It's been a few years since my last review which was admittedly quite harsh. Now, I believe they finally got their collective sh*t together! No, really, they have had great customer service.. still a little lazy with quality control. If you have an issue, just go inside and bring it to their attention, and they will make it right.
Unfortunately, this location is now a casualty of inflation, greed, political ideology, or a combination thereof. Over the years, I'd stop by and pay about $25-30 bucks to feed a family of 2.5. You can still sort of do that if you stick to the cheapest items on the menu. Splurge for 2 chalupas, a crunchy taco and drink and what used to cost a pricey $11.x is now $16 bucks! For meals, expect to pay $4-5 more dollars than you did a few years back when it was already overpriced!
I know expenses rise during inflationary times, and paying for state mandated minimum wage raises cuts into the bottom line, but management (ownership?) decided to flip off customers by passing all costs onto the consumer rather than giving up their precious profit margins. Problem is that it's going to force consumers elsewhere. Think about it, why would anyone go for the Taco Bell drive through experience and pay as much or more than an overpriced, yet authentic, Mexican sit down restaurant a few blocks or miles away? Whatever value proposition was once there is completely gone!
So, what are we paying for? Drive through "service?" You already expect us to tip for handing food to a customer, as owners nationwide are too cheap to pay employees right. The fast food industry is a mess. McDonald's is in a similar position and some items are cost prohibitive, but at least their menu makes sense for the average fast food consumer. Just for comparison, you pay as much for an order of fries, hash browns, or burger as you do a single crunchy taco at this location. Remember when they used to be 39 cents? How about 49 cents? 59, 69, 79, 89? This Taco Bell location is like, "ahh screw it, let's just triple the price, forget the incremental price increases.... We're in Del Mar bitches!"
Corporate also needs to get its head out of its ass, this isn't just a local ownership or management issue. The big corporations have an extraordinary amount of influence on pricing; they can leverage and negotiate deals, and can destroy or enrich entire companies with the stroke of a pen. I don't feel sorry that corporate bosses actually have to work to tame the inflationary pressure we are all facing. BUT, when the solution is a giant middle finger to the face of customers,
I walk and recommend others to do the same.
Let the greedy shitty owners of America drown and fail due to a problem they all play a role in. Or, perhaps create a better value, improve quality control and customer service and actually give us a reason to want to return. So long for now, if you survive your missteps in sure I'll be back some day; just not anytime soon. read more