If you know me, you know I was not going to go all the way to Indonesia and not try the Taco Bell while I was in Jakarta.
I Went All The Way To Jakarta, Indonesia For Taco Bell
As I explained earlier, the Park Hyatt Jakarta offers a “social hour” each night for World of Hyatt Globalists that includes two drinks and a selection of canapes plus one food item that is a bit heartier, such as a beef pie.
There’s a Lebanese restaurant called Al Nafoura near the Park Hyatt Jakarta that I was going to eat dinner at, but after eating that, I wasn’t hungry at all.
I sat in the sauna and steam room for awhile, wondering whether to go out anyway, and ultimately decided against it…why would I sit on a motorcycle for 20 minutes and then stuff myself with food when I wasn’t even all that hungry and I had a 5:30 am flight the next day? Plus, it was raining.
Instead, I pulled out my phone, opened the Grab app, and ordered Taco Bell. Yes, Indonesia has four Taco Bells, all in Jakarta (which just surpassed Tokyo as the most populous city in the world).
For about 8 USD, I had two cheese quesadillas and a grilled chicken taco. It took about 40 minutes for the delivery to come but I went downstairs to the ground level and picked it up…it seems (much to the hotel’s chagrin, I’m sure) many people were ordering delivery.
The bag was a bit wet from the rain, but the food was still warm. And surprisingly (impressively, I suppose), it tasted like Taco Bell everywhere else in the world.
I ordered some creamy jalapeno sauce and pico de gallo on the side and was very pleased with my snack…I know, I know. South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Japan…is there anywhere I won’t eat Taco Bell? No, now it has become a quest!
So if you do find yourself in Jakarta and are homesick for toxic American fast food, know that Taco Bell is a great option…
Still the best taco bell https://viewfromthewing.com/the-nicest-taco-bell-on-the-planet/
It’s on my bucket list! 😉
Many years ago (back in the 90s), my first international business trip was a trip to Costa Rica to meet with Taco Bell’s franchisee there. Before I worked for Taco Bell, I had no idea that there were Taco Bell locations outside the US.
Do you stll work for Taco Bell?
” now it has become a quest ” Time to monetize this comfort ! Your consistent joy, makes you a great international mascot. LIve and Let’s Fly powered by Taco Bell.
No Mexican pizza? Chalupa?! Gordita Supreme?! WTH!
I love quality Mexican food (the subset Americans call Mexican). And, from all I can tell, the places I like are the more authentic ones. I don’t eat Taco Bell all that often. I’m never thinking I’d like Mexicamn and find myself there. But, sometimes, Taco Bell calls to me. The same thing happens with McDs. The problem with the international Taco Bells is that they seem to cut out everything I’d order in the US. They always put rice and beans (what I consider sides) in a burrito. There are no refried beans (or even whole) or rice as a side. I do enjoy a good quesadilla, but, like grilled cheese or a tuna sandwich, it’s just something I never order out. So, alas, not only do I almost never get good Mexican outside the US (they seem to take Chipolte as a goal), I can’t get Taco Bell, my occasional “Mexican” indulgence.
You should try Mcdonalds. The Indonesian McDonalds restaurants serve much better food than almost anywhere else!