I can see the aesthetic sense of your argument in terms of “Sometimes I want to listen to Mozart, and sometimes I want to listen to the Kentucky Headhunters.”
“Sometimes I want to eat food that tastes bad, even though I have ready access to the SAME TYPE of food that tastes GOOD,” though, throws me.
But there is where you make your mistake. It isn’t the same type of food. Not in the least. Taco Bell is to Mexican Food the way Slim Whitman is to opera.
My favorite there has always been the Meximelt. Do they even still have them? The last time I went to Taco Bell I didn’t even recognize anything on the menu.
Me at Taco Bell: I demand you put your 7 ingredients in a different and original order!
Taco Bell Manager: There’s no way left! sobs
Yes, yes, we’re all proud that you’re worldly and refined enough to recognize that Taco Bell isn’t authentic Mexican food. Except that I’ve had Mexican street food in several places in Mexico, and at authentic Mexican restaurants staffed by Mexicans in my own city, and it’s not really all that different. The basics (burritos, tacos, quesadillas…um…chips?) are close enough to what I can get at a taqueria that it’s more a difference of degree than cuisine. There’s as much variation between taquerias as there is between one of them and Taco Bell. Hard tortillas instead of soft tortillas for the tacos, more highly spiced meat, but it’s still the general gist. Of course you can get all the American toppings like tomatoes and sour cream, but you don’t have to. No cilantro, which is sad, but I’ve had taquerias put lettuce or cabbage on tacos instead of cilantro, which is likewise sad.
Chalupas and quesaritos, not so much. But those are the things I like, so to say I should go to a Mexican place for those “inauthentic” dishes is confusing. They don’t have those at Mexican places, because…they’re not authentic Mexican food. They’re Taco Bell food. And they’re delicious.
Taco Bell has cilantro on some things. Maybe in a salsa? I tasted it in a fresco chicken salad recently. I hate cilantro but it was still right tasty. I love Taco Bell and I know how to cook traditional Mexican at home. Taco Bell is a craving thing. It calls to ya sometimes. 
What makes you think I find that Taco Bell tastes bad? It tastes how it tastes and sometimes I’m in the mood to enjoy that taste.
The rice in the quesarito almost tastes like it has cilantro to me. It tastes like they’re trying to copycat Chipotle’s rice. I like cilantro, but it’s pretty mild and I can’t tell for sure. I bet a cilantro hater would be able to tell if that’s what I’m really tasting, or just something cilantro-like.
I meant on their tacos, though. An “authentic” taco around here has meat, onions and cilantro. As far as I know, that’s one combination that Taco Bell can’t pull off.
Me too. When at work I can go across the street from Taco Bell to Taco C, or drive a bit to a straight up taqueria or Mexican chicken joint, but sometimes Taco Bell just sounds good.
I’ll second the smothered burrito; those things are exceptionally good for Taco Bell.
My opinion is that Taco Bell’s original menu is still their best stuff - the taco, soft taco, bean burrito are usually what my wife and I order. I do like the double-decker tacos; while they’re new-er, they’re 20 years old now. My wife likes the cinnamon twists.
The AM Crunchwraps are tasty for breakfast.
Other than that… most times that I try some new promotion, I find myself wishing I’d gone with one of the staples.
I would really recommend giving the fresco stuff another try, it takes about 2-3 times to appreciate it. I hate cilantro personally, but it gives the fresco version of the taco a nice light texture.
My staples:
Crunchy taco, regular.
Nachos with jalapenos
Bean dip, plain, with 2:1 ratio of bean:mild sauce.
Bean burrito
Steak quesadilla
The Fresco bowls are pretty good.
The only thing Taco Bell does better than any other place is their cheese quesadilla. I have them add tomatoes to it and it’s awesome. I dunno exactly what that sauce is they put on their quesadilla, but it makes them, y’all know what I’m sayin’?
Other than that, tho, I recommend Del Taco for Mexifast food, not least because they have awesome french fries which go surprisingly well with a burrito.
I don’t know what it is about those damn things, but I love them. Maybe it’s the clever spork they give you with them?
The Mexican pizza is two flat crispy flour tortillas with beans and meat in between and cheese tomatoes, and a sauce on top. It is really good with their mild sauce on top.
I always get a cheesy gordita crunch. Sometimes I’ll get a steak quesadilla but I have to eat the cheesy gordita crunch first or it gets soggy.
As said above, Taco Bell is its own unique category of food. I personally think it tastes like shit, but you really can’t compare it to Mexican food. It’s like McDonald’s. I love McDonald’s burgers, and plenty of people think that tastes like crap. Or White Castle. They just kind of exist in their own category, and I go to McDonald’s or White Castle because I want that McDonald’s or White Castle flavor, not a “proper” burger. And often, I prefer those to a “proper” burger.
Yeah, if I have a craving for Mexican food, I don’t hit up Taco Bell. I hit Taco Bell when I want Taco Bell. It’s Mexican-y enough, but whatever, it’s still good.
The new spicy crunch wrap things are really good, and only $1.all the heat levels are good, and as spicy as advertised. I often get their soft tacos. The “Cantina Power” menu is surprisingly good. If anything available at Taco Bell rivals actual Mexican, it’s that stuff. No rice or beans as filler, tasty but not overwhelming duce, and juicy meat.
I agree- not really Mexican food, but filling and tasty for the price.
Pretty much for me, I stay away from anything with their gawdawful cheesy sauce, and go for real shredded cheese. Mind you, my local one will happily put real cheese instead of the fake stuff on request.
Mind you, it’s still fast food, not recommended for a daily diet.
I still miss the original enchirito that was discontinued in the '90s topped with a row of three olive slices.
Smothered burrito (I think it’s called). Big ass burrito that’s topped with sauce, sour cream, and if you put on some taco bell sauce on it…yum.
Biggest recommendation?? Mountain Dew Baja Blast. That shit is sooooooo good.