The once-popular Southern California chain taken over by Del Taco was Naugles Tacos & Burgers, founded in Riverside in 1970. A Del Taco employee declaration filed in a trademark proceeding says a management group acquired both companies and combined them in 1988; Naugles restaurants were converted to Del Taco by 1995.
What was Naugles?
Dick Naugle, described in retrospective coverage as a former Del Taco partner, opened the first Naugles in Riverside, California, in 1970. The chain paired Mexican-American fast food with familiar burger-stand fare, an approach that helped it stand apart from conventional burger chains.
Its remembered menu included the Macho Burrito, cheese burrito, taco burger and taco bowls, alongside burgers. Retrospective accounts also associate Naugles with green salsa, red taco sauce, 24-hour drive-thrus and a two-minute service guarantee. These details describe the historic chain, not necessarily Del Taco’s current menu. In a 2019 declaration, a Del Taco employee said the Macho Burrito remained on Del Taco’s menu at that time and referred to a Bun Taco on a “Secret Naugles Menu.” The declaration filed with the USPTO is the source for those statements.
How large did the chain become?
LA Weekly reported that Naugles had three Riverside County locations in 1971, expanded to 68 outlets across six states by 1981, and reached more than 200 locations at its reported peak in 1984. Those are retrospective published figures, not audited company statistics. LA Weekly’s account of the chain describes its regional growth and later rebranding.
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How and when did Del Taco take over Naugles?
The clearest account of the transaction comes from a Del Taco employee declaration submitted in a USPTO Trademark Trial and Appeal Board proceeding. It says a management group acquired Del Taco and Naugles, Inc., combining them into one corporate entity in 1988. According to the declaration, the deal included Naugles’ brand and mark, recipes, real estate and restaurant locations. It further says all Naugles-branded restaurants had been converted and renamed “DEL TACO” by 1995.
Some retrospective articles call the event a merger and give 1987 as the date; LA Weekly also reports 1988. For the specific sequence—acquisition and combination in 1988, followed by conversion of the restaurants by 1995—the employee declaration is the most detailed source. The distinction matters: the takeover did not mean every Naugles restaurant changed its name overnight.
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Why do people still remember Naugles?
Naugles offered an unusual mix of tacos, burritos and burgers, with an emphasis on late-night convenience and speed. That combination made it a familiar Southern California stop for customers who wanted something beyond a standard burger menu. In a later personal recollection quoted by MEL Magazine, longtime fan Karel, also known as Charles Bouley, remembered that “At 2 in the morning, everybody had to go eat something.” That is a customer’s memory of the chain’s role, rather than a company record.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Was Naugles revived, and can you visit one now?
Later revival efforts are distinct from the original chain and from Del Taco’s post-conversion restaurants. Food Republic recounts Christian Ziebarth’s effort to revive Naugles, with early revived operations reported from 2012. MEL Magazine describes a trademark dispute, a test kitchen and pop-up activity in 2015–2016. These retrospective accounts do not establish whether a Naugles restaurant is open today, its hours or its current menu, so they are not enough to plan a visit.
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Naugles and Del Taco at a glance
| Period | What happened | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Dick Naugle opened Naugles in Riverside, California. | Retrospective reporting by Food Republic and MEL Magazine. |
| 1971–1984 | LA Weekly reported growth from three Riverside County outlets in 1971 to 68 locations across six states in 1981, and more than 200 locations at the reported 1984 peak. | Retrospective reporting; counts are not audited company statistics. |
| 1988 | A management group acquired Del Taco and Naugles, Inc., and combined them into one corporate entity, according to a Del Taco employee declaration. | Declaration filed in a USPTO trademark proceeding. |
| By 1995 | The same declaration says Naugles-branded restaurants had been converted and renamed Del Taco. | Declaration filed in a USPTO trademark proceeding. |
| From 2012 onward | Retrospective reporting describes later efforts to revive the Naugles name, including early operations, a test kitchen and pop-ups. | Food Republic and MEL Magazine; current operating status is not established. |
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