Fast Food Discussion: Mexican Pizza at Taco Bell

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The discussion centers around fast food preferences, particularly focusing on Taco Bell's Mexican pizza, which some find overrated compared to other items like crunchy tacos. Participants share nostalgic experiences with various fast food chains, including Arby's and McDonald's, while expressing mixed feelings about their offerings and quality. There is a consensus that fast food is often unhealthy but still appealing for its convenience and taste. Some contributors critique the rising costs of fast food and the decline in service quality, noting that better alternatives exist outside of major chains. Overall, the conversation highlights a blend of fondness and criticism for fast food culture.
  • #251
gmax137 said:
The good ones are "home made" rather than generic canned stuff from the restaurant supply.
Hmmmm...For sure, I can see how homemade versions are better.

But, overall, I think restaurant ranch dips are simply way better than grocery store versions for the reasons I laid out in the earlier post.

I was actually at Target today and went through their ranch dip offerings (some I've had before) and shook my head. Even the ones I hadn't had before, I did a "shake" test and they seem way too gloopy, gloppy, and thick/heavy.

As noted earlier, restaurant ranches are simply much more thin/watery/light, which I prefer (and tangy). The texture of store bought ranch is just gross to me and I end up never finishing the various bottles I buy.
 
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  • #252
Buy the dry mix and combine with mayo/sour cream/milk/buttermilk to your taste!
 
  • #253
kyphysics said:
Hmmmm...For sure, I can see how homemade versions are better.

But, overall, I think restaurant ranch dips are simply way better than grocery store versions for the reasons I laid out in the earlier post.

You might try buying the packets, and instead of adding the directed milk or mayonnaise, you might try experimenting with buttermilk instead (and letting it chill for a few hours). I haven't tried that myself with modern packets, but it might be worth a try. -- Or maybe just stick with the milk & mayonnaise but just use a lower proportion of mayonnaise.

Or perhaps better yet, experiment with all fresh ingredients (no pre-made packets). There are recipes and instructions on the Internet.

By the way, this "thick" ranch dressing, as it all seems to be at the grocery stores these days, wasn't always that way. While today, the Hidden Valley Ranch packets call for added milk and mayonnaise, originally the packets called for simply buttermilk. They changed it over the years. I don't see buttermilk sold as often for anything anymore, which may have had something to do with it.

Speak of which, the history of ranch dressing -- and why we call it "ranch" dressing today -- is a fascinating story filled with excitement and intrigue. From Nebraska to Alaska to California. There are dude ranches, Clorox, and beans that fit into the nail biting tale of trademark law.
 
  • #254
gmax137 said:
Buy the dry mix and combine with mayo/sour cream/milk/buttermilk to your taste!
Where does the tangy taste come from at restaurant versions? Lots of sour cream? I wouldn't think so, given sour cream seems mostly tasteless to me (it's not even really sour to me - if it is, it's very, very light compared to the "punchy" tangy taste of, say, Buffalo Wild Wings ranch dip).

Could it be a dash of vinegar? I wouldn't think so either, as that seems it would separate from the ranch and/or create "bubbles" of vinegar (I could be wrong).

I'm definitely open to trying to make my own. Just wish I knew all the ingredients and ratios used at restaurants where I like the ranch.
 
  • #255
collinsmark said:
By the way, this "thick" ranch dressing, as it all seems to be at the grocery stores these days, wasn't always that way.
Oh, btw, I was talking strictly of ranch dip - not dressing (as in salad dressing) if that's what you meant. . . .I know some people might think both are the same, but they are different in my eyes.

Ranch dressing does routinely come in a thick, gloopy, gloppy texture - even at restaurants.

Ranch dip, however, should/does not at most restaurants that I have gotten it at. It's light, thin, and tangy (not some rich and saltier taste like the dressing and/or grocery store versions of dip).

I'm sure for some people this is a non-issue. To me, I notice it right away and am very picky about my preferences here.

. . .Don't get me started on salsa in store bought containers either. It's more like salsa SOUP! SOOO watery.
 
