For many years, Pella lived in peace with only one big corporate place to get fast Mexican cuisine. Whenever residents needed a quick taco, they just went to Taco John’s. They had no other choice for it was all they had ever known. However, since Taco Bell arrived to our small town, a competition has begun. Which fast food taco joint is superior? Which restaurant can best satisfy late night taco cravings? I have taken it upon myself to attempt to answer the questions that so many have asked. It should also be said that I mostly just wanted to eat tacos and call it research.

For this to be authentic, I had to go in without any bias. I based my judgement on list of criteria, granting a score out of five for each one: taste, cost, service, and atmosphere. At each taco chain, I ordered a simple hard shell taco.

Let’s jump right in with the quality of the taco itself. While both tacos were tasty, I had slight issues with each one. For Taco John’s, it was the excess of lettuce which I had to brush off. Taco Bell, on the other hand, had a good distribution of lettuce, cheese, and meat. The problem with Taco Bell was that the meat was extremely runny. Whereas Taco John’s meat was less runny and, overall, better. In the end, I awarded Taco John’s a 3.5 and Taco Bell a 3 for taste.

You get what you pay for when you buy a hard shell taco at a fast food joint. This can be overlooked when you realize that no who goes to either of these places is actually looking for authentic tacos. Taco Bell’s hardshell taco was slightly more expensive, coming in at a whopping $1.92. Taco John’s was more cost effective, coming in at $1.59. While keeping the price gap in mind, I gave Taco Bell a 4 and Taco John’s a 4.5.

The next section of my criteria regards my actual experience. In my opinion, the experience of eating a taco is so much more than just taste. I must say I was very pleased with the customer service that I experienced. The employees at both establishments were very kind and delivered the tacos with a smile. I awarded both with a 5 for service. Taco John’s and Taco Bell had different kinds of atmospheres, though both were enjoyable. Taco John’s had more of a comfortable, homey feel; whereas, Taco Bell was more modern, with charger outlets and trendy music playing. Considering the more updated fixtures of the later, Taco Bell received a 4.5 and Taco John’s received a 4.

In the end, Taco John’s and Taco Bell were both granted a total of 17 out of 20 points, meaning it ended in a tie. Don’t let some review in a school newspaper help dictate your taco choices. Quite honestly, if you want the best Mexican food available in Pella, go to El Charros.