Del Taco Celebrates Best Fast Food Restaurant Accolade with Free Tacos for a Year Promotion for 7,000 New Mexico Fans
Rhea-AI Summary
Del Taco (NASDAQ:JACK) was named the #1 Best Fast Food Restaurant in USA TODAY's 2026 10Best Reader's Choice Awards for the second consecutive year. To celebrate, all 10 New Mexico locations will run a weeklong promotion from August 27 to September 2.
Each day, the first 100 guests at each New Mexico restaurant will receive vouchers for two free The Del Tacos per week for a year, giving up to 7,000 fans the chance to enjoy the chain’s signature taco on a recurring basis.
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Key Figures
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | 24h Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 20 | Leadership appointment | Neutral | -3.2% | Taylor Montgomery appointed president ahead of expected CEO succession |
| Aug 12 | Third-quarter earnings | Negative | -0.1% | Revenue declined alongside same-store sales and lower franchise-level margin |
| Aug 06 | Product launch | Positive | -5.7% | Del Taco launched All-American Burgertaco and expanded Dirty Del beverages |
| Jul 21 | Award recognition | Positive | +0.8% | Del Taco ranked number one in USA TODAY fast food awards |
| Jul 17 | Earnings webcast | Neutral | -7.8% | Company scheduled its third-quarter earnings release and webcast |
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
Recent positive brand-related announcements produced mixed reactions, while earnings-related news aligned more closely with reported operating weakness.
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., Aug. 24, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Del Taco, the nation’s second-largest Mexican quick service restaurant*, was recently named the #1 Best Fast Food Restaurant in USA TODAY's 2026 10Best Reader's Choice Awards for the second consecutive year. To celebrate, the brand will offer guests at all Del Taco restaurants in New Mexico the chance to win two (2) free The Del Tacos every week for a year. The limited-time promotion gives Albuquerque-area taco fans even more reasons to visit Del Taco and experience the brand’s iconic menu.
Each day from August 27 to September 2, the first 100 guests at all 10 New Mexico Del Taco locations will receive two (2) free The Del Tacos per week for a year. The weeklong promotion gives 7,000 lucky fans the opportunity to enjoy two signature tacos on the house in celebration of Del Taco’s longstanding recognition from guests nationwide. Interested participants are encouraged to visit their local Del Taco early each day for their chance to win.
“Being named the #1 Best Fast Food Restaurant by USA TODAY readers for the second year in a row reflects how deeply our guests love Del Taco” said Pranav Patel, New Mexico franchise owner. “We wanted to thank our guests throughout the state, and giving away tacos for an entire year is our way of saluting the fans who continue to make Del Taco part of their routines.”
The Albuquerque promotion celebrates The Del Taco fans know and love. The original Del Taco features seasoned beef, fresh house-grated cheddar cheese, crisp shredded lettuce and fresh diced tomatoes, all piled into a bigger, crunchier corn shell. A signature menu item since the brand’s founding, The Del Taco remains a fan favorite and a fitting choice for a promotion that gives local guests the chance to enjoy two free tacos every week for a year.
Del Taco continues to distinguish itself with an unwavering commitment to quality ingredients and exceptional value. From freshly grilled, marinated chicken and carne asada prepared in-restaurant to slow-cooked beans made from scratch, freshly grated cheddar cheese and award-winning Crinkle Cut Fries, the brand remains focused on delivering quality across every part of the menu. Del Taco continues to earn loyalty from guests seeking craveable flavors, variety, value and freshness all in one place.
For complete promotion details and official terms and conditions, please refer to the Official Rules. For more information and to find the nearest Del Taco location, visit www.deltaco.com.
Del Taco Celebrates Top Fast Food Honors with a Year of Free Tacos
*By number of units.
About Del Taco
Voted Best Fast Food Restaurant in USA Today's 2025 and 2026 10Best Reader's Choice Awards, Del Taco offers a unique variety of Mexican and American favorites, such as burritos and fries, prepared fresh in every restaurant's working kitchen with the value and convenience of a drive-thru. Del Taco's menu items taste better because they are made with real, quality ingredients like freshly grilled chicken and carne asada steak, fresh house-made guacamole, fresh house-grated cheddar cheese, slow-cooked beans made from scratch, and signature creamy Queso Blanco.
Founded in 1964, Del Taco operates more than 550 restaurants across 17 states. Del Taco’s commitment to providing guests with real food at a real value for their money originates from cooking, chopping, shredding and grilling menu items from scratch. For more information about the Del Taco brand, and to find your nearest location, visit deltaco.com.
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4abe8de2-ec5c-451d-a361-97ba49bba7e2
Media Contact Kristyna Otto Powerhouse+Co. kristyna@powerhouseandco.com