Taco Bell Classes Up the Joint. Sort of.

Schwanky new interiors for your Gordita and Dorito eating pleasure at Taco Bell

California Sol (4101 Jamboree Road, Newport Beach.): The look is inspired by Taco Bell’s California roots and the California lifestyle. “It’s our take on California modern design and style and blurs the lines between indoor and outdoor,” Taco Bell said. Heritage (14042 Red Hill Ave., Tustin): The look is inspired by the chain’s menu of Mexican-inspired food with a twist. “This style enhances our Spanish Colonial Mexican heritage,” Taco Bell said. Modern Explorer (2246 S. Grand Ave., Santa Ana): “This rustic, modern style is a refined version of our Cantina Explorer restaurants,” Taco Bell said. Urban Edge (303 W. Imperial Highway, Brea): “This design represents international high street style done the Taco Bell way,” Taco Bell said.

Taco Bell has opened several ultra-modern stores in Southern California that include “patios with fireplaces, communal dining tables made of reclaimed wood, exhibition kitchens, dome lighting, chalkboard menu specials and midcentury modern lounge chairs”, according to the Orange County Register.

Fireplaces? 

The idea is to create a more inviting space with one of four “designs” that include California Sol, Modern Explorer, Heritage and Urban Edge, according to the OC Register.

Taco Bell's redesigned stores debuted on Wednesday October, 012. The Taco Bell at 2246 S. Grand Ave. in Santa Ana features communal dining tables made of reclaimed wood, new lighting, a digital changing menu and outlets for computers and phones. Other Taco Bell restaurants in Santa Ana, Newport Beach, Tustin and Brea feature outdoor patios with fireplaces, exhibition kitchens, dome lighting, chalkboard menu specials and midcentury modern lounge chairs. (Photo by Ana Venegas, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Santa Ana taco bell redsign (Photo by Ana Venegas, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Though it seems a little off-brand for a restaurant known for $1 burritos, fiery Doritos Locos and their forthcoming fried chicken taco shell, Taco Bell continues to be a power player in the stagnating fast food industry.

Naked Chicken Chalupa coming soon. Courtesy Taco Bell
Naked Chicken Chalupa coming soon. Courtesy Taco Bell

It wasn’t lost on us, however, that some designs look a heck of a lot like Chipotle, which is still struggling to win back customers after food safety issues last year. Coincidence? We think not.

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Chipotle interior

The OC Register article had this amazing fact, however. 

“Half the U.S. population eats Taco Bell once a month,” Yum CEO Greg Creed told CNBC during an interview Wednesday morning. The average customer visits every 11 days.”

Whaaaaaat?

California Sol (4101 Jamboree Road, Newport Beach.): The look is inspired by Taco Bell’s California roots and the California lifestyle. “It’s our take on California modern design and style and blurs the lines between indoor and outdoor,” Taco Bell said. Heritage (14042 Red Hill Ave., Tustin): The look is inspired by the chain’s menu of Mexican-inspired food with a twist. “This style enhances our Spanish Colonial Mexican heritage,” Taco Bell said. Modern Explorer (2246 S. Grand Ave., Santa Ana): “This rustic, modern style is a refined version of our Cantina Explorer restaurants,” Taco Bell said. Urban Edge (303 W. Imperial Highway, Brea): “This design represents international high street style done the Taco Bell way,” Taco Bell said. Courtesy Taco Bell
“Modern Explorer” design. Courtesy Taco Bell

Do they know that one of the ingredients in the beef was once tested as an organic olive fly attractant in Sonoma County? The little guys couldn’t resist the smell, drowning in the deliciously scented lures. Seems even flies jones for a little beefy burrito action at 2a.m. 

No word on any Sonoma County Taco Bell stores getting one of these schwanky upgrades, but reps said that franchisees will have the option to use one of the new designs when they are due for remodeling.

Check out my review of the breakfast biscuit taco. Spoiler: It wasn’t amazing.