Brandwave

Del Taco vs Taco John's:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Del Taco had more branded searches than Taco John's among mexican fast food chains in the United States. Del Taco had about 823,000 branded searches, while Taco John's had 368,000. Del Taco made up 3.2% of all mexican fast food chain searches we track, and Taco John's accounted for 1.4%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about mexican fast food chains, Del Taco appeared in all three answers and Taco John's in one. Del Taco was mentioned before Taco John's in every answer.

Among mexican fast food chains in the United States in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Del Taco, about 2 searches for every 1 for Taco John's

Del Taco 823K searchesTaco John's 368K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Del Taco, mentioned in every answer we collected

Del Taco in 3 of 3Taco John's in 1 of 3

Who does AI recommend more?

Del Taco, named ahead of Taco John's in every answer

Del Taco first in 3Taco John's never first

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Top mexican fast food chains in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions, Del Taco appeared in all three answers. Taco John's was mentioned in one out of three: in one of the three ChatGPT answers. Del Taco was listed before Taco John's in every answer.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Chipotle Mexican Grill1st
  2. Del Taco2nd
  3. Taco Bell3rd
  4. QDOBA4th
  5. Freebirds World Burrito5th
  6. Torchy's Tacos6th
  7. Moe's Southwest Grill7th
  8. Taco John's8th
  9. El Pollo Loco–

Mentioned by AI

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

See every answer about mexican fast food chains

3 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United States on October 22, 2026.

Is Del Taco or Taco John's more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Del Taco and Taco John's by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all nine mexican fast food chains we track, month by month, from searches in United States.

Del Taco and Taco John's among mexican fast food chains in the United States, by month

Share of searches by month for Del Taco, Taco John's. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthTaco BellChipotle Mexican GrillQDOBAEl Pollo LocoDel TacoMoe's Southwest GrillTorchy's TacosTaco John'sFreebirds World Burrito
Oct 202550.9%28%6.9%3.7%3.7%2.1%2.5%1.4%0.75%
Nov 202551.7%28.4%7%3.1%3.8%1.7%2.1%1.4%0.76%
Dec 202548.9%32.9%5.4%3%3.6%2%2.4%1.1%0.72%
Jan 202648.5%32.6%6.5%2.9%3.6%1.6%2.4%1.1%0.72%
Feb 202647.5%32%6.4%3.5%3.5%1.9%2.9%1.3%0.86%
Mar 202648.1%32.3%6.5%3.5%3.5%1.9%2.4%1.1%0.71%
Apr 202651.1%28.1%6.9%3.8%3.8%2.1%2.5%1.1%0.75%
May 202650.9%28%6.9%3.7%3.7%2.1%2.5%1.4%0.75%
Jun 202651.3%28.2%6.9%3.8%3.1%2.1%2.5%1.4%0.76%
Jul 202654.4%24.5%6%4%4%2.2%2.7%1.5%0.8%
Aug 202650.9%28%6.9%3.7%3.7%2.1%2.5%1.4%0.75%
Sep 202652.2%28.7%5.8%3.8%3.2%2.1%2.1%1.4%0.63%

How has the Del Taco and Taco John's comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings

How did search popularity change for United States mexican fast food chains in September 2026?

1 change

  1. In September 2026, Del Taco lost share of searches among mexican fast food chains in the United States, from 3.7% to 3.2%.

How are branded searches counted?

3 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Del Taco’s and Taco John'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.

Del Taco

1 branded search term

  • del taco

Taco John's

2 branded search terms

  • taco john's
  • taco johns

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among mexican fast food chains

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