Taco Time Northwest is a fourth-generation family-owned Mexican quick service restaurant that has been serving guests for more than 60 years at its 77 restaurants in the Puget Sound area. Taco Time Northwest is committed to serving high-quality, fresh food prepared daily in each restaurant. 


Our History

Frank Tonkin Sr. opened the first Taco Time Northwest restaurant in 1962 with the goal of becoming a leader in quick service Mexican restaurants. The second Taco Time restaurant opened in 1963 and between 1980 and 2005, Taco Time Northwest grew from 20 to 75 local restaurants throughout the Puget Sound area. 

Today, Taco Time Northwest is run by the fourth generation Tonkin family, who are proud to lead a local company that continually serves its community. Taco Time Northwest is a Western Washington-based company that is wholly independent from Kahala Corporation. Kahala Corporation owns the rights to Taco Time outside of Western Washington. Taco Time Northwest has no affiliation with Kahala Corporation and no affiliation with Taco Time restaurants outside of Western Washington, except for the Taco Time location in Wenatchee, Washington. Since its inception in 1962, Taco Time has employed more than 35,000 people.


Each year Taco Time employees...

Serve over 12 million guests in the Puget Sound area

That is roughly twice the population of the state of Washington!

Shred 1.2 million heads of
iceberg lettuce 

That is 2,004,000 pounds of lettuce which is equivalent to the weight of more than eight 787 Dreamliners.

Slice 2.6 million tomatoes

That is equal to the weight of the passenger capacity on a Washington state ferry.

Grate over 600,000 pounds of 60-day aged Cheddar cheese

Prepare over 3 million
Crisp Burritos 

When laid end to end they would total 435 miles, which happens to be the exact distance between the two corners of our state when traveling from Forks to Walla Walla.

Serve over 140 million
Tater Fries®  

If lined up end to end, they would reach from Seattle to New York city!