Taco Bell's Origins: Happy 50th

From the March 22nd Orange County Weekly "Mitla Cafe Is the Restaurant That Birthed Taco Bell" by Gustavo Arellano.

This year marks the 50t anniversary of Taco Bell, based in Irvine, California.

And, the 75th anniversary of the Mitla Cafe, just off Route 66, in San Bernandino, one of the oldest Mexican restaurants in Southern California.

Taco Bell was founded by Glenn Bell who discovered tacos at the Mitla and then opened Bell's Hamburgers and Hot Dogs in 1950 across the street from the Mitla which was already famous for its hard shell tacos.  Bell would go across the street and buy tacos then go back to his kitchen and experiment.  He sold his first taco in 1951 and opened the first Taco Bell in Downey in 1962.

I Am a Big Fanof Taco Bell, Especially With Thei Free Senior Citizen Drinks.  --Cooter