Hi Roger, I just was following up on some curiosity from my childhood when I found your page, in particular the Pup n Taco page.

I was born in 1950 and lived up the street from your family on Thoreau Street. I remember what a big treat it was to go trick or treating in the neighborhood with the high point being fresh donuts at the Wendell's house. I also attended Temple Shalom in my youth which was located right next door to the Big Donut at Century and Normandie. We would always go over there for the reward of a donut when we had a break. The site of Temple Shalom later was sold, torn down and remade as a Pup n Taco.

As a further remembrance, my family stayed in the our same home on Thoreau Street long after most of the neighborhood changed in the "white flight" of the day. I went to Washington High School (now Washington Prep) from 1965 to 1968 when it was approximately 85% African American. My first real job was at the Big Donut, my childhood haunt, when I was 16 years old. I remember working with a woman names Ivy who was really nice to me and to the policemen who would drive through for coffee and donuts, but was very racist and demeaning toward black people. I was astounded at the time by the racist conversations between her and the policemen, particularly considering it had become a black neighborhood and that a large portion of my friends were black. It was a lifetime ago when I was just a kid who needed the money of a part time job and couldn't really confront any of that.

I remember the donut machine and the hot glazed donuts coming off the rack. We didn't know your family very well but made their acquaintance a number of times. I remember the Wendell family as being very nice and the Halloween donuts as being very generous. I have been able to impress some younger folk in Los Angeles with my knowledge of the Big Donut before it was Randy's Donuts.

I hope this note finds you well and enjoying a fine life in Colorado. I'm not trying to be intrusive with this note but I think I was a bit overcome with nostalgia for a time long past and thought I would communicate some of my memories with you.

All the best,

Glen xxxxxx
xxxxxxx@gmail.com

01-08-2016
One of my good memories is working at a Pup 'N' Taco is Santa Monica. I was young, probably 16 or 17, but I had a great time working there. Just wanted to send a "wave" and say thanks to your family. I think I met your father once when he visited our store... he was a good guy! Thanks,.
 
Steve Woolston

Yo yo yo.. listen up.. up for auction here is a Re-released Vintage looking Trucker style hat from Pup n' Taco... now if you grew up in Southern CAlifornia in the 70's and early 80's, you probably remember eating at a pup n' taco... they were cheap and good.. they served Hot Dogs and Tacos... yeah I know it's a weird mix.. that is probably why they aren't around anymore... but if you want to represent some old school SoCal flavor, then you absolutely must own this hat !!! The hat is in good shape, and I do believe it is new. It has an adjustable band, and a mesh back to keep yer head cool while skatin' or just kickin' it on the stoop ! Good Luck, and Happy Bidding !! Thanks

I am writing to say that the Pup n Taco page is a treat to read. Growing up in Milwaukee Wisconsin in the 1980's I can only imagine how cool it must have been to have a place like this at one disposal. I have a fascination with cooking and in particular Mexican American fast-food from this era. I know that might be odd to some folks but it reminds me of Taco Bell and Zantigo when I was young.

After reading over the letters that were posted some time ago I noticed that one individual asked if the taco meat recipe was still in the family. That leads me to the question of what did the taco meat taste like. I know that it was commented to have a unique flavor.

I know a lot of these recipes were classified as being secret, but is there any ingredient that you could share with me to put me on the right track for making a taco meat that isn't like all others. I have been working on a fast food taco meat recipe for years myself as a hobby.

Thanks,

And have a great day!

Mike B.
Wauwatosa, WI.

John

04/25/2012 Mike Fischer wrote:

	Roger, I remember the Pup N Taco in Garden Grove. Sure miss those Tacos and French fries. Simply the Best. I also remember a jingle on radio or TV that went something like this: "At Puppy's Pup N Taco we hope that we please you, Pup N Taco, Pup or Taco 29 cents drive-thru." Thanks for offering your WebPages dedicated to PNT. Sure brought back some fond memories. Mike

Ken Carradine
Cypress, Ca.

