Naugles
Rare revivals only. The fan-owned comeback ran a Fountain Valley test kitchen for years, but as of late 2026 it sits closed with "new locations coming soon" — Naugles is once again a promise.
Last verified Nov 7, 2026
Dick Naugle's Southern California taco chain grew from 1970 into a 171-store cult favorite, then disappeared into Del Taco after a 1988 merger put both under one owner. The last Naugles closed in 1995 — which fans refused to accept as final.
Filed under: Fast Food · the ’70s & earlier
📅 Timeline
- 1970Dick Naugle opens the first Naugles in Southern California; the chain grows to more than 170 locations by the late 1980s.
- 1988American Restaurant Group buys both Naugles and Del Taco, putting the rivals under one owner and merging them.
- 1995The last original Naugles closes.
- 2015Fan Christian Ziebarth wins cancellation of Del Taco's Naugles trademark for non-use at the TTAB and reopens Naugles in Fountain Valley on July 28.
- 2026The revival's Fountain Valley test kitchen sits closed as of November, promising "new locations coming soon."
❓ People also ask
Is Naugles still open?
Not at the moment. The fan-led revival that began in 2015 ran a Fountain Valley test kitchen for years, but as of late 2026 its site lists no open locations — just "new locations coming soon."
What happened to the original Naugles?
A 1988 acquisition put Naugles and Del Taco under the same owner, and the merger converted or closed Naugles locations until the last one went in 1995.
🧾 Sources
- ABC7 Los Angeles, Naugles makes comeback thanks to SoCal superfan (2015)
- Orange County Business Journal, Naugles plans kick-start of comeback with HB shore location (2016)
- nauglestacos.com, Naugles Tacos & Burgers — locations (2026)