  • #256
kyphysics said:
Too bad that's only vegetarian. If it had curry ground beef inside (along with the potatoes and any other veggies), that'd definitely be my kind of snack. Visually, it looks delicious!
Minced lamb is good to go. Keema. It tastes ok but being mince and Lamb gives it the potential to be greasy.
You can get beef curry in the UK but the source will not be Hindu.
7.23am here and I am now craving curry.
 
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  • #257
Has pot noodle and similar had a mention? It ticks a lot of boxes, over priced for what it is, pretty unhealthy (just carbs)
It does not taste particularly amazing but I like it
To transform a pot noodle, put your hot water in and cover, I recommend "Bombay bad boy."
Leave 3 minutes stir and add lazy garlic and chilli.
After two minutes add a tin of tuna in oil (drained).
25g of protein, tastes great, takes a few minutes.
 
  • #258

I was bored and saw this . . .it PERFECTLY describes my grocery store ranch vs. restaurant ranch dip dilemma. I'm actually surprised how much it mirrors the discussion here (only thing missing was my "tangy" point). He nails the highly flavorful aspect of "runny ranch" vs. the thick/heavy/glue-like taste of Hidden Valley ranch (or insert your local grocery store bought bottle).

Even funnier and better is the comment that the source of the runny ranch is somewhat secretive. . . .But, seriously, where can one buy it or find a recipe to it? No one seems to know. The non-restauranteur civilian (or non-experienced cook/chef) must suffer the indignities and horrors of Hidden Valley-like gloopy, gloppy ranch.
 
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  • #259
For those who've never tasted a Nathan's hot dog, I think it's a must-try.

I was doing some shopping at Walmart today and had not had dinner yet. I walked by the hot foods area and saw $1.50 Nathan's hot dogs. I thought that sounded cheap and I like hot dogs usually, so I bought one.

This was one of the best hot dogs I've ever had. There weren't any condiments on it, as it was just the dog and bun. Yet, it was great - the flavor and quality of the dog were just so much better than other dogs I've had.

Time to get some more for next dinner!
 
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  • #260
kyphysics said:
For those who've never tasted a Nathan's hot dog, I think it's a must-try.

I was doing some shopping at Walmart today and had not had dinner yet. I walked by the hot foods area and saw $1.50 Nathan's hot dogs. I thought that sounded cheap and I like hot dogs usually, so I bought one.

This was one of the best hot dogs I've ever had. There weren't any condiments on it, as it was just the dog and bun. Yet, it was great - the flavor and quality of the dog were just so much better than other dogs I've had.

Time to get some more for next dinner!

Yes, Nathan's Famous hot dogs are quite tasty. I agree. Also, Nathan's plays a big role in the history of hot dogs, going all the way back to Coney Island where hot dogs as we know them today* had their origin.

*(as opposed to their German sausage predecessors).
 
  • #261
Fast Food

 
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  • #262
collinsmark said:
Yes, Nathan's Famous hot dogs are quite tasty. I agree. Also, Nathan's plays a big role in the history of hot dogs, going all the way back to Coney Island where hot dogs as we know them today* had their origin.

*(as opposed to their German sausage predecessors).
I bought 5 today and ate 3. Two left for tomorrow. For $1.50 (hot and prepared already), they are 100% better value imho than a McDonald's burger. I was reading online that Nathan's can have a "premium" attached to the price vs. other hot dog brands (. . .at $1.50 it's negligible for me if it's marked up), but to me it's very worth it.

The worst hot dog brands taste more like cheap spam meat (which I find repulsive). It's rare to find a good dog that you can buy at a grocery store, so I've been pleased.

Now...if they could only make some decent Spam that is reasonable priced. . .actually, I don't really like Spam at all (I know some people place it in the same category as hot dogs and other processed meats, but it's particularly repulsive to me for some reason).
 
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  • #263
My next trip to Walmart's hot foods section: I shall try their chicken egg rolls. They actually look tasty and are good sized. I really wonder if they make money on these items or if they're loss leaders (like milk) to attract people to buy actually profitable items.

Kroger/Harris Teeter's $5.99 fried chicken (8-piece) recently has also been another steal and very tasty (at least for the price point). That deal ended, but Friday's is often $6.99 (dollar more) fried chicken sale days.
 
