622507 Mon May 25 15:27:21 -0700 2009 21 22 Quebec (including Montreal) 0 4713605 Where can I find those cheap, taco bell style, bad for you, plain old beef, cheese, and lettuce tacos downtown? I know there's a taco bell in the west island and one far up north, but is there anything downtown? I'm really craving tacos!! Thanks! Mon May 25 15:27:21 -0700 2009 322716 hafizrealmadrid 1 4713644 There is a Taco Bell on Cote Vertu Blvd. I believe the cross street is dacarie. Mon May 25 15:47:24 -0700 2009 4713605 283184 Alyson777 2 4713648 Um - Côte Vertu & Decarie is Ville St-Laurent - that's nowhere near downtown. Mon May 25 15:48:58 -0700 2009 4713644 66614 kpzoo 1 4713656 Well he only mentioned knowing of a Taco bell in the west island or more north. Therefore vsl is the closest to downtown. Plus the only other place of that style downtown was taco bull on St laurent blvd and it's closed. Mon May 25 15:51:36 -0700 2009 4713605 283184 Alyson777 2 4713675 THere has to be a mexican take out place in one of the shopping "malls" - either in the Eaton Center (or whatever it's called now) or the one where Simons is. I know there's one in the Carrefour Angrignon that I'm pretty sure sells tacos, so if there's one there, I'm assuming other food concourses have them. Mon May 25 16:00:09 -0700 2009 4713656 118582 maisonbistro 3 4713879 Bingo. According to the various centres' websites, there's a Taco Bell Express in the Cinéma Banque Scotia (Simons) food court and Los Dias outlets in both the Eaton Centre and Complexe Desjardins food courts. Looks like there's nothing in Place Ville-Marie, Place Montréal Trust or Les Cours Mont Royal. Couldn't find a listing of the restos in Les Halles de la Gare (strange, eh?). Mon May 25 17:33:37 -0700 2009 4713675 10520 carswell 2 4713677 Haha yeah that one on Cote Vertu & Decarie was the one I was referring to up north. A two way metro ride will cost me $5.50, that's more than the meal :( Mon May 25 16:01:37 -0700 2009 4713656 322716 hafizrealmadrid 3 4714783 And the service there is dismal at best. They have no clue what they're doing, the mess up the orders and food is cold when it gets to you. Tue May 26 06:16:34 -0700 2009 4713677 16017 Campofiorin 1 4713714 What about the "Los Classicos' outlet on Ste-Catherine (corner St-Laurent) ? Mon May 25 16:20:59 -0700 2009 4713605 11828 Maximilien 2 4713858 I really like Los Classicos, but I am certain these are not the kind of tacos the OP is referring to. I think the OP might have better luck at a place like 3 amigos or something like that. Mon May 25 17:22:50 -0700 2009 4713714 89969 moh 3 4713865 Oh yeah, and what about Carlos & Pepes on Peel? May be just the kind of Westernized Mexican they're looking for? http://www.carlosandpepes.com/en/ Caveat: I have never had a Taco Bell taco nor a Carlos & Pepes taco so I don't know how they compare. Mon May 25 17:27:00 -0700 2009 4713858 66614 kpzoo 4 4713969 I haven't had a Carlos and Pepe or a 3 amigo taco, as I usually tend to order enchiladas in places like these. But I remember the Taco Bell ones well, and I do understand their appeal. It's been a long time since I've had one though. The distinction between a hard shell taco vs a soft shell taco is key. I suspect the OP is referring to the hard shell taco. Oddly enough, I recently had one of these at our hospital cafeteria. It was a blast back to the 1970's and 1980's for me, the last time I've had a hard shell taco. It was pretty good, but unfortunately, in place salsa, they offered what appeared to be some kind of BBQ sauce. Very odd. This thread makes me want to go out and but some El Paso hard taco shells, and make one of the retro badboys properly. Without the BBQ sauce. The only problem is, they are very hard to eat! So messy! The shells always end up cracking mid-bite. I always have meat sauce on my short after. I would also note that hard shell tacos are one of the few items