Taco Bell set for Thailand debut early next year

[webfact]

Taco Bell set for Thailand debut early next year

By THE NATION

 

FILE photo

 

THE ICONIC Southern California brand, Taco Bell, will partner with Siam Taco Co Ltd to bring its Mexican-inspired cuisine to Thailand for the first time with a new Bangkok restaurant.
 

Taco Bell will open its first Thailand location on the first floor of Mercuryville mall in central Bangkok, in a partnership with Siam Taco Co Ltd, part of the TTA (Thoresen Thai Agencies Public Co Ltd) group. It will open in early 2019, according to a media release yesterday.

 

The Southern California brand dates back to 1962, and Taco Bell’s founder Glen Bell achieved quick success thanks to his made-to-order tacos, burritos and other specialities. 

 

The menu featured bold flavours, quality ingredients – and a breakthrough value price-point.

 

In the intervening 56 years ago, the brand has grown from small communities in Southern California, to nearly 30 countries across the globe. 

 

Fans who visit Taco Bells around the world will find a modern-day restaurant design that is also consistent with local community specific designs.

 

The upcoming Mercuryville Taco Bell will feature an urban-concept design that embodies the business and shopping community of the Chidlom area in Bangkok. Ideal for office workers and shoppers, the 60-seat restaurant will feature an open kitchen and modern design benches, making it an ideal spot to catch up with friends or take a break from shopping.

 

“We are excited to bring Taco Bell’s iconic, Mexican-inspired cuisine to one of the most vibrant cities in the world,” said Liz Williams, president, Taco Bell International. “We have many fans in Thailand and are thrilled to partner with an incredible franchise partner like Thoresen Thai Agencies to bring Taco Bell to Southeast Asia.”

 

Thai fans can look forward to a selection of Taco Bell’s famous Mexican-inspired food, including the Crunchwrap Supreme, Grilled Stuft Burrito and the trademark Crunchy Taco, as well as speciality items developed specifically for the Thai market. 

In-market research 

 

After weeks of in-market research, the Kickin’ Chicken Taco was created by Taco Bell chefs, which features crispy chicken, a unique spicy Kickin’ Sauce, fresh lettuce, pico de gallo salsa, a two-cheese blend, all wrapped in a soft flour tortilla.

 

In addition to the world-famous menu items, guests can add snacks such as cheesy chips, or specialities such as loaded fries to their orders. They can complete their meals with a Taco Bell Freeze, similar to a slushie, with the flavour choice of Mango Madness, Tropical Punch or Berry Blue. Or, enjoy an ice cold beer (San Miguel Light or Singha) that pairs perfectly with Taco Bell flavours.

 

“We are thrilled to be able to bring Taco Bell to Thailand. We love the brand and the company’s culture and, using our existing expertise in the food retail segment, we believe that Taco Bell will be a huge success in Thailand,” said Chalermchai Mahagitsiri, TTA president and chief executive.

 

Eager diners can follow progress on the early 2019 opening at Facebook.com/TacoBellTH or follow @TacoBellTH on Instagram, Twitter and Line.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/Corporate/30361080

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-12-25

[George Bowman]

38 minutes ago, webfact said:

we believe that Taco Bell will be a huge success in Thailand,” said Chalermchai Mahagitsiri, TTA president and chief executive.

If the goal is to attract the locals, I suggest a rice/chicken/taco topped with insects be placed on the menu. And some ketchup...

[Somtamnication]

I use to hate Taco Hell, but after so many years here, I really miss them! Slurp!

[zzaa09]

Oh boy!!!

....and to think what the Thais were missing all this time.

 

 

SIWILAI.  

[bkk6060]

Hope they will have those spicy Doritos hard shell tacos.

[holy cow cm]

I just had 2 beef tacos I. USA last week. Something about needing a fix. But I also had real Mexican too. Craving goes both ways.

Edited December 24, 2018 by holy cow cm

[theguyfromanotherforum]

Terrible tasting food. I can only imagine it will be a lot worse in Thailand. Like Domino Pizza.

Edited December 24, 2018 by theguyfromanotherforum

[ezzra]

Industrial quality Tex-Mex, with very little resemblance to the real stuff... 

