Why Your Trip Isn’t Complete Without Taco Time NW
Brought to you by Taco Time NW
We love that you’re visiting Washington. Go see the mountain if it’s out. Ride a ferry. Wander Pike Place. Take the scenic route whenever possible. That’s good advice, no matter how long you’re here.
But if you want to understand Western Washington—not just see it—you should probably eat where generations of Washingtonians have been eating for more than sixty years.
Welcome to Taco Time NW.
We’ve been part of road trips, lunch breaks, post-game celebrations, first dates, family traditions and “we’re finally home” meals since Frank Tonkin Sr. opened our first restaurant in Seattle in 1962.
That was back when people around here still called tacos “taycos” because they’d never seen the word before. Lots has changed since then, but not everything. Today, we’re still family-owned, still led by the Tonkins and still proudly found in Western Washington with two restaurants in Wenatchee.
We’re excited you’re here. We’d love to introduce ourselves.
What Should You Order First at Taco Time NW?
If this is your first Taco Time NW visit, don’t overthink it.
Start with a Crisp Burrito.
It’s the menu item locals have spent decades defending with the enthusiasm usually reserved for sports teams.
Every Crisp Burrito starts with a flour tortilla from Renton, hand-rolled, filled fresh and fried until perfectly crisp. Whether you choose never-frozen beef, fresh chicken, or our Quincy-grown pinto beans, you’ll understand pretty quickly why this has been our signature since the beginning.
The Crisp Beef Burrito: Our best seller. Taco Time NW works with local ranchers providing cattle raised in the PNW for beef that is always fresh, never frozen. It’s paired with freshly shredded 60-day-aged Cheddar from Sunnyside — a small town in Eastern Washington.
The Crisp Chicken Burrito: Uses a secret ingredient that gives it a classic Pacific Northwest flavor: cream cheese.
The Crisp Pinto Bean Burrito: The pinto beans are triple-cleaned and made with just four simple ingredients — water, onion, garlic and salt. Paired with the same cheddar as the Beef Crisp Burrito.
If you’re curious where the obsession starts, it starts here.
Then add a Soft Taco.
If you’re expecting something ordinary, you’re in for a pleasant surprise. Its soft flour tortilla is closed like a burrito. It’s bigger, fresher and loaded with freshly shredded cheddar, crisp vegetables, your choice of protein – beef, chicken, bean, veggie or fish – and our house-made Ranch.
Finally, order the Tater Fries.
Some longtime fans still call them Mexi-Fries. That’s okay. Sixty-four years of traditions don’t change overnight. Made with Washington-grown potatoes, they’re crispy, seasoned, endlessly dippable and somehow disappear faster than anyone at the table expects.
Don’t Skip the Sauce
Here’s one piece of advice we’d give every first-time visitor.
International visitors are falling in love with American ranch dressing, and we happen to make the best one. Get Ranch. Yes, Ranch.
We make it ourselves, using local Darigold sour cream, along with most of our dressings and salsas, and generations of Northwest families have become just a little attached to it. If you ask anyone who grew up in the PNW, they’ll tell you it’s the best Ranch they’ve ever had.
Then grab our Hot Sauce, too. We’re confident it’s the greatest Hot Sauce in the state. It’s so good that some people even think it’s worth stealing… or drinking… or sneaking through TSA.
Some people alternate between Ranch and Hot Sauce. Some people mix them together. Some people have very strong opinions about which menu item deserves which sauce.
You’ll develop your own. Around here, we have a word for that.
Obsauced.
What Makes Taco Time NW Different?
There are taco chains. Then there’s Taco Time NW.
We’ve been independently owned since Frank Tonkin Sr. opened our first restaurant in Seattle in 1962, and we’ve been doing things our own way ever since. That means sourcing ingredients from Washington whenever we can. Tortillas from Renton. Pinto beans from Quincy. Cheddar from Sunnyside. Washington-grown potatoes.
It means starting every morning with hours of fresh prep instead of simply opening bags. Our crew members hand-shred 40-pound blocks of cheddar every day because freshly shredded cheese melts better and tastes better. They hand-roll Crisp Burritos. They chop and cook local ingredients for every order. It’s more work. We think it’s worth it.
