Taco Bell Review (3210 Southdale Cir, Edina, MN 55435) 

Julia Lynch 

★★★★☆

On April 12, a group of experienced food critics and I decided to fuel our bodies with Taco Bell. Our goal was to find Mexican-adjacent food for a reasonable price, needless to say, we found what we were looking for in Taco Bell. We had a small bunch of unlikely foodies including a vegan, gluten-free, and carnivore, all with limited exposure to the chain. Covering all walks of life, at least considering consumption, we were filled with a formidable sensation that all four of us would find what we were looking for at this well-loved chain. 

“Though I haven’t experienced Taco Bell, I fear for my bowels,” Finnian Lavine (‘25) said, collectively speaking for our party. 

When we first walked in, the comforting rush of AC washed over us, refreshing our minds and body for the experience ahead. The menu was extensive and organized in a horrible way, almost illegible in format. After reading and rereading the names of various tacos, burritos, combos, and specials, we spent our last two paychecks and placed our order: 

• 1x Black Bean CrunchWrap Supreme (vegan) 
• 1x Power Menu Bowl (gluten-free) 
• 1x Quesarito 

• 1x Beefy 5-layer Burrito 
• 1x Spicy Potato Soft taco 

• 1x Soft Taco Supreme
• 2x Nacho Fries 

• 2x Cinnamon Twists 
• 1x Cheesy Roll Up 

• 3x Fountain Drinks 

As we sat in the chilled room, we sipped on Baja Blast through unbelievably thin straws and waited hopefully for our food to come out. I first noticed the greasy grout smudged in between the flesh-colored tiles and contrasted with the purple and gold walls beautifully. The bright teal accents and harsh white light added an unforgettable ambiance that mirrored a fever dream. Before the building’s cognitive power fully seeped into my mind, our piles of food were brought out for us to feast on. 

The Taco Bell experience can be deeply personal. To Live Mås, may mean different things to different diners. 

“Taco Bell is needed to help mentally ill people, and I fully believe that,” Penelope Longmore (‘25) stated, reporting on the ambiance found reliably through the chain. 

“It’s so delicious it was sent down from the heavens!¨ Amelie McCloud (‘25) said.

All of our expectations, although low at first, skyrocketed the minute the food hit our tongues. Each of us was amazed and shocked at the seemingly addictive cheese mixed with warm beans and encased in a crispy tortilla. Even the item that we were most skeptical about: the Cheesy Roll Up, which showcases a cup of melted cheese inside a tortilla, brought all four of us unimaginable joy. 

Perhaps we were riding the high of summer, teenage love, or simply the craving for a weak imitation of Mexican food. Regardless of the symptom, it is the solution; Taco Bell helps colors become vibrant and the sun shines brighter.