Edited December 25, 2018 by ezzra

[keemapoot]

30 minutes ago, ezzra said:

Industrial quality Tex-Mex, with very little resemblance to the real stuff... 

Yeah, but addictive and hits the spot when you need a quick Mexican fix. I have been waiting for a long time for them to finally enter Thailand.

 

*BTW, that location is great for a food run, because it's opposite Central Chidlom, which has a great selection of food and wine in the Food Hall. So, you can park at Central, cross the road to get your Taco Bell fix, then go back and buy some real food for later.

Edited December 25, 2018 by keemapoot
add

[quadperfect]

I have been looking for any good reasons why i should stay in thailand. This would have helped but its in bangkok so not good enough

[Emdog]

better than nothing, by a hair

[DepDavid]

Not really Mexican and hardly cuisine. 

[mamypoko]

stuff my pockets with yummy hot sauce packets

[overherebc]

6 minutes ago, Father Fintan Stack said:

More carcinogenic American crapola to fatten up and kill the stupid off quicker.

 

It's not that great anywhere but Domino's is truly awful in Thailand. 

Don't you just love those pizzas, not sure who does them, covered in sweet sickly mayo. Designed for people keen on throwing up after a few beers. ????????????????

[mok199]

I'm luvin it''  Tim Hortens would be nice

Edited December 25, 2018 by mok199

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

the 60-seat restaurant will feature an open kitchen and modern design benches,

Brought to you by the same Thai company (and super-rich Mahagatsiri family) that's now controls the U.S.-oriented Pizza Hut, IHOP, Krispy Kreme, Cinnabon, Jamba Juice franchises in Thailand.

 

Interesting that the upcoming Taco Bell venue here sounds more like a traditional restaurant than a typical U.S. fastfood outlet. And having beer on the menu is going to be an interesting plus, except of course if you want a beer in the forbidden afternoons.

 

[Youlike]

2 hours ago, keemapoot said:

*BTW, that location is great for a food run, because it's opposite Central Chidlom,

I agree, and there's only Japanese food in that foodmall (and a BK) so it's great to have a Taco Bell on that spot.

 

MOS burger was also nice to have there but the Thai staff ruined it so i hope they get a good manager in Taco Bell who  keeps the standards up.

[Briggsy]

Judging by the other fast food franchises in Thailand, the Thais will take an unhealthy, sometimes tasty, lowish-quality, not lowish price product and actually make it less tasty, more unhealthy, lower quality and higher price.

 

This will be achieved by :-

1. deliberately setting out to thwart the already lax franchise ingredient sourcing policy to seek out even cheaper and nastier ingredients

2. the reduction of the training budget to zero by calling it 'on-the-job training' whilst employing unsupervised, uneducated kids

3. not permitting any serious competition in the sector which would in this case be Tex-Mex fast foods.

 

I'll end on a positive note. In Thailand, eat Thai food or imported foreign food where they haven't opened the package. If you have to eat non-Thai food, have it made by a non-Thai, not a clueless 18-year-old from Mahasarakham.

Edited December 25, 2018 by Briggsy

[ZeVonderBearz]

Another fast food joint for the high society to spunk their bent cash on. Sweeney's, KFC,maccys, BK, dunkin Donuts, etc keep adding all the fast food places and Thailand will be the obese capital of SEA.

[marinediscoking]

I'v been waiting for this for a while now! I always visit the one in Manila when I would get over there. 

Didn't take long for food snobs to enter I see. Yes its not gourmet but how many of these American fast food chains have failed here? Last one I remember was Wendy's which used to be on the corner of Patpong and Silom back in 1996.

[Dexlowe]

Will they open a branch in Pattaya? My guess is they will, and probably before the end of the year. And that should add more debate to the hoary old topic of Mexican food in the resort -- a debate that pops up now and then on TV over which place serves the best. I expect the voluble Jingthing, who is never shy of an opinion, to lead the debate over Taco Ding-a-ling.

 

(For the record, I welcome the outlet, even though my senses of taste and smell have never fully recovered from an accident, simply because it will add variety.)

[Lipoman]

Marinediscoking: yep, the food snobs had to add their 2 Baht because they lack any constructive activities in their lives. 