Dear Roger,

I stumbled upon your website and it brought back delicious memories of the Pup n Taco on Pico in Los Angeles. I think I was there every day after school because it was a hang out for jr and senior high kids. But I was really addicted to the tacos, tostadas, and green chili burritos.

Me and my sister would walk there after practice every weekend. I will always have found memories of pup n taco....and I will never forget the commercial, "If you're tired of McDonalds and you don't know what to do Pup n Taco Pup n Taco. We got hamburgers, burritos, and chili burgers to...Pup n Taco Pup n Taco."

I'm so glad you have this website because it's not only the memory of Pup n Taco that's kept alive but a memory of simplier times in Southern California.

Best wishes,

Ally [Allyson]

Any idea what company made the mix for the best I have ever had slushes?
And I understand there are a few locations still open in other states, is
that true and do they still serve the same products?

Thanks for your help

Mike Young

[ed. note: I explained to Mike that "Frappe" was the mix used, at that time but that actual temperature and mix settings on the slush machine were equally important back then. Also explained that a similarly named restaurant still exists in Albuquerque but I don't know about their product line...]

Rudy Zappa Martinez-
South Pasadena-

I ran across your website displaying the history of Pup N Taco and the Big Donut. My Grandfather Royal Stearns was very much a part of both chains. He worked with your Great Uncle Russell. He baked donuts for the Big Donut in Los Angeles and then he ran the Pup n Taco on Sherman Way in Reseda. I grew up at that Pup n Taco :) My grandfather passed away in 1970 suffering a heart attack while at the bank making his daily deposit. Everyone loved my Grandfather and it would be so awesome to hear from ANYONE who remembers him. His name was Royal Edward Stearns.

Thank you for creating the website. It sure brings back a lot of fond memories!!!!!!!

Sincerely,
Lori Goniwicha

Hi Roger,

It would be wonderful if you posted my note on your letters page. I would love to hear from anyone who has memories of my grandfather. Thank you so much for your kind response. I would love to hear from your dad if he wouldn't mind sharing his memories of my grandfather.

Thank you so much again!!!!

Sincerely,
Lori Goniwicha

Just happened onto your site. Dang, I miss Pup 'N' Taco! I visited the one at South and Norwalk in Artesia, CA several times a week from the early 1970s until I moved out of the area in 1980. I'd give anything (well, maybe $10) to sink my teeth into a Texas Tomato Burger again. I was sad to discover later on that it had been converted to an ordinary Taco Smell. It stands the same way today, in the reworked Pup 'N' Taco building. Naugles was another chain from that era that I miss. Mexican food mostly, also a drive through at a time when they were scarce, limited mostly to Pup and Der Wienerschnitzel. I worked at the McDonalds on Pioneer Boulevard in Artesia in the early 1970s and the corporation was dead set against the drive through concept at the time. Times have changed...

As you probably know, there are still several Big Donut locations intact with the donut reaching to the sky. Google the corner of Bellflower Boulevard and Arkansas Street in Bellflower, CA to witness one reuse as Bellflower Bagels. Still looks like a donut to me.

Thanks for your site!

Steve Schell, Long Beach, CA

Roger,

My wife and I had a good laugh about your website, because for years she'd been putting up with my Los Angeles childhood stories about a mythical fast food restaurant that was sooooooo good named Pup N Taco. She didn't believe me, but here was the proof!!

Best bean burritos ever. And the mustard dogs weren't too bad either....

Thanks,
Kevin Vaillancourt
Oregon

Re: We love Pup 'n' Taco!!!

Hi Roger,

We are all sitting here at work on a Friday afternoon reminiscing about old fast food restaurants--when all of the sudden one of my friends yelled out "remember Pup 'n' Taco?????" The entire room erupted in excitement! We rushed to look it up on the internet, longing to see the logo we all remember so well...we were sooooo happy to find your website with all your memorabilia. Thanks for keeping Pup 'n' Taco alive!!!! We miss it so much! Is there any way to buy any memorabilia? If not, we enjoyed this moment and wish you all the best.

