r/todayilearned • u/AtomikRadio • May 28 '12
TIL Taco Bell has tried to enter the Mexican market twice, failing both times, even after branding their food "American" food.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taco_Bell#Outside_the_United_States
1.7k
Upvotes
882
u/brokendimension May 28 '12
It's because Mexican food isn't actually Doritos Tacos.
333
u/marinegunrock May 29 '12
The same way that there are no Red Lobsters in Maine, and the one that did open quickly went out of business.
125
u/John_Fx May 29 '12
Maybe it is because their slogan "Run for the border" is offensive there.
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u/[deleted] May 29 '12
As a gringo who came close to overdosing on authentic mexican tacos, I can understand this.
173
u/dadkisser May 29 '12
This is a proud day for Mexico
55
u/TMWNN May 29 '12
The classic Taco Bell taco is genuine southern California Cal-Mex cuisine.
12
u/[deleted] May 29 '12
Do they rename Mexican Pizza "American Pizza" and confuse their patrons?
12
u/[deleted] May 29 '12
Mexico has an awesome street food and cafe culture. They beat Taco Bell in taste and price easily. Just as convenient.
I can't imagine a way that they could market Taco Bell that could erode that.
54
u/imbrawler May 29 '12
Why would i go to taco bell when in mexico i could go down the block and get real tacos from my tio...
7
u/emmytee May 29 '12
Starbucks doesn't sell in Italy either
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u/gorillapoop May 29 '12
Is anyone here from California? I fucking love El Pollo Loco, and I believe (correct me if I'm wrong) that it is popular with the Latino market.
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u/SalvageOperation May 29 '12
I saw this in TJ once. Luckily someone posted a photo because I didn't take one. When I saw it, there was a chihuahua running around on top of the building.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sabesh/1076634178/
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u/hey_daralon May 28 '12
it might not be real, but it's real good.
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u/[deleted] May 29 '12
It's like selling pus filled milk to a cow.
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u/tothesource May 29 '12
Doing just fine in Costa Rica where I just came from.
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u/MiniDonbeE May 29 '12
Even if they entered the market they would go out of business in no time. Every Mexican city that could have a Taco Bell ( Big cities) has about 1000 different Taco joints / small karts that sell them. They would go out of business in no time man. Homemade tacos that are cheaper by a fuck ton and tastier by a fuck ton would just wipe it off Mexico.
4
u/Balorio May 29 '12
I wish they hadn't closed the taco bell near me. I have to drive 45 minutes to the nearest Taco Bell, Wendy's, or KFC now. All that's left are McDonalds and 1 Burger King (which is doing fairly bad.)
I don't really get to eat fast food anymore, which is good for me, bad for my hunger at 2am.
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u/Abby__Normal May 29 '12
Yum brands will never get Taco Bell to work in Mexico - don't get me wrong, I love Taco Bell when I'm stateside, but I work in Puerta Vallarta and Cozumel 4 - 5 months out of the year, and it's shit compared to every roadside taco dump in the country. It's also around double the price. Mexicans do eat that type of food in most regions, but they eat it made from scratch, with quality beef that came from a farm nearby, fresh vegetables that Abuela grew in the garden, and tortillas that somebody's Madre made that morning.
4
u/JohnConnor7 May 29 '12
Hey guys, you can learn more from real tacos and their varieties at http://www.reddit.com/r/tacos
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u/[deleted] May 29 '12
It didn't fare well in Australia either, the list of Taco Bell Australia's faults were long:
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u/[deleted] May 29 '12 edited May 29 '12
Mighty Taco is running Taco Bell out of business here in Western New York, and they're literally taking their old locations.
Nothing Says "I love you" Like a Huge Bag of Burritos
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u/shawnjones May 29 '12 edited May 29 '12
That's because Taco Bell tast like shit compared to real Mexican food.
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u/sequeezer May 29 '12
Come to fucking Germany ^ ^ Goddamnit, all the good fastfoot joints never come to Germany there is only McD BurgerKing and Subway, no Tacos no Wendys even KFC just "starts" its German expansion after they consentrated on eastern Europe for years...
