Talk to me about Texas Tom's and your experiences there (past/present)
I have great memories of this place. Those plastic army figures encapsulated inbetween booths inside translucent plastic casing, swimming in sand (few will remember those)
We had one on 7-hwy.
Feel free to discuss Taco Via as well, here.
If you're from the Joplin/Carthage area or SE Kansas, maybe discuss Taco Town?
I was reminded of these places when I ate at Del Taco yesterday (here in Atlanta) and noticed they served fries w/ Tacos and offerend Burgers on their menu.
Del Taco was very good - nothing like the crap it once was when it left the Atlanta Burbs in the mid nineties - this 'new' one just opened. They're back w/ a new menu and attitude! - DelTacoReviewBrah
Originally Posted by banecat:
What about Baja Fresh, El Pollo Loco, Freebirds, Green Burrito, Taco Cabana, Taco Del Mar, Taco Republic or Taco Time? Anyone ever had any of these?
El Pollo Loco is great. It’s real food, with healthy offerings like broccoli, corn, good salads...it’s considered fast food, but I would put it a click above. Good stuff, wife and I eat there once a month.
Baja Fresh is good. I like the Chicken Ultimo burrito and fish tacos. Decent salsa bar. It’s good food.
We have Freebirds here, but I’ve never been.
While these chains are pretty good, the countless mom and pop Mexican joints in SOCAL are way better. [Reply]
Don’t remember anything specific about the food. Just remember there was a Texas toms (with big hat) somewhere on Blue Ridge. I’m sure I’ve eaten there at some point back in th day, but it must not have been that memorable.
Also....the taco burger at Taco Via is the finest fast food Mexican available. Taco burger and a nacho with peppers....outstanding. [Reply]
Originally Posted by KCUnited: Not to go full cooper, but back in the mid to late 90's, I worked at VIP Touchless carwash on Mastin and College and would race over to the Taco Via on Antioch for my 30 minute lunch. I'd get a taco, a chicken burrito, and a nacho w/ jalapenos with loads of that sauce.
Originally Posted by ptlyon:
Why it still has burst:
Chili cheese burritos
Mexican pizzas
Cinnabon bites
Never had that burrito - they DO need to stop over-steaming their burritos. They're gooey and not good - (yet, another thing they're not doing well) Del Taco gets this right. Just barely steamed.
Mexican Pizzas were better when they had black olives atop.
You know he's got a connection and a seven paragraph story to share.
I don't mind most of his stories - but he's definitely that way. He's basically harmless - but 1 out of about 20 posts are WTF material. I'm sure mine are too though. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Simply Red:
Menu item designs are non appetizing and trying too hard.
I think most fast food can fall into the trying too hard category. Instead of focusing on doing a few things really well, they complicate things and have way too many items, subsequently quality suffers. Take In-N-Out for example, simple menu, quality ingredients with a fairly compensated staff = a consistently good product with clean restaurants and repeat business. [Reply]
Originally Posted by chinaski:
I think most fast food can fall into the trying too hard category. Instead of focusing on doing a few things really well, they complicate things and have way too many items, subsequently quality suffers. Take In-N-Out for example, simple menu, quality ingredients with a fairly compensated staff = a consistently good product with clean restaurants and repeat business.
Originally Posted by chinaski:
I think most fast food can fall into the trying too hard category. Instead of focusing on doing a few things really well, they complicate things and have way too many items, subsequently quality suffers. Take In-N-Out for example, simple menu, quality ingredients with a fairly compensated staff = a consistently good product with clean restaurants and repeat business.
Originally Posted by Simply Red:
I tend to agree.
Eh, goes both ways. For example, Quiznos versus Jimmy Johns.
I like Jimmy Johns because they keep it simple, 3-4 kinds of meat, 2 kinds of bread, mustard, mayo. All their ingredients are usually top notch as a result.
I also like Quiznos because they offer variety. All sorts of breads and cheeses and wild condiments, and the toaster. Keeps things from getting boring.
Or take Strouds versus Cheesecake Factory. Again, one focuses on specialization, one specializes in variety. The more important factor is execution.
I will agree though, that Taco Bell is pushing the concept of variety to the extreme. With their waffle tacos and Mountain Dew-rito Cool Ranch Deep-Fried Diablo Blasters. [Reply]
