I think by now most of you realize I’ve got a terminal case of food photo syndrome….. I pretty much take my little ultra compact everywhere, and sometimes end up taking photos of some really silly things. Recently, I had an interesting conversation with a friend, and of course the subject of food came up…along with the little statement: "Where haven’t you eaten?" After a short pause, I realized that there were a ton of places that I have never had a meal in, let alone even set foot in; very popular restaurants; very popular chain restaurants. that I have had no desire to visit……unless you can change my mind!
Soooo, utilizing a bit of role-reversal. I’m going to list three very popular chain restaurants that I’ve never visited….all of them are pretty close to where we live. You can tell me if I’m missing something, and let me know what I should order should I decide to take your advice!
Coco’s Bakery Restaurant
Believe it or not, I have never, ever been inside of a Coco’s, or even Coco’s sister restaurant Carrows. I really don’t know why, but I think it has something to do with the fact that the word Coco, is one letter removed from a rather, ahem, unsavory word "_o_o" fill in the blanks……
So am I missing something by not eating at Coco’s, Carrows, or Baker’s Square?
Del Taco
This Del Taco is right up the street from our house, and we used to live pretty close to the Del Taco in City of Industry, but I’ve never had anything from Del Taco. It could be because you can find a Taco Shop on almost every corner in San Diego. In fact there’s a ton of very mediocre Taco Shops in San Diego…so why should I even want to eat mediocre fast-food Mexican when I can get really lousy Taco Shop fare on any corner? Or am I wrong…..am I missing something?
You tell me!
Yoshinoya
This one may be a surprise to some, but I’ve never eaten at Yoshinoya! We even had one within walking distance on Colima Road in Rowland Heights(if I dared to walk in Rowland Heights), and still I haven’t really had an urge to check Yoshinoya out. After all, I think I can make my own really lousy Teriyaki if I wanted to. In this case, I may be missing something, but won’t know unless you can tell me!
Every once in a while I’ll get an email telling me that I eat at places that people walk by all the time, but would never think of entering….in this case I’ve passed by these places many, many times, but have never even thought of entering through those restaurant doors. So how did you enjoy this little piece of role reversal?
Here’s a bonus one from LA, this one is in the SGV, but there was also a location in Whittier we used to drive past all the time.
Now to be perfectly honest, I’ve been tempted…maybe just because I wanted to consider myself Norms-mal just once in my life!
Thanks for putting up with my silliness! Let me know if I’m missing anything, and should that be the case, what I am missing! I thought I’d just do a silly little post, just in case you all were tired of (me) eating out all the time.
Kirk,
You’re definitely NOT missing a thing from eating at Coco’s, delTaco or barf-bowl.
I have been known to enjoy the French fries at Del Taco, but overall I wouldn’t say you’re missing anything there. It’s not something to be compared to *berto’s, though; they are just different things.
The pie at Coco’s used to be good; I think the last time I ate there was when I lived in UTC three years ago and didn’t know where anything was yet.
The only thing memorable to me about Norm’s is the way whatever group I was with when there would make fun of the place. The food? I don’t know, I guess I must have eaten some. Couldn’t tell you anything about it, though. Ah, college.
Don’t do it, Kirk!
Im sure im in the minority here, but I happen to think Del Taco is pretty good. Granted, it’s not fine cuisine, but it beats the pants off taco hell. The best french fries you’ll ever get via drive thru!
Oh…come on! Chicken popo ๐ You gotta at least try it once.
Coco’s and Carrows – I can vouch for, Blahhhhhh. It’s been 8 years since I have stepped into one.
Del Taco Tuesday baby, 3 tacos for $1 make you holler! I like their vege and chicken works burritos.
Yoshinoya I love their buy one get one free coupons and their chicken teryaki bowl – the crispy skin of the chicken with the sweet-teriyaki-soy sauce. YUM
Norms, killer combo appetizer not to mention delicious onion rings.
Then again these were cheap eats during college and occasionally I swing by for some fast eats.
hey those are all my fav places!
carrows yes, cocos no, del taco yes, yoshinoya hell no!, norms yes, but not sure why i like it..
del taco is what mexican food used to taste like in California in the 70’s in 80’s before people realized that hard taco shells weren’t really mexican food… but its decent fake mexican food if there is such a thing…
dunno why, but i prefer carrows and norms over dennys or cocos… by a landslide even..
Confession: Yoshinoya is one of my guilty pleasures. I have no idea why.. but I love their beef bowls.. loaded with the ginger on the side. I’m such a non-asian, asian woman – I have no idea what its called.. but it’s the julienned ginger that I think is pickled.. yep. so there it is. out in the open.
