Del Taco is staking its claim as the first-ever quick service chain to offer birria ramen.
It’s one of three items made with braised beef and served with a spicy consommé that will go on sale Thursday, Nov. 9 for a limited time.
They are Shredded Beef Birria Ramen, served in a cup and topped with diced onions and cilantro; Beef Birria Tacos, made with soft corn tortillas; and a Shredded Beef Birria Quesadilla. The latter two items come with cups of consommé for dipping.
These items are close to the heart of Jeremias Aguayo, senior director for Culinary Research & Development, he said during a preview at Del Taco’s headquarters in Lake Forest last week.
“We’re really leaning toward authentic flavors. It’s my upbringing. My mom taught me well and taught me early how good authentic Mexican flavors are.”
Birria, a meat stew, originated in Jalisco, he said, and became popular through taco shops and trucks three or four years ago. Birria did well wherever Del Taco tested it, which included Riverside, Las Vegas and Atlanta, reaching customers who were already familiar with it through social media. Del Taco is going for a piece of that action the hashtag #delbirria.
“Gen Z, Millennials, they’re looking for flavor. They’re looking for really interesting items and a fun brand. They want to be part of a fun brand,” said chief marketing officer Tim Hackbardt.
Ramen was the most popular item during the tests, according to Hackbardt.
Aguayo said it is authentically Mexican, even if it uses Japanese-style noodles.
“A little known fact is that ramen is a staple in Mexican households, whether in Mexico or here in the United States. It’s something that’s affordable and convenient. And street vendors, in the last couple of years, have gotten very creative with what they do with the birria.”
“Instead of having a Japanese broth, what better pairing than having our consommé going into the noodles and then topping it off with shredded beef birria, braised for 2½ hours and then topped off with onion, cilantro and a lime wedge?”
Prices are around $5.79 for the ramen, $6.79 for the quesadilla and $8.59 for two tacos, according to a news release.
Del Taco is also introducing a Biscoff Cookie Butter Shake at $4.49. It’s a vanilla shake blended with Biscoff Cookie Butter and Biscoff Cookie Crumbs.
Information: deltaco.com
