In this guide:
Why Del Taco Works for Macro Trackers
Del Taco is a fast food Mexican chain known for tacos, burritos, and protein options. If you are tracking macros and eating out regularly, knowing how to order here is essential — because the difference between a 350-calorie, high-protein meal and a macro-wrecking order is usually just one or two substitutions.
The menu has hidden gems once you know the protein-to-calorie math. MacroMate has mapped out 18 optimized Del Taco builds — including the Custom Carne Asada Street Taco at 160 cal / 18g protein for cutting and the Epic Carne Asada Steak Fresh Guacamole Burrito at 750 cal / 41g protein for bulking.
The key at Del Taco is knowing which items carry their weight in protein and which ones front-load fat or carbs with minimal payoff. This guide breaks down the best builds in each category with exact macros straight from the MacroMate database.
Best Del Taco Orders for Cutting
The Custom Carne Asada Street Taco is the top pick when you are in a caloric deficit at Del Taco. At 160 calories with 18g protein, the protein-to-calorie ratio of 0.113 puts it among the most efficient cuts on the menu. The instructions: Start with the Carne Asada Steak Street Taco (120 cal, 10 g protein). Order it 'protein style' (lettuce wrap instead of tortilla) and add extra steak. Removing the tortilla reduces carbs while the extra steak raises protein, pushing the ratio above the cutting threshold. This is the build to memorize for deficit days.
Custom Carne Asada Street Taco
Start with the Carne Asada Steak Street Taco (120 cal, 10 g protein). Order it 'protein style' (lettuce wrap instead of tortilla) and add extra steak. Removing the tortilla reduces carbs while the extra steak raises protein, pushing the ratio above the cutting threshold.
When cutting, the goal is maximum protein per calorie consumed. The Custom Carne Asada Street Taco delivers 18g of protein for just 160 calories, leaving plenty of room in your daily budget for other meals. With only 8g of carbs and 4g of fat, the macro split is clean for a deficit.
MacroMate has 2 more Del Taco Cutting builds — ranging from 180 to 220 calories. See all 3 Cutting builds ranked in the app.
Best Del Taco Orders for Bulking
For a caloric surplus at Del Taco, the Epic Carne Asada Steak Fresh Guacamole Burrito is the anchor build. At 750 calories with 41g protein, it delivers serious mass-building fuel in a single order. Order guidance: A filling burrito that nearly meets the bulking ratio; enjoy as is or add extra steak and cheese for more protein.
Epic Carne Asada Steak Fresh Guacamole Burrito
A filling burrito that nearly meets the bulking ratio; enjoy as is or add extra steak and cheese for more protein.
Bulking at Del Taco is about hitting high calories with enough protein to support muscle growth. The Epic Carne Asada Steak Fresh Guacamole Burrito at 750 cal / 41g protein achieves both. The 25g of fat content means calorie density is high — exactly what you need when eating for size.
MacroMate has 4 more Del Taco Bulking builds — ranging from 290 to 540 calories. See all 5 Bulking builds ranked in the app.
Best Del Taco Orders for Maintenance
Maintenance is about consistency, and the Grilled Chicken Taco at Del Taco is built for it. At 210 calories with 11g protein, it hits a balanced macro profile you can order on autopilot. Although below the maintenance ratio, removing the tortilla and doubling the chicken makes it a solid maintenance choice.
Grilled Chicken Taco
Although below the maintenance ratio, removing the tortilla and doubling the chicken makes it a solid maintenance choice.
The Grilled Chicken Taco gives you 11g of protein at 210 calories — a ratio that works whether you are maintaining weight, slowly recomping, or just trying to eat well. 15g carbs and 12g fat round out a nutritionally balanced fast food meal.
MacroMate has 2 more Del Taco Maintenance builds — ranging from 120 to 140 calories. See all 3 Maintenance builds ranked in the app.
Best Del Taco Orders for Keto
Keto at Del Taco means finding items with minimal carbs and solid protein. The Carne Asada Steak Street Taco – protein style delivers with just 5g of carbs and 15g protein at 200 calories. Order tip: Order the Carne Asada Steak Street Taco without the tortilla (have it wrapped in lettuce). Add slices of avocado and extra cheese to increase fat. Skipping the tortilla drops most of the carbs, and the added fats ensure fat exceeds protein while keeping carbs under 10 g. That carb count keeps you in ketosis while the 18g of fat maintains the keto macro split.
