There are a ton of alternatives to Taco Bell, “good, inexpensive tacos” are a whole thing, taco trucks, etc.

Unless you are specifically looking for drain-o for your digestive system.

I live with a fan of Taco Bell.

'good, inexpensive tacos' isn't what they sell. they sell Taco Bell (TM).

I could give this housemate an around-the-globe tour of pan-Latin cuisine and they would come back from their tour hungry for Taco Bell (TM).

I can sort of relate -- sometimes I can be surrounded by some of the best food the world has to offer, but I crave a packet of Top Ramen.

Some things offer something above and beyond what we perceive as quality, I suppose.

People like what's familiar. And some people's taste buds are just abnormal, and/or they are addicted to the (addictive) ingredients in fast food.

I love me some Crunchwrap Supreme (TM), but I also love me some fresh green chilli quesadilla with salsa verde from my favorite Mexican food place. I crave both at different times and can appreciate both of them in different ways.

My usual time for Taco Bell is well past when taco trucks are open. For me it's "the tastiest and healthiest [late night food] on the go".

Healthiest?

I haven’t eaten there in a while but I don’t recall thinking it was healthy at all, quite the opposite.

Taco Bell will never be the healthiest thing you can eat, but in terms of fast food, it’s not half bad. In my anecdotal experience, their quality has gone up across the board compared to years ago, and they’ve also added many healthier customization options (you have to ask for it, though).

This is from their marketing, but it’s pretty honest based on my experience: https://www.tacobell.com/nutrition

I pay some attention to nutrition, and I still eat Taco Bell sometimes even after cutting out most other fast food restaurants.

Depending on what you get, it can actually be quite solid in macros and not super unhealthy. Particularly if you’re trying to hit protein goals, the $/cal or $/g protein is better than most other fast food places, and they had healthy alternatives to the typical grease-filled beef.

They've gotten better. I only order it rarely and was surprised last time by how much they were pushing chicken and black bean options that appeared... healthier. No doubt to save them money, but hey, two birds, one stone.

Yeah, I went there for the first time in a decade last week and was impressed that they had a global “Veggie mode” button on their digital menu kiosk that limits the menu to only meatless items.

Made it really easy to buy a bean crunchwrap with sour cream and cheese swapped for guacamole and potato.

I went there so my Mexican girlfriend could try it. She was disappointed that the Dorito shell tacos are just unflavored orange tostadas, not actually a big Dorito like their ads / marketing suggests.

How do yall let them get away with that? :/

Compared to other late-night food places, such as McDonalds, Burger King, Jack in the Box, Shake Shack and similar.

Those places can be reasonably healthy depending what you pick; a burger is low in fiber but otherwise it's actually pretty balanced. Soda and fries are what's bad.

No arguing about tastes and all, but I never understood the digestive digs at TB. Maybe I'm an outlier but it's just like any other meal.

I've had plenty of other tacos elsewhere and they are all tasty, but something about TB's meat is super unique and tasty to me I can't get enough of it. Mind you I can't stand all the new menu items they added past tacos in the last 30 years. But the tacos are special. :-)

I always assumed it was just people sharing their sensitivities to mildly hot sauces. Maybe all the extra lactose from sour cream and cheese too compared to a single slice you’d get on a burger.

Taco trucks/taquerias are an entirely different cuisine than Taco Bell.

Chipotle Tacos are much better IMO. You can get 2 Tacos for about $8-$9 on West Coast.