Taco Bell Opens Its First Restaurant

First it gave us the Doritos Tacos Locos, and now Taco Bell is again trying something new. Not too long ago, Taco Bell announced plans to open its first restaurant. Now the taco chain has opened the U.S. Taco Co., a fast casual venue that serves a mash-up menu of tacos with a modern American spin in Huntington Beach, California.

Chef Rene Pisciotti has worked with Taco Bell for seven years and has helped create the menu at U.S. Taco Co, which is an eclectic mix of classic American dishes like fried chicken with gravy and a New England-style lobster roll that get wrapped in Taco Bell flour tortillas. The unique tacos are served open faced and come with toppings like house-made pickled onions, manchego cheese or poblano cream. Each taco has a fun name too. The pulled pork taco with peach jalapeno barbecue sauce is called the Southern Squealer, while the potato and cheese taco is called Big Stud Spud. The Not My First Rodeo consists of smoked brisket with molcajete salsa.

"We were able to draw from local favorites in food culture and put the best of America in a taco. This is not supposed to be Mexican food," explains Jeff Jenkins, the creator of U.S. Taco Co. The menu contains 10 tacos, craft sodas, milk shakes and wedge fries, but does not feature any burritos or chips. The prices range from $3.35 to $9.99 and customers receive license plates with their order numbers on them instead of beepers.

Image Credit: U.S. Taco Co. via Twitter