Taco Bell

3.5
1314 reviews

About

Fast Food RestaurantTake Out RestaurantMexican RestaurantBreakfast RestaurantVegetarian Restaurant
Find your nearby Taco Bell at 2821 E 81st Ave in Merrillville. We're serving all your favorite menu items, from classic tacos and burritos, to new favorites like the Crunchwrap Supreme and Cheesy Gordita Crunch. Order ahead online or on the mobile app for pick up at the restaurant or get it delivered.

Details

  • Dine-inAvailable
  • DeliveryAvailable
  • TakeoutAvailable
  • DebitAvailable

Location

Taco Bell
2821 E 81st Ave, Merrillville, IN
46410, United States

Hours

Reviews

3.5
1,314 reviews
5 stars
466
4 stars
281
3 stars
200
2 stars
124
1 star
243

What are people saying?

AI-generated from customer reviews

Order Accuracy

Numerous customers reported frequent mistakes with their orders, including missing items and incorrect food preparation.

Customer Service

While some reviews praised the kindness of the front staff, many others highlighted rude behavior and unprofessionalism from employees.

Food Quality

Several customers complained about food being cold, improperly prepared, or unsanitary, including reports of bugs and hair in food.

Cleanliness

The dining area and bathrooms were often described as dirty, with some customers expressing concern about overall hygiene.

Service Speed

Many customers experienced long wait times, particularly during late hours, leading to frustration and dissatisfaction.
  • IA
    Izzy Adams
    Nov 5, 2025
    1.0
    I came here during my lunch break for school. looking foward for some taco bell. we’re on a 45 minute time crunch so i placed a mobile order. i get to the speaker and the guy is already very nasty. “we don’t have drinks right now” in a rude voice. i asked him if i could get a refund and said i could only do it in the app so i asked to replace them with the Cinnabon delights. i pull up to the window and wait at least 10 minutes for them. i drive away to look in the bag and see absolutely nothing i ordered. i went in and they gave me my stuff. happy ending right??? no. my nacho fries and Cinnabon delights were upsidedown in the bag scattered everywhere. if you can’t get my very simple mobile order right the least you could do whe you make it is put it in there the right way. not that hard. there was also another time i had came with my friend. i had a mobile order and she wanted a baja blast. i literally said i have a mobile order and want to add a baja blast. they for some reason couldn’t figure that out. i see full grown people working here and im a teenager working at dunkin and i could’ve figured that out easily. im so incredibly disappointed with my experiences at this taco bell. they either need to step up their game or hire some smarter people.
  • CJ
    Charlie Jordan
    Nov 5, 2025
    1.0
    How is it that every time I come here, everything is messed up. Is everyone here high? Is anyone trained? Its crazy how stupid this place is. I legitimately believe they only are surviving because theyre next to the mall and target. Ridiculous.
  • JB
    Jessica Burton
    Nov 1, 2025
    1.0
    The little light skinned female working at the window today Nov.1 around 2:30pm 3 Had a very bad attitude.
  • JJ
    J J
    Oct 14, 2025
    1.0
    If I could give them a zero I would. Everytime I have gone thru their drive thru they get the order wrong. Yesterday in particular I ordered 2 cheesy bean and rice burritos for my daughter and they charge me for 2 chili burritos. I got so far down the road to hear my daughter say that it did not taste right. So I bring the receipt in to tell them that I didn't order the chili burritos but cheesy bean and rice burritos and they make the food but I notice that there is a price difference also. So the lady hands me $2 in cash and says we are even. Those must be pretty expensive burritos as I have never seen 2 cheesy bean and rice buritos come out to $4.40 after I deduct the $2 she gave me. By far the worst Taco Bell in the area. If you don't care about getting ripped off and your food made wrong then definetely go to this Taco Bell as they are notiorus for doing just that.
  • SS
    Smokeyx97
    Sep 29, 2025
    3.0
    I want to begin by saying the manager and the front office staff (order taker) are some of the kindest people I’ve come across in all my visits to restaurants and fast-food places. That’s the reason I gave service and atmosphere five stars — they truly went above and beyond to be polite and helpful. Now for the reason my overall rating is three stars: the food preparation was unacceptable, and it could have had very serious consequences. I’ve never had an order come out so wrong before — food made incorrectly, items missing, and even things I never ordered showing up in the bag. Normally, that’s just an inconvenience, but in this case, it became a safety issue. On my order, it was clearly written no tomatoes. My wife has a severe, life-threatening tomato allergy. When she got home, I began sorting through the food and discovered tomatoes not only on my meal but also on hers. If I hadn’t checked before she ate, it could have been a medical emergency. That alone is alarming. I immediately brought everything back. The manager and the front counter staff handled the situation professionally and with compassion. The manager personally instructed the kitchen to remake everything with no tomatoes, clearly telling them in person, not just relying on the order screen. When the food was finished, the manager and I looked it over at the counter. From the outside, it appeared correct, so I took it home trusting the issue was resolved. However, when I got home and went through the food again, I discovered that my wife’s order had finally been made correctly — but mine was not. My food was still covered with tomatoes, lettuce, sour cream, and other ingredients I did not ask for. After two attempts and a direct warning about a severe food allergy, this level of carelessness is completely unacceptable. This isn’t just about an order being wrong. It’s about the lack of attention to detail that could put someone’s health, even their life, at risk. Allergies are not preferences. They are medical conditions, and when restaurants don’t take them seriously, it creates a dangerous situation for families like mine. I truly appreciate the kindness of the manager and staff, but the kitchen staff needs immediate improvement in how they read, understand, and follow orders — especially those with clear allergy notes. This is not just a matter of customer satisfaction; it’s a matter of safety. Until I can be confident that orders will be taken seriously and prepared correctly, I cannot recommend this location despite the excellent front-of-house staff.