Taco John's — Restaurant in Lawrence

I rarely write reviews for food places. I realize it can be really hit and miss - especially fast food places on weekend nights. I get it. BUT last night's 'meal' was disappointing (I am using a nicer word than I would like) enough to warrant this offering of feedback. My Big Boss Burrito was filled with crunchy rice and dehydrated black beans - that's it. I believe I detected one piece of dry chicken amongst the other sad ingredients, but I'm not positive because it had the same tasteless, dry, crunchy texture as the rice clumps. It was truly one of the worst burritos I've ever been served. It was like something a six year old would make. Perhaps it was take-your-kid-to-work day at Taco Johns and they were then put in charge of the restaurant. If this was the case, please share this feedback with them, as it will only serve to make them better. My wife's reaction to her meal was similar to mine, but involved an unusual amount of gagging. The ingredient-to-tortilla ratio of her burrito was way off. Each bite was mostly dry tortilla shell. And when she was able to finally taste what was buried within the sand dune folds of tortilla, she was rewarded with putrid, stale onions and odd-tasting refried beans ('odd' as in gag-inducing). It's sunny outside. It's a nice day. I've got chores I need to do around the house. But I'm here taking time out of a pleasant Sunday to review a Saturday night fast food meal. That's how bad it was. No meal experience should bring to mind the word 'clumps'. The Potato Oles were pretty damn good though, as they usually are. Maybe just stick...

I used my Taco John’s app to place my order. I chose to pick the order up. I get to the restaurant, pull up to the drive thru and state I have a mobile order for Judy. The response is pull ahead we’re working on it. I checked in when I pulled up to the drive thru. I pull ahead and not one, but two employees came to the window and asked what my order was. I repeated the order twice. They stated the order hasn’t come through the system yet and asked me to pull to the side and someone would bring it out. After waiting for 20 minutes and seeing 5 cars go through the drive they behind me, I was slightly mad. I pulled around and went inside. By now, my order is showing as cancelled in the app. I told the lady at the front that I had been asked to pull to the side and someone would bring the order out, and 20 minute has passed, no order and it reflects as cancelled in the app. I didn’t cancel it. How did it get cancelled? The manager came to the counter, stated he was sorry that was my experience and told me to have a nice night. Did not offer to make it right. The two employees working the drive thru window appeared to be experience. That might have been acceptable had I not discovered 4 employees working inside and not one of them bothered to come out and inform me my order was cancelled. They just allowed me to continue to wait for an order that was not coming....

I must confess, Taco Johns is my absolute favorite place to eat. If I had more money than Jeff bezos, I'd still eat Taco Johns over a fancy steakhouse.

My favorite menu item is the Taco Burger, and when I eat here I always get at least 4 (and no, I'm not overweight at all, just addicted). I'm getting hungry just thinking about it. The soft shell tacos are great, the super nachos are amazing, as is just about anything on the menu. And it's always very easy on the wallet, unless you pig out like I do...but it's SO worth it.

You always need to get a churro for desert, as they are the best desert ever conceived. They used to have sopapias (not sure that's spelled correctly) and they were also fantastic but I think they were discontinued. Don't quote me on that.

As for the location specifically, it's kind of small but that's rarely ever an issue. Thr drive through is right off the main street, and it's easy to navigate. The workers have always been kind and the food has always been made properly. They've never got my order wrong, or made a subpar item. I'm not a person who tips, but, I am real close to tipping the workers at this location and my other one.

I can't praise this restaurant enough. And I'm so thankful that there is two locations within 30 minutes of where I live. Best food ever. 5/5 stars. They should get the Nobel Peace...