A few weeks ago I got an e-mail from a public relations firm inviting me to visit Taco Bell’s corporate headquarters and test kitchen to meet with the team that developed the Volcano Sauce and to tour their facilities. I immediately thought this was a cruel, sick joke until they actually sent me confirmation of my flight. I wasn’t sure what to think. Taco Bell wanted to fly me all the way to California, take me out to dinner, shack me up in a hotel for the night, then tour me through their corporate headquarters? That sounded great to me. I was in.
My first flight was a 39 minute flight from Detroit to Chicago in one of the smallest planes I have ever seen. After that, it was a straight shot from Chicago to the John Wayne Airport in Orange County. I hopped on the shuttle to the hotel and as we were pulling in, I noticed this corporate Mexican hacienda:
I kind of assumed Taco Bell’s corporate office would be an enormous building, but this was practically a city. What’s inside of the building, you ask? Well, lots and lots of Taco Bell. Seriously, Taco Bell is everywhere. It’s kind of surreal. All the workers I saw at lunch had Taco Bell bags filled with food. I figured they would want to venture out and eat something that doesn’t have to do with their daily work, but no. They all eat Taco Bell. Another thing that surprised me is that the majority of their workforce isn’t a bunch of grossly overweight slobs who pack on the calories from Grilled Stuffed Burritos and Crunch Wrap Supremes. Their employees seem to be young, in shape, and not bad looking at all. There’s even a workout facility on the main floor. While exercising after eating a full meal of Taco Bell is the closest thing to Hell that I can imagine, I was impressed. Oh Taco Bell, how you surprise me. It didn’t end there…
We started with a brief history of the company in the “history” room. This room consists of a time line of Taco Bell’s history, complete with food models of the different menu items served throughout the years. Taco Bell was started by a white guy named Señor Glen “Pancho” Bell in 1962 and began franchising the brand by 1964. I was surprised to learn that the brand was sold to PepsiCo in 1978 and combined with KFC and Pizza Hut to form the Yum! brand. That’s some serious cashflow right there.
We then moved on to to the test kitchen where all of the magic happens. This is the only test kitchen for Taco Bell in the entire country which surprised me a bit. This was a pretty large area, but the kitchen is basically set up like any Taco Bell you would normally visit. We met two women (remembering names is not one of my strong suits) who control most of the food and marketing innovation for the company. They walked us through the development of the volcano sauce and other temporary or test items. I’m not going to type out all the details, but I will tell you that a hell of a lot of thought goes into those tacos and burritos you eat.
They explained to us that the Volcano sauce was developed to appeal to people who like a little kick and people like me who enjoy a good burn. They tested many different ingredients including hot sauce, spicier meat and spicy cheese, but ended up going with the cheesy hot sauce. We didn’t get much insight on what actually goes into the sauce, but they did mention most of the heat comes from red jalapeno peppers. The Volcano sauce is a politely spicy nacho cheese which I previously thought was the fire sauce mixed with the nacho sauce. I stood corrected when they told us that the Volcano sauce is twice as hot as their fire sauce, which makes sense because Taco Bell’s fire sauce is about as hot as ketchup. You’ll want to just eat it as is because Taco Bell does not really offer anything hotter. I only wish they offered the sauce in a sauce pack. I’d be stocking up on them for eating at home.
Taco Bell has been introducing temporary items, what seems like monthly, for the past few years. This always struck me as a genius idea because if something really catches on they can make it a permanent menu item. They introduced the Crunch Wrap Supreme a while ago which seemed more like a bet between Taco Bell executives than an actual menu item.
“Greg, there’s no way people will eat a tortilla folded up with taco parts and nacho cheese inside of it”.
