Del Taco Reports Significant End of Year Development

LAKE FOREST, CA--(Marketwired - Jan 21, 2016) - Del Taco Restaurants, Inc. (NASDAQ: TACO), a leader in the Mexican Quick Service Restaurant (MQSR) category, announced that the brand opened nine new restaurants in six states during the fiscal fourth quarter of 2015. This significant growth follows Del Taco's transition to a public company in June 2015. The new franchise and corporate-owned locations are as follows:

• Medford, Oregon
• Taylorsville, Utah
• South Jordan, Utah
• Boise, Idaho
• Farmington, New Mexico
• Las Vegas, Nevada (2)
• Porterville, California
• Rancho Santa Margarita, California

"Del Taco's consistent positive sales are a testament to the strength of our business model and our ability to launch the brand while maintaining solid momentum in both new and existing markets," said Paul Murphy, CEO and president of Del Taco. "These nine openings are just the tip of the iceberg for Del Taco in terms of growth. We're poised for significant expansion and have a talented franchise development team in place to provide a hands-on level of support to our growing franchise partners."

With a menu featuring made-to-order items utilizing fresh ingredients, Del Taco is focused on product innovation and staying ahead of trends to meet guests' growing demands for quality food served at the speed and convenience of a drive-thru. With unbeatable value and variety in the fast-growing QSR industry, Del Taco recently launched its expanded Buck & Under Menu® which now features up to 16 items, some starting at just 59-cents.

"Del Taco is raising the bar for the entire Quick Service category with its unmatched commitment to quality and freshness which is not typically found in the QSR segment," said restaurateur Larry Levy, chairman of the Del Taco board. "The brand is carving out its own space in the industry, and Del Taco's unique offering of fresh, high quality food paired with convenience and value, is strongly resonating with franchisees and consumers alike."

With a menu that has something for everyone, Del Taco attracts a broad customer base that continues to grow across a wide range of age groups, income levels and demographics. To accommodate the growing national demand, the company is currently recruiting new franchise candidates with foodservice operations, franchise and real estate experience to join the Del Taco team.

"With proven results in new markets and outstanding opportunities for growth, there has never been a better time to expand your portfolio with Del Taco," said Director of Franchise Development, Laura Tanaka. "Our solid company financials combined with our experienced leadership team and a wealth of resources, positions Del Taco franchisees for success with an exciting brand on the move."

Those interested in learning about the many benefits of owning a Del Taco should visit www.deltacofranchise.com.

About Del Taco Restaurants, Inc.
At Del Taco (NASDAQ: TACO) all menu items taste better because they are made to order with fresh ingredients including handmade pico de gallo salsa, fresh sliced avocado, marinated grilled chicken, lard-free beans slow-cooked from scratch, and cheddar cheese grated from 40-pound blocks. Featuring a working kitchen in every restaurant, Del Taco serves breakfast, classic Mexican dishes such as tacos, burritos, quesadillas and nachos as well as American favorites including hamburgers, crinkle-cut fries and shakes. Del Taco's UnFreshing Believable campaign communicates the lengths the company goes to in order to deliver quality, made-to-order menu items created with freshly-prepared ingredients at a tremendous value. With nearly 550 restaurants in 16 states, Del Taco serves more than three million guests each week. Like Del Taco on Facebook at www.facebook.com/deltaco or join its Raving Fan eClub at www.DelTaco.com/RavingFan. For more information, please visit www.deltaco.com.