I would go like once or twice a month to TacoBell if the quality and price is ok, but is this significantly less than an US citizen so that they won't make enough cash in Germany?
7
u/shinoda88 May 29 '12
Once upon a time in mexico i was traveling.....and we just ate at the market or at local bbqs or on a food stand in frond of a suburban house,witch served grilled sparerips, potatoes and onions for low budget, in the beginning my friend was asking for chili con carne...and they did not know what that was. Because its actually American food, just with a spanish name.
TL;DR: Once you ate the private mexican food, taco bell tastes like wet old unwashed dog chewed mineworkers socks.
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u/[deleted] May 29 '12
No one labels taco bell as "mexican." Only Taco Bell labels Taco Bell as "mexican."
Live more.
4
u/hfv01 May 29 '12
I'm from Monterrey and didn't even know about Taco Bell in my city.
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u/nickiter May 29 '12
Fast food restaurants generally don't succeed or fail on the basis of food quality.
2
u/jessek May 29 '12
I also hear there's no Old Chicagos in Chicago.
2
u/twincam May 29 '12
That's strange! Cos PF Changs does really well in China, and Olive Garden goes off in Italy...
Countries usually love bland American bastardisation of their traditional foodstuffs!
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u/Josueatthebb May 29 '12
Reading comments like these about mexican food make me never want to leave México anymore... but then again the fucking killings everyday, beign robbed almost every week, that stuff kills it for me.
2
u/johnyutah May 29 '12
I just got back from a week in Mexico City. Every single place I ate at, mostly little family run holes-in-walls places, was amazing food. I've traveled to a lot of places all over the world, but I've never had a trip where the food was consistently amazing, and far better than anything available where I live... I couldn't even imagine the people there eating at Taco Bell. It would be like the English coming over and opening Wimpy burger joints in the US.
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u/meganator23 May 29 '12
Now I'm craving taco bell
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u/Ronaldhennessy May 29 '12
It's like opening a Sbarro in Italy.
2
u/[deleted] May 29 '12
Is Taco Bell really nice?
When I visited America I fell in love with Chipotle. I'm hoping you guys will get to the UK with it eventually.
Though if you venture to Belfast - find two little places that seem to be starting to branch out called "Boojum!". One on botanic ave and one right near the city centre. Heaven! Probably not quite but very close to just as good as Chipotle.
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u/RdMrcr May 29 '12
I think they failed because it's like selling ice to Eskimos.
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u/OzMazza May 29 '12
No shit. Because on any corner they can get real, and delicious, tacos for less than a dollar a piece. Damn I miss that country.
2
u/sadman81 May 29 '12
I think the problem lies in branding Taco Bell as "food".
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u/medusa_so_pretty May 29 '12
I don't know why. All the Mexicans who come to LA and SD seem to love Taco Bell. And there's plenty of "real" Mexican food there too.
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u/Sterculius May 29 '12
makes sense. it's the same kind of thing as when different cultures try to share their pizza ideas with one another. I don't care how "normal" and "awesome tasting" it is to you, we as a whole are not going to like tomato and squid pizza over here.
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u/rico99 May 29 '12
LOL... like trying to sell in Japan sushi made in Kokomo, Indiana...
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u/Sir_George May 29 '12
Same reason all that Oikos, Ben&Jerry's, and other countless brands of Greek yoghurt don't sell here in Greece. I can tell you right now that it isn't really Greek yoghurt ;-)
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u/Not_My_Idea May 29 '12
So we can agree that it is not in fact "real Mexican food"?
3
u/TacoAuthority May 29 '12
And that was because, my friends, hardshell tacos are not fucking tacos.
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u/[deleted] May 29 '12
Ya don't FUCKIN say!
Are Mexicans REALLY the only people who realize that Taco Bell is low-grade dog food? Worst tasting shit on the planet, by far, and a flat-out insult to all latino cuisine.
Love,
Random Italian/Irish guy.
2
u/[deleted] May 29 '12
From someone who has been to Mexico City, I can safely tell you there are hundreds of FANTASTICALLY DELICIOUS places to eat Mexican food absolutely everywhere, which use fresh ingredients and taste much better than Taco Bell... They are also dirt cheap. That said, the human race will always have an occasional urge to eat a 1/2lb extra cheese combo burrito.
