Del Taco vs Shake Shack: Menu Prices Compared (2026)

Updated October 15, 2026 5 items matched

The short answer

Del Taco is the cheaper of the two. Of the 5 directly comparable items we could match across both menus, Del Taco is cheaper on 5 of them, by an average of $2.24 per item.

Typical menu price: Del Taco $3.49 · Shake Shack $6.49

Matched Items, Side by Side

The same item on both menus, priced against each other. Where names differ, we matched the closest equivalent — Del Taco's wording first.

Item	Del Taco	Shake Shack	Difference
Crinkle Cut Fries (large)vs Crinkle-Cut Fries	$3.49	$4.49	$1.00 cheaper at Del Taco
Crinkle Cut Fries (regular)vs Crinkle-Cut Fries	$2.79	$4.49	$1.70 cheaper at Del Taco
Fountain Drink (medium)vs Fountain Drink	$2.69	$3.29	$0.60 cheaper at Del Taco
Value Cheeseburgervs Cheeseburger	$1.99	$7.19	$5.20 cheaper at Del Taco
Value Crinkle Cut Friesvs Crinkle-Cut Fries	$1.79	$4.49	$2.70 cheaper at Del Taco

Make Del Taco and Shake Shack at Home

Whichever of the two wins on price, cooking the favorites at home beats both. These are the sauces, mixes and kitchen tools that get closest to the real thing.

Tortilla Press Fresh tortillas for tacos and burritos. Check price on Amazon Taco Holders Keep hard-shell tacos upright and full. Check price on Amazon Copycat Restaurant Recipes Cookbooks that recreate chain-restaurant favorites. Check price on Amazon

Del Taco vs Shake Shack at a Glance

	Del Taco	Shake Shack
Typical menu price	$3.49	$6.49
Average menu price	$4.25	$6.76
Cheapest item	Value Taco — $1.29	Bottled Water — $2.99
Most expensive item	Epic Burrito Combo — $11.79	Shack Stack — $13.49
Items priced	44	33
Menu sections	6	6
Price range	$	$$
Founded	1964	2004
Headquarters	Lake Forest, California	New York, New York
Locations	About 600 restaurants, concentrated in the West	More than 350 locations across the United States, plus licensed Shacks abroad

Which One Should You Order From?

Del Taco has the lower typical menu price of the two — $3.49 against $6.49 — but a typical price only tells you where the middle of the menu sits. At the value end, Del Taco gets you in cheaper at $1.29.

Del Taco is strongest on Del Taco (crunchy), Epic Burrito, Crinkle Cut Fries; Shake Shack on ShackBurger, Crinkle-Cut Fries, SmokeShack. Neither chain's app prices match the counter, and both discount heavily through their loyalty programmes, so the deals below usually matter more than the few cents between the two menus.

Deals Worth Knowing at Both

Del Taco

The 20 Under $2 menu is the deepest value lineup in Mexican fast food — a Value Taco at $1.29 and a cheeseburger at $1.99 from the same window.
Two Value Tacos plus Value Fries comes to about $4.37, well under any combo on the board.
Del Yeah! Rewards in the app gives a free item on signup, points on every order and a birthday reward.

Shake Shack

Shake Shack has no combo pricing, so a ShackBurger, fries and fountain drink is simply $7.69 + $4.49 + $3.29 = $15.47 — order exactly what you want and skip the drink if you are getting a shake.
A single-scoop custard cup at $4.69 costs $1.70 less than a shake and is the cheapest way to try the frozen custard.
The Shack App periodically runs offers for app orders, such as free fries — check it before paying at the counter.

About these prices: menu prices are set by individual franchise owners and change without notice. The figures on this page are researched estimates for 2026 and are provided for reference only. Confirm the current price with the restaurant before ordering. Menu Price Book is not affiliated with this chain.

Del Taco vs Shake Shack — FAQ

Is Del Taco cheaper than Shake Shack in 2026?

Del Taco is cheaper on most matched items — 5 of 5. Across the whole menu Del Taco is the lower-priced of the two, at $3.49 for a typical item against $6.49 at Shake Shack.

What is the price difference between Del Taco and Shake Shack?

On matched items the average difference is $2.24, or about 37% overall. Del Taco averages $4.25 across 44 priced items; Shake Shack averages $6.76 across 33.

Which has the cheaper entry price, Del Taco or Shake Shack?

Del Taco starts at $1.29 (Value Taco) and Shake Shack at $2.99 (Bottled Water).

Are these prices the same at every location?

No. Both chains let franchise owners set prices, so figures move by a dollar or more between markets and run highest at airport, stadium and highway locations. Treat these as the typical U.S. price, not a quote.