(I will announce that contest winner later today)
Part of the lure of going to California was the constant talk from friends about how their fast food is so much better than NY fast food. Yea, we both have our Taco Bells and chain restaurants and such, but there are things I could get in Sacramento that I can’t get in New York: Del Taco, Wienerschnitzel and Jack in the Box.
Like I said yesterday, the Wienerschnitzel chili dogs were quite good for what they were, if a little small.
We used to have Jack in the Box here, ages ago. They no longer exist in New York. Let’s just say that the best thing about Jack in the Box is their commercials (which I was forced to watch on You Tube).
Now, let’s talk about Del Taco. Because every Californian I know will go on and on about how much better Del Taco is than Taco Bell. Seriously, that’s like comparing cholera and typhoid fever. Who the hell cares which one is deadlier? They both suck.
I wolfed down two soft tacos as we were driving from one excursion to another. Some of you may think that’s not the best way to conduct a fast food taste test, but I beg to differ. Half the times I eat Taco Bell, it’s in the car, in a rush on my way to somewhere. So it was actually the perfect taste test.
I dug in to the taco, expecting some kind of fast food nirvana, or at least something that would make me forget that Taco Bell exists.
You know what it tasted like? A 59 cent taco. It tasted like ass sweat and cheese with hot sauce. Which is to say, it tasted like Taco Bell.
Your fast food is NOT better than our fast food. And really, who would want that claim to fame, anyhow? Sure, your bagels are softer (which I enjoy) and your pizza (I only sampled Round Table pizza) is about one child-size step above Pizza Hut, but everything else gets a FAIL.
On the other hand, your sushi is better (thank you, Tamaya) and your REAL Mexican food is better (shout out to Tres Hermanas on K Street). Hell, I can’t even find real Mexican food here.
Good thing I’m not a big lover of fast food, or I would be rethinking my decision to head west. I could definitely live on sushi and Mexican for a long, long time.
Do they have pho restaurants there? We do in the Seattle area, and if it’s done right it’s almost Nirvana. And quick, too. The only thing is you can’t wolf it down in the car.
Michele, when I was growing up, we called them “Taco Smell” and “Smell Taco” – totally interchangeable in our minds, and my parents usually took us to whichever one they had a coupon for.
Next time you’re in town, try Zelda’s on 21st Street or Original Pete’s on J Street for pizza – I’m pretty sure you’ll find them more to your liking.
The only thing I ever get at Del Taco is the Chicken Spicy Jack Quesadilla. Man, those are good.
OK, I’m waiting for the In-n-Out review now… because I know it’s coming. Right? I mean, because when you think CA fast food, you just HAVE to visit In-n-Out.
And… dude, seriously? I can’t imagine living in a place that didn’t have Mexican food. Not that I eat Mexican food all the time; it’s just that when I want Mexican food, I WANT IT.
The only thing I ever get at Del Taco is the Chicken Spicy Jack Quesadilla. Man, those are good.
OK, I’m waiting for the In-n-Out review now… because I know it’s coming. Right? I mean, because when you think CA fast food, you just HAVE to visit In-n-Out.
And… dude, seriously? I can’t imagine living in a place that didn’t have Mexican food. Not that I eat Mexican food all the time; it’s just that when I want Mexican food, I WANT IT.
Second the Spicy Jack Chicken Quesadilla. Excellent late-night fare. Of course, I’m a big fan of quesadillas in general, but I can’t tolerate what Taco Bell does to theirs.
Anyway, if you want good Mexican food, obviously you have to find a good, authentic, hole-in-the-wall dive. I don’t know if it’s impossible for a nice restaurant to have good Mexican, but I’ve never seen one.
I live in California and I…I…prefer Taco Bell to Del Taco.
There…I said it. My conscience is clean.
Pho rules. Esp with some Rooster Sauce.
Pho rules. Esp with some Rooster Sauce.
