Taco Bueno
1344284
225163393
2008-07-12T06:05:54Z
72.213.39.59
/* New additions */
{{Infobox_Company |
| company_name = Taco Bueno Restaurants.
| company_slogan= It's More Bueno!
| company_logo = [[Image:Bueno_Logo.PNG|center|150px|Corporate logo of Taco Bueno]]
| company_type = Mexican Restaurants
| foundation = [[Abilene, Texas]] ([[1967]])
| location = [[Farmers Branch, Texas]]
| key_people = [[John Miller]] (CEO), [[Bill Waugh]] (Founder)
| num_employees = 121,000
| industry = Quick Service Restaurants
| products = [[Tacos]], [[burritos]], and other [[Mexican]]-related [[fast food]]
| revenue = {{profit}}$1.8 billion [[United States dollar|USD]] (2005) |
| homepage = [http://www.tacobueno.com tacobueno.com]
|}}
'''Taco Bueno''' is a [[United States|U.S.]]-based [[Fast-food_restaurant|fast-food]] [[restaurant chain]] specializing in [[Tex-Mex cuisine|Tex-Mex]]-style [[Mexican food|Mexican cuisine]]. Currently headquartered in [[Farmers Branch, Texas]], the first location was in [[Abilene, Texas]] in [[1967]]. The company has locations in [[Arkansas]], [[Kansas]], [[Missouri]], [[Nebraska]], [[New Mexico]], [[North Carolina|North]] and [[South Carolina]], [[Oklahoma]], and [[Texas]], with concentrations in [[North Texas]] and Oklahoma. The chain currently includes 169 restaurants, including recent additions in [[Kansas City, Missouri]]; [[Monroe, North Carolina]]; [[Rock Hill, South Carolina]]; and [[Conroe, Texas]]. Contracts for 2008 include more stores in [[Indiana]] and [[Louisville, Kentucky]]. However, the Monroe and Rock Hill locations have closed.
In [[1981]] Taco Bueno was acquired by British food manufacturer [[Unigate]], then was sold to [[Carl's Jr.]]'s franchisor [[CKE Restaurants]] in [[1996]]. The private investment group Jacobson Partners purchased the chain in [[2001]], and in [[2005]] Palladium Equity Partners procured the company.
The chain differentiates itself from competitors such as [[Taco Bell]] by promoting the fresh ingredients used in many of their menu items. This is emphasized by television and radio [[ad campaign]]s that focus on employees of an unnamed Mexican fast-food chain spying on Taco Bueno to determine why Bueno's food tastes superior.
==New additions==
In the South, steak products, as well as a new menu is being test-marketed before introducing it in other areas. Cilantro lime rice, peppered chicken, and the cinnamon apple muchaco will be released, but the cinnamon apple muchaco will be sold as a seasonal item.
==Signature Taco Bueno Menu Items==
===Big Ol' Burrito===
As the name implies, it is the largest burrito offered by Taco Bueno and is available in beef and chicken varieties. The Beef BOB contains beef, chili sauce, lettuce, cheese, tomatoes, and sour cream; the Chicken BOB has chicken, lettuce, cheese, tomatoes, and sour cream.
===Mexidips & Chips===
The '''Mexidips & Chips''' is a bed of tortilla chips with two fried [[Maize|corn]] [[tortilla]] [[Bowl_%28vessel%29|bowl]]s. The two bowls are filled differently depending on if the item is for [[take-out]] or [[Sit-down_restaurant|dine-in]] orders. In the case that it is made for dine-in, one bowl contains [[chili con queso|queso]], one holds [[refried beans|refried]] [[pinto bean]]s, and a scoop of fresh [[guacamole]] is served atop a small patch of lettuce. If the order is for take-out, then the guacamole is put in one of the tortilla bowls and the cheese is put in a separate plastic container with a lid to prevent spillage.
===Muchaco===
The '''Muchaco''' is a layer of refried beans, [[ground beef]] or grilled [[chicken]], [[lettuce]], shredded [[cheddar cheese]], [[diced tomatoes|diced]] [[tomato|tomatoes]], and folded over in soft [[pita]] bread.
===Potato Burrito===
Taco Bueno's '''Potato Burrito''' consists of the customer's choice of ground beef or grilled chicken, [[hash brown]] potatoes, queso, shredded lettuce, and [[sour cream]] wrapped in a soft flour tortilla. As with most of the chain's menu items, refried beans may be substituted for meat at no additional charge.
===Mucho Nachos===
'''Mucho Nachos''' is a bed of [[Tortilla_chip|corn tortilla chips]] topped with refried beans, ground beef or grilled chicken, [[Chili_con_carne|chili]] [[sauce]], queso with peppers, diced tomatoes, and sour cream. As of December 2007, the company decided to remove the 1/2 oz. of shredded cheese due to the fact that the 4 oz. of queso made virtually no difference in taste.
===Cheesecake Chimichanga===
A '''Cheesecake Chimichanga''' is a warm [[cheesecake]] filling wrapped in a fried shell and dusted with [[powdered sugar]].
===Chimichanga===
Not to be confused with the cheesecake chimichanga, the regular [[chimichanga]] features chicken, [[rice]], [[black beans]], [[pepperjack]] cheese, and chunky salsa. It is wrapped in a 10" tortilla, fried, then topped with sour cream sauce, queso, and [[chipotle]] sauce.
===Salsa Bar===
All Taco Bueno locations have a self serve [[salsa]] and [[condiment]] bar featuring homemade fresh red and chunky salsas, fresh [[pico de gallo]], diced onions, [[jalapeƱo]] peppers, lemon slices, and depending on the location other various items such as [[cilantro]].
===Breakfast Menu===
In 2007, Taco Bueno introduced a line of breakfast items, including egg-based burritos and breakfast platters, at the majority of their locations.
[[Image:Tacobueno03.jpg|thumb|right|260px|Taco Bueno Location]]
==References in Popular Culture==
*Taco Bueno has been referenced several times on the television show ''[[King of the Hill]]''. In the episode "Kidney Boy and Hamster Girl: A Love Story," Bobby discovers a Taco Bueno in the cafeteria of the high school where he's pretending to be a student.
*Founder Bill Waugh also founded [[Casa Bonita]], a chain with one remaining location in Lakewood, Colorado. The restaurant was featured on an episode of ''[[South Park]]''. See [[Casa Bonita (South Park episode)]]
*Taco Bueno is parodied in ''[[Kim Possible]]'', which is called Bueno Nacho.
==External links==
*[http://www.tacobueno.com/ Taco Bueno Official website]
*[http://www.palladiumequity.com/ Palladium Equity Partners, the company that owns Taco Bueno]
[[Category:Companies based in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex]]
[[Category:Fast-food Mexican restaurants]]
[[Category:Regional restaurant chains]]
[[Category:1967 establishments]]
[[Category:Fast-food chains of the United States]]