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Taco Bell: You Quiero Mexico

French fries and 'tacostadas' aimed at setting chain apart from traditional taquerias

By Jonas Oransky,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 10, 2007 2:03 PM CDT
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(Newser) – Taco Bell is acting on its own long-standing imperative to run for the border, but as it re-enters Mexico, it’s not trying to pass as traditional—instead maxing out its American identity. The restaurant has its first Mexican branch since a failed 1990s incursion, but adding french fries to the menu hasn’t fended off early insults, the Canadian Press reports.

“They’re not tacos,” said one dissatisfied customer. “They’re very ugly.” Known in the US for promoting itself as authentic Mexican cuisine, Taco Bell didn’t catch on in Mexico the first time around. But in the NAFTA age, Mexico is overrun with fast food, and Taco Bell is hoping to replicate the success of KFC, Chili's, and, of course, Starbucks.

The exterior of a recently opened Taco Bell in Apodaca in northern Mexico, Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2007. Taco Bell is taking on the homeland of its namesake by reopening for the first time in 15 years in Mexico. (AP Photo/Monica Rueda)
The exterior of a recently opened Taco Bell in Apodaca in northern Mexico, Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2007. Taco Bell is taking on the homeland of its namesake by reopening for the first time in 15 years in Mexico....   (Associated Press)
Anayancin Llanes, 35, and her son Maximiliano, 4, eat at the recently opened Taco Bell in Apodaca in northern Mexico, Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2007. Taco Bell is taking on the homeland of its namesake by reopening for the first time in 15 years in Mexico. (AP Photo/Monica Rueda)
Anayancin Llanes, 35, and her son Maximiliano, 4, eat at the recently opened Taco Bell in Apodaca in northern Mexico, Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2007. Taco Bell is taking on the homeland of its namesake by reopening...   (Associated Press)
Florida Farmworkers Protest Taco Bell in California
Florida Farmworkers Protest Taco Bell in California   (Getty Images)
A United States flag flies over a sign outside a Taco Bell that...
A United States flag flies over a sign outside a Taco Bell that...   (Getty Images)
Taco Hell Dog Lip Sync
Taco Hell Dog Lip Sync   (gonzozappa (YouTube))
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Money • Lifestyle • US • World

 
Mexico • Taco Bell • fast food • NAFTA • french fries

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