We tried Taco Bell's new Live Más Café
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The new Live Más Café in Chula Vista, a drink-focused concept by Taco Bell. Photo: Andrew Keatts/Axios
Taco Bell's first ever Live Más Café opened in Chula Vista last week, and if you stumbled into it without knowing it was a one-of-a-kind location, you might leave without recognizing it.
The latest: The fast-food chain's new concept is ostensibly focused on beverage offerings, thanks to a menu of "Chillers," specialty coffee and "Agua Refrescas."
- A company statement also touted a "cozy, inviting atmosphere" and called the location's workers "Bellristas."
- Traditional Taco Bell menu items are available at the Live Más Café, and it turns out that's what most people in the dining room on Tuesday were there for.
State of play: Taco Bell had already been testing its drink lineup at other locations since last year, but the cafe is its attempt to more fully break into the growing specialty beverage category.
If you go: It's a Taco Bell — balloons marking its grand opening are the only distinguishing characteristic from any other fast-food dining room.
- Orders are placed through touch-screen kiosks, but the "Bellristas" were exceedingly kind and determined as they dealt with a technological malfunction from the ordering system.
💭My thought bubble: I ordered a Chiller, an Agua Refresca and a specialty coffee, to cover our bases.
- I really don't have much of a sweet tooth, so I could only take a few sips of the Mexican Chocolate Churro Chiller before tapping out. It's basically a milkshake (at a mere 450 calories), but not one of the best fast-food shakes I've had.
- The Dragonfruit Berry Agua Refresca was full of real fruit and was easily the highlight of my order. I'd prefer an agua fresca from a local spot, but it was flavorful and refreshing, and not too sweet.
- The Vanilla Crema Hot Coffee was not for me. Coffee-flavored coffee does a great job of executing coffee's primary functions.
The vibe: It's fine. You could do worse in a pinch.