 

I think if these folks should leave Thailand.  They don't appreciate simple business changes, such as Taco Bell coming to Bangkok, which some Thai citizens may enjoy.  Basically, they seem to whine about any change that isn't like "back home". If you miss the culture of your home country, then go there so other farangs can live in Thailand without reading your daily bitching.

 

Yes, Taco Bell is merely Mexican-inspired cuisine, not authentic Mexican cuisine.  Just like Thai food in the UK, USA, and other locations is not authentic, because it has been modified to satisfy the local taste buds (to be fair, there may be one or two exceptions in those locations).  

 

Returning to Taco Bell, many tourists and locals may be curious and will try it.  They either like it or not; up to them.  There's no reason for the Food Snobs to be critics; let people be. 

[zydeco]

Taco Bell is not very good. Just a lot of crunch. OTOH, getting a Taco Bueno would be great. Best fast food burritos around. Also wonder what happened to the guy who opened up a corn dog shop in K-Village. He made the best corn dogs this side of the State Fair of Texas. Was a French guy, I think. But he disappeared. Would think Thais would take to corn dogs in a minute. But guess not.

[Bangkok Barry]

1 hour ago, marinediscoking said:

I'v been waiting for this for a while now! I always visit the one in Manila when I would get over there. 

Didn't take long for food snobs to enter I see. Yes its not gourmet but how many of these American fast food chains have failed here? Last one I remember was Wendy's which used to be on the corner of Patpong and Silom back in 1996.

 

Best burgers around. I used to enjoy going there. But they vanished during the '97 Asian Crash, along with TGI Friday's,

[PerkinsCuthbert]

1 hour ago, Lipoman said:

Marinediscoking: yep, the food snobs had to add their 2 Baht because they lack any constructive activities in their lives. 

 

I think if these folks should leave Thailand.  They don't appreciate simple business changes, such as Taco Bell coming to Bangkok, which some Thai citizens may enjoy.  Basically, they seem to whine about any change that isn't like "back home". If you miss the culture of your home country, then go there so other farangs can live in Thailand without reading your daily bitching.

 

Yes, Taco Bell is merely Mexican-inspired cuisine, not authentic Mexican cuisine.  Just like Thai food in the UK, USA, and other locations is not authentic, because it has been modified to satisfy the local taste buds (to be fair, there may be one or two exceptions in those locations).  

 

Returning to Taco Bell, many tourists and locals may be curious and will try it.  They either like it or not; up to them.  There's no reason for the Food Snobs to be critics; let people be. 

I agree, life is so much more laxative when people uncritically accept any old rubbish.

[Jingthing]

4 hours ago, DepDavid said:

Not really Mexican and hardly cuisine. 

This has been an issue in their past and the company has been very clear in their messaging -- they are NOT claiming that it is Mexican food and you're right, it isn't. 

 

https://munchies.vice.com/en_us/article/a3d4xg/a-history-of-taco-bells-failed-attempts-to-open-locations-in-mexico-fastfoodweek2017

Quote

A History of Taco Bell’s Failed Attempts to Open Locations in Mexico

 

Even though I would never eat there if there was something better locally on offer I do have fond memories about the chain. In the place I grew up there wasn't any real Mexican so Taco Bell was the place where I had my first ersatz  taco. Also don't ask about what happened in the parking lot (much more memorable). 

Edited December 25, 2018 by Jingthing

[Alex Sharp]

Alive and well in Chiang Mai........

[Baerboxer]

7 hours ago, Somtamnication said:

I use to hate Taco Hell, but after so many years here, I really miss them! Slurp!

 

They have one at Seoul airport. Tried it for the first time last month. Really nice.

[Somtamnication]

2 hours ago, ZeVonderBearz said:

Another fast food joint for the high society to spunk their bent cash on. Sweeney's, KFC,maccys, BK, dunkin Donuts, etc keep adding all the fast food places and Thailand will be the obese capital of SEA.

I am hardly high-so. I am a fat, balding farang with type 2 diabetes. I will die with a smile when they arrive!!! 

[Blue bruce]

Another reason for people to put on more calories.