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The chain was Naugles Tacos & Burgers, a Southern California restaurant brand founded in Riverside in 1970. A Del Taco employee declaration filed in a 2019 trademark proceeding says a management group acquired both companies and combined them in 1988; Naugles-branded 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 American diner and burger fare, building a distinct following in Southern California.
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Its reported menu favorites included the Macho Burrito, taco burger, cheese burrito, taco bowls, green salsa, and red taco sauce, alongside conventional burgers and other fast-food items. Retrospective accounts also associate Naugles with 24-hour drive-thrus and a two-minute service guarantee. Those details describe the historic chain, not necessarily Del Taco’s current menu.
How large did the chain become?
LA Weekly reported in 2011 that Naugles had three Riverside County outlets in 1971, 68 locations across six states by 1981, and more than 200 locations at its reported 1984 peak. These are figures from retrospective journalism, not audited company statistics.
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How did Naugles become Del Taco?
The clearest account of the transaction comes from a Del Taco employee declaration filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s Trademark Trial and Appeal Board in 2019. It says a management group acquired both Del Taco and Naugles, Inc., then combined them into one corporate entity in 1988. The declaration says the acquisition included the Naugles brand, trademark, recipes, real estate, and restaurant locations, and that Naugles restaurants had all 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 and date, the declaration supports describing it as an acquisition and corporate combination in 1988, followed by the conversion of Naugles restaurants to Del Taco by 1995.
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What happened to Naugles’ food and identity?
Naugles’ combination of burritos, tacos, burgers, late-night service, and quick turnaround is central to how former customers remember it. The 2019 declaration said Del Taco still had the Macho Burrito on its menu at that time and referred to a Bun Taco on a “Secret Naugles Menu.” That is evidence about Del Taco’s menu in 2019, not confirmation of what is offered today.
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Later revival efforts were reported in the 2010s. Food Republic places early revived operation in 2012; MEL Magazine covered a trademark dispute, test kitchen, and pop-up activity in 2015–2016. Those accounts establish revival activity during that period, but the sources cited here do not establish whether a Naugles restaurant is open today, its hours, or its current menu. Check current official restaurant information before planning a visit.
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Key dates at a glance
| Year | Reported milestone |
|---|---|
| 1970 | Dick Naugle opened Naugles in Riverside, California. |
| 1971 | LA Weekly reported three outlets in Riverside County. |
| 1981 | LA Weekly reported 68 locations across six states. |
| 1984 | LA Weekly reported more than 200 locations at the chain’s peak. |
| 1988 | A Del Taco employee declaration says the companies were acquired and combined into one corporate entity. |
| By 1995 | The declaration says Naugles-branded restaurants had been converted and renamed Del Taco. |
| 2012 onward | Retrospective accounts describe later revival efforts, including operations and pop-ups in the 2010s. |
Sources
- Food Republic on Naugles’ history and revival.
- LA Weekly on the chain’s growth, menu, and 1988 merger account.
- MEL Magazine on Naugles fans and revival activity.
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