  • #264
My fast food for breakfast everyday:
Water
Pure whey protein
Concentrated vegetables powder [equiv of 3 helpings]
Concentrated fruits powder [equiv of 3 helpings]
Pure peanut butter
A few dashes of Stevia
10 seconds in the NutriBullet
 
  • #265
kyphysics said:
My next trip to Walmart's hot foods section: I shall try their chicken egg rolls. They actually look tasty and are good sized. I really wonder if they make money on these items or if they're loss leaders (like milk) to attract people to buy actually profitable items.
Wal-mart does make a good margin on immodium tablets
 
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  • #266
BWV said:
Wal-mart does make a good margin on immodium tablets
No issues so far. :smile: I think McDonald's destroys my stomach much more.

Those turned out to not be called "egg rolls." They are some kind of "flor...." (first few letters sounding it out....can't remember exactly how the woman said it) dish. Probably just the Italian/Mexican or whatever name for the same concept as egg rolls.

2 for $2.50. Like the Nathans hotdogs, they were worth it. Those egg rolls (how I call them) had chicken and cheese inside and a nicely crisp exterior. They remind me of taquitos in their shape (long and thin), but the texture was more of a Chinese egg roll (chewy, flaky, and crispy flour shell) and the interior has much more gooey cheese than a normal taquito. They are thinner than egg rolls, but thicker than taquitos. They are like the perfect combo and I do like them more than taquitos and egg rolls.

You are all welcome for my Walmart reviews. Now go and enjoy yourself some $1.50 treats!
 
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  • #267
Flour tortilla flautas?
 
  • #268
collinsmark said:
I don't eat at Waffle House myself (none nearby), but I know that Waffle House will operate on just the bare essentials in order to stay open at nearly all costs. As such, they probably avoid reliance on automated cash registers and things that might break down. For example, if the power goes out, or a store's computer system is damaged, they still need to be operating at full speed.

It's enough that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) based their disaster recovery index on Waffle House. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waffle_House_Index
I got stranded in Charlotte, NC one winter. An ice storm knocked out power in the area around the airport, including the hotel where we were staying after our flights were cancelled. The Waffle House was the only place open.

The 1993 Storm of the Century (also known as the 93 Superstorm, The No Name Storm, or the Great Blizzard of '93/1993)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1993_Storm_of_the_Century
 
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  • #269
kyphysics said:
No issues so far. :smile: I think McDonald's destroys my stomach much more.

Those turned out to not be called "egg rolls." They are some kind of "flor...." (first few letters sounding it out....can't remember exactly how the woman said it) dish. Probably just the Italian/Mexican or whatever name for the same concept as egg rolls.

2 for $2.50. Like the Nathans hotdogs, they were worth it. Those egg rolls (how I call them) had chicken and cheese inside and a nicely crisp exterior. They remind me of taquitos in their shape (long and thin), but the texture was more of a Chinese egg roll (chewy, flaky, and crispy flour shell) and the interior has much more gooey cheese than a normal taquito. They are thinner than egg rolls, but thicker than taquitos. They are like the perfect combo and I do like them more than taquitos and egg rolls.

You are all welcome for my Walmart reviews. Now go and enjoy yourself some $1.50 treats!
They are called flautas (Spanish for flutes).
 
  • #270
kyphysics said:
You are all welcome for my Walmart reviews. Now go and enjoy yourself some $1.50 treats!

It's worth dining there just for the ambience.
 
  • #271
BWV said:
They are called flautas (Spanish for flutes).
YUP.

I just bought some actually (an hour ago). I asked the employee what they were called and she said that too. Then, I realized they also have chicken egg rolls ($1.25 or $1.50 - can't remember which), which are located in a different area.

Walmart's set-up is a hot foods section by the Meat & Deli area with employees serving you. Then, usually there is a section at the front by the cash registers with heated hot foods with no employee service. You just take what you want under the heat lamps. I saw corn dogs there too. Everything seemed to be $1.25 or $1.50.

