I recently happened to spot a Taco bell restaurant in Mumbai. I ignored it as a reflex based on my wide experience with Mexican food. On further insistence by my cousin, who I consider a man of fine taste, I decided to give it a try.
The restaurant was in a mall food court, so appearances were minimal, with the taco bell logo doing most of the work. There were some posters made by marketing put up outside, and it seems they were pretty good; with their pictures and captions. I was allured indeed. Upon arrival, I was greeted by a Maharashtrian girl who was fluent in her repetition of “Good evening sir, welcome to taco bell, how can I help you?” The kitchens I peeked into, seemed in line with other joints like McDonalds in the country. It lacked the chaos since I was the only customer at the time.
I got the got the two-taco meal with cheesy nachos, and a Pepsi for Rs. 314. I said no to possibly ever upgrade option (except to the upgrade to cheesy nachos from fries). The price still felt a little steep, but hell, it’s premium fast food. People spend usually twice this. I waited about ten minutes before my food showed up. It looked pretty good. Not sad like the YouTube videos show. The fillings were to the brim, and were actually visible, like shown in the pictures. I usually pass them of as bull, but this time I was impressed. The Pepsi came without a lid and straw, in accordance to Maharashtra state’s ban on plastics.
A quick insight on my experience on Mexican food: I have eaten Mexican food from small family run Mexican house restaurants to some popular restaurants in seven US states. I’ve even had homemade Mexican food too. Hell, I’ve even been to Mexico and had their food.
Taco bell is unlike Mexican food. It merely adds a name to its menu and continentalizes the hell out of it to fit its clientele. Nachos aren’t smattered with wet cheese, they’re usually dipped in salsa and had with Pico de Gallo. More on that later lol.
The nachos were above satisfactory. Delivering on the crunch and balanced on the salt. The cheese was wet, hot enough to burn, and runny. It went well with the nachos. My suggestion is taco bell increase the cheese portions by maybe 20%. The nachos were small and uniform, maybe 3 to 4 centimeters each side. I’m not a fan of raw tomatoes, so I ignored them.
The tacos were a peculiar experience. They went from the initial burst of flavor to a point where I could contemplate what parts of each bite I smacked on and what I chose to pass on. The lettuce was cool and crisp as I like it, the temperature was accompanied with a wetness that like to feel drip from my gums. Tomatoes are my enemy, so I try to mask their taste by eating them with something else. But there is no denying here the sweetness and a pinch of acidity imparted by them.
I know. As a nation of roti eaters, it is hard to conceptualize a corn flour tortilla as a part of a meal. More so, a corn tortilla that’s made in a factory. I had a burrito made with wheat tortilla made like a roti. It was a weird experience. I ended up so confused later. It felt so… unmexican… The tortilla on the soft taco tasted like disappointment and reminded me exactly of the one you get in US. It feels like chewing on autoclaved cooked leather and makes you question what you just ate.
Each new bolus bought in a combination of flavors, that surprised my palate, considering how dull and boring taco bell feels in its home turf, the US. There was a hint of lemon in the taco, which was also a surprise. Everybody knows how fun chicken becomes with lemon. I’m not familiar with the sauces they used, but they paired well with the chicken and diffused a sweetness that was playfully spicy. The sauces feel like a binder that gets you to call your friend when you were 9. Its presence felt necessary and was welcome to join in other acts. The onions synergized the crunch bought by the lettuce, and I had a gala time munching all the way. I had some cloves in my wallet to deal with the after effects later. The cheese shavings were generous and ushered neutrality in the ongoing bombardment of my taste buds. I highly appreciated the emulsification they provided later while chewing
The Pepsi was served with no ice and minimum foam, just as I like it. For a fountain soda, it had held a good level of carbonation and the size of the cup was just small enough to last me enough, so I could rinse my mouth before trying on a new taste.
Did it taste like fast food? Yes. But not like McDonalds fast food. It doesn’t taste like mass production and an industrial cooking line. It’s not the kind that makes you feel like crap ten minutes after eating. Sure, I had some feelings that gave me afterthoughts, but they are a part of the fast-food experience. In my opinion, taco bell India is ahead than the US in terms of quality. They are limited by their choice of meats and need to allow some time to allow the Indian market to adjust to the new entrant of continental Mexican fast food.
