Taco Bueno

Filthy bathrooms and it looked like the self serve salsa bar hadn’t been cleaned good in days — not very hygienic. Floor hadn’t been swept and all this mess with employees standing around with nothing better to do than play with their cell phones. I’ve always enjoyed the Taco Bueno brand for over thirty years, but in the last year or so, whether this store or the one on Precinct Line Road, the cleanliness of the restaurant is too gross to stomach the food. I guess I’ll have to stick with Taco Casa for my future Tex-​Mex fast food cravings.

By far some of the rudest management I have ever dealt with in my life. A drive thru employee told me to bring all of my taco coupons and he would accept as many as I had. I went home and got the coupons and when I returned to the restaurant the manager told me that he would not accept ANY of my coupons. I told him to just cancel my order then and as he was closing the drive thru window I heard him say «next time you come here don’t be a cheap asshole» because I was trying to use coupons. I was beyond furious and after I left the location, I pulled over in a parking lot to call the store — I asked the manager (the same one from the drive thru) for the corporate phone number and he reluctantly gave it to me; I then asked him for him name so I could report the incident to corporate and he said «why the hell do you need to know my name? I’m not telling you shit.» and then proceeded to hang up on me and wouldn’t answer the phone when I attempted to call back. I called the phone number he gave me and the area director answered the phone. I told him about the incident and he told me if I went back to the restaurant then he would have them take care of my entire bill for me (which was only tacos). I also posted on Twitter and Facebook about the incident and they sent me an additional $ 15 in coupons to be used at ANY Taco Bueno location. I will NEVER be back to the Brown Trail location after the way I was treated.

The last time I was here was to get some special they had going on about a year ago and we ended up not liking it and giving it to our neighbor with kids. Now we had a coupon for 50% off of that huge quesadilla they have and I thought this would be the perfect time to try it out. I had seen the TV ads and it definitely had made me want one! We purchased the food to take home. The first annoyance was that they did not have 2 ONE dollar bills to give me change. It was a big production to get my money. We’re talking change from a $ 10.
The quesadilla was okay. It was basically cheese and some flavored chicken. I actually prefer the quesadillas from Taco Bell. There was a good amount of chicken on the quesadilla so paying $ 3 was a great value. However, there is no way In you know where that I would pay $ 6 for it. ($ 4.50 tops)
My husband had the Chicken BOB (I thought that was a name for Whataburger’s burrito) and he said it was okay. I tasted some of his BOB and it was just so bland I could not believe I was eating from a Mexican restaurant. It ONLY had chicken and lettuce and onions on it. When you tried to bite into it, everything fell out because there was nothing like sauce holding it together. It didn’t even have pico in it! DULLSVILLE! Also, I don’t think the tortilla had even been heated because when we got home from our 5 minute drive it was COLD! On top of all that, it was $ 4.50! NOT at all a good value.
The main positive I can give this restaurant is that all their chicken was real white meat chicken. The fact that is located across the street from the High School is probably the only reason it is still in business.

Taco Bueno Bedford
Disclaimer:
I am from California so visiting. Taco Bueno was a new experience for me. Reminded me of a cross between a Del Taco and Taco Bell.
Overall I was very pleased and had a good experience. They also have a salsa bar!
The Great:
— Building design
— Interior Dacor
The Good
— Taco Burger (only $ 1.09!)
— Party Taco (only $ 1.99!)

I live close to this store and used to go all the time. Freeway construction nearby prevented me from wanting to go for about a year. Construction is finally finished and I went back today (10÷13÷14).
It was not the same at all. I ordered jalapenos on my nachos and they even repeated it back to me. My receipt even said «Plus Peppers». I got home and there were no peppers. I called them and they sounded like they could pretty much care less. I had this thought that if I went back for peppers they would have a nice coating of spit on them. To top it all off, the nachos were not nearly as good as they used to be. This place has gone downhill…

I like there meat better than Taco Bell. Portions seem to be larger here than other Mexican fast food places. This location is never very busy due to all the construction.

No Bueno. Picked up a late night snack in the drive through here. I do recall eating at a few Taco Bueno locations in the area and have always enjoyed them. There’s a time for slightly upscale Taco Bell.
My drive through order was ready in less than 60 seconds which was impressive. Why? They didn’t heat anything. The crunchy taco with ground beef was lukewarm and the steak taco on flour was cold with disgusting chewy pieces of meat that tasted like a Glad trash bag.
I do not suggest eating here the night before a long plane flight.

First of all, my order was wrong. I asked for mucho nachos with no tomatoes, it was covered in tomatoes.
I asked for chicken, there was barely any chicken on it. Maybe two or three pieces, and then I think there was beef on it as well. Or at least it tasted like chilli.
In addition, the chips were stale. This was a horrible representation, and the teenagers that were working on the shift weren’t doing their job to their best ability, I didn’t want to eat all my nachos, but I did because I paid of $ 5 for some chicken nachos with no tomatoes, which ended up being covered in tomatoes, lacking chicken, and tasted like chilli. Something is wrong here.
Yeah the food came out quick, but it came out freaking wrong, so seriously. Fortunately, I got a survey, and I told them how I felt as well. I will not be going back here, a few times I’ve been to Bueno to order MexiDips and Chips, and you can’t mess up a dip.
But I will not be going back. Next time its El Pasia off Harwood, talk about REAL and delicious nachos and that don’t mess up the freaking order. It even says «No Tomatoes» on the receipt, and the guy repeated it to me. Stale chips didn’t help much either.
Plus, I guess the forks there’s don’t come wrapped, so it’s floating in the bag which is fine but I can’t trust this guy because my order was wrong. Then he tried to offer me a free drink, that was already there. I asked him what it was, it was something I didn’t want. What did he say? «Beggers can’t be choosers,» well guess what buddy, I didn’t ask for this damn drink in the first place.
He wouldn’t even rinse out the cup and give me something that I wanted, since he felt like giving away stuff.

