Mad Mex vs Taco Bell:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Taco Bell had more branded searches than Mad Mex among Mexican chains in Australia. Taco Bell had about 74,000 branded searches, while Mad Mex had 27,100. Taco Bell made up 14.5% of all Mexican chain searches we track, and Mad Mex accounted for 5.3%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about Mexican chains, Mad Mex appeared in all three answers and Taco Bell in one. Mad Mex was mentioned before Taco Bell in every answer.
Who do people search for more?
Taco Bell, about 3 searches for every 1 for Mad Mex
Who does AI mention more?
Mad Mex, mentioned in every answer we collected
Who does AI recommend more?
Mad Mex, named ahead of Taco Bell in every answer
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Top Mexican chains in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions, Mad Mex appeared in all three answers. Taco Bell was mentioned in one out of three: in one of the three ChatGPT answers. Mad Mex was listed before Taco Bell in every answer.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
Guzman y Gomez3 of 3Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers
Zambrero3 of 3Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers- Mad Mex3 of 3Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers
- Taco Bell1 of 3Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answers
Salsa's Fresh Mex0 of 3Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answers
See every answer about Mexican chains
3 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best Mexican fast food chain in Australia?”
Asked ChatGPT
“Which chain in Australia makes the best burritos?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the most popular Mexican restaurant chains in Australia?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“mexican restaurant”
Google showed no AI Overview for this search.
Searched Google, AI Overview
“burritos”
Google showed no AI Overview for this search.
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in Australia on October 23, 2026.
Is Mad Mex or Taco Bell more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Mad Mex and Taco Bell by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all five Mexican chains we track, month by month, from searches in Australia.
Share of searches by month for Taco Bell, Mad Mex. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Guzman y Gomez | Zambrero | Taco Bell | Mad Mex | Salsa's Fresh Mex |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 42.8% | 35% | 15.6% | 5.8% | 0.77% |
| Nov 2025 | 49% | 32.7% | 12% | 5.4% | 0.88% |
| Dec 2025 | 44.5% | 36.4% | 13.3% | 4.9% | 0.8% |
| Jan 2026 | 47.8% | 32% | 14.3% | 5.3% | 0.7% |
| Feb 2026 | 44.9% | 36.7% | 13.5% | 4% | 0.81% |
| Mar 2026 | 44.8% | 36.7% | 13.5% | 4% | 0.98% |
| Apr 2026 | 39.9% | 39.9% | 14.7% | 4.4% | 1.1% |
| May 2026 | 41% | 41% | 12.3% | 4.5% | 1.1% |
| Jun 2026 | 39.4% | 39.4% | 14.5% | 5.3% | 1.3% |
| Jul 2026 | 37.7% | 37.7% | 17% | 6.2% | 1.5% |
| Aug 2026 | 40.6% | 40.6% | 12.2% | 5.5% | 1.1% |
| Sep 2026 | 39.4% | 39.4% | 14.5% | 5.3% | 1.3% |
How has the Mad Mex and Taco Bell comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Taco Bell was ahead of Mad Mex in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Mad Mex’s share of searches among Mexican chains in Australia moved from 5.8% to 5.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 40.5K to 27.1K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Taco Bell’s share of searches among Mexican chains in Australia moved from 15.6% to 14.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 110K to 74K.
How did search popularity change for Australia Mexican chains in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Taco Bell gained share of searches among Mexican chains in Australia, from 12.2% to 14.5%.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Mad Mex in Australia fell 33.1% over 12 measured months, from 40.5K to 27.1K in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Mad Mex’s and Taco Bell’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Other head-to-heads among Mexican chains
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