The first Taco Bell restaurant opened in 1962.
Glen Bell opened the original Taco Bell on July 6, 1962, at 7112 Firestone Boulevard in Downey, California. The small building measured about 400 square feet and used a walk-up window rather than the indoor seating and drive-thru layouts associated with many later locations.
The opening followed Bell's earlier experience with Mexican food. He had operated hot-dog stands and studied the hard-shell tacos sold by Mitla Cafe in San Bernardino. Before settling on Taco Bell, he developed related ventures under names including Taco-Tia and El Taco.
The original menu included tacos, burritos, tostadas, chiliburgers and frijoles, with items priced at 19 cents. The first building closed in 1986 but was saved from demolition in 2015 and moved to Taco Bell's Irvine headquarters. The date 1948 refers to Bell's first hot-dog stand, not the first Taco Bell restaurant.