Del Taco

From the first time we visited a Del Taco in Irvine – finding ants crawling out of our just-served burrito – to the present day, when we’ll gladly drive past three or four Del Tacos to get freshly made, delicious $3 tacos from a family-owned alternative, we’ve never been huge fans of this chain’s food. But we admire the company’s success as a nearly 600-location chain with headquarters in Orange County (specifically Lake Forest), and we’re always open-minded to the possibility that it will offer something new that will bring us in again.

To that end, we were amazed and thrilled to see Del Taco introduce “Purple Pear Poppers” – bursting boba flavored like pears in a cup of colored Sprite or lemonade – in 2022, then bring them back again in 2023 due to “popular demand.” While bursting boba have since become common, they’re proof-positive that great culinary innovations can eventually reach every corner of the restaurant world, and go from exclusive luxuries to bringing joy to the masses. Used in these two Del Taco drinks, they delivered a combination of colors, textures, and unique flavors that typically aren’t found at fast food restaurants.