LOL! I’ve been to all of those places. I agree with nhbilly, you’ve got to try them once!
Here are the things I like:
Coco’s: muffins and chicken caesar sandwich.
Del Taco: chili cheese fries
Yoshinoya: I’ll eat anything with teriyaki sauce.
Norms: Haven’t been in a few years, but I used to go a lot when I was in elementary school. Definitely don’t get anything with alfredo sauce because it’s like a dash of cream, a cup of oil, and a speck of pepper.
Go to Norm’s at 2 or 3 am. The mediocre food won’t matter much at that hour.
There is a location in Costa Mesa, I believe, if you are looking for a shorter trip.
Being from IL, I’ve never eaten at a Del Taco or a Coco’s until recently. You aren’t missing much there. The food and the service at Coco’s was mediocre. I tried Del Taco once and have never had the urge to go back. I had the shrimp taco.( I can say the same about In and Out burger too.)
“I can say the same about In and Out burger too”
WHAT?!
In and Out Burger – their fries may be good, but the Biblical references on the soft drink cups and napkins freak me out a bit…
I once had a friend describe Yoshinoya thusly: “Calling Yoshinoya Japanese food is like calling McDonald’s a burger joint. Technically speaking it’s true, but….”
That being said, I’ve had Yoshinoya and I wasn’t blown away, per se, but the relatively large portion size and relatively low price were appealing. The beef bowl consists of overcooked thin-sliced beef stir fried with onions over rice with a thin soy sauce-like sauce poured on. At the time I actually thought it was pretty good, but I had just moved here from an area without any good Asian restaurants at all.
If I were you, I would go in with my expectations set really low. You might be pleasantly surprised if the food is better than you expect.
You know, I might pop over there for lunch today to see how it compares to what I remember. You want I should report back on the experience?
Its been a while since I lived in Orange county, but I would
1. Skip Coco’s
2. Order Deluxe Chili Cheese Fries (greasy but so delicious) and 3 tacos for a dollar (better than Taco Bell) and a cheeseburger (No, I’m not pregnant).
3. Yoshinoya is just Yoshinoya – its not really Japanese but I like it for what it is. My favorite is the beef bowl with lots of ginger.
4. Norms – I like the veggie soup and a pile of sourdough rolls to dip in the bowl. The ceasar salad is pretty good too.
Mmmm…Now my tummy is growling!
You’ll need to induce amnesia somehow or be blind drunk to enjoy any of these places, but they are not the worst convenience food by any means! If you must try any, tell them to omit the sauce at either Yoshinoya (particularly bad house faux-butter/teri sce.) or Del Taco (weak salsa) and use your own.
Coco’s – I think I had a salad once?
Del Taco – Their cheese is super greasy. I’m more of a Taco Bell gal. But 3 tacos for $1 on Tuesday… Although I did read a newstory about how their fish taco (really a fakey fish stick) is making Rubio’s and Baja Fresh worried. B/c there are people going for the low-end of fast food too you know…
Yoshinoya’s – I’ve never been either!
Norm’s – I went to the Costa Mesa one once. Around midnight. And their chicken-fried steak was yum. Crispy. Country gravy over a biscuit wasn’t half-bad. But then, I like IHOP’s chicken-fried steak too. ๐ I’m not saying it’s great fare, but not half-bad for late night eats. Although, I wouldn’t go if I were at the one on Valley. Too close to much better eats!
Yoshinoya is from my childhood. When I was a kid, Yoshinoya is all that we could afford for a meal out. And I still eat it to this day, not only for sentimental reasons, but I actually love the beef bowl — I just about cover every square millimeter with togarashi.
I grew up on Del Taco so there’s the whole nostagia thing. But yah, the fries, butgers, and tacos ain’t too bad. We used to go to Nogle’s before they were bought by Del Taco. They had really good nachos. Nogle’s was more of an old school American Mexican fast food joint. Kind of neat. Del Taco got the “Macho” line of foods from them. But I think they changed their recipe and kept the name. Not much Nogle’s left in Del Taco.
Do you know that the guys who started Del Taco and Taco Bell were buddies?
Gotta love them but-gers and an extra heaping helping of spell check. ๐
I agree with Janfredrick on the Del Taco nostalgia thing. I like(d) their crinkle cut fries and the fact they had “del Scorcher” sauce before Taco Bell had it’s “Fire”.
As a young loser, I ate many a 33cent taco at Del Taco…however, one time in late 1997 when I was taking a computer programming class at the community college in downtown San Diego, I ate at Del Taco (near campus, East downtown) right before the second class. In the middle of the lecture, I felt an overwhelming onslaught of expolosive diarrhea about to wreck my world, and had to suddenly bolt up out of my seat and literally run out of class.
