Taco Bueno — Restaurant in Fort Smith

This is one of the most difficult reviews I’ve ever left. So seldom am I faced with the dilemma of having to use one set of stars to rate multiple aspects of a business that happened to have earned completely contradicting scores.

I’d like to provide the bit of info about my situation. I’m walking distance to taco bueno. So while the details of my review may be specific to one visit, my overall opinion and observations are generalized over a collective series of visits.

Before we get to my criticism let’s start with a positive. Taco bueno, best refried beans in the world. Every visit. Every bite. The right consistency not runny but not dry either, right salt content, I’m not sure if the bean chef is from Narnia, perhaps he sold his soul to the likes of the dark arts, no matter the answer, I just accept I’m not meant to know the truth. I’m just a mere mortal sent to observe this unprecedented phenomenon that is The “Buenos” beans.

Moving forward. I hate to think of myself as “that guy” but if I fall victim to an order of one more 20 minute taco, it may begin to cause me to think twice before visiting in the future. I don’t want this to be taken as a session of griping, and scolding, but instead as a form of constructive criticism so that by improving on their faults they may soon earn the 4-5 star review that they deserve.

Tonight’s visit after I went inside to order my taco platter, I couldn’t help but notice there was not another customer around. I wrongly assumed this could be a good sign that my food may be presented at a reasonable time. I proceed to order making sure I don’t bother with any coupons, as those tend to be turned down repetitively, after all The last thing I need is another complication between myself and a curved shell filled with lettuce, meat, cheese, and tomato. I order the platter and ask if that comes with a drink to which I get the reply. “That one,,,, ummmmmm. Yeeeeahhh, I think that one does come with one, yeeeeahhh, you can get a small drink for a dollar with it”. Wait, what? Never mind. I’ll take the drink. And in my mind I’m chanting, “let’s get this Tex next assembly line cranking. I pay, fill my beverage and as I wait I over hear some of the best definition of small talk to date, by the employees. This is taking a while I think to myself as I look at the clock on my phone. 7 minutes, surely that’s about all the time they need. By this time I’ve already made it to my second beverage and second guessed my meal selection 4 times. I walk up to the counter. I can see clear back into Narnia. And I’m shocked at the lack of production that’s actually occurring. Over the next 5 minutes I hear conversation made about my meal. “Have you started the taco,” and a faint reply, “no.” Well that bums me out, and another voice, “What is it, a platter or like, uh, just a taco” I chirp in. “It’s a platter.” I continue to wait over the next 5-6 minutes, I hear random opinions about my food choice, “well this just don’t look good.” Pushing 20 minutes later my food arrives.

The food quality was good, the freshness was obviously great, I just really encourage them to work on these few weaknesses.

Overall the food is great for the price, and if time isn’t something your pressed for I recommend stopping in, but until they become a little more concerned about the customer and their time, I have to...

I hate that Taco Bueno food is so good otherwise I wouldn’t have gone back to this location. Today I sat in the drive-thru at the window for 20 minutes or longer waiting for my food. The girl acted high and asked me 5 times what salsa I wanted. She gave me the wrong persons food and I opened it and touched it before I realized. I handed it back to her and she took it out of the bag and gave it to the customer in the lobby after I touched the food. Disgusting! Not the first time I’ve seen this there. They also had someone in regular clothes carrying a baby where they were making the food! After everything, I was happy to get my food, but didn’t get my salsa after being asked 5 times what kind I wanted and there was guacamole all over the outside of my box. There is always something wrong with my order when I go to this location. Another time, I watched a TB worker give a delivery service driver a huge bag of food in the lobby. He touched everything in the bag and handed it back to her. She took it behind the counter then waited for him to leave before she gave it to the lobby customer! I just can’t with this disgusting place. None of the workers are professional and I won’t be back to...

fellow in driv thru refuses to talk to, or even acknowledge us every time we go thru to get food. When he's given a yes or no question or reminded that he forgot something, he refuses to verbally acknowledge that he even hears you. I only know this because he was doing that to my wife every time she went to pick up dinner, so I started picking it up so she didn't have to be treated so rudely. When we are placing the order, his tone is always that of someone that doesn't like or know what he's doing. The only reason I know he's not mute is when he talks on the intercom to take order. Never a thank you, please pull up. Goodbye,have a nice day or anything. Never a word to us but always having a blast talking, singing to other staff. After he's done playing around and food is ready, he sticks it out the window and impatiently shoves the food and drinks toward us. I rarely complain, but this same attitude from the same guy has happened at least a half dozen or more times now. The fellow I'm talking about talks with other African Americans and staff but acts like he despises white people. What he's doing is racist and needs to be addressed. Please address this...