No long-gone Southern California fast-food chain seems to inspire more wistful memories than Naugles, the Mexican-American company that closed down in the 1980s after a merger with Del Taco. I wasn't around back then to taste it, but I'm well aware of its influence, as documented in my Taco USA: How Mexican Food Conquered America
As I reported last year, a group of Naugles activists (yes, they exist) are trying to bring back Naugles–never mind that Del Taco still owns the rights to the name. They've gone so far as to offer pop-up nights of chain standards like bun tacos (hamburger with taco meat), bean-and-cheese burritos, and taco sauce, all prepared with the original Naugles recipes. The first one, held in Lancaster this summer, was such a raging success that a second one is being held next Friday, October 11, in Fountain Valley.
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Now, here's the part where you hate me: the event is already sold out, and I can't tell you where it is. However, the organizers have told me there's a waiting list you can sign up for that might be privy to some tickets, and there's the possibility that they might throw a taco outside the pop-up restaurant and have the masses outside fight for it.
Here's the page for the event, with a couple of more details. See you there…from the inside looking at you pressing your face against the window haha!
Email: ga*******@oc******.com. Twitter: @gustavoarellano.
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