TACO BELL - Life in America 

Yes!! Bellfeefer was so good!

Yep.. Anybody who was around knows that markedly it was when Yum! Brands took over that so many of our favorite fast food chains declined in quality. Very sad.

Now they are EXPLODING tacos

All fast food has declined as over processing has taken over . We have a fat epidemic due to all the sugars and processed oils in the foods . Along with all the obesity has come diabetes 2 , Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease , Nonalcoholic stetohepatitus and metabolic syndrome . It is the same in super markets . Time to go back to eating whole foods , grass fed beef , wild caught fish etc like most people in first half of the 20th century did .

I totally agree :-) Taco Bell then was great :-) Now not at all :-( ROCK ON!!!!!!!

😳 Your shitting me! I love that old sign, it brings back great childhood memories. Edit: ❤️🤗❤️ Way to go gramps! ❤️🤗❤️

Congrats to gramps !!! Tell him I've been to MANY of his designed locations !

Awesome!!!

my cousin was your grandma

The design still works! One local shop better than TB sits across the street from a new TB build. It's ironic to sit in the sunlight and enjoy good food watching SUV's load up and haul way $100 in pure garbage to feed to their precious children...

Taco Bell was really good in 1984. Remember the Big Beef Taco? They were so good.

Remember when Arby's had briskets of actual roast beef that they sliced to order?

👍👍🌮

Not in this day and age wouldn't be politically correct.

That would be awesome

Absolutely. Couldn’t agree more.

I remember those too. They were larger back then too. There's an old Taco Bell building here in Salem, but it's some other named resturant now.

Where was this at?

am Indianapolis, Indiana.

Those were much better days than now. Period.

I worked there from 86-88…and employees lunch was only half off…we just waited for the boss the go put in the deposit at the bank, and then everyone would make something to chow real fast before she got back,lol. We had to wear uniforms too. The food was better , the meat was 2 big 5lb bags, the seasoning was made by employees and put into sealable containers till ready to use when cooking the meat by hand….I used to get 2 tacos and a bean burrito for 1.49 plus tax. Their menu sucks now: no steak tacos , no enchirito, no taco salad , no meximelts,no chili chees burrito,no mexican pizza and for a long time,no taco Bell grande (double length taco).

I work at taco bell in 2021. We have to wear uniforms and we get 1 meal free. And at the end of the shift I ordered one meal too go home with and my wife and i eat off dollar menu. Different times in America for sure. :p

I think when Pepsi bought it, the taste changed . It was way in the 70s and early 80s

I think you mean in your white life.

@@waytospergtherebro I'm pretty confused by this reply. My life is not white

If hes still around, would you mind asking what the unit numbers and addresses were?

My thoughts too.

Came looking for this before I made the comment myself.

Yeah I was going to say I grew up in NJ/NY in the 70's & I don't ever remember seeing a Taco Bell anywhere.

When I heard that a franchisee had opened up a Taco Bell in Torrance and then the chain moved west, I thought where could they go... Inglewood? El Segundo? Catalina?

They forgot to mention the offshore Taco Bell on the oil rig.

I remember when Taco Bell tacos were ten cents each, 12 for a dollar.

Today a combo meal three tacos and drink $8 or $9 goes for

In my town it's the KFCs that got converted to a Mexican fast food franchise (they have pretty good food, too, everything is made fresh on-site including guacamole and hot sauces) because the Taco Bells are still doing well.

Enchiritos in the 60s and 70s were absolutely AWESOME 😎

Take some flour tortillas, cut them up. Fry them, dust with cinnamon sugar. You’re welcome.

Yes! They were awesome! Bring them back.

Bring back the Encheritos along with the Bellgrandes and the Chalupas

and the mexican pizza!!!

I agree.

Agree. I ate at them back then, way back, in the early 70s. They were unique. Today, the look is septic and corporate, and the color scheme is for a cake shop.

Yes, the old mission style buildings, they were very small . We still have a few of those around in the Houston , Texas area, but they are being used as other restaurants , not Taco Bell.

That purple looks cheap like the food

The old color scheme was more comfortable. I think the seats were too. The current interiors are like a Subway franchise, garishly lit with hard seats. Before Covid, one location had a line of cars backing out into the street for the drive thru and empty seats inside.

Better Days.

I was just complaining to my daughter the other day "why can't I just order a simple beef burrito any more?"

Me too. My family moved to a much more suburban neighborhood in the late 70s when I was a teenager and I was first introduced to TB. I loved the original menu. It was somewhat offset in the past decade or so by the 7 layer burrito at least, but now they even have dropped that one recently, sigh. From simple relatively healthy fare to frankenfood in just part of my own lifetime.

Mmmm . . . the Enchirito. Probably my favorite menu item. I don't think they still have it, do they?