After becoming a hugely popular item, Taco Bell decided to keep it on the menu. Apparently this is the second most popular menu item now, only trailing the hard taco. This leads me to wonder what the hell is the matter with people? About a year ago the Volcano Taco came out to great reception from customers, including myself. For some reason, the Volcano sauce was removed and customers began doing what all betrayed consumers do now, the modern day version of taking it to the streets. They created Facebook groups. Needless to say, Taco Bell was forced to bring Volcano Sauce back as a permanent item.
You wouldn’t believe what Taco Bell tastes like when prepared by someone who knows what they’re doing. Gone was the one bite of too much meat, followed by a second bite of too much rice. Everything was evenly distributed and delicious. The new Volcano Double Beef Burrito is delicious, but I still think they should have used a red tortilla that closely resembles Ronald McDonald’s hair color. To top it off, we washed down the Volcano sauce with the new, delicious Pina Colada Frutista Freeze.
We were allowed to ask as many questions as we wanted, and got what seemed like honest answers.
Oh, and we got to make our own Taco Bell creations. Like an idiot I ate breakfast before the event, or I would have eaten through the entire test kitchen. Look out for the John Moors original Volcano Quesadilla. It might be the greatest Taco Bell food item ever.
All in all, the trip was a great time and I can’t thank Taco Bell enough for the opportunity. The Bell has always represented a delicious alternative to McDonalds and Burger King, so they will always have a place in my heart.
The Test Kitchen
Volcano Taco Tasting
Volcano Sauce
Volcano Double Beef Burrito
The Current Volcano Menu
Pina Colada Frutista Freeze
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Article by John Moors
I was blessed with a remarkable metabolism that has allowed me to overcome obesity and eat everything in sight.
John has written 416 other articles.
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I know taco bell sells thinngs in grocery stores–do they sell volcano sauce?
Kraft handles their products sold in grocery stores. They said they don’t know which products they plan to sell.
Hey there. I am new to your blog but totally hooked. This is so cool that you had a chance to go to the test kitchen. I cannot imagine the things I would try to create. I think my imagination would be running wild!
Thanks, Christy. It was very cool, although I was so full from breakfast and from eating Volcano burritos that I only got through one experimental item. Disappointing!
Very cool John. Looks like all of you had a good time out there. Taco Bell is hands down the best at launching new menu items and the marketing around them so I am sure that it was cool to literally open the kitchen doors. I hate to say it, but I have yet to try Volcano anything….
Taco Bell Corporate,
I am writing you out of deep concern. I am working on a project here locally and am very busy presently and I do apologize for taking so long to let you know of this issue. First off, I have never been so disgusted in my life as I was after this visit. I visited the Taco Bell the week previous and the employee whom handed me my food left out a Beef Gordita. I called him and he stated he would have my information down as I would not be able to return that night. I came back through the night of the purchase incident and told the girl working the drive thru of this. She said let me speak to my manager. A woman by the name of Keisha came to the window and said “You really think I am going to fall for this and give you free food”. I asked her what she was talking about. She proceeded to tell me “You aint talked to nobody, another asshole looking for a free meal”. I was appalled. NEVER in my life have I heard anything like this. The girl handed me the food and I asked if the Gordita that was missing was in the bag, which it was not, Keisha came to the window herself and threw it at me. I drove off and came home. I looked over the food which was stomach turning, and called the manager. Keisha picked up and I told her the food was falling apart. I currently have proof and pictures which I took of this. She laughed and said “fuck you” and hung up the phone. I called back and Johnette picked up the phone. She apologized three times and said she would make it right. She was a god send in this situation. She did the right thing in my opinion; I have never heard anyone speak to someone like this, especially a member of management. She said she would personally remake all the food that was falling apart and had spit and what looked to be human hair in it. I gave Johnette the food and asked her to inspect it. She agreed she would take it in the back room and look over it. Keisha never gave me the common decency of apologizing about this. I remain deeply upset and dissatisfied that someone treated me like this for absolutely no reason at all. NEVER is it acceptable to treat a customer like this and if it wasn’t for Johnette, this would have been a complete disaster. I ask your help in pulling surveillance and investigating this. I am turning over the pictures to the appropriate sources to be investigated as well. I ask for your help in seeing that this never happens again.