I was so embarrased I simply never went back and ended being dropped from the class. I have regarded Del Taco warily ever since.
In terms of Yoshinoya, when I worked in downtown San Diego every 4-5 months or so I would succumb and eat there, and every time it sucked so bad that after 3 times I gave up altogether. You’re not missing anything at all.
Coco’s is where dysfunctional families go to slag off last night’s domestic violence episode.
Coco’s is pretty lame. I’m sure they’ve got barrels of Sysco soup in the back.
Haven’t eaten at Del Taco, but I’ll assume it’s like Taco Bell, which isn’t all that bad when not thought of as Mexican food, but junk food. Meat in a tube has that astronaut appeal combined with the taste of 7+ years of government sanctioned school lunches.
I have fond memories of eating at Yoshinoya and would gladly choose it over McDonald’s any day. Again, taken in its own light, not bad at all. I really like the beef bowl, with it’s tender (as opposed to overcooked) beef and onions over extra moist/dense rice. Actually, I want some now…
Has anyone eaten at a Culver’s? (They’re mostly Midwestern.) I’d love someone else to compare them to In and Out Burger.
Hey Klug,
I remember trying Culver’s in Wisconsin for the butter burgers and deep-fried cheese curds. I’d compare them more to a FarmerBoys or Burgerville (a Pacific NW chain). In-N-Out’s grilled onions are what makes it so good. I don’t remember my butter burger as being particularly special, on the better end of fast food for better quality ingredients, but not so flavorful. The cheese curds just tasted like mini-mozzarella sticks. Not “squeaky fresh,” although I guess the frying might get rid of the squeak. The ice cream was very smooth and rich, but all the ice cream I had in Wisconsin was good.
Verdict? OK, good, but nothing special. I do have the novelty factor of saying I ate a butter burger and deep-fried cheese curds though. ๐
My only memory of Coco’s was that the menu had notes on it like “We proudly serve Lipton’s tea” and other corporate tie-ins. The food was as mediocre as one can expect from a place that is PROUD to serve Lipton’s. Faced with a choice of Coco’s or Denny’s, I’d choose hunger.
Wandering,
Thanks for the judgment. Personally, I really like the butterburger. I wasn’t so fond of In-And-Out, but maybe that will change. I remember Burgerville from my childhood, but I never actually had a burger from them! (The fries, though, were great.)
There are probably a lot more places I refuse to step in! Off the top of my head —
Rice King (I can make better stirfry than that!)
Burger King
McDonalds (unless it’s at the airport)
Wienershitzel (the hot dog place?)
Del Taco
Taco Bell
Chopstix
Pizza Hut
L&L esp the ones in San Diego
I think I don’t like franchise restaurants in general. For whatever reason, I’m always suspicious that the food will miss the personal touch and care. ๐
A Butter Burger?!?!? I think that truly earns the exclamation “HOLY COW”! =o) Ruth’s Chris does their steaks in butter and lemme tell ya, YUM! Can’t eat more than a few bites because it’s just SO rich, but oh man, those few bites nearly 5 years ago are firm in my memory to this very day.
Kirk, I say go check out this “Culver’s” place and stop at Ruth’s Chris on the way. Then drive over here and I’ll take you out for the cheapest fried everything and chopped BBQ on the planent! ;o) This is the land where fried bologna sandwichs are considered blue plate specials!
Hey Kirk,
Never been to the three places mentioned above, but you never know! ๐
OK, so I checked out Culver’s website… yep, you gotta go do a road show!
oooh, thanks for making this post Kirk! I’ve always wondered about the same restaurant too ๐
…sounds like we’re better off sticking to our good ‘ol reliable bowls of pho, hehe!
Hi All – First off, I’m really impressed at all the comments…I don’t know where to begin…..
Hi Reynila – That’s what I thought…but you never know!
Hi Erin – Okay, 1 vote for the fries at Del Taco! Thanks for playing along!
Hi Ed – LOL! Okay, 1 vote for saving me from dining purgatory. ;o)
Hi Dave – Okay, another vote for Del Taco fries!
Hi Billy – Ha-ha-ha, yes, you only live once…by the same token, you only die once as well! Another vote for Del Taco…on Tuesdays….
Hi DCCF – Now how did I know this post would get you out of the “woodwork”…..another vote for Del Taco, though it sounds kinds “iffy”….my Mom used to make those Taco “kits” you’d buy at the market with the hard shells, and the mix for hamburger…still, I don’t mind Taco Bell once in a while.
