I’ve lived in Wallingford for over 20 years and over that time, have eaten in pretty much every restaurant in the neighborhood at least once.
Except Taco Time.
I’m not exactly sure why. I’m not a fast food fan, but I’m not a snob either. As I type these words, a Dick’s Deluxe is digesting in my belly. Maybe it’s odd-looking building, or the drive-through that puts me off.
Anyway, I may break my streak this Friday, because something about free always tastes so good.
This Friday, October 4th, Taco Time will be giving away free beef tacos, no purchase necessary, one to a customer, for National Taco Day.
Yes, October 4th is National Taco Day. It does appear to be a “real” holiday, in that there are lots of web sites and legitimate news outlets that talk about it, although it isn’t clear who, exactly, declared it to so (besides a lot of taco restaurants).
$0.00 is still too much to pay for a Taco Time taco. Is Rancho Bravo participating?
Agreed. Still too expensive.
Also, Wallingford’s ugliest building by a country mile. I have no idea how that shitbox stays in business when other attempts at success fall by the wayside. I think the best possible use for that space would be a little garden center. Strip out the mirror finish and leave it as a greenhouse.
Seriously, Taco Time is pretty good. Their food is fine, somewhere between Taco Bell and Rancho Bravo. All of the employees are very nice and with Subway and Yogurtland leaving, they are one of the few kid friendly places left on 45th. Give them a try.
Taco time is great. It took me a while to realize this, but I love Taco Time now. They pay their employees, compost everything, use good ingredients, and have affordable prices. Just like a previous poster said. Don’t dislike them because they are a chain. Rancho Bravo and Molly Moon’s are chains now.
National Taco day. That must be why this week’s NYT Dining section is entirely devoted to the taco. Learning something new every day!
while i, too, have been disgusted by the building and essential “fast food” vibe – I’d be down with giving it a try. ping me wallyhood on friday?
Is it a locally owned chain kinda thing – like a kidd valley?
I used to work at a Taco Time while I was in high school. I will still eat there. That says something to most people I talk to.
Subway has been a beacon of hope when I’m out in the sticks somewhere. Toasted veggie foot-long with everything and the chipotle dressing, I could eat that for three meals a day and feel OK about it. Will have to bear these testimonials in mind, if I encounter a Taco Time in similar circumstances. But I can’t picture what occasion I’d have to visit one in my own neighborhood, and a free beef taco sure wouldn’t change that.
stop liking what i don’t like! i imagine that many a wallyhood commenter should have that shirt.
why does that “shitbox” stay in business while others fail? More than likely a solid product and sound business plan. Sorry if you don’t like it, enough people apparently do to keep it afloat.
I enjoy Taco Time like I said before, but agree the building is ugly. Apparently, this location was given to somebody in the Tonkin family with full control over the design. There is no other Taco Time like it.
Taco Time is classic 1960s-style Mexican-American with real Northwest roots — the first one was opened in Eugene, OR in 1959, and the first franchise was in Tacoma three years later. It is what it is. It’s not like Rancho Bravo because Rancho Bravo is a different kind of restaurant. As far as “authenticity” goes, it’s as “authentic” as anything else, because it is an emblem of the spread of Mexican-American (not Mexican) food across the country from its roots in LA and Texas. Their beef tacos are not much like those you would get today in Mexico City (but neither are Rancho Bravo’s) — and they’re pretty addictive for what they are. A hell of a lot better than Taco Bell’s. One note, though — eat them fresh. Even ten minutes is way too late, they go disgustingly soggy and odd-tasting. The fish tacos are better.
For a good read on the history of Mexican-American food, I highly recommend Gustavo Arellano’s “Taco USA”. He’s the “Ask a Mexican” guy, and he knows his stuff.
Hmmmmmmmm Taco Time, a local restaurant group, succeeds and has been in the neighborhood for well over 20 years and has a convenient drive through. Moon Temple has been in the same location for over 60 years. Fancy, upscale restaurants and shops fail after a few months/years. Is this telling anyone anything? It tells me that there are a lot of people in Wallingford that don’t want to eat in upscale places and are more than happy to get food they like to eat at places that don’t satisfy the elitist appetites that many in Wallingford seem to have lately.
Taco Tech! It’s a GREAT building, I’ve loved it since the day it was built. Bright, open, inviting. Love their food too.
The building should be on the National Register of Historic Places.
Not sure about that reasoning. Maybe fancy, upscale restaurants could have survived 20 years, too — if there had been any. Sure can’t think of one. Meanwhile, Subway’s gone from N 45th, Yogurtland’s closing … It’s the nature of the business that new restaurants are abysmally likely to fail, and the current storefront lease rates in the Wallingford core are probably doing nothing to help, but it’s hard to see a strong trend as to who the losers are.
I kind of like the building when I fantasize about opening a plant strong restaurant there. The building reminds me of a greenhouse. I’ve never eaten there, though.
I’ve always really enjoyed Taco Time. Taco Bell is the scary one that I stay away from. Taco Time is quite tasty (although I usually get my soft tacos with the “dressing” on the side, to avoid the sogginess that Fnarf mentioned) and I know the one in Wallingford at least used to have a fairly nice atmosphere (though I haven’t been in there in probably over a decade). I’ve also always kinda liked that building, it seemed really cool when I was much younger, and now it reminds me of those days. And the Wallingford Taco Time is definitely NOT the only one with that design aesthetic. I work down in Auburn, and the one on 15th Street is the same style… Honestly, I think having a fast food chain in an interestingly designed building (albeit, perhaps out of place), makes it more of a cool landmark than an eyesore, especially considering most other fast food buildings are so plain, drab and ugly.
