The oldest operating Del Taco has been serving customers in Barstow, California, since 1964. Known as Del Taco #1, it’s the longest-running location in the chain and still keeps a bit of hometown flavor alive.
The story begins with Ed Hackbarth, an Air Force veteran who got his start managing Bell’s Hamburgers for Glen Bell, the founder of Taco Bell. By 1961, Hackbarth opened his own restaurant in nearby Yermo, calling it “Casa Del Taco.” That first spot is long closed, but the Barstow restaurants that came after have stood the test of time.
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In 1964, Hackbarth partnered with David Jameson, and together they grew Del Taco into a franchise. By 1976, they sold the chain with about 50 restaurants, but Hackbarth kept the Barstow locations. Today, three Del Tacos in town are still run by the founder himself, each with special menu items you won’t see at other Del Taco restaurants.
While Del Taco #1 has been updated over the years, it still offers a glimpse of the brand’s early days, complete with displays inside that share the history of how this desert stop became the first step in a nationwide chain.
