Del Taco - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Scalded Dog · 04-26-2015, 12:03 PM

Had a remarkable experience the other day...

Del Taco is a fast food chain (one of the largest for Mexican- American fast food, second only to Taco Bell). They've got 500+ stores in many states, and (I believe) internationally on some military posts. I've been a fan since I was first came off of the teat.

So, the other day, I took my family to one of our favorite Del Taco locations, in Barstow, CA. The food was great, everybody was nice... as always.

Now, see, when a business is lousy to me, I holler, loudly and clearly. If they don't fix it, I preach it to the world. However, my philosophy is that the converse is only fair: When a place is outstandingly good, I will then holler and preach about how great they are.

This particular evening, as I was refilling a drink, I saw an employee going around wiping up spills, clearing tables, just sort of doing random things. However, his shirt was a different color than what the other employees were wearing. So I said, "Hey... you look like a manager..."

He replied, humbly, that yes, kind of... but added, "only a medioicre one at best!"

Well, I then took the opportunity to tell him how great the food was, how good the employees were, and how that keeps us coming back as huge fans of this location.

He was grateful for the kind comments, then mentioned that he is actually the OWNER of this branch. Wow! Cool.

Well, since my whole family loves the place, I went and got my wife and kids from the table, and brought them over to meet "Ed," (as the embroidery on his shirt indicated). He was very nice, and we all shot the breeze for a few minutes.

When I got home, I was perusing the Internet, and just whimsically looked up "Del Taco." That was when I learned that "Ed" was Ed Hackbarth... the FOUNDER of Del Taco... the man who started it all! He used to run with some other fellas: He was friends with (and they all started businesses sort of together) a Mr. Bell (founded Taco Bell), Mr. Baker (founded Baker's Drive- thru), Mr. Naugles (Naugles), and even Mr. Galardi (founded Der Weinerschniztel).

We were in the presence of greatness, a humble man who doesn't NEED to wipe up soda splatters... but does!

BRAVO 2SS · 04-26-2015, 12:16 PM

Very cool....sounds like he was humble too. Love stories like this! Thank you for sharing.

376LS3 · 04-26-2015, 09:00 PM

I love Del Taco. It was the one thing I missed when I moved to TX for a couple years. Then they finally opened one up but it was over 50 miles away. I made the trip once a month. Well worth it.

Mechzl1 · 04-26-2015, 10:36 PM

That's awesome. To bad my del taco experience has been terrible, got food poisoning from some chicken tacos, never had the nerve to eat del taco again. Granted it was from a del taco in the middle of no where which probably had something to do with it. However that says something about the guy if he's out there cleaning up spills when he could just have someone else do it. Gotta have respect for someone like that

ToolFan66 · 04-27-2015, 06:00 AM

Great story, but Del Taco Sucks...

Pizza Hut
KFC ( Kentucky Fried Chicken)
Del Taco

Three places that will never see my money...

JantzenOKC · 04-27-2015, 06:08 AM

We just recently got a Del Taco here in Edmond, I've given it 3 tries and I just don't like it. And French fries with tacos?? When I want tacos I just go to the little Mexican taco shops or food trucks. We have a couple here, not much English but so good!

Cool story though, gotta give respect for a guy like that, that's probably why his business has been such a success.

Taco Time · 04-27-2015, 03:56 PM

Only reason I've even heard of Del Taco is Dirt Nasty and Mickey Avalon!

And if you understand my reference, then we're already friends.

PoorMansCamaro · 04-27-2015, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JantzenOKC

We just recently got a Del Taco here in Edmond, I've given it 3 tries and I just don't like it. And French fries with tacos?? When I want tacos I just go to the little Mexican taco shops or food trucks. We have a couple here, not much English but so good!

Cool story though, gotta give respect for a guy like that, that's probably why his business has been such a success.

oddly enough, if I go to a Del Taco, I always order their burger. lol They are actually pretty damn good.

JantzenOKC · 04-27-2015, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PoorMansCamaro

oddly enough, if I go to a Del Taco, I always order their burger. lol They are actually pretty damn good.

Man that actually looks pretty good... Great, now I'm going to have to try one lol.

SSTG · 04-27-2015, 07:12 PM

Not a fan of Del Taco but maybe I'll give it another try after hearing this.

angryv6 · 04-29-2015, 12:31 AM

Del Taco is the shit, when I was stationed on the West Coast that was always my late night spot. They have one in Toledo two hours away, time for some road trips.

dianeokie · 04-29-2015, 04:18 PM

I've been to that Del Taco, my Army son lived in Barstow for a bit. Del Taco is ok, but I like Taco Mayo best, and that's in Edmond, and Oklahoma, but haven't seen any around here. Good story though, I enjoyed that.

Dirtdog · 04-30-2015, 01:32 AM

I didn't know animal excrement was allowed to be sold as food... but then I saw Del Taco.

JantzenOKC · 04-30-2015, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PoorMansCamaro

oddly enough, if I go to a Del Taco, I always order their burger. lol They are actually pretty damn good.

Ok so I tried the burger and it was pretty good, definitely better than McDonalds and Carls jr, but not as good as Burger King and Whataburger.. I don't know if I'll go get another one but if I have to do Del Taco I'll definitely be getting the burger and not the tacos.

I bet the owner of Del Taco never thought he'd be getting business off a Camaro forum lol, here's what mine looked like.

