.

If you just want a simple seasoned ground beef taco at Taco Bell or Del Taco, only Del Taco's value menu has you covered. The Snack Taco's there are basically identical to the classic hard and soft tacos from Taco Bell's normal menu — and almost a dollar cheaper. What the Taco Bell value menu really has going for it is size. The Beefy Potato Loaded Griller and the Cheesy Double Beef Burrito are both solidly bigger than anything on its competitor's value menu. They are more expensive too, but if you want to fill up on a single offering, Taco Bell may be the better choice.

That being said, Del Taco just offers more. There are snack-sized churros on the menu, mini shakes, and even a $9.99 value menu meal that sports two burritos, two tacos, two snackers, and a drink, which we think is one of the best new combo meals of 2026. The best value menus offer both good prices and enough selection to make a good meal. Del Taco edges out Taco Bell in both.