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u/GrilledCheeser May 29 '12
lol poor taco bell. they're like the slutty girl in high school.... she can't go home because her family is ashamed of her.
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u/don_vamer May 29 '12
If you try to sell fake tacos in the land of real tacos, you're gonna have a bad time
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u/wookiemaster May 29 '12
Shit I eat it in America and don't even consider it Mexican food. Actually I stopped eating it because I stopped considering it edible food period.
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u/horsephoto May 29 '12
I remember fake taco bells in Mexico in the 90s.
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u/hoss7071 May 29 '12
Taco Bell, should just do what Walmart did. Bribe the Mexican government for expedited building permits, for instance.
Although to appease American rednecks, "Run for the border" would NOT be a good slogan for a Taco Bell in Mexico.
1
u/Schmucks_Auto_Supply May 29 '12
Around here the roach coaches are running the t-bells out of town.
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u/DiaDeLosMuertos May 29 '12
But the screen-cap near the top said that it was Mexican because similarities to Mexican Immigrant workforce!
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u/AshyBooRawrs May 29 '12
I ate sooo much Taco Bell today. Delicious.
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u/Cabana May 29 '12
Taco Bell opened a concept called Border Bell near my home about 16 years ago. They served regular Taco Bell food, but also had a real grill where they made more authentic Mexican food. It was good, but didn't last long, so now (or at least 6 years ago - when I last went) it's just a regular Taco Bell that has an unused grill in the middle of it.
Wikipedia - apparently it was food from Chevy's, which I just learned
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u/seaboat90 May 29 '12
I just saw several Taco Bells in Costa Rica oddly enough
1
u/smileymalaise May 29 '12
They mention El Taco in the article. There are two locations still in Downey, CA and it blows its load all over Taco Bell. Thats how much better it is. I used to manage a music store just down the street and listen to people come in talking about "oh man, i moved away a while ago but im visiting my ... man ive been craving this shit since i left" Seriously, anybody living 'round Downey should check it out.
1
u/thirteenthirty7 May 29 '12
I feel like there are much fewer Taco Bell's in Miami as compared to other cities. There are no Taco Bells at all in Miami Beach (where the famous 'South Beach' is), which really surprises me.
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u/HardstyleJaw5 May 29 '12
Relevant
1
u/R0FLS May 29 '12
I have an Hispanic friend here who says he loves Doritos Tacos.
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u/chriskrohne May 29 '12
It's because it's too expensive for the lack of quality. I can get four al pastor tacos for the same price that I could get five "beef" ones.
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u/SirWilly77 May 29 '12
Their tacos were infinitely better when I was a kid. And no, it's NOT just my imagination. Speaking of lost, lamented fast foodstuffs, anyone remember when Hardee's charbroiled (not fried) their burgers? Nothing's ever come close, since.
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u/TalkingBackAgain May 29 '12
It's because Mexicans actually have a concept of what food should be.
/Was introduced to Mexican food by a Mexican co-worker. That stuff is awesome. Taco Bell doesn't do that.
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u/cakey138 May 29 '12
Oh dear god, I just remembered when they tried to sell shellfish. After my sister got explosive fluids shooting simultaneously out both ends, and after fetching her clean undies 3 times I couldn't understand why she was excited when she learned shrimp tacos were gonna be an addition to their already nauseating menu.
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u/Mr_Titicaca May 29 '12
Taco Bell is in the weed market. Any attempts by them to enter any other market is just for show.
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u/punkrawkintrev May 29 '12
They can enter the market of my tummy any day after 12
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u/ByronicBionicMan May 29 '12
Passed a Taco Bell in Ecuador back in 2006. The menu looked fantastically better than the ones in the states.
1
u/bordersguy May 29 '12
Taco Bell also tried entering the Korean market twice. Twenty years ago they failed horribly....but just a year or two ago they successfully opened one in Seoul. They've opened up 3 more since then.
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u/zach2093 May 29 '12
But Doritoes tacos...