I heartily agree! My favorite pho has brisket, flank and bo vien, a few squirts of hosein, a squirt or so of rooster sauce, lime juice, basil and bean sprouts. The cilantro, onion and scallions should already be in the soup, added right before serving at the table. Yum!
try Zelda’s on 21st Street or Original Pete’s on J Street for pizza
Zeldas is Chicago style so we really didn’t consider that in the running (plus it takes three hours to get a pizza) and I really, really, really hate Pete’s.
All I know is that the Del Taco near my work is above and beyond any other fast food Mexican I’ve ever had, and even better than “authentic” restaurants I’ve been to.
Could it be that Del Taco in Idaho is better than Del Taco in California?
Should have had the chicken?
I had the same issue with Carl’s, the husband and I had it with In & Out burger. Both sucked, IMO. I’ll take Wendy’s any day over that crap. After hearing the raves from west coasters for years, both were bitterly disappointing.
I didn’t even think of this… do they have Rubio’s up in northern CA? Because that place is better than both Del Taco and Taco Bell.
Of course, if you want hole-in-the-wall Mexican fast food, you can’t beat a ____-berto’s. There are a billion of them. Roberto’s. Alberto’s. Filiberto’s. And, depending on where you are, you’ll have a different set of berto’s.
OK, I know way too much about fast food. (but -berto’s chorizo burritos are just so damned good)
Try El Azteca in Rosevlle next time (Foothills and Baseline).
Best Mexican in the area!
Mmmm..carne asada tacos…
Avoid Cafe Delicias (AKA Cafe D-con)
Try El Azteca in Rosevlle next time (Foothills and Baseline).
Best Mexican in the area!
Mmmm..carne asada tacos…
Avoid Cafe Delicias (AKA Cafe D-con)
Mikey, we did not go to In And Out. It was just one of those places I had no desire to go. I have to say, neither Todd nor I are big fast food eaters, so the amount of crap we ate really took a toll on us. I’m glad we stopped before the burger places.
We do have a good, authentic Mexican place on Long Island…we had to go to a Mexican neighborhood about 40 minutes away to find it. I just don’t feel like making that drive often. This is why I love midtown Sacramento so much…you step out your and you can walk to just about any kind of GOOD food you want. I can’t even walk to fast food from here, let alone decent food.
Timmer, if Del Taco is better than your authentic restaurants, maybe you are confusing authentic with chains like Chili’s?
For you Sacramentonians, Tres Hermanas was definitely the real thing. Good quality Mexican food.
No…I’ve had “authentic” Mexican in Germany (Spanish food with a bit of cilantro added) and Hawaii (don’t even ask). Seriously though, I really like the food at the Del Taco near where I work. It tastes nothing like ass sweat (again, don’t ask).
Seriously, if there’s a tacqueria around, Taco Bell can’t compete.
Being a northwesterner, I’ve never had Del Taco, but I’ll take your for for it that it’s indistinquishable.
(And re. Chili’s … that’s Tex-mex, not Mexican.)
In terms of fast food in SoCal (where I haven’t lived for years), Rubios definitely rocks. The notion that Del Taco is anything different than Taco Bell, however, is a joke.
Now, if you want truly awesome fast food Mexican food, you have to go with Taco Cabana in Texas–which puts many sit-down Mexican food places to shame.
Del Taco? Ha! Jimboy’s!
Jimboy’s is pure lard.
My friend put it best when he said the best thing about Jimboy’s is taking a shit the next day.
It feels like a torpedo coming out of your ass.
A grease torpedo.
Anybody who thinks they’re going to get authentic Mexican food from Del Taco is nuts. But it is better than Taco Bell. Del Taco never gave me the runs. Can’t say the same for Taco Bell.
You should’ve tried the Big Fat Tacos. Chicken or steak, they’re my favorite thing they serve.
Anybody who thinks they’re going to get authentic Mexican food from Del Taco is nuts. But it is better than Taco Bell. Del Taco never gave me the runs. Can’t say the same for Taco Bell.
You should’ve tried the Big Fat Tacos. Chicken or steak, they’re my favorite thing they serve.