Taco Bell — Restaurant in Los Angeles

I used to eat at Taco Bell all the time back in my younger, more reckless days you know, before everyone in my life warned me with those timeless words of wisdom: “You don’t want Taco Bell because it’s just going to give you diarrhea.” Naturally, I took that advice to heart and stayed away for years. But recently, for reasons I can’t fully explain, I found myself craving Taco Bell again. Call it nostalgia, call it a lapse in judgment either way, I went back. Not to the one near my work in Tarzana, of course. I ventured out to the location on Reseda Boulevard, right across from El Pollo Loco. I ordered my usual: a cheesy gordita crunch, swapping out the ground beef for steak (because, obviously, I’m a classy Taco Bell customer). Sometimes I’ll even throw in a chicken or steak quesadilla, just to really elevate the experience. A few weeks ago, everything seemed fine. The gordita was delicious or at least Taco Bell delicious. But these last few visits? Not so much. I’m starting to think they’ve swapped out the steak for something… cheaper? Mystery meat? Lab grown science experiment? Your guess is as good as mine. One time, the “steak” tasted like it had wandered over from a Chinese takeout menu, and I thought, Okay, fluke. But on my next visit, it tasted suspiciously like roast beef. Whatever cost-cutting measures they’re taking whether it’s switching vendors or dabbling in futuristic meat alternatives it’s just gross. I’d really love to believe it’s not lab-grown meat, but with Taco Bell these days… who even knows? Honestly, it’s just sad. Another childhood staple circling the drain. At this rate, I guess I’m officially done with Taco Bell or at least with this location. The service here isn’t terrible; it’s exactly what you’d expect from any other Taco Bell. And the ambiance? Well, it’s indistinguishable from any other Taco Bell you’d find around the corner from your house. So I guess this is farewell, cheesy gordita crunch. We...

I absolutely love this Taco Bell! Even though there’s one closer to me, I always go out of my way to come to this location—and it’s worth every extra minute. They consistently get the order right, the staff is always kind and patient, and they never hesitate to give you as much sauce as you ask for.

What really keeps me coming back, though, is that the food just tastes better here. I’m not sure why, but it’s consistently fresher and more flavorful than any other Taco Bell I’ve been to. The Mexican Pizza is always perfectly made and neatly put together—not a sloppy mess like at some other locations. The cheese is always melted just right, and the portions inside the tacos and burritos are spot on.

I’ve been coming here for over 10 years, and I’ll keep coming back. This place sets the standard for what a great Taco Bell...

We walk in, and it's just about empty and super quiet. No one at the counter. Dead quiet. At lunchtime on a Saturday. Finally, a girl comes from behind the counter and just stands there in front of us just staring at us without saying a word. Now I'm confused. I tell her we are ready to order, and she directs us to the kiosk and walks us thru putting in our order and disappears. What's the point of machines doing the work when the place is empty? It's so awkward and so....cold, I guess. No people to people interactions. No conversations. Nothing. Food came out, and we left. Also, the Lux box was $3 more than advertised, and you can't really argue with a machine,...