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The Taco Bell Cantina concept from the fast-food giant has made its way to the South Bay after successful openings near the Cal campus in Berkeley, in San Francisco’s Oracle Park area and on the beach in Pacifica. At all of these locations, you can wash down your Taco Supremes with a microbrew or other boozy libation.
We braved the crowds to check it out. Here’s our report:
THE VIBE: Boisterous and busy, with a mix of millennials, techies, students, construction workers and curious neighbors. (And that’s before the fall term starts at San Jose State University and the puck drops on the next season at the Shark Tank.)
The decor’s got an urban edge you won’t find at regular Taco Bells: Sleek gray color scheme. Wall-size mural. Edison-style pendant lights hanging over a high-top table. Three flat-screen TVs tuned to sports. There’s seating for about 40 customers inside and 12 outside, but alcohol consumption is limited to indoors.
You can order your food either at the high-tech kiosk screens just inside the front door or head to the counter where a staffer will greet you. (If you want alcohol, you must go to the counter to show your ID.) The kiosks give you some nice customizing options; for example, you can go “light on lettuce” if you like. Pay, and when your food is ready, your first name and last initial will pop up on a wall-mounted screen.
THE LIBATIONS: Four beers on tap — a Mexican one, Modelo; a Bay Area IPA, Lagunitas; a Belgian white, Blue Moon; and Coors Light — are dispensed via a system called “Bottoms Up” that pours quickly and efficiently, from the bottom up ($7 for 16 ounces). This gizmo involves a magnet, so don’t poke the bottom of your glass out of curiosity or you’ll get beer all over yourself.
Not a beer drinker? The Twisted Freezes ($7) add a shot of the Han brand’s soju-based alcoholic equivalents of tequila, vodka or rum to Taco Bell’s sweet frozen slushes. Flavors include Baja Blast, margarita, sangria and cherry.
THE MENU: Three large, shareable nacho boxes are available only at the Cantina locations. The current selections are the Chicken Enchilada Nachos, the Steak & Cheddar Nachos and the Fiesta Taco Salad Nachos ($6.99 each). Naturally, anything from the regular Taco Bell menu can be ordered here too.
DON’T MISS: The Nacho Fries ($1.29), which are served with hot nacho cheese in lieu of ketchup, are not only one of the huge hits here but also one of the biggest successes that Taco Bell has ever had, according to franchise owner Rakesh Kumar.
GOOD TO KNOW: The cantina keeps long hours. You want coffee and a Breakfast Crunchwrap at 8 a.m. Sunday or a Chalupa just before midnight on a Thursday? This is the place.
PERFECT FOR … A quick, affordable bite and drink before or after downtown events.
DETAILS: Open from 8 a.m. to midnight Sunday through Thursday, until 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday. 19 N. Market St., San Jose. www.tacobell.com