That would be $10 now

I'm a former manager (10 yrs)- Taco Bell went to a plan they called 'k-minus', basically taking the kitchen out of the store, and having everything pre prepared; the taco shells now come in a box, pre fried in Mexico. *meat is pre cooked and comes in a "boil-in-bag" to reheat *beans are dehydrated, just add water and heat *lettuce is pre shredded (lacks moisture/very dry) *cheese is pre grated (dusted w/ cellulous powder to prevent clumping for better portion control) **All of the Above Used to be Prepared Fresh, in Store

@Dennis Wilson-The lower food quality was so disappointing from what it used to be, that I quit and followed other endeavors. btw- Del Taco still has that fresh food taste and is my "go to" place for Mex fast food.

@Dennis Wilson Beans were cooked in a large pressure cooker; cheese was Wisconsin cheddar (40 lb. blocks).

Those are cool. Do you still have them?

@@blue55blue15 good question. I forgot we had them until this video popped up. I vividly remember the display with all of them at the Taco Bell in Tracy Ca where we got them. They might be in storage there. Most likely they are there, but that stuff has been stored away since the 80’s when my grand parents passed. There’s lots of stuff come to think of it. I live 350 miles away. :(

Those were first started at Gold Circle actually, at there Snack Shop in front right across from the cash registers and so, did K-Mart back in there snack shop/ deli. They also were on jelly jars back in the 70s.

@@JazzDrummer1946 that’s amazing. We finally got a Speedy Gonzales glass. I was so happy. I need to go through that stuff and find them. There’s other stuff there from 1960 I’d guess. I was born in 66.

I remember Sylvester and Tweety

Corporations are about making the most money for the least effort, not providing quality products. KFC Pizza Hut everyone of them ever owned by Pepsico the food quality flat lined

PepsiCo owned Taco Bell and the food quality was high. I worked for Pizza Hut through the 80s and was also owned by PepsiCo. PepsiCo sold off many of the chain restaurants about that time.

I agree! Pepsico took over all the fast food chains...there's your answer, and it's very SAD!

@@RIXRADvidz True!

Split from PepsiCo traded as YUM since late seventies.

Oh man, I love those damned things so much. My old man got me into them back when I was a kid. I hope they bring it back sometime. Taco Bell would have people lining up for miles if they did!

I do and the Ench caused me to come within an inch of a brown pants back then one time and I just got lucky, making it to a bowl at Union 76 about 2 in the morning. The Taco Squirts were always a legit threat back when Taco Bell was a post party, 2 AM munchies stop.

They were great. So were the bell beefers and the simple bean burritos with red or green sauce. The flour tortillas were so soft

I ask for them, sometimes the people know what I'm talking about and a few will make them for me

Pepperidge farms remembers.

Me too. Then they stuck a dagger in my heart by removing the tostada and the final straw was hiring LilNas.

Agreed! Bring back the Enchiritos! They came in little aluminum trays.

I loved that Enchirito too!

Both are still available if you have a good manager. They use the tostata shell still in the crunch wrap. Just add the same ingredients. Add beef to the bean burrito and add sauce and cheese.

Fond memories of that incherito. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Same ,💔😢 when I'd get half way I'd just eat the rest like a taco 😂

@@NANotApplicable I was told by a manager that they stopped making them,because of packaging (boxes),but yet sell meals in a big box,so I make them take it out of the box & put my food in a bag.

I know, that was one of the best items.

As with so many other entrepreneurs of the 20th century, he cashed out.

Wasn't that thing awesome? Thought I was the only one who wishes they still had it.

That's all I would order until they stopped selling it.

Yes, I agree. Those were soooo tasty 😋

Yeah, yummy!

Yes!

I was just going to write that exact comment.

We can hope, someday, that they do... miracles are in sore need these days.

Absolutely! Throw the Enchirito back on there too!

For reals! I agree

...& pico de gallo & XXL grilled stuft burrito.

I didn't even realize that they stopped making the Mexican pizza until this comment.

I really liked the pizza.

That pizza ruled

My location Boulder no longer sells the taco salad. WHAT !

@@RJ-hx5nb Boulder, Colorado? 🏔️ ..yeah, they get rid of menu items every year, but 2021 they got rid of the everlasting, tostada, among 9 better rated items. At my location in Denver, they gave out coupons for getting rid of these items to "apologize" for it. First time I ever noticed them giving out coupons to apologize for getting rid of menu items.

I never tried the pizza, but I sure do miss their tostada! It was very simple, but I enjoyed them just the same.

One thing still does!

Don’t be “that guy”.

@@howyoudurrinhunneh "Nudge, nudge, wink, wink, say no more. Say no more."

It’s the love of “Mexican junk food” We know it’s not authentic yet we crave that taste occasionally. It’s food candy

@@sdjahof1964 Very true. 👍👍

I met Glen Bell at a Taco Bell Grand Opening in Rancho Cucamonga, Ca.

Now, their taco shells taste like a shoebox.

I agree Julie the food today is nothing like it used to be in the 1970s'

First one I ate at , was in 1975 in El Paso Texas.

@@dangreene9846 wow! That was close enough to Mexico to have the real thing. They still had the walk-ups in 75. I enjoyed that.

@@velladune1 The thing is I don't like Mexican food , its tasteless to me or hot . Like Taco Bell though .

yeah, the location was 7112 Firestone Boulevard in Downey.

