Consumers Rank Their Favorite Tacos
These 10 chains serve the most craveable tacos, according to Technomic consumer data.
More than 15% of restaurant chains serve tacos, according to menu data from Restaurant Business sister company, Technomic. But when consumers are asked to name the tacos they find the most craveable, they zero in on the taco specialists.
In a recent survey by Technomic’s consumer brand tracking team, 10 taco chains rose to the top.
Coming in at No. 1 was Rubio’s, known for its fish tacos. As one consumer put it “their fish tacos are very good and unique and you can’t get them anywhere else that taste that good.”
Another respondent mentioned that mahi mahi as Rubio's fish of choice really sets them apart, while others singled out the chain's special sauce and fresh ingredients.
Other chains received high craveability ratings for different fillings. Del Taco, which ranked No. 2, was cited for its chicken street tacos and crispy chicken tacos, and respondents found the mango habanero sauce especially craveable.
On the Border (No. 7) was lauded for its brisket tacos, while Moe’s Southwest Grill (No. 8) got points for its shredded pork filling and Taco John’s, for its generously stuffed beef tacos.
The jury was divided over soft vs. crunchy tacos. A fan of Taco Bell said “the crunchy tacos are the most craveable. These have a certain flavor you can’t get elsewhere,” while another praised the chain’s soft tacos as “better than other restaurants.”
Grilled soft tacos are the draw at Baja Fresh, with one respondent claiming “this is the only place in our neighborhood that has them.” But Chuy’s earned points for crunch, with the comment “I can get ‘crispy tacos’ at any Mexican restaurant, but they are better at Chuy’s than anywhere else.”
Jack in the Box, not known as a taco destination, surprisingly landed in the No. 4 spot. The tacos seem to be craveworthy for both their texture and value. Consumers called out the chain for its “deep fried tacos” that go for as little as two for a dollar.
View the full article here: https://www.restaurantbusinessonline.com/food/consumers-rank-their-favorite-tacos
About Rubio’s®:
Rubio’s first opened in 1983, in the San Diego neighborhood of Mission Bay. Today, counting the ocean as a source of inspiration, Rubio’s uses sustainable seafood in nearly all of its seafood dishes and continues to expand its menu with innovative recipes ranging from seafood tacos and burritos to California Bowls and crisp fresh salads. In addition, Rubio’s offers grilled marinated chicken and steak, “no fried” pinto beans, handmade guacamole, a variety of proprietary salsas, and craft beer and sangria beverage options. The award-winning restaurant regularly receives accolades for its famous Original Fish Taco®. It was also recently named the number one Mexican chain on Consumer Reports’ latest survey as well as ranked as one of Fast Casual’s ‘Top 50 Movers and Shakers’. Rubio’s participates in a variety of ocean-centric efforts throughout the year including its annual CoastFest celebration and beach cleanup. Rubio’s is headquartered in Carlsbad, Calif., has over 4,000 employees and operates 193 restaurants in California, Arizona, Colorado, Utah and Nevada. For more information, visit http://rubios.com.
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