TMTM
Gift icon
Cheapism may earn a commission if you buy through a link on our site.
    • All Money
    • Business
    • Careers
    • Housing & Real Estate
    • Living on a Budget
    • News
    • Personal Finance
    • Retirement
    • Taxes
    • All Travel
    • Camping & Outdoors
    • Cruises
    • Destinations
    • Road Trips
    • RV Life
    • Vacation Rentals & Hotels
    • All Cars & RVs
    • Maintenance
    • Makes & Models
    • RVs
    • All Shopping
    • Auto
    • Beauty & Fashion
    • Deals
    • Fitness
    • Gear
    • Home & Garden
    • Kitchen & Groceries
    • All Reviews
    • All Food & Drink
    • Beer, Wine, & Spirits
    • Fast Food
    • Food Recalls
    • Food Trends & Trivia
    • Recipes
    • Restaurants & Dining
    • Taste Tests
    • All Lifestyle
    • At Home
    • Entertainment
    • Family
    • Health & Wellness
    • Holidays
    • Life After 50
    • Pets
    • Tech
    • All Gift Ideas
    • Gifts by Interest
    • Gifts by Price
    • Gifts for All
    • Gifts for Her
    • Gifts for Him
    • Gifts for Kids
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Careers
  • In The News
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions

Copyright ® 2025 Cheapism

  • Home
  • Food & Drink
  • Fast Food

The Best Mexican Fast Food Chains, Ranked

Wilder Shaw is a staff writer at Cheapism covering food, specializing in taste tests and fast food. He has over a decade of food-writing experience, and his work has appeared in Thrillist, The Washington Post, L.A. Taco, Time Out, and numerous other publications.

Taco Bell volcano menu items

Lacey Muszynski / Cheapism

Cheapism is editorially independent. We may earn a commission if you buy through links on our site.
Taco Bell volcano menu items
Lacey Muszynski / Cheapism

Burrito Brawl

Think "fast food" and you might automatically conjure up burgers, fries, and milkshakes. But there are one too many marketing titans in the Mexican-style fast food world to ignore. 


So, which of the Mexican fast food chains is the best? I got to work to find out.


Del Taco Taco
Justin Sullivan / Getty

1. Del Taco

Del Taco, Del Taco, Del Taco, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways. Your freshness: elite. Your price point: second to none. Your ability to resist the current craze of the fast food times: admirable. 


There are at least 100 things I love about Del, and while there are many items I would consider must-orders (the bean and cheese burrito, the Double Del cheeseburger, the seasonal tamales), I encourage you to explore your own Del Taco journey. You have what it takes. I believe in you.



El Pollo Loco
El Pollo Loco

2. El Pollo Loco

Though it primarily exists in the southwest, El Pollo Loco still has about 500 locations under its belt. Citrusy, flame-grilled chicken is the star of the show at EPL, but like any chicken restaurant worth its salt, the sides are killer, too (looking at you, Loco Salad). Top to bottom, salad to dessert, El Pollo Loco is bringing the heat.


Chipotle assembly line
Chipotle assembly line by Jazz Guy (CC BY)

3. Chipotle

I have gone through a slew of different feelings about Chipotle in my life. There have been times where I thought it was overrated, times I thought it was delicious, times I thought it was a ripoff, and times I thought it was a bargain. I suspect there are others out there who go through this cycle, but I'll tell you what makes Chipotle "top three" material: Chipotle is reliable. It's there for you at all times, be it a low-carb, last-minute lunch or an indulgent, late-night dinner. 


Unless you've stumbled upon some particularly nasty location, the food is generally fresh and clean. Tacos, burritos, and bowls fit any portion requirement you might need. They've even got booze. If nothing else, I appreciate you, Chipotle.

Baja Fresh Wahoo fish tacos
Baja Fresh

4. Baja Fresh

What an underdog. Baja Fresh ranges from the west coast to the southeast, and to its credit, it was one of the first places to toss around the word "fresh" and mean it. There was always a health-conscious approach to the Baja menu, and that counts for a lot. As a kid, I cherished the Baja Burrito and still stand by my claim that Salsa Baja is the best fast food salsa you can find. Swing by Baja Fresh some time soon. Tell them I say, "Hi."

Taco Bell cheesy dipping burritos
Taco Bell

5. Taco Bell

I'm sorry, okay? I'm sorry. We as a society need to accept that Taco Bell is way more bark than bite. Terrific marketing, strong branding, just-alright food. With the exception of a few stellar items like the Quesarito and the cheesy bean and rice burrito, most of the dishes at Taco Bell are a letdown. I'll leave you with one more opinion, one that I have been told repeatedly is my worst take: Crunch Wrap Supremes are overrated. 


Now if you'll excuse me, I need to install another deadbolt on my door.

Qdoba
Tim C./Yelp

6. Qdoba

The first time I saw a Qdoba, I thought it was a typo. I didn't know how to pronounce it (I probably still don't), but that may in fact be the point, as the chain was subject to many name-based lawsuits before it came up with "Qdoba". 


A clear Chipotle competitor, it's hard to figure out where to put this place. It does better quesadillas than Chipotle, that's for sure,  but can't really hold a candle to Chipotle's build-your-own-bowl setup.

Trending on Cheapism
Crispy Fillet of Fish Burger
McDonald's Fries
Moe’s Southwest Grill
Cara K./Yelp

7. Moe's Southwest Grill

Perhaps you've met a Moe's fan before; perhaps you even are one yourself. Moe's lovers are fiercely loyal, dedicated to proving that Moe's outdoes Chipotle and Qdoba. It doesn't, unfortunately, but the portion size is something to behold. That's one category where it outdoes its competition, at least.


For more great fast food content, please sign up for our free newsletters.

Editors' Picks
Crispy Fillet of Fish Burger
McDonald's Fries
Wingstop chicken wing casual restaurant. Wingstop is adding Lemon Pepper, Mango Habanero, and Spicy Korean wings
McDonald's Global Menu cover image
Cheapism in the News
msn
today
nytimes
cnbc
newyorker
cbs
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Licensing
  • Community Guidelines
  • In the News
  • Jobs
  • info@cheapism.com
  • 101 Bedford Avenue #D806
    Brooklyn, NY 11211
  • (646) 374-8456

Note: Cheapism does not accept or publish guest blog posts

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Cookies on Cheapism

Copyright ® 2025 Cheapism