@@dangreene9846 oh, I see. You have a point there.

when they dropped the Mexican Pizza, why didn't they just make another one?

@@az_exit1279 Probably because it was good.

Did he also refer to steaks as fill it mig non🤣🤣

@@nonamegame9857 We never went to a steak house

@@charlesbaldo I was simply talking about how some people say filet mignon ✌️

A Del Taco opened in my small town in 1979. The locals didn't know what to make of it. one guy ordered some burritos at the drive thru; drove up and then backed back to the window and asked: Am I supposed to eat the cardboard this is wrapped in? I knew we we're done, and about 6 months later closed.

I grew up in the 70's and never remember them as Take Os. Must have been a regional thing

It's not the amount of food that's leaves u wanting more cause u aren't full it's the preservatives and chemicals in it. All processed- pre packaged foods do that to us all.

I delivered food to T.B.’s in the LA area from 82 to 92. The Bell was made of plastic or fiberglass.

@@samiam619 well whatever it was made out of, it made quite the trophy I’m sure 😂

@@bayareanewman1566- My dad was a franchisee, I have the original fiberglass bell in my garage...any offers?

@@az_exit1279 so I searched it up on eBay: I’m not interested, however, somebody sold one back in February of this year for $130.00 😂 If I were you though, I’d put it in my back yard for decoration! As a homage to your father!

@@bayareanewman1566 thx for that' I'll keep it- don't need the $

Think outside the bun logo

Higher prices for less food and quality..stopped eating there to..sad...

Thas for real, no bang for our bucks anymore. It's not worth the little over a tablespoon of meat. I only stop here when I have too.

When people keep repeating the claim "its so cheap", they raise prices

You must not have a Taco Casa in your town. Of you did, you'd quit Bell. Taco Casa is like Taco Bell from the 70's.

I hear ya. Just had some tonight for the first time in a month. Like meeting up with an old friend after not seeing them for a while.

@@TexasTimelapse Been to the one in Okie City. Yes, it was good. Just not enough of them. Didn’t go through OK City enough…

Glen Bell is my favorite 'rags to riches to rags to riches' success stories.

haha wow that's crazy. lately I've been questioning how old I was before I learned what an avocado is though. I'm pretty sure I was in my 20s. Literally never heard of them before like 2011

Made you shart.

Got my room mate and I through college too.....that and Ramen noodles.

Used to love their bean burritos. Sadly the texture is slimey and taste gross now.

Del Taco is great but their quality has diminished over the years.

Loved Del Taco when I was stationed in San Diego in the early 90’s. They had one at 32nd Naval Station, it was open late….perfect stop after a night of adult beverages before going back to the ship. Besides, who doesn’t like French fries with their tacos. 🌮🍟

You are better off with the Del Taco in the area now, my friend.

Hell yeah, and also the encharitto!!!!!!!! 👍

I lived for the Taco Salad! I got the bad news one day years ago at the drive thru speaker box. My heart fell when they said it was discontinued!

They put one in LAX

Yep, pretty sure it was meant to be East. One of the only mistakes I've heard after about 20 videos from this channel

Lol. I thought the same thing. He must have misspoke.

They were built west of Downey. 100 in LA county. Downey is in East LA county. Torrance is west of Downey.

Maybe they went to Hawaii or that tiny little island off the coast of California 🦧🦧

Yeah, I've noticed that too. Which is why I end up grabbing handfuls of the sauce packets and keeping them at home.

Thanks for the info on the bottled sauce. I had been thinking about buying it, I believe you when you say it doesn't taste the same. So I decided not to buy it.

@@PorkChopJones Its still tasty, it's just not the sauce in the packets.

I got violently sick also and never ate it again.

Sorry to hear that Hoosier stomachs are so tender…

Legend has it you're still sitting on the pot from that visit to this day.

@@situated4 No doubt. I am definitely a legend (in my own mind) 🤣🤣

Jugs & Suds here in Texas was pretty cool in it's limited time run in the 1970s 🤓

Alaska: AM I NOTHING TO YOU?

Taco Time was selling a Bell Beefer style sandwich last year. Not sure if they still have it.

@@VegasX900 Thanks for the tip, but unfortunately there are no Taco Time restaurants online California. Nearest one is in Vegas.

Ha! Love me some good ole Taco Shmel!

the only place I ever heard Tay-Ko's was back east or when my southern cousins were being extra stupid.

I grew up in the San Fernando Valley in the 1960's, no one ever said "take-oh's " !!!

MY LATE UNCLE DID, HE WAS FROM. MASSACHUSETTS SO HE WOULD SAY, TAKE-OH!!!

My dad was a franchisee, I have the original fiberglass bell in my garage.

They should bring those back. They gave the buildings a southwestern missionary look.

I was thinking of the same too lol

You can't go very far West from Downey.

Only when we don't personally own the target shares, haha.

What did you order and how was it? 😂🤣😅

I remember when $27 could feed 27 people!!!

@@ZZ_The_Boxing_Cat He ded

Yep, they're stomach grenades.

Name is Yum but a lot of the food is YUCK.