Sincerely,

All your little pups 'n' tacos at Oliver Peoples

Great Site,I worked at Pup and Taco in the mid seventies,I now live in Liverpool England,my home town.

I never ever throw things away,sad I know,I still have my badge,hat,time card,wage slips,instuction book that you got on the first day,also I and a few of my friends took an old super-8 movie camera to work one night and filmed the night shift inside the shop,the film showed what not to do on the shop floor,I am sure you get the picture.Can I still get in trouble for that now?(haha)

Anyway I still have the film from 1976,now on Video with music,brings back great memories.

Phil Johnson.

(Phil also provided copies of ingredients, and other printed materials, for PNT Photos page!)

Back in the day we do not remember that new fangled hat that you mentioned on the site. What we remembered was the paper oblong hats that fell off, ripped and were mostly annoying. We also remembered the old way of calculating your meal tab. We wrote with grease pencil on a dry erase board, calculating tax and all then pressed the cash register buttons the calculated total then giving change by counting it back into the customers hands.

We laughed at the way we used to prepare the food. We fried the shells, shredded the lettuce and tomatoes by hand and made the meat patties by soaking them in beef broth. Wow, what memories! Our boss was an older gentleman named Frank, and he was a wise old man that didn't let anything get passed him. We all loved and admired him, he was more than an adult figurehead, he was a friend too.

Keep this site going, it's great to look back on!!

Sincerely a PnT fan,

Debbie Newberg Mullen
(Debbie also provided some great photos for my PNT Photos page!)

This would be the late '70's. Disco was in full gear then. hehe

That store is still there (not sure if rebuilt or razed) as a Taco Bell now.

David Tognazzini
Los Angeles, CA

Back in the silly 70's I actually WORKED at the very Fountain Valley store where the three snapshots on your site were taken. We were trying a new concept of opening (there was a high school across the street, as I recall) in the morning, at 9:00. Sold a lot of fries (Good old Frispos! What ever happened to those?) and drinks, but not much else, as I recall.

I eventually ended up as the manager of store #62 in Hermosa Beach... Certainly miss the food to this day. Thanks for providing the fond memories, and for providing "proof" that a place called Pup 'n' Taco really existed! People look at me like I'm crazy whenever I mention it...

Thanks!

Steve Chisholm

[PS]

Feel free to add my note to your page.

Further trivia: The Thornedale/Rosemead store in Pasadena was my very first "haunt" when I got my driver's license at age 16 ( in -gasp- 1969). We were RC Cola snobs, and a day didn't pass without driving to Pup 'N' Taco to get a tostada and a large RC, with extra ice...

Thanks again for firing up the "wayback machine"...

i know this may sound like a strange request, but do you happen to know who supplied pnt with the french fries or if they're still available for sale? if i knew where to buy them and how to prepare them, i'd buy a ton and make them for my family from now on ;) hehe, that's how much i loved those fries.

also, do you know if any of the old merchandise (like that cool cap on your webpage) is available for sale? thanks again for your work and all the great memories. i hope i get a chance to hear from you. take care...

Jeff Davis
Glendale, CA

I just found your site and wanted to tell you that I was a big fan of Pup N Taco too. I miss them so very much. I can still taste their french fries. They also had the best hot dogs . I wish you could re-open them again. I'm so tired of the same old things to eat and Pup N Taco would be a great change, as long as the taste is the same of course. They were the best.

I wanted to add a comment in the letter section of you site, but you didn't have a place to do that, so I just thought I'd write you myself to let you know how I felt.

