Brandwave

How popular isTaco Bell?

In September 2026, people searched for Taco Bell by name about 51,100 times in New Zealand, an 18.6% increase from the previous year. These searches made up 77.5% of all New Zealand mexican fast casual chain searches, placing Taco Bell first out of four chains. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about mexican fast casual chains, Taco Bell appeared in three of the four answers and was the third most recommended of the four.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

Taco Bell is the most searched of 4 competitors and the third most recommended in AI answers.

  1. Taco BellShare of searches 77.5%Mentioned in 3 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
  2. ZambreroShare of searches 14.2%Mentioned in 4 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
  3. Mexicali FreshShare of searches 7.8%Mentioned in 4 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
  4. Mad MexShare of searches 0.54%Mentioned in 2 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th
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Top mexican fast casual chains in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and one Google AI Overview, Taco Bell was mentioned in three out of four: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in the Google AI Overview. Taco Bell is the third most recommended of the four.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Mexicali Fresh1st
  2. Zambrero2nd
  3. Taco Bell3rd
  4. Mad Mex4th

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Zambrero4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Mexicali Fresh4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Taco Bell3 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Mad Mex2 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers

See every answer about mexican fast casual chains

4 answers

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 19, 2026.

Which mexican fast casual chains compete with Taco Bell?

Taco Bell against mexican fast casual chains in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for Taco Bell, Zambrero, Mexicali Fresh. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthTaco BellZambreroMexicali FreshMad Mex
Oct 202570.7%18.2%10.5%0.6%
Nov 202570.8%18.1%10.4%0.72%
Dec 202576.4%15.9%7.3%0.42%
Jan 202677.7%14%7.8%0.54%
Feb 202674.2%16.1%9.1%0.52%
Mar 202674.6%16%8.8%0.52%
Apr 202676.1%16%7.3%0.64%
May 202675.7%16.2%7.4%0.64%
Jun 202676.2%15.8%7.5%0.53%
Jul 202678%13.7%7.7%0.66%
Aug 202677.7%14%7.7%0.66%
Sep 202677.5%14.2%7.8%0.54%

  1. 1.Taco Bell

    77.5%

    Held 1st. 45.5K estimated branded searches, -0.85% vs prior month. Share -0.2 points.

  2. 2.Zambrero

    14.2%

    Held 2nd. 8.3K estimated branded searches, +0.85% vs prior month. Share +0.2 points.

  3. 3.Mexicali Fresh

    7.8%

    Held 3rd. 4.6K estimated branded searches, +0.88% vs prior month. Share +0.1 points.

  4. 4.Mad Mex

    0.54%

    Held 4th. 320 estimated branded searches, -17.9% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.

Compare popularity between Taco Bell and its closest rivals

Every comparison with Taco Bell

14 comparisons

How has branded search demand for Taco Bell changed in New Zealand over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Taco Bell in New Zealand rose from 43.1K to 51.1K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Taco Bell’s share of searches among mexican fast casual chains in New Zealand increased from 70.7% to 77.5%.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Taco Bell’s share of searches among mexican fast casual chains in New Zealand peaked at 78% in July 2026 and was lowest at 70.7% in October 2025.

How did search popularity change for New Zealand mexican fast casual chains in September 2026?

3 changes

  1. Estimated monthly branded searches for Taco Bell in New Zealand rose 21.2% over 12 measured months, from 37.6K to 45.5K in September 2026.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for Mexicali Fresh in New Zealand fell 18.2% over 12 measured months, from 5.6K to 4.6K in September 2026.

  3. Estimated monthly branded searches for Zambrero in New Zealand fell 14% over 12 measured months, from 9.7K to 8.3K in September 2026.

How are Taco Bell’s branded searches counted?

16 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Taco Bell’s name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.

  • taco bell
  • taco bell botany
  • taco bell burrito
  • taco bell delivery
  • taco bell eastgate
  • taco bell hamilton
  • taco bell menu
  • taco bell nachos
  • taco bell quesadilla
  • taco bell sauce
  • taco bell tuesday
  • tacobell
  • tacobell burrito
  • tacobell delivery
  • tacobell hours
  • tacobell menu

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How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Where does Taco Bell compete?

Taco Bell is ranked in two competitor sets. Each share is worked out among that set's brands, so it differs from set to set.
Competitor setRankShare of searchesRanking
Fast food chains5th of 145.8%Show ranking
Mexican fast casual chains1st of 477.5%Shown above
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