Comments on: Taco Bell in London

Question: Taco Bell in London

Mossy — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 13:32:41 -0800

Taco Bell in London. My pregnant wifey is desirous of the taste, but there are, alas, no branches here. Anyone know of anywhere that has a similar taste here or some recipes that actually do approximate their burritos etc? Apparently the hot sauce is to die for (?)

By: Partial Law

Partial Law — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 13:45:45 -0800

Top Secret Recipes purports to have a copycat recipe for the Taco Bell Burrito Supreme. It includes a copycat for the Fire Border Sauce as well.

By: jamaro

jamaro — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 13:48:24 -0800

Being that there's a Taco Bell about 4 blocks away, I haven't had occasion to make this recipe for their sauce, but the ingredients sound about right (especially the vinegar).

Worse case, I'll mail you some packets. A preggo wife and her hot sauce must be reunited.

By: doorsfan

doorsfan — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 14:04:21 -0800

Amazon could help.
They also sell the "make at home" kits in the states at Target and Walmart. Do you have any family that could mail?

By: arianell

arianell — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 14:58:43 -0800

If the hot sauce is the major thing she's craving, you might want to see if there's a place that sells Louisiana Hot Sauce nearby. I love Taco Bell's hot sauce, and Louisiana has a similar vinegar-y quality that's very satisfying.

By: fearfulsymmetry

fearfulsymmetry — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 15:10:26 -0800

Donner Kebab?

By: By The Grace of God

By The Grace of God — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 15:39:43 -0800

There are various kinds of peri peri sauce that might work. What precise strength of taco bell sauce does she like?

By: greenspice

greenspice — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 15:46:51 -0800

You could be in luck if you check the west ealing area. When I was in London 4 years ago, I was shopping at the West Ealing shopping mall and across the street there is a building that houses stores like T.K Maxx and a photography studio and on the first floor you'll find a genuine Taco Bell. For your sake I hope it's still there....

If not you can make your own taco sauces....this site has some interesting recipes...haven't tried them myself though.

By: greenspice

greenspice — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 15:49:51 -0800

For some reason the link didn't come through on my last post....here's the website for the taco sauce recipes.

http://www.grouprecipes.com

By: OpinioNate

OpinioNate — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 15:54:08 -0800

Supermarkets in the states have those taco kits branded by Taco Bell that contain shells and beef seasoning + sauce. I wonder if they are also stocked in London supermarkets?

By: jabberjaw

jabberjaw — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 16:00:44 -0800

Ebay might help, also.

And, I could have sworn I ran across a website that sold only fast food sauce packets. I can't seem to find it now.

By: fearfulsymmetry

fearfulsymmetry — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 16:07:12 -0800

You can buy an 'Old El Paso Taco Dinner Kit' at most supermarkets... don't know how it compares to Taco Bell though

By: kenchie

kenchie — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 16:13:52 -0800

There used to be one just by Leicester Square, but it's a TGI Fridays now sadly!

By: pupdog

pupdog — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 16:28:36 -0800

per the all-seeing wikipedia:

Currently, there are only two Taco Bell locations in England, both operated by AAFES on air bases RAF Mildenhall and RAF Lakenheath, they are not accessible to the general public.

The United Kingdom was the first European country with a Taco Bell, two stores including one located on Coventry Street in London, between Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus were opened in the 1980's. The stores underperformed and were shut down, today the Coventry Street site is occupied by a branch of the sit-down restaurant chain TGI Friday's. There has been speculation that Taco Bell could return to the UK because of the success of supermarket brands like Old El Paso, growing tourism travel to Mexico and Florida and popular American TV shows which promote Mexican food. This speculation began in the 1990's when the university food provider Compass New Famous Foods announced plans to open stores in its university and college sites, few of these stores were actually built and despite their popularity none remain today. [11]. Taco Bell has now announced plans to trial in the UK within the next few years, no time scales are yet given.[citation needed]

Know anyone in the RAF?

By: junesix

junesix — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 17:01:29 -0800

I also wouldn't mind sending over a few packets of the sauce. I frequently ship books overseas so no big deal.

By: idiomatika

idiomatika — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 17:09:29 -0800

How about Nando's? I've found them to be OK, for a chain restaurant. And they sell bottles of their spicy sauces (varying strengths) in the restaurant (as far as I recall).

By: skylar

skylar — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 23:48:45 -0800

You may want to join the Mexilondon mailing list, which painstakingly reviews the Mexican restaurants and burrito bars in London.

There is a list of restaurants on Nickster.com which has been generated from recommendations made on the Mexilondon list. It even has a list of Mexican food suppliers in the UK.

From personal observation, Tortilla in Islington, Mucho Mas in Islington, Green and Red in Bethnal Green, Mexicali in Soho and Chelsea and Wahaca in Covent Garden are worth checking out.

By: robcorr

robcorr — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 03:12:41 -0800

idiomatika: Nando's is great, but it ain't Tex-Mex...

By: Mossy

Mossy — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 04:32:22 -0800

Thanks all, I'm about to try the recipe indicated by Partial Law now, shall report back on my findings..

By: caddis

caddis — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 07:12:28 -0800

Try the recipe and then experiment to make it taste to your liking. I am pretty sure that Taco Bell uses MSG also.

Do not be disappointed if you can find an actual Taco Bell, they are the lamest interpretation of Mexican or Tex-Mex food you will ever find. Of all the fast food restaurants that is the one I refuse to patronize unless there is no other choice. However, here in the States there are a lot of better alternatives. I don't know about London. Now of course, your wife is pregnant so quality is not really the issue is it. I remember coming home one day to find our freezer filled to overcapacity with frozen egg rolls. To each his own. Anyway, you can get some of the stuff mail order.

By: Mossy

Mossy — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 08:00:06 -0800

Result:
Sauce: nothing like the hot sauce, needs work
Burrito: thumbs up, tortillas are a bit small in this country!

By: highrise

highrise — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 11:10:42 -0800

If your wife likes Taco Bell's bean burritos, a tin of Old El Paso refried beans with some finely diced onion and a splodge of tomato puree is a good approximation. Top with Encona Hot Pepper sauce.

By: Mossy

Mossy — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 09:41:34 -0800

Revised result:
Sauce: tastes exactly like the hot sauce once refridgerated :)