Chennai's first Taco Bell at the shiny new VR Mall opened their doors to the public with barely any fanfare. However, a visit to the 64-seater on a Monday night finds it jam-packed with diners and shoppers taking a break. We are promptly charmed by the colourful grafitti on the wall that included strips of Tamil newspapers pasted for effect — even as we get elbowed to our seats. Yes, there is barely any space between tables. From the menu we are drawn to the Naked Chicken Taco — what with carbs being mankind's new enemy, this is a great option for those keeping tab.
We opt for the meal-for-two combo that turns out to be quite a bargain — as we get a portion of nachos, fries, two colas and two tacos at under Rs 500. The nachos are fresh and crunchy, drizzled with cheese and salsa. The fries are a hit too as they are dusted with paprika. But of course the best part is the main course — flattened patties of chicken stand in as taco bread — and they are folded to hold crunchy veggies and enough dressing to make it delightfully messy. All washed down with some fizzy drink — and we were set to continue our shopping!