If these are not loss leaders for Walmart, then I give them credit for serving me something that tastes of higher quality for such a cheap price. Best of all, there is no 10%, 15%, 20%, etc. tip that is asked of me. I've gotten annoyed with the insane tipping for stuff that never had it before. Food like this is a last refuge in the food service industry that doesn't require a tip. More savin$ for me!
 
  • #272
jtbell said:
I was reminded yesterday that a few of these actually do exist in this area. While driving home from a day-trip to Columbia SC, I made a detour through Newberry, and noticed this place.

View attachment 315297

I don't know how long it's been closed. A sign on the door says "new owners - will reopen soon".

According to Wikipedia, Zesto started in the late 1940s as a national franchise chain under a company that made frozen custard machines. Now the restaurants are independently owned and operated, and simply license the trademark.

There are two other Zestos in South Carolina, and one in Atlanta. The rest are in the midwest. I've driven past the Zesto in Chapin SC many times, including yesterday, in fact. It's about halfway between Newberry and Columbia. It's an indoor sit-down restaurant with a completely different "look" from the one in Newberry, so I didn't connect the two immediately.
I drove to Columbia again today. I didn't think about the Zestos in Newberry and Chapin until I had gotten to Columbia, so I didn't check them out.

Instead, on my way home I made a detour to the Zesto in West Columbia, which I hadn't seen before.

zesto-wcola.jpg


It was late in the afternoon and I had already told my wife I would be home for dinner, so I just had an ice cream cone. Their chicken apparently has a good reputation, so I'll have to try it for lunch sometime.

The layout here is a bit odd. You place your order at a counter in a small room, like at most fast-food places. Then, if you're getting something more than an ice cream cone, you go outside and re-enter the building via a separate entrance to the sit-down dining area, and receive your order there. At least the walkway is covered so you don't get wet if it's raining.
 
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  • #273

McDonald’s is selling 50-cent double cheeseburgers for National Cheeseburger Day, Wendy’s is giving them out for a penny​

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/09/15/national-cheeseburger-day-mcdonalds-burger-king-wendys.html\
The fast food giant is celebrating Monday’s National Cheeseburger Day by discounting one of its most popular menu items: the Double Cheeseburger.

On Sept. 18 only, customers will be able to buy the sandwich for just 50 cents.

The offer is available only to customers who use the fast food chain’s smartphone app, and is limited to one burger per customer. . .

Wendy's is one-upping McDonald's by offering a Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger from Sept. 18 through Sept. 22. The catch? The penny burger can only be added to your order if you purchase another menu item.
Is this per location? Or, can you only do it once (and cannot repeat elsewhere)?

On Chick-Fil-A's annual chicken day, I go on a route of 3 CFA's (total of about 15 min. apart) to get my free sandwiches. No limit on locations.
 
  • #274
I finally tried Costco's famous hot dogs and also their pizza (which gets a bit less fanfare than the hot dogs).

Surprisingly, I found the pizza to be more of an underrated star than the ho hum hot dog. The large pepperoni was $9.99 (I think it was an 18-inch - HUGE size) had a good quality tasting cheese, a chewy crust (which I like), and flavorful sauce and pepperonis. Nothing was high quality, but nothing felt low quality either. It was simply a well-made pizza at a very cheap price value w/ decent quality ingredients.

The hot dog was okay. The bun was what ruined it. It was way too thick and doughy in a way that overpowered the tasty dog.

I'd buy both again, b/c of the value, but I'd prefer the pizza over the dog.
 
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  • #275
I got a Costco hot dog a couple weeks ago, only to find they didn't have the brown mustard anymore. Not the same without it.
 
  • #276
gmax137 said:
I got a Costco hot dog a couple weeks ago, only to find they didn't have the brown mustard anymore. Not the same without it.
I only had ketchup and mustard (ran out of relish there). I thought the beef itself was very flavorful. . . .That bun totally ruined it for me. SOoooo thick and doughy. Worst hot dog bun ever. . .it was more meant for a hoagie (and was even thick for that!).
 
  • #277
kyphysics said:
This thread shall be a place where we can talk about anything fast-food related.

Does anyone here actually dislike fast food? I know it's not healthy, but it's sure darn good.