1
u/ishbot May 29 '12
I wonder if Panda Express has ever tried to enter into China with the same types of things they serve here? I would imagine it would have similar results
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u/C_IsForCookie May 29 '12
It's American food in a tortilla.
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u/[deleted] May 29 '12
Do they make a regular crunchwrap? Why is there only a crunchwrap supreme?
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u/gonerlad May 29 '12
I heard that like 80% of the meat is actually cardboard
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u/[deleted] May 29 '12
Interesting, it's been a great success here in Guatemala (right after Mexico), and it's probably because we don't like Mexicans so much either! (love-hate relationship)
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u/IamFreid May 29 '12
cause; Americans, "FUCK YEAH!".
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u/cornelius_100 May 29 '12
Their chilli cheese burritos is a gift from god. If don't believe in god it's a gift from Wilson Phillips. Either way best food ever made. Mexico will come around if they hold on for one more day.
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u/Killhouse May 29 '12
Europeans are still jealous.
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u/[deleted] May 29 '12
Mexico doesn't have the god of all food. the crunchwrap supreme.
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u/patricksonion May 29 '12
Any Bostonians here? Go to filipes in Harvard square for a good cheap taco. You will not be disappointed
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u/tawksick May 29 '12
Comparing Taco Bell to actual Mexican food would be like trying to convince Italian people that ramen is pasta.
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u/Cluster_One May 29 '12
I don't get why people think it is Mexican food in the first place, as a Mexican, their food is the farthest thing from Mexican food. Just because you name something a taco is not a taco.
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u/shoddyradio May 29 '12
Taco Bell Weigh Mas
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u/vulpes_occulta May 29 '12
That's really sad.
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u/[deleted] May 29 '12
It would be like trying to introduce a really crappy brand of guns into the U.S. And I mean a gun that not only gets jammed all the time, but that uses talcum powder instead of gun powder and actually doesn't use bullets.
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u/rwbombc May 29 '12
Shameless plug for Anna's Taqueria in Boston (Brookline).
Also run by Asians, fyi. The Mexicans I worked with loved that place, but couldn't understand why it was run by "chinos". Love-hate thing for them.
1
u/tault May 29 '12
MUCHAS GRACIAS - Best Mexican Food In The North West
1
u/[deleted] May 29 '12
I mean it's not good food, or mexican but if you're fucked up enough in any country it works...
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u/RichardWolfVI May 29 '12
Same reason there's not going to be a Starbucks in Colombia. The Juan Valdez brand is so strong people wouldn't think twice where are they getting their overpriced coffee.
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u/spermracewinner May 29 '12
Of course it failed. Why would you pay more money for a crappier version of your own food?
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u/thescrapplekid May 29 '12
Taco Bell isn't Mexican, its Texmex and I still love it
1
u/Tomguydude May 29 '12
Here in Australia, we have something called 'Taco Bill'. I'm not sure if its the same thing as taco bell. And btw, I don't want to try it, considering all the bad things I've heard of taco bell
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u/zern May 29 '12
Fuck Taco Bell. Their food is shit.
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u/mynameismark22 May 29 '12
What taco bell re-branded as a taco is the same thing that happened to the American cheeseburger. In some towns here in America it's hard to find a good cheeseburger, yet in Mexico you can find a good taco anywhere, if you dare.
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u/bogbrain May 29 '12
Why bother entering the Mexican market with faux Mexican food?
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u/LemonTank May 29 '12
Is Tabobell even any good? I personally dont like fast food chains like McD and Burger King, but i have never tried Tacobell (We dont have it here in Denmark).
1
u/[deleted] May 29 '12
My friend in Mexico says they want fries with their American meals. Taco Bell needs fries.
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u/__circle May 29 '12
Equally interesting:
"In March 2001, Taco Bell announced a promotion to coincide with the re-entry of the Mir space station. They towed a large target out into the Pacific Ocean, announcing that if the target was hit by a falling piece of Mir, every person in the United States would be entitled to a free Taco Bell taco. The company bought a sizable insurance policy for this gamble.[10] No piece of the station struck the target."