A concerned customer,
David
i wanted to make a complaint to the gardendale alabama store,me and my wife eat there often, we were broke tonight with no gas in our car,we scraped up 8 dollars in change and chanced getting to taco bell 5 miles away,my wife ordered me a big beef burito and her a taco salad and 2 xtra taco’s, when she got home the big beef burrito wasnt in the bag, we were absolutely frustrated that there wasnt enough for the 2 of us and sure couldnt make it all the way back on gas to straighten it out.this really made us so angry and there was nothing we could do, our only hope now is that taco-bell can make this up or youll have 1 less customer.thanx!
I ate a Nacho Supreme on Thursday, Nov. 12 at about 4:30 pm. By about 6:30 I was experiencing diarrhea and by 9:30 had fever with chills. I had diarrhea thru the night along with severe stomach cramps. After vomiting about 4AM I started to feel human. I have never been so sick in my life. Will never eat at Taco Bell again especially the Taco Bell in Kingdom City, Missouri.
hey taco bell how about a small taco salad. the only new product needed to test would be some small shells.
Custemer service socks, you should train the employees again, relly bad experience on 01/11/10
russells point ohio store,,, the manager is a rude stupid person , i had to go back and DEMAND my money back,, while the whole time the manager is yelling at me , wanting to know what i ordered,,, at this time just wanted my money back,, this was the second day in a row that my order was wrong again!! i stated to her , just give me my money back and i wont be back, she says:: dont come back to my store!! rude, unprofessional, what a crock ,, and taco bell is suppose to be so great,, i say WRONG,, I’LL NEVER GO BACK TO ANY OF TACO BELLS STORES,,, im 50 yrs old , and when i get disrespected such as i did,,, ALL DONE AND I WILL TELL EVERYONE I KNOW ABOUT THIS INCIDENT,WE ALL ARE TIRED OF BEIN SCREWED, START TRAINING YER EMPLOYEES HOW TO TALK TO PPL,, U SUCK!!!
My husband and I purchased some Taco Bell Bucks from the Taco Bell in Buffalo Grove, IL for Christmas, 2009. My son decided to use those Taco Bell Bucks to order a meal on 2.24.10. When he got to the drive up, he asked if he could use them and was told “No” with no explanation. Later I called and tried to talk to the manager about why these were denied and of course, she could not understand me and would not answer my question outright. I then asked for the Corporate Office number and she had no problem understanding my question at that point. I then called the Corporate Office and after the customer service rep asked me the zipcode of the Taco Bell and I told her, she told me it was privately franchised restaurant and they make their own decisions. What??? They had no problem taking the money for the Taco Bell Bucks!! Nowhere on the Taco Bell Bucks did it say that. Even though they were only worth $10.00, I don’t appreciate giving anybody money for nothing. Needless to say, the customer service rep told me that someone will get back to me within 3 days. Hopefully they will. The foods not bad, but this crossed the line. If I don’t get any satisfaction from calling the Corporate Office, I will go in and see the manager again and ask for my money back because, as a customer, I got ripped off!!
This is getting ridiculous…
Just decided to let you that I had the worst dried up chicken tacos and chicken salad at one of your stores tonight in Carson City, NV, located on the South end of town.
Not only was it bad, but when I called to tell them the chicken was dried up they hung up on me.
I will never go back to a Taco Bell after this. Del Taco will get all my business in the future.
Your store manager on my bill is a Brandy Sanchez. You can thank you for this e-mail.
Ridiculous and funny! This stuff is comedic gold!
Dear Potential Customer,
We are a high end ground’s maintenance company that services Houston and the surrounding areas. We are interested in working with your company and would like to bid on the ground’s maintenance or tractor mowing of any properties you may need service on. We also perform irrigation repair and have an excellent reputation for solving problems other companies can not solve. We also install landscape and irrigation on new developments.
