• by Teresa Buyikian , August 22, 2023

Today Diversified Restaurant Group (DRG) announced the opening of its most recent Taco Bell Cantina in San Jose, California, at the Westfield Orange Mall. This marks the seventh Cantina location for DRG, one of the largest Taco Bell franchisees, which operates 325 Taco Bell locations nationwide.

The biggest difference between Taco Bell QSRs and Taco Bell Cantinas is alcohol. Locations serve beer, wine, sangria and booze-filled versions of its Freezes to patrons 21 and over.

Each Cantina location has a different look and feel reflecting the neighborhood location. The newest addition, next to movie theaters, features a retro theme with a vintage movie theater display case, three ordering kiosks, a pick-up window, and patio seating for up to 24 customers.

Promotions for the new location's grand opening take place Aug. 23, from 10 A.M. until midnight. The first 100 customers will receive an exclusive Taco Bell cup, and every purchase enters the patron into a drawing to win free Taco Bell items for one year.

DRG first introduced the Cantina concept in 2015, and there are now more than 50 in locales that include northern California, Las Vegas and Kansas City.

Earlier this year a Taco Bell Cantina opened in Los Angeles in the heart of Hollywood’s Walk of Fame, in an ornate 1917 historic building. The location, opened and operated by C&R Restaurant Group, has a “Golden Age of Hollywood” theme and contains a screen showing scenes from famous Hollywood award shows, and digital-only ordering kiosks.