McDonald's operates 40,576 locations globally with a focus on burgers and breakfast, while Taco Bell operates 8,645 locations primarily in North America specializing in Mexican-inspired fast food. McDonald's generates approximately 3x higher annual revenue ($23.2B vs $3.6B) due to its larger global footprint and diverse menu.
McDonald's vs Taco Bell — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Global fast-food chain specializing in burgers, chicken, and breakfast items with largest restaurant footprint worldwide.
Fast-casual Mexican-inspired chain known for affordable pricing, menu customization, and late-night availability.
Global Restaurant Locations. Annual Revenue (2024). Primary Geographic Focus. Average Meal Price (USD). Menu Customization Options. Average Customer Satisfaction Score. Late-Night Availability (%)
Choose McDonald's if you prioritize global availability, breakfast options, and consistent quality across 150+ countries with established loyalty programs. Choose Taco Bell if you want affordable Mexican-inspired fast food with extensive customization, late-night access, and better value per dollar in North America.
McDonald's: Frozen patties standard | Taco Bell: N/A
McDonald's: AI-powered order systems 2026 | Taco Bell: N/A
McDonald's: Standard options | Taco Bell: N/A
McDonald's: Expansion planned | Taco Bell: N/A
McDonald's: Standard offerings | Taco Bell: N/A
McDonald's: Frozen patties + fresh beef option | Taco Bell: N/A
McDonald's: Voice-activated with AI accuracy scaling | Taco Bell: N/A
McDonald's: Pre-cooked frozen patties | Taco Bell: N/A
McDonald's: 3.8 minutes | Taco Bell: N/A
McDonald's: AI voice-activated with accuracy scaling | Taco Bell: N/A
McDonald's: 8,000 new locations planned | Taco Bell: N/A
McDonald's: Optimized drive-thru layout | Taco Bell: N/A
McDonald's: 105% cheaper than Wendy's | Taco Bell: N/A
McDonald's: #1 fries only | Taco Bell: N/A
McDonald's: Top 3 ($107B trifecta) | Taco Bell: N/A
McDonald's: $1.3 - $2.2 million | Taco Bell: $0.3 - $0.8 million
McDonald's: 563 cal (Big Mac) | Taco Bell: N/A
McDonald's: 40M+ (McDonald's Rewards) | Taco Bell: N/A
McDonald's: ~200 menu variations | Taco Bell: N/A
McDonald's: All-day breakfast/lunch/dinner | Taco Bell: N/A
McDonald's: $8.50-10.50 | Taco Bell: N/A
McDonald's: 40,275 locations | Taco Bell: 8,647 locations
McDonald's: $23.2 billion | Taco Bell: $4.1 billion
McDonald's: $2.8 million | Taco Bell: $1.1 million
McDonald's: 6-8 minutes | Taco Bell: 4-6 minutes
McDonald's: 93% of US consumers | Taco Bell: 78% of US consumers
McDonald's: 28% of customer base | Taco Bell: 42% of customer base
McDonald's: $5.99 (Big Mac) | Taco Bell: N/A
McDonald's: $1,006-$2,214 | Taco Bell: N/A
McDonald's: $1.6M - $2.3M | Taco Bell: N/A
McDonald's: Griddle-cooked (consistent) | Taco Bell: N/A
McDonald's: 40+ (McDonald's Rewards) | Taco Bell: 22+ (Taco Bell Rewards)
McDonald's: N/A | Taco Bell: Part of Yum! Brands
McDonald's: N/A | Taco Bell: Market share gains
McDonald's: N/A | Taco Bell: Subsidiary of Yum! Brands
McDonald's: N/A | Taco Bell: Value-oriented QSR
How to choose between McDonald's and Taco Bell
McDonald's vs Taco Bell — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for McDonald's vs Taco Bell. Contains 86 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
McDonald's vs Taco Bell — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for McDonald's vs Taco Bell.
Where can I find these chains internationally?
McDonald's operates in 150+ countries with a truly global presence (Europe, Asia, Australia, Americas). Taco Bell is primarily limited to North America (US, Canada, with recent expansion to India), making McDonald's the only choice for international travelers.
Taco Bell offers far superior customization with ingredient swaps, sauce combinations, and wrapper options (burrito, taco, bowl, box). McDonald's menu is more standardized with limited modifications, catering to consistency over personalization.
Taco Bell is significantly cheaper, with average meals costing $6.00-$8.50 compared to McDonald's $8.50-$11.00. Taco Bell's Cravings Box ($10 for 12+ items) offers exceptional value, making it 28-35% more affordable than McDonald's comparable offerings.
Which has better late-night availability?
Taco Bell operates 78% of its locations past midnight, compared to McDonald's 62%. If late-night access is critical, Taco Bell has a clear advantage, particularly for 1 AM-5 AM hours when many McDonald's close.
Which chain has better customer satisfaction ratings?
Both chains have nearly identical satisfaction (McDonald's 3.8/5, Taco Bell 3.9/5 stars on Google). Customer ratings depend heavily on individual location quality rather than the chain itself, with both experiencing franchise-level inconsistencies.
How to Choose Between McDonald's and Taco Bell
Global Restaurant Locations: McDonald's has 40,576 locations, while Taco Bell has 8,645 locations.
Annual Revenue (2024): McDonald's has $23.2 billion, while Taco Bell has $3.6 billion.
Primary Geographic Focus: McDonald's has 150+ countries worldwide, while Taco Bell has Primarily US, Canada, India.
Average Meal Price (USD): McDonald's has $8.50-$11.00, while Taco Bell has $6.00-$8.50.
Menu Customization Options: McDonald's has Limited (standard menu focus), while Taco Bell has Extensive (Cravings Box, customization).
Consider: Average Customer Satisfaction Score
Average Customer Satisfaction Score: McDonald's has 3.8/5 stars (multiple platforms), while Taco Bell has 3.9/5 stars (multiple platforms).
Late-Night Availability (%): McDonald's has 62% open past 11 PM, while Taco Bell has 78% open past midnight.