Fans of oceanfront California Taco Bell sound alarm as massive waves slam coast

Forget saving the whales.California Taco Bell fans are fighting to save the Crunchwrap.The beloved beachfront Taco Bell Cantina in Pacifica found itself in the ocean’s crosshairs Saturday as monster waves battered the Northern California coast, sending rocks, kelp and seawater surging toward the oceanfront fast-food mecca.“We must protect historical landmarks like the Pacifica Taco Bell from 60 foot monster waves,” one panicked fan declared on social media.The massive Saturday waves, reportedly the biggest to hit the Bay Area in more than a decade, had beachgoers scrambling as sneaker waves flooded the restaurant’s parking lot.“Can we please get the National Guard dispatched to the Pacifica Taco Bell?” another user pleaded.Others weren’t prepared to accept a world without their favorite seaside burrito stop.“If we lose the Pacifica Taco Bell Cantina, we riot,” a third said.San Francisco Chronicle investigative reporter Matthias Gafni posted a “proof fo life” video from the eatery, showing undaunted diners on the patio as the waves rolled in.Located directly on the sand at Pacifica State Beach, the restaurant escaped major structural damage thanks to a relatively low tide during the peak surge.

But nearly a foot of floodwater covered parts of adjacent Highway 1, blocking vehicles from entering its parking lot.Unpredictable sneaker waves swept completely into the parking area, catching spectators off guard.No injuries were reported.The National Weather Service warned of breaking waves reaching 25 to 35 feet along exposed beaches, with 50-to-60-foot monsters possible at Mavericks in nearby Half Moon Bay.One fan even called on FEMA to intervene.“Pleading with @FEMA_Cam to declare a national emergency here, we can’t let the ocean take such a special place (and site of my wedding).”Another suggested the loss could eclipse everything else this storm season.“If washed away, losing the Pacifica Taco Bell may be the most significant loss this E...