Man Inks Enormous Del Taco Tattoo On His Back

In a story that’s as spicy as their Del Scorcho hot sauce, a Barstow, California man took a bold leap by using his back as the canvas for a colossal Del Taco logo spanning shoulder to shoulder, as reported by the Daily Press.

The tattoo, in all its fiery red, green, yellow, and orange glory, was a loving homage to the “Original Barstow” Del Taco, complete with a blazing sun, flames, and the words “Est. 1964” and “The Original Del Taco Barstow.”

Danny “Wacky” Benavidez, the ink wizard behind this masterpiece, isn’t your typical artist. He’s an East Los Angeles ex-gang member turned ink-slinging entrepreneur, running Addictive Arts Tattoo on Barstow’s Main Street.

As for the client, well, he’s no ordinary Joe. Meet David Jones, a Marine Corps veteran with a craving for more than just tacos. For him, the Barstow Del Taco is beyond the typical fast-food joint; it’s practically a culinary shrine. He claims that the food there is superior to any other Del Taco in the land, telling the Daily Press, “One day, we visited the Del Taco in Barstow and after my first bite I was a faithful follower. The food was so fresh and delicious. It was special.”

But the heart of this story lies in the history of the Barstow Del Taco. In 1964, Ed Hackbarth and David Jameson fired up the very first Del Taco near Barstow in a place called Yermo. Fast forward to 1976, they handed the Del Taco torch to investors, but the Barstow locations stand out from others, besides being the oldest. Former Barstow Mayor Julie Hackbarth-McIntyre, whose family owns the Del Taco restaurants in Barstow, shared with the Daily Press, “We still cook meat fresh, we have the original recipes and we produce our own meat sauce.”