In case you haven’t noticed, the restaurants along 45th are quite expensive, and getting more so all the time. That’s because their costs, in particular their rent, is also skyrocketing. That’s a vicious circle; few can afford to eat lunch there, but they have to raise prices again because there are so few customers. This isn’t “fancy, upscale” restaurants, but mid-level ones that are forced to price themselves like fancy ones. (I can name one upscale place — Tilth — that’s even more expensive).
I think a number of long-standing tenants on the street are at risk of going under, which worries me. I’ve been going in all these shops nearly every day for fifteen-plus years, and I see how dead they are.
The culprit really is traffic — there isn’t enough. During the day there are a few office workers and neighborhood types, but at night people only go to the bars, and even there not in great numbers. The retail shops are few and boring, and as I have said before, retail is dead, thanks to Amazon. I love City Cellars to death, but it’s not an anchor. The only anchor is QFC, and people drive to that for the most part, and never even go past another shop, let alone go in one. Taco Time, Dicks, and even Rancho Bravo have most of their customers arrive by car too.
I don’t know what the solution is. It certainly isn’t CVS or more drive-to spots. You need to get people out of their cars and walking up and down the street. One thing I would point to as a possible way forward is Phinney Market. It’s expensive — $15 burgers — and it’s in a spot up on Phinney that’s failed numerous times in the past because they can’t get anybody in, but it seems to be thriving, with a combination of extreme kid-friendliness (near-constant squealing) and a foodie-friendly, locally-sourced, yadda yadda menu. It won’t attract U students (lots of money, but constant public urination and vomiting a la Fremont, not so great) but it might attract people from the neighborhood who can walk (or roll) in.
But really what you need is more people walking by, which means more density. I don’t think the people in those units down Stone Way think of 45th as their go-to street; we need them to. And we need more of them. People wrinkle their noses at big condo buildings and density, but that’s what you need to survive, because you need LOCAL TRAFFIC AND LOTS OF IT. Drivers and internet shopping are killing the neighborhood — all neighborhoods. Even the busy ones, you’ll notice, are all about bars and restaurants, not shops anymore.
I LOVE Taco Time–particularly OUR Taco Time–and I LOVE the building, too. Adds a little style to dowdy Wallingford.
Taco Time is great. Good food, quick, and nice people. A real asset to Wallingford.
Try Taco Time’s Churros, they are nummy. Their veggie soft tacos are good as well.
Mimi
Taco Time Mexi Fries!!!!!
Taco Time has great food – particularily if you don’t want to spend $25-35/per person to eat at some of the more “snooty” types of gastro-pub experiences that seem to be moving into the area – I do agree the building is not the best.
Wow. Hard to believe some of the snotty comments. THAT is what is wrong with the neighborhood. (Go Taco Time.)
I am counting 15 votes for Taco Time and just 2 against (the first two). Seems pretty overwhelming to me in favor.
It’s almost like people have different opinions on things, or something.
I go to Taco Time on 45th not less than every few weeks. But has anyone else noticed that the “Mexi-Fries” are a lot like tater tots? Maybe it’s just me.
They ARE Tater Tots, with a little more orange.
That explains why the waiter at the restaurant in Cabo San Lucas looked at me so funny when I ordered Mexi-Fries a few years ago. THANKS!
I like Taco Time just fine, and as to the building architecture, I’m fine with that, too. For me, it’s a welcome change of pace and a bright spot on 45th.
And per the other thread, I sure don’t feel like cheering at the demise of the “chain” Yogurtland, either.
And yeah, to Fnarf’s post: people who live here have different opinions. I’m glad for that.
Taco Time is no Taco John’s, but Mexi-Fries will do when no Potato Oles are at hand.
I would consider committing a non-violent misdemeanor if Taco Time churros were the reward. Also – I live in the Stone Way corridor and go to Fremont WAY more than I do 45th anymore. 41st street pedestrian bridge to Fremont and I’m done. Don’t know why exactly but Fremont has stolen my business after shopping on 45th for 5 years.
Love Taco Time, love the building. Can’t wait to hit the drive thru for my free taco tomorrow.
Taco Time NW is the best. I also worked there a long time back and it always impressed me that they they make everything from scratch. They also paid well, with benefits, and money towards school, or growth opportunities.
The Wallyhood location is just awesome too. I love the Neon Taco Time clock and the giant neon cactus wall art. So under appreciated but so awesome. Local produce, composting everything, and even a Coca Cola Freestyle machine… (also designed in Seattle area, btw).
Most importantly, the food is good good fresh fresh. 😛
Today the drive thru at Taco Time was backed up to 45th and there was only one parking spot left in the lot. All the tables were full. It’s really a shame no one in Wallingford likes the restaurant.
I love Taco Time. It is a bit fast food to it, but I still lov eit. It’s the only fast food place I go to- 3-4 times a year.
I also alway sloved the building- it has lovely windows- no concrete!
Sorry I missed their celebration!