Let me preface this review by stating that I used to work at this location in high school. That time is nearing a decade past, so let’s both try our best to assume this is not biased in any way. I know ex-​employees of food establishments typically know the nitty-​gritty on the place and refuse to eat there ever again. My experience working at Bueno never affected me in such a way, though I didn’t return for about three years due to staff. There was never an issue with the way the food was prepared.
Fast forward 8 years or so. I still try to visit this location when I can help it. The place has (recently) gotten a swanky makeover. There are TVs in the lobby, the spaceship soda machine, and new décor. It’s nice and I like it. It doesn’t feel like the McDonalds that do the same but you know you’re still eating cheap shit.
I love Bueno because they don’t cut corners where they don’t HAVE to. The beans are simmered overnight daily. The beef comes raw and is seasoned/​cooked there. The avocados come in pouches, but then are mixed into guacamole in store. The tortilla chips are raw corn tortillas when they arrive. The chicken and queso are both bagged, essentially prepared elsewhere and only require heating. Fortunately, I like both. Sometimes the queso is watered down which sucks.
When I worked here, this store was a «training» store. Managers coming into the Bueno business would cut their teeth at this location, so things tend to be more by the book. That’s a good thing. Even portion sizes were scrutinized and regularly tested/​weighed. Whatever Taco Bueno is supposed to be, you’ll get it here.
I personally think that Bueno has the best beans in the fast Tex-​Mex biz. They’re actually REfried, legit pinto beans. Well-​seasoned. Awesome. The beef is totally made fresh but it’s not my favorite… I like some more seasoning. At least it’s not dog-​food grade like some other restaurants. I’ve always liked the guacamole here, again it’s the seasoning. This is not bland crap (except the beef lol). The chicken is diced and gets happy in it’s juice/​marinade. I don’t know where they get their cheese, tomatoes, lettuce (stuff already prepared) but it’s always fresh.
I’m not loyal to the point that I’ll never eat another Dorritos Locos taco (I will), but if the choice is up to me I’ll be at Taco Bueno. The food is fresher, has less preservatives and sodium, and tastes better.
DISCLAIMER: I cannot vouch for breakfast. I’ve never had it. Who’s awake that early with time to spare anyway???

CHEAPEST SEASONAL DEAL.
(Avoid the breakfast)
The prices for the platters are so good to begin with, but $ 2.99 for a platter during promotional times is ridiculous.
How they’re making a profit during these times, I don’t know?
Anyhow, this particular location has a unique machine that offers 106 different flavors of soda (technically). (See pics)
It’s the first location that I’ve seen that has one, and according to one excited employee they’ve only had it for 3 days and they’re still working out the kinks (apparently the first day they could only offer 4 flavors).
How is it?
Neat…, but keep in mind that it’s also a trick.
Basically, it has your typical basic sodas (Coke, Diet Coke, Barq’s, Dr. Pepper, Hi-​C, etc.) but they offer multiple flavorings for «some» of these basic colas (no flavoring for Dr. Pepper or Barq’s)
So, it’s a machine that adds flavorings to regular soda and that’s how that big number is achieved.
How does it taste?
Well… gross (to me). –keep in mind that they’re probably still working out the kinks on the new machine–
I tried the Cherry Coke (since I’m more familiar with that flavor add on drink) and it tasted like mostly carbonated water with a ton of cherry flavor (and some Coke as well).
But don’t let that stop you, go see the future of soda at this location (before it spreads to all the other stores soon and loses it’s uniqueness).
(BTW, I thought it was so funny that such a futuristic soda /​ice machine does not make it’s own ice (ice loaded on top by associate) and the store has to tape paper instructions on the machine so people understand how it works. LOL)

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — – — — — — — — — — — — — — -
Guacamole — (Great)
Chips — (I’ll say… Meh. Some tasted fresh while others rubbery)
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — – — — — — — — — — — — — — -
One Taco Bueno is just like any other Taco Bueno right?
Nope. Let me explain.
Ever been to a McDonald’s and the fries were either overly salted or under salted, but another location (or the same location at a different time) has perfectly seasoned fries.
It’s weird isn’t it? The other food is soo… consistent till you get to that little inconsistency.
Anyhow, the same can be said about Taco Bueno and it has to do with their Guacamole and Chips (though I’ve had bad rice /​beans a few times — but rare)
So I’ve implemented a scale on the top of the review. If I get bad brown slimy Guac or rubbery old chips then I’ll mention it (and doc a star).
If it’s good, then they gain my love and get a star back.
(G) — for good /​great
(F) — for fail /​nasty
BTW, don’t eat the breakfast @ Taco Bueno. It’s tempting since the meals taste good, but I’ve never had a good breakfast at any location. AVOID.