Mexican quick-service restaurant Del Taco has opened its first drive-thru-only location – a concept called Fresh Flex designed with an ultra-small footprint.  

The store, located in New Mexico’s Albuquerque, is just 1200sqft in size and has a drive-thru lane and a walk-up window for ordering and pick-up.

In addition, to improve drive-thru efficiency, it offers pick-up lockers for orders ordered through the Del Taco mobile app and third-party delivery service providers, allowing diners and deliverers to bypass the queue.

“Our Fresh Flex design offers a modern, sleek look that is aligned with our Del Taco Better Mex brand promise – better quality, better value,” said Tim Linderman, chief development officer. 

“This design allows us to reduce the overall footprint of the building which creates more real estate flexibility and the potential to reduce total buildout costs which will allow us to further accelerate the growth of our brand.”

According to the brand, while the building is smaller in size, it still has the same made-to-order kitchen and caters to what today’s tech-savvy and ‘on the go’ consumer expects. 

Del Taco Fresh Flex shop designs include a “Menu of Venues” that range from drive-thru-only to free-standing, end cap, and conversion locations, providing Del Taco franchisees with flexibility and alternatives for expanding the brand across the country.

Founded in 1964, Del Taco now operates about 600 restaurants spread across 15 states, making it the nation’s second-largest Mexican fast-food chain.