Even our restaurants reflect the Northwest we call home. We were the first in quick service to introduce compostable packaging back in 2012. Now, through partnerships with Puget Sound Energy and the Winston Creek Forest Carbon Project, we’re probably the only fast food chain that can say we’re 100% carbon neutral.
We’ve never tried to be the biggest. We’ve always tried to be unmistakably Northwest. It’s basically our last name.
Why Do Washingtonians Love Taco Time NW?
Because traditions have a funny way of becoming family stories.
Washington expats make Taco Time NW their first stop after landing at Sea-Tac. People plan trips around Crisp Chicken Burritos. Parents introduce their kids to the same order they grew up eating. Some fans even commemorate the relationship with cactus tattoos.
Seattle Refined once called the Crisp Burrito “the greatest fast food innovation of all time.” The Infatuation called it “a mandatory order.” There’s a podcast dedicated entirely to talking about Taco Time NW.
The former Chief Marketing Officer of the Space Needle visited every single Taco Time NW location — and we celebrated him with a mariachi celebration at the last stop.
You can’t manufacture that kind of affection. It only happens when a restaurant becomes part of people’s lives.
Wherever You’re Exploring Washington, There’s Probably a Taco Time NW Nearby
One of the nice things about exploring the PNW is that Taco Time NW tends to be along your way.
Going to a game at Lumen Field? Your closest Taco Time NW is Rainier Avenue at 2212 Rainier Ave S.
Doing the classic Seattle loop – Seattle Center, KEXP, Pike Place, Olympic Sculpture Park, Lake Union, Discovery Park, or Magnolia? Interbay at 1140 Elliott Ave W is the easy catch-all.
Spending the day in a neighborhood where locals actually hang out? Try Ballard on NW Market if you’re headed to the Locks, Golden Gardens, or the farmers market.
Driving north toward Bellingham? We’ve got you covered.
Exploring neighborhoods, parks, waterfronts and everything in between?
With more than 70 restaurants across Western Washington, chances are there’s a Taco Time NW waiting nearby.
Every single restaurant has a drive-thru. Delivery is available through major apps. Whether you’re fueling up before the day starts or grabbing dinner on the drive home, we’re ready when you are.
Welcome to Washington
The famous places deserve the attention they get. But the places people return to, year after year, are usually smaller. The favorite coffee stand. The neighborhood park. The restaurant that’s been part of family traditions for generations. That’s where Taco Time NW lives.
So while you’re making memories in Washington, we’d love to be part of them.
Order the Crisp Burrito.
Add a Soft Taco.
Get the Tater Fries.
Don’t forget the ranch.
And the Hot Sauce.
We’ll take care of the rest.
Welcome to Washington. Let’s hope the mountain’s out.
Taco Time NW FAQ
What should I order on my first visit to Taco Time NW?
Start with a Crisp Burrito, a Soft Taco, Tater Fries and plenty of house-made ranch and Hot Sauce. It’s the classic introduction to Taco Time NW.
What is a Crisp Burrito?
Our signature menu item since 1962. It’s a hand-rolled flour tortilla filled with your choice of protein and freshly shredded cheddar or cream cheese, then fried until perfectly crisp.
Is Taco Time NW locally owned?
Yes. Taco Time NW is an independently owned, family-operated restaurant company with more than 70 restaurants across Western Washington. We’ve been serving the Pacific Northwest since 1962.
What are Tater Fries?
Our seasoned potato bites made from Washington-grown potatoes. Crispy, dippable and beloved by generations of Northwest fans.
What does “Obsauced” mean?
It’s what happens when you discover our house-made Ranch, Hot Sauce, salsa and other scratch-made dressings and salsas—and suddenly want them on everything.
Does Taco Time NW offer delivery?
Yes. Delivery is available through major delivery apps and all restaurants also offer convenient drive-thru service.
Where can I find a Taco Time NW?
You’ll find more than 70 Taco Time NW restaurants throughout Western Washington, making it easy to stop wherever your Washington adventure takes you.