that in my mind require iceberg lettuce. Mon May 25 18:10:26 -0700 2009 4713865 89969 moh 5 4714155 Exactly! Put a leaf of lettuce down and when it cracks there's no spillage. I can't take credit for this tip; I saw it on the Food Network courtesy of the Friendly Giant chef aka Michael Smith, Chef at Home. Mon May 25 19:25:17 -0700 2009 4713969 12421 hungryann 6 4714186 The Old El Paso route is a scary one. Two little shells filled with beef, taco sauce, sour cream, avocado, and topped with cheese will put an inch on your waist. No kidding, it's like a phantom fat meal! Mon May 25 19:36:26 -0700 2009 4714155 262240 everyonelovessushi 5 4714894 Funny, I too work in a hospital and have a colleague who usually gets tacos for lunch and they also smell like barbecue sauce, hmm. Maybe there's some kind of medical moratorium on salsa. So here's the key to avoiding the inevitable post-first bite disintegration of the hard shell taco and ensuing disappointment (bonus: it involves extra cheesy goodness): 1. construct hard shell taco as you normally would (complete with requisite shredded iceberg) 2. Sprinkle liberal amounts of shredded cheese on a soft tortilla (larger in diameter than the hard shell) and broil for a bit until cheese is sufficiently melty 3. Place 1 inside 2 and fold the cheesy edges up around the hard shell until it is comfortably ensconced within. 4. Consume without any hazard to clothing, as any broken hard shell bits and sauce runoff are safely contained within the soft tortilla. Tue May 26 07:02:54 -0700 2009 4713969 286430 mtb 6 4716614 And also increasing the cheezy fat and carb content. Nice! Tue May 26 15:25:31 -0700 2009 4714894 244720 Shattered 1 4719795 I was in Clearwater Fla. with my two kids last month and we ate at taco bell almost daily. It was inexpensive and really good. Dont get me wrong it is certainly no Toqué but after a day at the beach you could drive up to the drive thru window and eat a great afternoon snack. Their new taco salad was great and my kids loved the tacos. i wouldnt attempt to go to Taco Bell here as I am sure it would not compare. Wed May 27 14:35:49 -0700 2009 4713605 144380 crispy1 1 4721399 I wouldn't even feed my dog the minced meat from Taco Bell! Thu May 28 06:46:00 -0700 2009 4713605 283184 Alyson777 2 4721464 Couldn't agree more. I've had Taco Bell once time each in Canada and in California. I suppose in Cali is was passable as fast food slop, but the 2nd time up here it was hands-down the most disgusting thing I've ever had in my life (& I'll eat anything). Never again. Thu May 28 07:04:51 -0700 2009 4721399 244720 Shattered 3 4721524 The only difference between the meat at Taco Bell in the States and the Taco Bell in Canada is that one is Grade F meat and one is Grade D meat. You're better off buying Taco's from the box and making your own meat from the butcher. I tried Los Classicos on St Laurent BLVD yesterday for lunch and it wasn't expensive... it took along time but only because everything is made fresh to order. If I want more "fast food" Mexican I'll hit up 3 amigos or Mesa 14. Maria Bonita is amazing! 5269 avenue Casgrain Montreal, La Chilenita 64 Rue Marie-Anne Ouest, H2W 1b8, Montreal, Quebec - (514) 982-9212 is also pretty good. I think the one on Marianne off St Laurent is the best location. Thu May 28 07:25:27 -0700 2009 4721464 283184 Alyson777 4 4721947 Agreed on La Chilenita, not Taco Bell, but that's a plus. I'll have to try Maria Bonita. Thu May 28 09:37:04 -0700 2009 4721524 244720 Shattered 5 4722365 I really really like Maria Bonita! They have a full menu... but they also have a two page menu of just small Mexican Appetizers in the $4-$5 range. Kinda Tapas style. This place is inexpensive and delicious. I think my whole dinner with tax and tip $12. For $12 I was able to try a variety of different items on the menu... Thu May 28 11:32:24 -0700 2009 4721947 283184 Alyson777