Rachel Holland
Anaheim

• "scrubbing the red" - had to go outside and scrub the red concrete patios before closing
• "beating the meat" - ground beef cam in long tubes and it had to be mashed with a 2 foot long masher
• "studding the steam table" - the steam table was the most important position because it set the pace, and you had to be good to work there
• "drop 10" - cook 10lbs of ground beef
• "stoners" - a reference to all the late night customers on Friday and Saturday after midnight, man we always got rushes before closing in the summer

I remember when that burger cooking invention for the deep fryer and super tacos were first introduced. I remember Russ Jordan, your dad and your uncle. I worked for a manager named Mike Pesta. My sister also worked there. They had a good assembly line type process. It truly was fast food made to order. We were proud of constantly keeping four orders on the boards at all times and cranking cars through every 20 to 30 seconds. I learned my first rule of business at P'n'T... "Never make anyone wait to give you their money".

Regards,

Stephen Ferracioli

I'm so glad I "Googled" Pup N Taco, because I have never forgotten your delicious burgers.

In 1984, I was 13 and had major back surgery. I was in the Los Angeles Children's Hospital for two weeks and unable to eat solid food for the entire time.

While there, I had many cravings for different foods, donuts, cake, pancakes, pizza and of course cheeseburgers.

When I was finally allowed to go home, the first place I asked my mother to take me to was Pup N Taco. That cheeseburger never tasted so good.

Thanks for the great food!

Julie Gomez
Glendale, CA

[Ed. Note: Julie passed along some additonal good news saying her back and health were in pretty good shape after having had that surgey way back then!]

Just the other day, I hit on your website dedicated to your family's former Pup 'N' Taco chain.

I was an employee in that chain more that 20 years ago. I merely wanted to say that in the late 70's during the Carter years, the employment outlook in Southern California was not that great. It was especially brutal for striving high school students interested in part-time work.

It was at that time that your company gave me a chance and offered a young man a little self worth and self esteem which has persevered to this day. Your company taught me the ethics of good, honest work.

During a period of 2-3 years, I recall working in 3 stores, two in Canoga Park, California, and one is Reseda, California.

Names and images of Jim Carson, Nabil Farag (a manager at the Canoga Park and Reseda locations), and Roger the District Manager, shall live in my memory forever. Sometimes I still hear their words that always tell me to do the right thing and believe in yourself.

Sincerely,

Doug Fetters

April Fried
fairfax va 22030

thanks,
anissa iverson
burbank, california!

Jesse McDonald
(Connecticut)

Clovis, California

Lorraine Lopez
Fountain Valley, California

And send me a chilie burger too please.

Matt Smick

Robert McArthur
Mar Vista

A friend of mine found your website and mailed the link after we were reminiscing about old tunes, old restaurants, and the old times that surrounded them.

Best wishes.

Ron Lopez
Modesto, CA

MY GOD WHAT MEMORIES.... There was nothing better than going to PNT late at night and getting one of those good greasy Pastrami sandwiches...and a cherry slush. Good food and very cheap...my goodness I really miss that place. I use to go to the PNT in Pomona, Ca right near Indian Hill I believe the street name was. It was behind a McDonalds , a mexican restraunt and the Wherehouse music store. I now live in Atlanta, GA and I went to a place out here called the Varsity with my future wife. We ordered the naked dog and then I added mustard to it and when I did I said to her..."this tastes like a mustard dog from Pup N Taco". She thought I was kidding about the name of the place so I then proceeded to tell her all about it. The last time I ate at Pnt was at the location in Long Beach on 7th and Ximeno, shortly after that the evil Taco Bell took over and thus a part of my childhood was taken along with it. Thanks for the site..it sure was good eatin.

Brett Shepherd Atlanta, GA

Pup n' Taco is one of my fondest memories from childhood. I started on McDonald's and Steak n' Shake where I was born in the Midwest. Though they were good, I didn't really understand how good fast food could be until I moved to LA when I was six in 1971, and discovered Pup n' Taco down the street from my house on Venice Boulevard.

If I remember correctly it was nearby to another favorite takeout place of my mother's, The Canton Kitchen. We would often argue over which place to stop at. It seemed to me that life just wasn't worth living without a chili dog, or two or three chili dogs. I've never had a better chili dog regardless of price. But I remember they were only $.15 which eventually went up to $.19. I could've lived on those chili dogs and nothing else. It was something about the way the chili combined with those good buns and the hot dog to create something truly magical in your mouth, something that's never been equaled in my mind.