Carne Asada Steak Street Taco – protein style
Order the Carne Asada Steak Street Taco without the tortilla (have it wrapped in lettuce). Add slices of avocado and extra cheese to increase fat. Skipping the tortilla drops most of the carbs, and the added fats ensure fat exceeds protein while keeping carbs under 10 g.
The Carne Asada Steak Street Taco – protein style is genuinely keto-compatible at Del Taco. Under 5g of net carbs with 15g protein means no need for creative substitutions — just order it as directed and you are covered for the day's fat and protein targets.
MacroMate has 1 more Del Taco Keto build — the Grilled Chicken Taco – protein style at 240 cal / 14g protein. See all 2 Keto builds in the app.
Del Taco Ordering Hacks That Matter
Knowing the specific builds is only part of the equation. These ordering principles will help you stay on track at Del Taco regardless of which build you choose.
Prioritize the Custom Breakfast Roller (Bacon) for protein efficiency. At 220 cal with 25g protein, the protein-to-calorie ratio of 0.114 is one of the best on the Del Taco menu. Begin with the Breakfast Roller (Bacon) (290 cal, 16 g protein). Ask for it as a bowl (no tortilla) with egg whites and extra bacon or steak. Removing the tortilla and using egg whites cuts calories while the added protein raises the ratio above the cutting threshold.
The Carne Asada Steak Street Taco (Low Cal) is your low-calorie anchor. At just 120 calories with 10g protein, this is the order when you are tight on your daily budget. Lowest-calorie solid meal on the menu.
Watch the add-ons. At Del Taco, sauces, dressings, and sides can quietly add 200-400 calories to an otherwise lean order. Ask for sauces on the side, skip cheese where you can, and opt for water over soda — those three habits alone can save you 300+ calories per visit.
For keto, the Carne Asada Steak Street Taco – protein style is your go-to. Only 5g of carbs with 15g protein. Order the Carne Asada Steak Street Taco without the tortilla (have it wrapped in lettuce). Add slices of avocado and extra cheese to increase fat. Skipping the tortilla drops most of the carbs, and the added fats ensure fat exceeds protein while keeping carbs under 10 g.
What to Always Avoid at Del Taco
Not every item at Del Taco is worth the calories. These are the orders most likely to derail your macros — high in fat or carbs relative to their protein content.
Watch out for the Grilled Chicken Taco – protein style (240 cal). At 240 calories with 14g protein, this has a low protein-to-calorie ratio that makes it a poor choice when cutting. If you order it, make sure you are in a surplus and it fits your goal for the day.
Watch out for the Beer Battered Crispy Fish Taco (230 cal). At 230 calories with 11g protein, this has a low protein-to-calorie ratio that makes it a poor choice when cutting. If you order it, make sure you are in a surplus and it fits your goal for the day.
Default sides and combos add up fast. At Del Taco, the default sides — fries, chips, sugary drinks — can add 400-600 calories without meaningfully increasing your protein intake. Swap for a side salad, water, or nothing extra when cutting.
Del Taco vs. Taco Bell for Macros
Both Del Taco and Taco Bell are solid choices for macro tracking, but they have different strengths depending on your goal.
Del Taco for cutting: The Custom Carne Asada Street Taco at 160 cal / 18g protein is a strong deficit option. Compare that to what Taco Bell offers — check the Taco Bell macro hacks guide to see how they stack up side by side.
Del Taco for bulking: The Epic Carne Asada Steak Fresh Guacamole Burrito at 750 cal / 41g protein is built for surplus. If you are choosing between the two chains on a bulk day, this is the Del Taco anchor build.
The bottom line: both chains have macro-friendly options, but the best choice depends on your specific goal that day. MacroMate has 18 Del Taco builds and a full Taco Bell breakdown so you can compare directly. For more options across all chains, see our 15 best high-protein fast food orders.
MacroMate has 18 Del Taco builds classified by goal — Cutting, Bulking, Maintenance, Keto — each ranked by protein-to-calorie ratio with exact order instructions. Looking for options at other restaurants? Check out our 15 best high-protein fast food orders, what our 1,500+ order analysis found, and best keto orders at every chain.
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