Del Taco May Revert Back to 'Old School' Colors

While the rest of the Del Taco chain went bold in its new color scheme last year, San Juan Capistrano’s Del Taco may go old school and revert back to the way it was.

About a year ago, the fast food restaurant began a rebranding that included a fresh coat of brightly colored paint chain-wide. However, officials forgot to get city permission first.

In June, the restaurant tried to get approval for their rogue color palette, including what some city officials called sour apple” green and “Chinese red.” It didn’t fly.

A new color scheme was proposed in September, but the Planning Commission only liked it a little better.

Del Taco is back before the Planning Commission on Tuesday, but it doesn’t have any new ideas. Officials have suggested the city approve the existing colors or the plans submitted in fall.

If neither of those options work, restaurant representatives are willing to go back to how it was before the startling change.

“[W]e went back to our design team to ask for an additional set of alternative colors. After careful review of alternative color schemes, our design team concluded that they could not come up with alternative colors that would satisfy the commission while also maintaining the integrity of Del Taco's new design and color schemes,” wrote Mark Raber, who works in the facilities department for Del Taco.

Staff is recommending the Planning Commission deny both the new color scheme as it exists today and the September proposal, reverting back to the old colors. The restaurant will have until March 31 to make the changes.

The Planning Commission meets at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto, San Juan Capistrano.