04-26-2015, 12:03 PM	#1
Scalded Dog Drives: 2011 1LT Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Crestline, CA Posts: 3,029	Del Taco Had a remarkable experience the other day... Del Taco is a fast food chain (one of the largest for Mexican- American fast food, second only to Taco Bell). They've got 500+ stores in many states, and (I believe) internationally on some military posts. I've been a fan since I was first came off of the teat. So, the other day, I took my family to one of our favorite Del Taco locations, in Barstow, CA. The food was great, everybody was nice... as always. Now, see, when a business is lousy to me, I holler, loudly and clearly. If they don't fix it, I preach it to the world. However, my philosophy is that the converse is only fair: When a place is outstandingly good, I will then holler and preach about how great they are. This particular evening, as I was refilling a drink, I saw an employee going around wiping up spills, clearing tables, just sort of doing random things. However, his shirt was a different color than what the other employees were wearing. So I said, "Hey... you look like a manager..." He replied, humbly, that yes, kind of... but added, "only a medioicre one at best!" Well, I then took the opportunity to tell him how great the food was, how good the employees were, and how that keeps us coming back as huge fans of this location. He was grateful for the kind comments, then mentioned that he is actually the OWNER of this branch. Wow! Cool. Well, since my whole family loves the place, I went and got my wife and kids from the table, and brought them over to meet "Ed," (as the embroidery on his shirt indicated). He was very nice, and we all shot the breeze for a few minutes. When I got home, I was perusing the Internet, and just whimsically looked up "Del Taco." That was when I learned that "Ed" was Ed Hackbarth... the FOUNDER of Del Taco... the man who started it all! He used to run with some other fellas: He was friends with (and they all started businesses sort of together) a Mr. Bell (founded Taco Bell), Mr. Baker (founded Baker's Drive- thru), Mr. Naugles (Naugles), and even Mr. Galardi (founded Der Weinerschniztel). We were in the presence of greatness, a humble man who doesn't NEED to wipe up soda splatters... but does! Last edited by Scalded Dog; 04-26-2015 at 01:24 PM.

04-26-2015, 12:16 PM	#2
BRAVO 2SS Aim Small...Miss Small Drives: 2018 ZL1 M6 Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 866	Very cool....sounds like he was humble too. Love stories like this! Thank you for sharing. __________________ 2010 Camaro 2SS/RS

04-26-2015, 09:00 PM	#3
376LS3 Eh, that'll happen Drives: 2010 2SS Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Mesa, Arizona Posts: 1,841	I love Del Taco. It was the one thing I missed when I moved to TX for a couple years. Then they finally opened one up but it was over 50 miles away. I made the trip once a month. Well worth it. __________________ 2010 Camaro SS LS3 - No Modz

04-27-2015, 06:00 AM	#5
ToolFan66 Drives: 2011 2SS 6.2L W/RS package Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Colorado Posts: 3,008	Great story, but Del Taco Sucks... Pizza Hut KFC ( Kentucky Fried Chicken) Del Taco Three places that will never see my money... __________________ KooKs LT Headers, Borla S-Type cat back, RotoFab CAI, Bo White PTB, RMCR tune...

04-27-2015, 03:56 PM	#7
Taco Time Drives: 2014 1SS Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Angleton, TX Posts: 1,339 View My Garage	Only reason I've even heard of Del Taco is Dirt Nasty and Mickey Avalon! And if you understand my reference, then we're already friends. __________________ Taco's 2014 SS Mods: 417 Stroker \| CAI \| Bo's PTB \| Kooks LTs \| Flowmaster Outlaw Catback \| Night Fury Cam \| Powerbond UDP \| Apex Catch Can \|PRC Ported Heads \|FAST 102 Intake \|Suspension Crap\| Built by J-Rod.

04-26-2015, 10:36 PM	#4
Mechzl1 Drives: 2013 Black ZL1 Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: California Posts: 118	That's awesome. To bad my del taco experience has been terrible, got food poisoning from some chicken tacos, never had the nerve to eat del taco again. Granted it was from a del taco in the middle of no where which probably had something to do with it. However that says something about the guy if he's out there cleaning up spills when he could just have someone else do it. Gotta have respect for someone like that

04-27-2015, 06:08 AM	#6
JantzenOKC Drives: '13 2LT/RS Twin Turbo Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Edmond, Oklahoma Posts: 3,073	We just recently got a Del Taco here in Edmond, I've given it 3 tries and I just don't like it. And French fries with tacos?? When I want tacos I just go to the little Mexican taco shops or food trucks. We have a couple here, not much English but so good! Cool story though, gotta give respect for a guy like that, that's probably why his business has been such a success.

04-27-2015, 07:12 PM	#10
SSTG Drives: 2014 Z51 Corvette Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Ofallon, Mo. Posts: 5,822	Not a fan of Del Taco but maybe I'll give it another try after hearing this.

04-29-2015, 12:31 AM	#11
angryv6 Lake Erie Monster Drives: 02 Hyundai Santa Fe and 13 300 Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Ohio Posts: 917	Del Taco is the shit, when I was stationed on the West Coast that was always my late night spot. They have one in Toledo two hours away, time for some road trips. __________________ Everything I say is to be taken as an opinion and not fact so don't get upset over words that spill out of my head. GO CAVS!

04-29-2015, 04:18 PM	#12
dianeokie Going places Drives: 2011 2LT/RS Victory Red Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 4,897 View My Garage	I've been to that Del Taco, my Army son lived in Barstow for a bit. Del Taco is ok, but I like Taco Mayo best, and that's in Edmond, and Oklahoma, but haven't seen any around here. Good story though, I enjoyed that. __________________ "just stay with traffic, you'll be fine". = famous last words

04-30-2015, 01:32 AM	#13
Dirtdog Pro Hide n Seek Player Drives: 2010 SS LS3/LSA 620whp/630tq Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 921 View My Garage	I didn't know animal excrement was allowed to be sold as food... but then I saw Del Taco. __________________ 620whp/630wtq. ADM LSA Conversion, E85, PFADT Tri-Y Headers into Borla S, PFADT Swaybars, Springs, Links, 20x10 20x11 Forgestar F14s, Lots of AAC