...The Mexican pizza is back at Taco Bell. I like certain items at Taco Bell, but this is not one of them. I wonder what people like about it? I'd rather eat a crunchy taco...a real/normal pizza...I don't see the hype behind this concoction.
Maybe Taco Bell is not the best for a pizza. Use Taco Bell for the items that you do like. Also worth to learn about other types of Pizza restaurants who can give or make custom pizzas, such as Pieology, who can give so many many different toppings like jalapenos, other chilis, cilantro, spicy sausages, and sauces other than tomato sauce.
 
  • #278
Taco Bell's mexican pizza is really more like a tostada.
 
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  • #279
gmax137 said:
Taco Bell's mexican pizza is really more like a tostada.
How do you guys feel about their "taco salad"? It'd rather have a taco salad than a Mexican pizza. Both share the same fried flour "crust." I bet they're the same ingredients overall too, but just arranged differently. More lettuce on taco salad too.

I haven't been back to Taco Bell since seeing a giant rat in the drive-thru lane.
 
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  • #280
kyphysics said:
I haven't been back to Taco Bell since seeing a giant rat in the drive-thru lane.
What was he driving?
 
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  • #281
From @kyphysics:
I haven't been back to Taco Bell since seeing a giant rat in the drive-thru lane.

Response from @gmax137:
What was he driving?

Check to see if it was a Catillack!
 
  • #282
gmax137 said:
What was he driving?
She casually walked across the drive-thru lane unafraid of my car. That's when I knew this was a different breed of rat. It was huge, unafraid, and seemed like it could be a tough fight. Home Depot is across the street from this Taco Bell and they've told me these rats are not afraid of cats that come by the garden. The cats don't even try to attack the giant rats.
 
  • #283
symbolipoint said:
[...] Also worth to learn about other types of Pizza restaurants who can give or make custom pizzas, such as Pieology, who can give so many many different toppings like jalapenos, other chilis, cilantro, spicy sausages, and sauces other than tomato sauce.

I have a few negatives with Pieology Pizzeria. I'll list them below in no particular order.

  • Pieology's main selling/marketing push is the "Craft Your Own Pizza" menu item. With this, you put as many toppings as you like on your pizza all for one flat price. The problem is that if you order n toppings, they'll only put on a quantity of \frac{1}{n} for each topping, compared a single topping order. So in the end, no matter how many toppings you want, the result is consistently dissapointing.
  • It's California style pizza, meaning a thin crust, not much cheese or sauce, and cooked quickly under a flame who's temperature is in the same ballpark as the surface of the sun. The end result is a relatively unsubstantial pizza where the toppings are singed on the outside, and barely cooked on the inside. I even live in California -- I have for decades now -- and I still haven't figured out why anybody would opt for this.
  • In all their marketing and store decor, website decore, etc., there's not one mention of \pi. 'Talk about a missed opportunity.
 
  • #284
collinsmark said:
I have a few negatives with Pieology Pizzeria. I'll list them below in no particular order.

  • Pieology's main selling/marketing push is the "Craft Your Own Pizza" menu item. With this, you put as many toppings as you like on your pizza all for one flat price. The problem is that if you order n toppings, they'll only put on a quantity of \frac{1}{n} for each topping, compared a single topping order. So in the end, no matter how many toppings you want, the result is consistently dissapointing.
  • It's California style pizza, meaning a thin crust, not much cheese or sauce, and cooked quickly under a flame who's temperature is in the same ballpark as the surface of the sun. The end result is a relatively unsubstantial pizza where the toppings are singed on the outside, and barely cooked on the inside. I even live in California -- I have for decades now -- and I still haven't figured out why anybody would opt for this.
  • In all their marketing and store decor, website decore, etc., there's not one mention of \pi. 'Talk about a missed opportunity.
Still one of my favorites. Some people do not like Mozzarella cheese and do not like tomato pizza sauce. So many of the other available toppings then present improvements for people like me. The complaint of the preparers giving small amounts of most toppings can be managed, but requires the repeated request of asking for more of...
 