Would you please provide me with some information on how to get on your bid list? If you have any properties up for bid, please let me know and I will provide you with a competitive price. We have high quality equipment, uniformed crews, clean trucks and English speaking crew chiefs.
Please visit our web site, http://www.clearcutlandscaping.com, for more information on our company.
Thank you for your time on this matter,
Rick Sterling
Business Development
Quality Control (281)218-9829
This is a complaint about Taco Bell…
The food served looks NOTHING like what is depicted in photo’s, TV, and other promotions…
Often the meat portions on the classic crunchy taco are so damn small it’s a downright INSULT to call it a taco…
I’m a native of California, where Taco bell originated, and I know what a *real* taco looks like…
The BEST Taco bell taco I *ever* was in Red Bluff, California…It may have been the owner that took my order and served me…this was several years ago…and THIS is what a taco from Taco Bell really should be, with a VERY generous portion of meat…THIS taco was a pleasure to eat…
On the other hand, most of what is served at Taco Bell is just the opposite, dismal at best, with such tiny portions of meat that this is probably NOT what corporate HQ intends…or is it…???
The super small portions of meat, and large amounts of lettuce sure do fatten the profits…do the math…
One of the worst Taco Bells is in Willits, Calif (Mendocino County)…
Do the folks at corporate HQ ever go out and spot check th equality AND quantity of the taco’s…???
Probably not, or IF they do, it sure is a “hit and miss” affair…
Shame on you Taco Bell, for being corporate Hucksters…
HI I WAS IN TACO BELL AND THE MANAGER TOLD ME I HAD TO LEAVE THE STORE BECAUSE OF SOMETHING THAT HAPPEND AT WALMART BUT HE SAID THAT THAT DOENT MATTER I AM THE MANAGER I WAS VERY NICE IN THE STORE MY UNCLES LAWER SAID THAT THAT WAS WRONG HE SAID HE WILL HELP ME BUT I LOVE YOUR STORE AND ALL OF MY FAMILE SAID THEY WANT TO STOP EATING AT TACO BELL PLEASE DONT LET THAT HAPPEN IT WAS THE STORE IN SUSANVIILE CALIFORNIA THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU your sister in christ nina brooks
John,
I’m doing research for a marketing class and stumbled accross your blog here. I’m kinda cracking up. No, I am. No kinda about it. Sorry to see your blog got turned into the complaint site for taco Bell.
I enjoyed reading of your experience at TB HQ. I love in Louisville, KY, home of Yum! HQ.
Anyway, just had to say hey.
Tracey
I wish to make a complaint regarding two taco salads I just purchased today 4/22/10 at the Taco Bell Store # 021453 located in Clovis, California at Willow and Nees. When my husband and I ate the salads it became very apparant that the shells in which the salads were in were stale and smelled. My order #was 148 and it was at 4:29 p.m.
I also would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr. and Mrs. Touey for what they did for Michael – we loved the movie and wish more people would take the steps and open their hearts as they did. We also are Christians. I hope Mr. Touey does read this message and have a good day.
The Taco Bill located at 41st and Hampton Blvd, Norfolk, VA, the manager, ADLEEN was so mean. While we purchase the food at Lunch today, we asked the sales person to provide water where the sales person used regular cup to get the water. The manage Adleen came to our table snatched the cup stating that we didn’t pay for the cup. We were dumfounded. We didnot care what type of cup. Either way that goes to the trash. We were TACO Bell customer for the last five yares. Should I continune to their customer?
YOU’LL TANGO FROM TACO BELL! TOO BAD TO RATE (5 Tries)
NEWS THEY DIDN’T WANT TO SEE
They got hit with a lot of bad publicity last year and you wonder if they paid attention. Obviously they didn’t.
