According to the 2021 QSR magazine Drive Thru Study, the average total time on a fast-food line was 346 seconds but Taco Bell had the fastest time at 268 seconds.

From February 2020 through February 2022, digital orders grew by 117%, delivery orders by 116% and drive-thru orders increased by 20%, according to The NPD Group.

Why it matters: The fast-food restaurant drive-thru and mobile ordering have both grown since the pandemic.

Food is delivered from the elevated kitchen above through a proprietary lift system developed by Minneapolis-based Vertical Works Inc.

Mobile order customers scan a QR code they received when placing their orders and pull forward to receive their food.

Three of the drive-thru lanes are dedicated to mobile or delivery orders and the fourth is a traditional drive-thru.

The new franchise restaurant is in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota and operated by Border Foods, which has close to 240 Taco Bell locations.The chicken tinga taco was the hands-down favorite, and we liked the white beans, though we thought several items needed a bit more flavor.Taco Bell's new “Defy” restaurant concept, which looks like a combo of The Jetsons and a fancy new bank, promises to deliver food to your car faster through vertical lifts that work similarly to tubes used by banks.ĭriving the news: The first two-story Defy location with four drive-thru lanes opens Tuesday. There’s a wide selection of drinks, including frozen fruit margaritas. We liked that many of the dishes can be ordered in a trio at a lower cost than trying them individually. Impressions: One person, counting calories after too much Thanksgiving indulgence, liked the many healthful options on the menu, including a chile-crusted seared tuna with hibiscus sauce. There are plenty of choices from all areas of the menu (pollo on mole taco or red snapper taco cucumber mint salad or chicharrón de pollo avocado salad, for example), but our server gave us ample opportunity to peruse the menu. The menu features a choice of 11 salsas (tomatillo serrano was our favorite), 12 tacos, five guacamoles (including one with ceviche), tostados and more.

Definitely upscale but comfortable, this Dallas-based chain should appeal to those who are looking for lighter Mexican food. Fast facts: This isn’t your average San Antonio taquería.

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