I'm not a unique guy. I'm also not a fancy guy. I'm from the Midwest, and like a lot of people raised here I enjoy loose meat sandwiches. Call them what you want: Taverns, Sloppy Joes, Maid-Rites, Charlie Boys, Souper Burgers. Canteens... the list goes on and on. But basically, if you put hamburger meat on a bun, I'm interested.
That's why I like to go to our local Taco John's. They have their own version of a loose meat sandwich - the Taco Burger.
The foodie website, The Takeout, ran an article a few years ago entitled, "Bring Back Taco Bell's 1962 Immediately." The subheading read, "Now is the perfect time to reintroduce Taco Bell's spin on a burger". Breanna Wellen's feature article is all about the discontinued Bell Beefer. It was Taco Bell's version of a loose meat sandwich. Apparently people have even staged protests and created Facebook pages demanding the return of the Bell Beefer.
I looked the Bell Beefer up, and here's a picture of it from the
Taco Bell Wiki:
When I saw the Bell Beefer I thought, What's the big deal? Taco John's sells Taco Burgers. Just go there.
To make sure, I checked our local Taco John's website, and the Taco Burger was listed as the only item under "Local Favorites." It looks a lot like the Bell Beefer to me. I think the biggest difference is the Taco Burger lacks the Beefer's chopped onions.
Here's the full description: "Our signature Seasoned Ground Beef, Mild Sauce, Lettuce and Cheddar Cheese on a nice warm Bun." All that love and a nice warm bun, too? Let's go get one!
My local Taco John's had updated their menu boards since my last visit, and I didn't see the Taco Burger listed anywhere. I became mildly worried. When the guy behind the counter asked what I wanted, I hesitantly replied,"Can I get a Taco Burger?"
"Yeah," he nodded his head, "Anything else?"
"Just a cup for water."
He handed me my receipt and a cup and said, "It'll be right out."
Why isn't the Taco Burger listed on the physical menu? Obviously there was a button on cashier's screen for a Taco Burger because it's listed right on the receipt.
This is what I got when I unwrapped my burger. I'm not a food photographer, but you get the idea.
I'm also not a food writer. I don't even know how to pronounce umami. But I can tell you that the Taco Burger appeals to me on many levels. I like the beef that TJ's puts in their tacos, and it feels like they pile on about three times more of the same beef on the burger. I also like the consistency of the meat to sauce ratio. This isn't as messy as a sloppy joe, but the amount of beef will cause some of it to squeeze out the back. That's not the warm bun's fault, though. The bread is sturdy enough to support whatever amount of meat they put on it. (Come to think of it, I bet I could ask to switch the beef out for some other meat like chicken with lime sauce. Worth an ask.)
So, yeah, the Taco Burger is a version of a loose meat sandwich that I can get behind. I'm not alone. I mentioned this burger at school a few days ago, and one teacher exclaimed, "Taco John's Taco Burgers? I love them! Even if I order a meal, I get a burger on the side!" That's a pretty good endorsement.
When I went back to double check the Taco John's website menu for this post, and the "Local Favorites" category was gone. What?! Where did it go? Turns out, the Taco Burger was now listed under the "Tacos" heading, which makes sense. Whew. For a second there I thought this might become an "in memory of" post.
There is a problem, though. Not all Taco John's menus are created equal.
In some Iowa locations the Taco Burger is listed as an option:
In other Iowan locations, it's not:
In some cities you can order the Taco Burger online:
In others, you can't:
I'm sure availability is based on demand. Why waste warm buns if they're not selling?
If online menus can be trusted, over half of the Taco John's in Iowa offer Taco Burgers, and about a third of the restaurants in South Dakota and Nebraska have them as well. Minnesota has three Taco Burger-friendly locations. Of the other 19 states that have a Taco John's, only the folks in Olathe, Kansas get a shot at loose meat goodness:
I suppose this is a Midwest thing.
Does all of this mean that Taco John's has a secret menu item? I don't know. It all depends on your definition and your destination. What I do know is where I'm going for lunch today.
I think I'll add chopped onions.