ONE: An assessment might not be fair during the investigation of 90 of their restaurants in the northeast were shut down for E.COLI problems when we hit them three times this week. We went to three different locations here in Florida. I watched folks pulling the lettuce out of the sandwiches, so we backed off and let the petri dishes clear before we went back. They should of looked at the jalopeno or cilantro, Lettuce took the fall.
TWO: And as if bad news comes in threes, here’s number two. The TACO Bell in Manhattan, NYC was filmed with surveillance cameras with mice and rats scurrying throughout the place before opening one day after they passed their inspection by the NYC health department. As I have said before those certificates on the wall mean nothing, It’s the integrity of the chain. I wouldn’t be surprised if someone mispronounced Burrito as “Bur-rat-toe” and actually got what they asked for!
To no avail, i t appeared that “Yo tengo TACO Bell” gets changed to “You’ll Tango from Taco Bell” dancing to the nearest bathroom.
THREE: And there is that little problem of the civil disabilities act which is now a class action suit with many locations in violations of aid for the physically impaired.
WE GAVE THEM ANOTHER SHOT – Twice more
Three times at one, three locations altogether, same habits, same employee “espit de corpse” and we have concluded that they are their own worst problem. I was in a rush to get to the beach last night for some sundown pictures. Adding a nice calming Margarita, my best friend and a nice cool offshore breeze. I intended to relax, just looking out over the Gulf from the beautiful Clearwater pier, and not smelling oil for a change. My plan was to eat fast and spend the time on the beach.
BUSTED
I stopped at a TACO Bell, located at 1648 S. Missouri in Clearwater. It is our policy to name the places and locations because chains are connected and bad links ruin the image for the entire chain. You go to a chain as an assurance of quality control. Bad stores should not hurt the diligent owners and managers. They can also be systemic of bad store and bad district management. This was the second trip to this store. Worse than the second trip.
• First impressions, the store only had three customers in the entire place, so they were not busy.
• The tables, three of them were filthy, food droppings and obviously not wiped down.
• Employee possibly on break ignoring the mess, but had the time to smoke two cigarettes.
• The cashier was pleasant, but gave the impression the clock wasn’t moving fast enough.
• They are their own worst problem. They could start by making their employees wear gloves, act friendly, smile, things like that. That’s half the problem. The other half, food preparation was terrible.
EXPECTATIONS LOWERED
The food came fast. Almost too fast.
The order consisted of:
Two of the new Cantina Meat Tacos sharing one piece of lime.
One Cantina Chicken Taco, with a piece of lime.
A regular Taco
Two drinks.
THIS IS FOOD?
Supposedly, these are soft Tacos (actually Tortillas) with meat, onion, cilantro and something I can’t describe and I have seen more meat in a can of Ravioli, from Chef Boy-ar Dees new vegetable line. I would describe the broken mess, the tortillas had split and disintegrated, in the tin foil, I received as, ” the stuff you see in a baby’s diaper during the change”. This is tough talk but this was an abomination. Dark quarter inch pieces of ???, I am being kind, my lady friend described it as rat excrement. I pitched it.
THIS IS A TEAM?
One bite was enough, I wrapped it up, threw it out and went back to the counter and ordered a Burrito Supreme. I mentioned nothing to the staff as the Manager was bellowing loud enough to be heard out front yelling “he needs more help” and other unintelligible motivational sentences. This is not leadership, this is not training, this is bellowing. The only busy part of the operation was the two cars in the drive thru. Then the guy on break who had finished his second cigarette came out of the ether, he seemed distant and totally unconnected to the operation. He asked “Need help”…like the kind Custer got at the Big Horn.
GLOVES, LONGEVITY, PEOPLE TRAINING, MANAGEMENT
• Had I observed what I saw later, I would have thrown back this meal. The prep guy was gloveless, bare handing the food, then dishing out the meals. Working over the hot prep station. The red shirt ( front manager?) made my Burrito. We walked out hungry.
• Not letting the meat sit in heat trays for hours uncovered and start a fresh campaign of re-training their staffs in the art of cleanliness.
