↑ Part 1                     Part 2 ↓

Season 3 Episode 9

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Taco Bell feat. Priya Pappu

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In this episode of Fine Dining: The Search for the Most Mediocre Restaurant in America:

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○ Part 1: Taco Bell has launched some of the wildest fast-food innovations ever—from the Doritos Locos Taco to the Kit Kat Quesadilla. But behind its bold menu creations lies a chaotic history of recalls, lawsuits, and marketing stunts (like trying to buy the Liberty Bell or lobbying for $2 bills).

In this episode, comedian Priya Pappu joins me to break down Taco Bell’s bizarre past, its rise to fast-food dominance, and the wildest things people have said about it on Yelp. Plus, we finally answer: Is Taco Bell actually the healthiest fast-food chain?

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○ Part 2: After avoiding it for over a decade, I finally stepped back inside a Taco Bell — and I was not ready for what I found. The Baja Blast? Genuinely delicious. The Crunchwrap Supreme? A smart design, poorly executed. The guacamole? It's giving Home Depot.

In this episode, comedian & actress Priya Pappu joins me to break down the good, the not good, and everything in between about eating inside a Taco Bell. From its strangely sterile atmosphere to its impressively bad beef portions, we’re analyzing it all to find out if it truly represents fast-food mediocrity.

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Location: Glendale, CA

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Michael's Score:                                     3.41

Priya's Score:                                        6.25

Tchotchke of Mediocrity Score:       4.83

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Host: Michael Ornelas

Guest Hosts: Priya Pappu

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Music by: James McEnelly

Theme Song by: Gabe Alvarez

 

Segment Transitions Voice by: Sandy Rose