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  • #285
collinsmark said:
  • It's California style pizza, meaning a thin crust, not much cheese or sauce, and cooked quickly under a flame who's temperature is in the same ballpark as the surface of the sun. The end result is a relatively unsubstantial pizza where the toppings are singed on the outside, and barely cooked on the inside. I even live in California -- I have for decades now -- and I still haven't figured out why anybody would opt for this.
A fresh tasting tangy sauce is so important to me on pizzas, as is enough cheese (should get decent "cheese pull"). I haven't been to this business, but don't think I'd like it from the description above.

I am in love with Jet's Pizza (Detroit deep dish franchise known for the crust, but also super fresh ingredients - from the sauce to the fresh dough). You can taste the quality ingredients. A bit pricey (usually about $5 more per pizza vs. other franchise national brands like Pizza Hut, Domino's, etc.), but worth it for the quality to me.

I find when eating low quality food, I'm still hungry afterwards and blow my money buying more food. Why not just buy higher quality and filling food from the start? . . .It's why I'm willing to pay up for a Five Guys burger finally.

The exception that I find is the value Costco pizza. That 16-inch $9.99 pizza is just pretty darn good (ingredient quality is solidly decent).

Who here has tried Jet's Pizza and/or Costco pizza and doesn't like it?
 
  • #286
symbolipoint said:
The complaint of the preparers giving small amounts of most toppings can be managed, but requires the repeated request of asking for more of...
Sounds like Subway with their super thin sliced toppings that you have to fight tooth and nail to get a little extra of. :sorry: It was one of the top reasons I stopped going there years ago (I eat Jimmy John's and Jersey Mike's now, instead).
 
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  • #287
kyphysics said:
Who here has tried Jet's Pizza and/or Costco pizza and doesn't like it?
I have not tried those, but based on the description, just my own consumer experience and intuition tells me ' I would not like it '.
 
  • #288
kyphysics said:
Who here has tried Jet's Pizza and/or Costco pizza and doesn't like it?
symbolipoint said:
I have not tried those, but based on the description, just my own consumer experience and intuition tells me ' I would not like it '.

I haven't tried Jets or Costco pizza either. There is a Costco in town but I'm not a member*, so I haven't eaten there.

That said, there is former colleague of mine that swore by Costco pizza. He would drive for miles sometimes at lunch just to have the Costco pizza.

*(For those unfamiliar with Costco, it's like a huge warehouse food supply store where you can buy items in bulk for not much more than the wholesale price. I guess it's great for large families that eat a lot of food. Rather than buy a small jar of mayonnaise, Costco might sell a vat of mayonnaise, or maybe six jars of mayonnaise all packaged together. But in order to shop there in the first place, you must first become a member, and get a special card. If you don't have the card, they won't sell to you. This might be a USA only thing, I don't know.

They also have a cafeteria which sells various cafeteria food items, including the pizza discussed here. It definitely has its fans.)
 
  • #289
collinsmark said:
*(For those unfamiliar with Costco, it's like a huge warehouse food supply store where you can buy items in bulk for not much more than the wholesale price. I guess it's great for large families that eat a lot of food. Rather than buy a small jar of mayonnaise, Costco might sell a vat of mayonnaise, or maybe six jars of mayonnaise all packaged together. But in order to shop there in the first place, you must first become a member, and get a special card. If you don't have the card, they won't sell to you. This might be a USA only thing, I don't know.

They also have a cafeteria which sells various cafeteria food items, including the pizza discussed here. It definitely has its fans.)
Some Costco stores are in countries outside of USA; Mexico has some but not sure about other countries.

A compromise type of store between big-box type and grocery & variety type is, (not sure what it is called) something like Iris Smart & Final. They do not have customer - cafeteria service like at Costco.
 
  • #290
kyphysics said:
Costco ... I guess it's great for large families that eat a lot of food.

My wife and I buy the Costco rotisserie chicken, it is $5. We have hot chicken for dinner, then cut up the rest to make chicken salad or pot pies.

collinsmark said:
This might be a USA only thing, I don't know.
I've been to Costco in Mexico. The funny thing there was, the Don Julio tequila was priced higher than in my local US Costco. Go figure.

kyphysics said:
Jersey Mike's
plus one on Jersey Mikes!
 
