Taco Bueno
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| Type | Mexican Restaurants |
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| Industry | Quick Service Restaurants |
| Founded | Abilene, Texas (1967) |
| Founder(s) | Bill Waugh (Founder) |
| Headquarters | Farmers Branch, Texas |
| Key people | Ed Lambert (CEO |
| Products | Tacos, burritos, and other Mexican-related fast food |
| Revenue | $65.1 million |
| Employees | 121,000 |
| Website | tacobueno.com |
Taco Bueno is a U.S.-based fast-food restaurant chain specializing in Tex-Mex-style Mexican cuisine. Currently headquartered in Farmers Branch, Texas,[1] the first location was in Abilene, Texas in 1967. The company has locations in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and Louisiana with concentrations in North Texas and Oklahoma. The chain currently includes 169 restaurants, including recent additions in Kansas City, Missouri; Conroe, Texas; Alexandria, Louisiana; and Harker Heights, Texas. A new store will be opening soon in Allen, Texas.
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[edit] History
Taco Bueno was founded in 1967 by Bill .J Waugh, an Abilene Christian University(ACU) art graduate. The first store was located in Abilene, Texas.
In 1981 Taco Bueno was acquired by British food manufacturer Unigate
Taco Bueno was sold to Carl's Jr.'s franchisor CKE Restaurants in 1996. CKE agreed to purchase Taco Bueno on August 29, 1996.[2]
In 2001 the private investment group Jacobson Partners purchased the chain for $72.5 Million US Dollars to help aid CKE Restaurants in a battle to get out of debt.[3]
On August 10, 2005, Palladium Equity Partners announced its completion of the purchase of Taco Bueno from Jacobson Partners. At the same time John Miller was appointed CEO of Taco Bueno.[4]
In 2011 Ed Lambert became CEO of Taco Bueno, LP. He is known as their chief Buenohead.
[edit] New additions
Skillet fajitas have recently been added to the menu. Strawberry smoothies are sold at some locations, and taquitos are sold in some stores as seasonal/promotional items.
[edit] Menu
[edit] Specialty Items
[edit] Tamales
Pork tamales are a seasonal item.
[edit] Big Ol' Burrito
This large burrito is offered in either beef or chicken and includes lettuce, cheese, tomatoes, and sour cream. The Beef BOB adds chili sauce.
[edit] MexiDips & Chips
The MexiDips & Chips is a bed of tortilla chips with three fried corn tortilla bowls. For dine-in orders, one bowl contains queso, one holds refried pinto beans, and 2 scoops of fresh guacamole. For take-out, the guacamole goes in one of the tortilla bowls and the cheese is in a plastic container with a lid to prevent spillage.
[edit] Muchaco
The Muchaco is a layer of refried beans, ground beef or grilled chicken, lettuce, shredded Cheddar cheese, and diced tomatoes folded over in soft pita bread.
[edit] 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.
[edit] Mucho Nachos
Mucho Nachos is a bed of corn tortilla chips topped with refried beans, ground beef or grilled chicken, 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 because it did not add anything to the nachos..
[edit] Nacho Salad
Nacho Salad is a salad concoction that comes with the customers choice of beef or chicken.It is topped off with chili sauce and queso,lettuce,tomatoes and shredded cheese.
[edit] Cheesecake Chimichanga
A Cheesecake Chimichanga is a warm cheesecake filling wrapped in a fried shell and dusted with powdered sugar.
[edit] Bueno Choice Menu
In October 2010 Taco Bueno debuted the Bueno Choice Menu featuring items ranging between 150 - 450 calories.[5] The Bueno Choice Menu offers items such as grilled Chicken Fajita Tacos, and Black Bean Burritos.`
[edit] Salsa Bar
All Taco Bueno locations have a self serve salsa and condiment bar featuring homemade fresh original red and roasted salsas, fresh pico de gallo, diced onions, and jalapeño peppers.
[edit] Breakfast Menu
In 2007, Taco Bueno introduced a line of breakfast items, including egg burritos and breakfast platters, at the majority of their locations. Egg tacos are also sold.
[edit] References in popular culture
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This section does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (January 2010) |
- 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 is pretending to be a student.
- Founder Bill Waugh also founded Casa Bonita, a chain with two remaining locations in Lakewood, Colorado, and Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Lakewood restaurant was featured on an episode of South Park. See Casa Bonita (South Park episode)[6]
- Taco Bueno is parodied in Kim Possible, which is called Bueno Nacho.
- Taco Bueno is featured prominently in the film Diary of a Tortured Artist
[edit] References
- ^ "Economic Development." City of Farmers Branch. Retrieved on December 8, 2009.
- ^ "CKE RESTAURANTS AGREES TO PURCHASE CASA BONITA". New York Times. 29 August 1996. http://www.nytimes.com/1996/08/29/business/cke-restaurants-agrees-to-purchase-casa-bonita.html?ref=ckerestaurantsinc. Retrieved 29 May 2011.
- ^ "CKE WILL SELL ITS TACO BUENO UNIT FOR $72.5 MILLION". The New York Times. 15 March 2001. http://www.nytimes.com/2001/03/15/business/company-news-cke-will-sell-its-taco-bueno-unit-for-72.5-million.html. Retrieved 29 May 2011.
- ^ "Palladium Equity Partners Completes Acquisition of Taco Bueno Restaurant Chain". Palladium Equity. http://www.palladiumequity.com/pr_8-10-2005.asp. Retrieved 29 May 2011.
- ^ Ruggless, Ron. "Taco Bueno debuts low-calorie menu". Taco Bueno debuts low-calorie menu. Nation's Restaurant News. http://www.nrn.com/article/taco-bueno-debuts-low-calorie-menu. Retrieved 29 May 2011.
- ^ "South Park: Casa Bonita". South Park. South Park Studios. http://www.southparkstudios.com/guide/episodes/s07e11-casa-bonita. Retrieved 29 May 2011.