Hi Aileen – You know after writing this I found out that the Missus used to love Yoshinoya….
Hi Christine – Another vote for Del Taco fries!
Hi JosephE – Sounds almost like La Posta Taco Shop! Now talk about funny…yeah, I’ll drive all the way to Costa Mesa to eat at Norms…..
Hi Souchinda – Whoa…we’re gonna have some unhappy In N Out lovers here!
Hi Fred – I think that would be funny……the whole “food memory” thing….
Hi MessyJessy – Thanks for playing along! And another vote for Del Taco fries!
Hi Trent – Not quite the Trent seal of approval…okay, another vote for “not worth sacrificing my taste buds”…..
Hey WC – Don’t tell anybody, but I like the pork sausage wrapped in pancakes….but I’ll only havew it about once every 2 years…I guess I don’t like it that much! ;o)
Hi Elmo – I guess I had it good…we were really poor, but there was alot of really inexpensive cheap gindz! Plus, I’ve had my share of Vienna Sausage and Tuna on Rice.
Hi Janfrederick – So what would happen if I went to the drive-thru at Del Taco and ordered a but-ger…would they call the cops??? ;o) Another vote for the Del Taco fries!
Hi GC – Well that sounds like an interesting post…how Del Taco caused me to drop out of College… LOL! Not exactly a vote of confidence.
Hi CSB – I think I might choose almost anything over Mickey D’s…..except for their 99 cent X-large soda….
Hi Ed – That is too funny…like we proudly serve Campbell chicken noodle soup….
Hi Annie – Of course the food lacks the personal touch…but so does the food in a large number of restaurants….. Do you mean Chopstix which isn’t a chain..or Pick Up Stix???
Hi Jo – Culver’s, I’ve never even heard of it…but I’m game…and other similar last words.
Hi Reid – You’re in the same boat, not growing up or being from SoCal….but there are a ton of Del Tacos, Carrows, and Yoshinoya…..
Hi Kathy – I guess it’s kind of interesting for us locals who had never heard of these places until being on the Mainland!
I would recommend the chilly cheese fries…not to mention I had El Gallo Giro for lunch for 2 days in a roll now.
Hey Billy – I guess the fries from Del Taco are the overwhelming winner here!
I’ve never heard of Culver’s either until reading through the comments here. But checking out the website… yowza! Garbage food of delight! I mean really, how can you NOT try anything called a “ButterBurger”?!?!? Beef and butter belong together, I’m tellin’ ya! Just make sure you go when the tomatoes are good ;o)
Kirk – you’re right – it’s Pick Up Stix!!
Hi Jo – I don’t know if you remember this post – but I had a “butter burger” from one of the local restaurants a while back:
/2005/07/11/crest_cafe__got/
I’m still recovering….
Hi Annie – That’s what I thought!
kirk,
The norms here, I’ve visited about 18 years ago. It’s one of the few dying places around. The last time I was there, food and service wasn’t close to good. Thank goodness for the cafes, they are a saving grace but I do think the SGV has been run over by the Chinese.
Oh, you’re not missing much on any of these chain places. I only go with my friends who insists on going there. I do like the pies at Marie Callanders better tho.
Hi Petey – We used to drive past the Norms in Whittier all the time…I’ve always been tempted…
1) Coco’s is horrible. My sister was curious about their pies and talked me into going once. Nothing on the menu looked good, so we got the fried mozzarella sticks appetizer and a piece of pie. The pie was just eh, and the appetizer were obviously frozen. I could have gotten something better out of a freezer case at the grocery store.
2) I really like Del Taco. It’s similar to Taco Bell, so not real Mexican food, but tasty junk food. I like it better than Taco Bell, honestly. I introduced my sister to it when she moved out here, and she can’t get enough. It’s her favorite fast food place now.
3) Baker’s Square is pretty good. I actually really, really like their grilled cheese with tomatoes and a cup of tomato-basil soup. Decent pie, too.
4) Yoshinoya’s–it’s cheap, non-authentic Japanese food. The beef bowl is disgusting, the veggies are disgusting. The rest is pretty good. I actually quite like the BBQ chicken.
5) I hate In and Out Burger. Their fries are delicious, but the shakes taste fake and the burgers taste like they’re made with sub-standard meat. My husband, however, adores them, but mostly for the toppings. I just don’t get the hype.
6) Culver’s isn’t bad. They had one in Texas where I used to live. I really like their frozen custard, but I stick to the plain vanilla or chocolate. The butter-burgers are pretty good. Not fantastic, but they taste of better quality to me than the In and Out ones. If you added the In and Out standard toppings to them, I think they’d totally outshine In and Out.
Just my two cents.