Del Taco vs Steak 'n Shake: Menu Prices Compared (2026)

Updated August 11, 2026 3 items matched

The short answer

Del Taco is the cheaper of the two. Of the 3 directly comparable items we could match across both menus, Del Taco is cheaper on 2 of them, by an average of $1.53 per item.

Typical menu price: Del Taco $3.49 · Steak 'n Shake $5.79

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	Steak 'n Shake	Difference
Grilled Chicken Tacovs Grilled Chicken Sandwich	$3.29	$7.29	$4.00 cheaper at Del Taco
Iced Coffeevs Coffee	$2.79	$2.29	$0.50 cheaper at Steak 'n Shake
Fountain Drink (medium)vs Fountain Drink (regular)	$2.69	$2.79	$0.10 cheaper at Del Taco

Del Taco vs Steak 'n Shake at a Glance

	Del Taco	Steak 'n Shake
Typical menu price	$3.49	$5.79
Average menu price	$4.25	$5.84
Cheapest item	Value Taco — $1.29	Coffee — $2.29
Most expensive item	Epic Burrito Combo — $11.79	Chicken Fingers Combo — $11.29
Items priced	44	44
Menu sections	6	6
Price range	$	$
Founded	1964	1934
Headquarters	Lake Forest, California	Indianapolis, Indiana
Locations	About 600 restaurants, concentrated in the West	About 400 restaurants, largely in the Midwest and South

Which One Should You Order From?

Del Taco has the lower typical menu price of the two — $3.49 against $5.79 — 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; Steak 'n Shake on Original Double 'n Cheese Steakburger, Hand-Dipped Milkshake, Garlic Steakburger. 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.

Steak 'n Shake

Most locations run half-price milkshakes in the afternoon — typically after 2:00 PM — which takes a $5.29 shake down to about $2.65.
Ordering at the in-store kiosk rather than through delivery avoids the platform markup, which at Steak 'n Shake is steep.
A double Steakburger combo at $10.59 includes two patties, fries and a drink — competitive with single-patty combos elsewhere.

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 Steak 'n Shake — FAQ

Is Del Taco cheaper than Steak 'n Shake in 2026?

Del Taco is cheaper on most matched items — 2 of 3. Across the whole menu Del Taco is the lower-priced of the two, at $3.49 for a typical item against $5.79 at Steak 'n Shake.

What is the price difference between Del Taco and Steak 'n Shake?

On matched items the average difference is $1.53, or about 27% overall. Del Taco averages $4.25 across 44 priced items; Steak 'n Shake averages $5.84 across 44.

Which has the cheaper entry price, Del Taco or Steak 'n Shake?

Del Taco starts at $1.29 (Value Taco) and Steak 'n Shake at $2.29 (Coffee).

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.