Tex Mex fast food chain Taco Bell finally opened its doors in the Big Mango last month with their first branch at the entrance of the crimson red Mercury Ville mall across Central Chidlom, inviting curious and hungry onlookers eager to have a taste of their signature folded tortillas. We dove into their Mexican-inspired menu, but did it make us go "Yo quiero Taco Bell" at the end? Read on to find out.
Amid all the hype, let's get this out of the way first: there is no beef in the menu, a decision Taco Bell Thailand made due to their market research, which is quite jarring to say the least. The eatery plans to include it "very soon" so for now, diners are left to choose ground chicken, grilled chicken, pulled pork and the Thai-exclusive crispy fried chicken as taco fillings. All combo sets include a refillable cup for soft drinks and either nacho fries or cheesy chips, their switched prefixes providing slight confusion for some.
There are staples you can expect to find. The hexagonal-shaped Crunchwrap Supreme (B119 for single, B169 for combo) offers a mildly spicy meal but due to the use of soft tortillas, its soggy texture can prove a messy affair as you attempt to eat one of its five slices. For a crunchier alternative, the Double Taco Supremes (B158 for double, B179 for combo) are the highlights. The crunchy pair, filled with ground chicken, chilli and sour cream sauces, topped with assorted veggies and Cheddar, serve best in introducing what Taco Bell can offer. The other pair of tacos available, Double Kickin' Chicken Tacos (B159 for double, B179 for combo), is the sole Thai-exclusive item on the menu, packed with extra protein -- crispy chicken. However, I think this soft pair is pretty standard fast food fare, the chicken tasting like what you would find in fast food franchises here (a certain chicken-centric franchise comes to mind), and much like the Crunchwrap Supreme, the soft flour tortillas leave a lot to be desired.
Apart from tacos, the menu includes other Mexican-standard items. The four wedges of Quesadillas (B119 for single, B169 for combos) offer a lighter, cheesier experience although they are just that -- your typical quesadillas you may have tried at other Mexican-themed eateries. The Grilled Stuft Burrito (B139 for single, B189 for combo) is definitely stuffed to the brim -- filled with pulled pork, Mexican-style fried rice, cheeses, jalapeño sauce and salsa. It's carb-heavy so eat at your own risk. Tryin' Taco Bell with a group? Their Loaded fries (B229) can prove great for sharing, and are definitely loaded with nacho cheese, creamy ranch sauce and topped with salsa.
Over at the drinks menu, Taco Bell offers three colourful, scary and brain freeze-inducing floats (B60 each), two of which are only available in the Kingdom. You can opt for the Berry Blue or put a little Thai twist by choosing the Tropical Punch or the Mango Madness. If for whatever odd reason you need to have your sweet tooth filled at Taco Bell, you have two options. You can try their sugary take on the corn-based chips called the Cinnamon twists (B39), which was way too sweet for my liking, or the fudge-filled Chocodilla (B49), which comes in two slices which, despite its odd marriage of quesadilla and chocolate, made me go "Oh fudge, this works!"
Thailand can finally tick another global franchise off in its list of fast food chains. Taco Bell caters cheaply-priced tacos for all. The absence of beef may prove disappointing for many who've had a taste of the brand elsewhere and the quality of ingredients are to be expected from fast food dining, the resto is off to a somewhat acceptable start. Expect to see more branches opening in the coming months, including one at Siam Paragon. We can only wonder if the queues will be as long as when Krispy Kreme first arrived in the country all those years ago. g
Taco Bell, Mercury Ville Chidlom, Phloen Chit Road / Open daily: 10am-10pm / Visit www.fb.com/tacobellth.