How sad that Pup n' Taco is now a thing of the past. There's no comparison to the food you get from Taco Bell or any other fast food place for that matter. I guess it's true what they say, anything that great can never last.

Sincerely

Aaron B. Brown

PS I was wondering about the recipes, if you saved those over the years. I think if someone opened up a Pup n' Taco today it would be fabulous. Have you ever explored this possibility?

I'm glad I found your site. I remember Pup n' Taco as a fond memory. I frequented the one formerly located on the corner of Ximeno and 7th Street in Long Beach Califonia. Eventually it became a Taco Bell and finally the land it was located on was taken over by Wilson Highschool (where I graduated in 1985). The tacos and dogs were great. But, the chili burgers were the best!

The closest thing nowadays, is Tommy's burgers, Del Taco, and Weiner Schnitzel. That's three stops I have to makeLOL! On another humorous note. Whenever I mention Pup n' Taco, people usually assume I mean to say Weiner Schnitzel. "Nooooo" I reply, rolling my eyes. "Pup n' Taaaco." I say. Ahh memories.

Thanks for the great food and the good memories!

James Boner
California

Oh My God, I so remember this great place. There used to be on in Downey, Ca on the corner of Paramount Blvd and Stewart & Gray Road. EVERY day after school my friends and I would stop there and get a root beer and French fries (because you had the best) and talk. So many times I would go home and no be hungry for dinner and my parents never knew why. I truly wish you "guys" could have stayed around. The food you guys made is so much better than Taco Bell. Since Taco Bell took over, I have lost my taste for Mexican fast food "taco bell" style.

Sincerely

Jill Sarandis

Living in LA I run across lots of transplants who never had the experience of enjoying a hot dog, taco, fries, and slushie from Pup N' Taco. Trying to explain this odd fusion of fare was always fun for me. There was one located at the corner of Tampa and Saticoy in Reseda, CA. In was on my direct route to and from school. I can't tell you how many times I would forego lunch at school just so I could go to Pup N' Taco on my way home from school. That has now turned into a Del Taco after previously being a Taco Bell. I can't tell you how much I wish it still was a Pup N' Taco. At least it will always be a Pup N' Taco to me. After reading some of the previous letters sent to you, I'm glad some one mentioned the fries specifically. Since 1984 I have yet to find something comparable.

Thank You for adding to the great memories of my childhood.

Adam Kliggy

Hi.

     My name is Jim and I found your "Pup-N-Taco" web site the other day. I used to live in the L.A. area when I was a kid back in the 70's. My Mom and I loved to go pick up some food at Pup-N-Taco and then eat at the park. We moved away from the L.A. area and there were no Pup-N-Taco restaurants anywhere near our new home (that should have been cause enough to move back to L.A.) . I' ve been back to L.A. a couple of times, but Pup-N-Taco was gone! I loved that place. I guess I can say that Pup-N-Taco was around in the "good old days." I was very pleased to see that there is a Pup-N-Taco web site. Pup-N-Taco might be gone, but it isn't forgotten! Thank you for taking the time to put together a Pup-N-Taco web site for people to enjoy.

-Jim Gray

Harold Aranda

Houston, TX

What a great surprise not only to see the website but to see my BROTHER's comment (he is Harold from Texas) on your Letters page!!!

I remember PnT well, and how much my brother and I would squeal with delight when my mom, in her silver Toyota Corolla (circa 1972), would pull in, we knew she gave in to our "pleeeeeeeeeeeese can we co to Pup 'n" Taco?" cries. I miss PnT so very much and now I have something to reminisce with my brother when he gets married this fall. I'm grateful for the good memories I had there and hope one day my kids will be able to have a place like PnT that they'll be excited about!