  • #291
collinsmark said:
That said, there is former colleague of mine that swore by Costco pizza. He would drive for miles sometimes at lunch just to have the Costco pizza.
Pizza's a food that I find hard to mess up to the point I wouldn't eat it. As long as the ingredients are fresh/quality and the prep is good (not left under heat lamp at 7-11 for 2-3 days straight), then I think it's a simple tasty food. . . .Yet, you'd be surprised how often it can go wrong. Some places skimp on quality ingredients and you get a watered down cheap cheese and gross tomato paste, etc.

What's great about Costco's pizza is the 16-incher is only $9.99, yet they somehow put in pretty good quality ingredients. That's what I was talking about earlier. It's just surprisingly darn good. Good cheese. Good dough. Good sauce. . . .Heck, I'm probably going to drive and buy one this week! They last a long time too, b/c the slices are humungous.
 
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  • #292
This was lunch. I purposely pulled out a slice and took an angled picture to give a sense of crust thickness.

For $10.99, the Costco 16-incher is just a value champion. Good quality ingredients. Lots of cheese. Not thin crust, but on the thinner side. It's a chewy style dough. Tangy tasty sauce and flavorful, plentiful pepperonis.

Not all pizzas taste good as leftovers. This one still does, because there's enough sauce and cheese that it doesn't dry out.

Enough for 3 meals or more. Hard to beat.
 

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  • #293

I saw this Jersey Mike's vs. Wawa Italian hoagie review on YouTube and decided I'd try the Wawa Italian. Not sure why my camera didn't save/record the picture of the unwrapped hoagie, but I did snap a profile view of the Wawa classic $6 sub deal (all subs are this price).

Size: both were the same
Price: Wawa was $6 vs. JM's at $9.50 (before tip***)
Taste: JM's slightly was better in the small details. The meat was more flavorful and seemed fresher. The condiments and veggies were pretty much the same to me, except JM's gave more (this is presumably easily fixed by asking for more at Wawa and/or could just be a function of the preparer). The bun at Wawa's was hard (granted, I asked for it to be toasted, but you could tell it was still harder than normal) as if it'd be sitting around for days, whereas JM's roll was fresh and soft.

Verdict: The price/value difference would make me buy Wawa's Italian more regularly than Jersey Mike's. If I had infinite money, of course I'd take the JM's over Wawa. But the difference wasn't that big between them. I plan on buying more Wawa subs THIS week! . . .In the age of inflation/shrinkflation/tip-flation, the Wawa $6 classic sub is a super bargain.

***JM's payment kiosk had 10% as the lowest tip option and I felt the pressure to tip (with the worker looking at my selection and a customer next to me).
 

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The end is near for humanity. This monstrosity from KFC is pathetic. Chicken pizza = chizza. Use fried chicken as the base/bread. ?:)
 
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  • #296
I really enjoy a good old fashioned American cheeseburger from a diner or a restaurant. Is anything more yum than a Cheeseburger????
 
  • #297
docnet said:
I really enjoy a good old fashioned American cheeseburger from a diner or a restaurant. Is anything more yum than a Cheeseburger????
Yes plenty of things at restaurant (including diners) are more appealing than a cheeseburger. Depending on preference of each individual, smoked ribs, pan-fried fish (especially salmon), certain noodle things from Italian restaurants and some from "Chinese" restaurants.
 
  • #298
symbolipoint said:
Yes plenty of things at restaurant (including diners) are more appealing than a cheeseburger. Depending on preference of each individual, smoked ribs, pan-fried fish (especially salmon), certain noodle things from Italian restaurants and some from "Chinese" restaurants.
True, food preference is subjective. But it's difficult to not like smoked ribs. 🤤
Eggs Benedicts with bacon and BLT are some of my diner favorites.
 
  • #299
collinsmark said:
I even live in California -- I have for decades now -- and I still haven't figured out why anybody would opt for this.
My favorite pizza place in Hawaii does not sell a "Hawaiian pizza". Well, they do, but a) its off menu, and b) they call it a "Mainland pizza".
 
  • #300
Vanadium 50 said:
My favorite pizza place in Hawaii does not sell a "Hawaiian pizza". Well, they do, but a) its off menu, and b) they call it a "Mainland pizza".
There is a
 
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