• Get a factory crew in there to restore processes and customer satisfaction.
The best thing I like there is their hot sauces and at least they come pre-packaged. I have Mexican friends and they have no idea what half the food served there is. Back to food: this is a convenience stop, not serious eating. I will avoid this place. Our rating: minus one.
Sometimes the minute you walk in to an establishment, you get a feeling it’s not clean…go elsewhere. The KFC’s in particular as the whole place feels greasy, maybe the combo of the old south chicken and obviously the older chicken in the tacos is a bad combo as one chain gets the blame for the other. We found that same grease feeling in the other KFC’s.
NEW TACO BELL – They just tore one down on US 19 and East Bay and rebuilt it cleaner and nicer looking. I was hungry dropped in and they definitely did a better job with the food handling. That’s puts them at average fast food but you look behind the counter and if your food is being manhandled pass and eat elsewhere.
Al Jacobs
tasteless food at taco bell in Newport News and Hampton, VA
The food has no flavor at Taco Bell in Hampton and Newport News. Why not spice it up a bit?
Please spice up your food so that it tastes like something. Even adobo will help! Also please add more meat to the tacos, burritos and use real cheese instead of fake cheese!
I love Taco Bell you guys should consider comming to Waynesboro!!!!
BRING TACO BELL 2 KEYSVILLE GA!!!!
bring 2 Girard
GA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
they are to dirty people cheaters
i love mike……..
i love you mike im pregant
To whom it may concern:
Last Wednesday, Sep 29 at 6 pm I was with a co-worker at Taco Bell on Skibo Road in Fayetteville NC. I was praying for my food, then entered an ex-soldier and threatened to kill me, He gave him several kicks to door and left. Then return and I threatened a second time and told me I was going to kill, said many bad words and left. He went back and told me that I knew and have no right to be in the United States of America, again said he wanted to kill me and kill me not because I had no weapon.
Every employee went out and saw what was happening and none of them did nothing to protect me. I believe it is not a secure site for customers in the area.
Carefully
Jaime Santiago
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Is there any way at all we could get a TACO BELL in the small town of REEDSPORT, OREGON?
I would like to let you know that your store in Sanpablo California located on sanpablo dam road. The employees serve old stale food which could cause serious illness, I have had a few experiences where I had to bring the food that I purchased back because of foul taste or small object in the food, Do they realize that the company could be in big trouble if myself or someone else get severe upset stomach along with vomiting? The majority of the employees are minoritys which is why I do not understand why the employees choose to serve one race good or fair and another race with degrading food. Another Issue sometimes is attitude.
I am so very upset and I am trying to find someone at Taco Bell who will listen. Taco Bell is my favorite fast food resturant ever. I love the food and I spend alot of money at your resturants which is difficult to do because of your reasonable prices. I want to know why I can not get any empanadas . In February I placed a $20 order and recieved everything except the empanadas. The manager sent me a $5 coupon off my next order. About a week ago, I went back and told the clerk 3 times not to forget my empanadas. I got home and no empanadas. The manager said not to worry about it and the next time I go through the drive through just to tell them what I want. Like that is going to happen (LOL). I was in Coral Ridge Mall, Iowa yesterday and saw a Taco Bell, I was so excited! I waited my ten minutes in line and when it was my turn the register read “Try one of our Empanada Today”. You can’t beat that! Carefully ordering, I ordered the empanadas first. The clerk looked at me and walked back to the kitchen. I knew this wasn’t going to be good. He slowly walked back and told me it would be a ten minute wait. Why the heck would you advertise something and not have it available? Needless to say, I stepped over to the next counter and had a slice of frozen pizza for lunch. I’m just asking for the Taco Bell that I know and love. If someone from corporate reads this, I would like to hear your views. I just want some empanadas!!
Sincerely, Jody Martens
the only thing i like there is your strawberry frutista. the rest is gross. YOU SUCK!