Thanks,
Liliana Aranda
San Francisco

       Just a note to thank you for your PnT page. I grew up in Long Beach and always ate at the PnT at Los Coyotes and Clark. I moved to Whittier and ate at the PnT at La Mirada and Leffingwell. If you or anyone else re-opens the chain, I'll be there! I saw on your page the eBay ad for the orange PnT hat. I would love to buy one. I'll keep watching your page for new photos or memorabilia. Thank You.

Don

Hi Roger,

I was reading the letters, and I too remember Pup 'N' Taco (Normandie and Century) when I was a little girl. I thought and still think that Pup 'N' Taco had the best Chili Dogs around. I was online researching the infamous Pink's, and thought back to Pup 'N' Taco. Do you ever think you would open another location in Southern California again? According to the letters I know we'd all love that!

I miss Pup 'N' Taco.

Kanisa DeBase
12-18-2007

p.s. I always went to your Gardena Location on Western Av

John R.
Redondo Beach, CA
 

Bob
California

I was a big fan of Pup 'N' Taco when I was kid and was really sad to see it go under. There is a "Pop 'N' Taco" in Albuquerque, NM that still remains - the sign appears to be similar to the old "Pup 'N' Taco" signs - is this one that remains that had to change its name slightly? Also, I would be interested if you had any old Pup 'N' Taco memorabilia that might be left over as I would like to collect some... Thanks!

Wil

Just wanted to say "thank you" I grew up in Eagle Rock, California in the '70 and Pup N Taco was my fav place to hang out in my high school days. My brothers both worked there and it WAS the most popular place to be, not to mention the best fast food in town. A friend of mine sent me your home page, and I will thank him for doing so. We talk about PnT all the time. We have such fond memories of that place and both are very disappointed that it not longer exist. Our thanks go out to your family for giving us fond memories of our past.

I know that taco bell (at least I think) bought the actual locations (land, buildings), but the PNT concept seemed to just die out - is that true ?

Again, thanks for taking the time to post those pictures - our town has in some ways kept it's old nostalgia, but the PNT has been gone for many, many years, and that's sad - it was a great place.

Steve

Chris

11-11-2008
i was researching big donut and came across pup n taco, as well. had no idea of the family connection. we used to go through a BD near Gardena - a drive thru - then later my brother and i used to go for the chili dogs at pup n taco on western in gardena. i somewhat recall a special ice drink we used to but\y, but may have that wrong. i drove by that old pup n taco last week; we used to go after church. thanks for the site and memories. mike sugimoto

What a great site. I remember the Eagle Rock, CA Pup N Taco well. It is now a Taco Bell still using the same un-remodled building as it only has a drive thru. I also remember going to the Pup N Taco on Fountain Ave near Hoover in East Hollywood. In about 1979-84 I used to have big 60's convertibles and the Fountain Ave had such a tiny drive thru lane you could barely turn the corner of the building without driving across the sidewalk to get to the window. That location is now a Thai Rest using basically the same building, only a small extention was added where the tiny drive thru lane was. I still get vivid memories every time I go by there now as a 47 year old.

Taco Bell's food is so-so Del Taco is closer to what your family served back then. I really miss how simple life and pleasures were back then, nothing is that simple nowadays. Thanks for the memories and all the great pics on your website.

Derek Anthony
Silverlake-East Hollywood, CA

Roger,

What a blast to read the comments about my all-time favorite fast-food place, Pup 'n' Taco! I lived in Anaheim in the late 60's - early 70's, and nearly every Saturday I would hop on my Schwinn Lemon Peeler and pedal to Pup 'n' Taco, where I'd order four tacos, then carefully grasp the bag between my hand and the handlebars as I rode home to enjoy them. The Anaheim Pup 'n' Taco was west of East Street, I think on Lincoln Avenue, but possibly on Broadway (it's been a long time). The flavor of the taco meat remains my gold standard, and every time I bite into a bland Taco Bell taco I wax nostalgic over the wonderful flavor of those Pup 'n' Taco gems (OK--they were sometimes a bit greasy, but oh were they good). Regards,

Steve Pachuta
Eagan, Minnesota