My wife and I were living in the heart of Hispanic community near Ft. Collins, Colorado. One day we just had to have taco bell. The value meal that's $13 in the midwest was around $22. We abandoned the plan. The taqueria makes better gringo tacos for $2ea be it in Colorado or the midwest.
I didn't really have a point. I guess it's to explore your local taqueria. If the only proficient english language speakers are high school age or younger then you've found a solid joint.
If ingredients and calm, clean ambiance are the goals then Ft. Collins is the way. If cultural immersion and flavor are the highest priority then go where the Hispanics live: east of 35th Ave between 34 and BUS34, Greeley to Garden City.
If timed well feeling understood can be better than love. Doritos locos (prison); spicy fruit with tamarind (childhood innocence).
The key word in your sentence is "recently". I hadn't had Taco Bell in like a decade, but there's one near one of my kid's activities so a few weeks ago I decided to re-establish our relationship.
It was delicious the first week. Even the second. But then after a few times, my body started to protest. It's just so greasy and cheap. It's not even really good. It just tricks you for a bit and appeases the garbage-craving raccoon inside of you.
We live in a time where people are extremely desperate to make out Taco Bell as awful and McDonalds as good. You don't need to justify eating bad food. Sometimes you just need to eat a shitty taco or salt with a side of potato. Sometimes you just need an avenue for grease. No one needs to be a health influencer 100% of the time
I occasionally like just the plain bean burrito. It's the least fancy item so there's not much to be disappointed by. Unless the beans are dry. Then it's an incredibly sad day.
I appreciate Taco Bell for their options that aren't centered around meat, and making those options easy to find. And sometimes I just want a cheap, fast, filling lunch.
(Caveat: I've not done research to find out if their beans have beef broth or some silliness. I eat low-meat, not no-meat.)