Health Magazine Names Taco Del Mar One of America s Top 10 Healthiest Fast Food Restaurants

SEATTLE-- (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Taco Del Mar, a quick service Mexican restaurant chain featuring Baja beach-style burritos and fish tacos, was recently named one of America’s Top 10 Healthiest Fast Food Restaurants by Health magazine.

According to Health magazine, “we surveyed the nation’s 100 largest fast-food chains and found many are creating menus that look more and more like what we’d cook ourselves (if we had the time)—from nutritious soups and healthy salads to fresh whole grains and sensible desserts. Even better: They’re offering good-news Mexican, Asian, and Mediterranean fare.”

Coming in at number 10 on the list, here’s what Health magazine had to say about Taco Del Mar, “You may have noticed that Baja-style Mexican cuisine—think: fresh ingredients and fish instead of beef and chicken — is a growing trend. Whole grains are easy to get here, with whole-wheat tortillas available as an alternative in burritos. The chain gets high marks for its new 320-calorie chicken burrito, available at most locations. Our judges were also impressed that Taco Del Mar banned lard from its beans and bakes its fish and taco shells instead of frying them. We love: The 460- to 555-calorie Mondito-size burrito, which fills you up but keeps fat and sodium in check. Danger zone: The breakfasts. In particular, steer clear of the Mondo Breakfast Burritos, which are more than 1,000 calories.”

The magazine’s expert panel, including doctors, nutrition specialists and dieticians, scored chains on such factors as the use of healthy fats and preparations, healthy sodium counts in entrées, availability of nutritional information, and the use of organic produce to determine the 10 highest-ranking restaurants. For a complete list of restaurants as well as more information on how Health magazine selected its winners and on its expert panelists, go to www.health.com.

About Taco Del Mar

Founded in Seattle in 1992 by brothers James and John Schmidt, Taco Del Mar is a quick casual restaurant chain inspired by southern Baja, Mexico and coastal beach shacks known for serving some of the tastiest burritos and tacos. Today, Taco Del Mar brings those craved Mexican flavors and experience to more than 260 locations throughout the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico and Guam.

As the fresh, fast alternative to traditional Mexican food, Taco Del Mar takes its ingredients seriously, balancing taste and nutrition. Taco Del Mar’s menu is completely Trans-fat free. The restaurant steams its long-grain rice, does NOT use lard in its beans and uses fresh-made tortillas (with five different choices -– spinach, tomato, flour, corn and whole wheat!). Taco shells are baked, not fried, and Taco Del Mar’s salsas and guacamole are made with fresh ingredients daily. For more information, including nutritional information, visit www.tacodelmar.com.

R/West PR

Heather Villanueva, 503-223-5443 ext. 143

heatherv@r-west.com