REVIEW: Taco Bell Loaded Nacho Taco

Taco Bell Loaded Nacho Taco  1

What is the Taco Bell Loaded Nacho Taco?

The Bell continues its recent trend of Loading up just about every item on its menu, now delicately doctoring up its tacos with the tight and tangy addition of seasoned red chips and nacho cheese along with seasoned beef, lettuce, and shredded cheese in a warm flour tortilla. It’s as good as it sounds.

How is it?

In a word, majestuoso. Taco Bell really makes the hungry diner feel like nacho cheese sauce has always been the one element missing from most tacos in existence, especially those of a faux-Mexican descent.

Taco Bell Loaded Nacho Taco

On the Loaded Nacho Taco, the seasoned red chips are fine to be sure, but it’s the comforting amount of gooey nacho cheese that makes this taco variation a definite must-try. A deliciously necessary coating for the rapturous seasoned beef — a mixture T.B. always does right — with its soft flour tortillas completely sealing this culinary deal.

Taco Bell Spicy Loaded Nacho Taco

Even better is the mouth-warming Spicy Loaded Nacho Taco, which is basically like the original version with the welcomed bonus of fiery jalapenos to turn the heat up. Mine was practically overloaded with the hellish green discs.

Is there anything else you need to know?

The best thing about these? They’re dollar menu items, allowing even someone with merely a handful of pocket change to enjoy one or, someone with even more cash on hand, to enjoy both of them, possibly even more.

Conclusion:

True to form, Taco Bell’s dollar menu delights continue to amaze with the amount of food and flavor it can pack into a buck’s worth of grub; this duo of Loaded Nacho Tacos are absolutely no exception. They’re, of course, a limited time offer, so you better get them while the getting’s good, hombre.

Purchased Price: $1.00 each
?Size: N/A
?Rating: 8 out of 10 (Loaded Nacho Taco)
Rating: 9 out of 10 (Spicy Loaded Nacho Taco)
?Nutrition Facts: Loaded Nacho Taco – 280 calories, 14 grams of fat, 5 grams of saturated fat, 0 gram of trans fat, 25 milligrams of cholesterol, 670 milligrams of sodium, 29 grams of carbohydrates, 4 grams of fiber, 2 grams of sugar, and 10 grams of protein. Spicy Loaded Nacho Taco – 290 calories, 14 grams of fat, 5 grams of saturated fat, 0 gram of trans fat, 25 milligrams of cholesterol, 800 milligrams of sodium, 30 grams of carbohydrates, 4 grams of fiber, 3 grams of sugar, and 10 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Taco Bell Steak Rattlesnake Fries and Burrito

Taco Bell Rattlesnake Fries

Like an angry sirocco tearing through the cactus-strewn desert of Death Valley, Taco Bell has inevitably whipped up a whole nest of spicy snakes into a flavorful frenzy with both the figurative and literal arrival of what is now more popularly known as the Steak Rattlesnake Fries and the Steak Rattlesnake Fries Burrito.

Utilizing its delicious fries, beautifully clad in a hefty amount of taco seasoning, combined with its patented nacho cheese goodness, creamy jalapeno sauce, chunky cuts of steak, and scads upon scads of perfectly sliced jalapenos, together they all naturally combine to deliver an unholy bit of border-bound heat, especially when purposefully devoured with that Taco Bell passion I know we can all muster.

The Taco Bell’s Nacho Fries — reviewed here before — are, of course, a surefire winner, delivering some of the best fast-food fries in the business, but the addition of these tongue-searing extras make the Steak Rattlesnake Fries a wholly welcomed addition to the TB menu. I personally believe that what makes the Bell’s newest menu items so fire-worthy is that, with this delectable go ‘round, it’s definitely not afraid to bring the heat and bring it mercilessly.

Taco Bell Rattlesnake Fries Closeup

The dark spices on the fries, the creamy jalapeno sauce, and especially the multiple jalapeno slices are a definite match made in the deepest pits of Mexico, delivering a heat that, for about a minute, renders the actual taste of the fries a bit obsolete. But, hold steady and that’s when the actual flavor of the fries comes through, a passport from the edge of righteous potatoes to the subtle cream of the jalapeno sauce. It’s a flavor train that goes even deeper with the Steak Rattlesnake Fries Burrito.

Taco Bell Rattlesnake Fries Burrito

Taking a cue from some of this country’s bravest five-year-old chefs, combining Taco Bell’s fries with a burrito is already the game-ball, but to add in this Rattlesnake variety, it’s the whole damn championship. Combining a large tortilla with, of course, the Taco Bell fries with the aforementioned nacho cheese, jalapeno sauce, steak, and even more of the vaunted jalapeno slices, it makes it an easier to eat method of madness. Not to mention how devilishly delicious the whole thing absolutely is.

Taco Bell Rattlesnake Fries Burrito Closeup

Here, the steak really shines through, mingling in a seductive tango with the impervious creamy jalapeno sauce. The nacho cheese, per usual, adds an extra kick but, once again, the addition of real live jalapenos is what it’s all about, a much-needed addition of puro machismo that most of the burritos on Taco Bell’s menu could definitely use. Maybe a little of that jalapeno sauce too, but far be it from me to ask for too many extras.

But, if I may, my main complaint with both of these products would be the $2.99 price tag. The container holding the Steak Rattlesnake Fries is a bit chintzy and, the Steak Rattlesnake Fries Burrito, while seemingly more when holding it in your hands, is apparently even less. Dine accordingly, but, as they are here for a limited time only, maybe order both or, if I’m being honest, order two burritos and be done with it. You’ve probably spent far more for far less.

Currently, some Taco Bell locations around the country are in the process of test-marketing the supposedly even hotter Reaper Ranch Fries, made with, as you probably guessed, the famed Carolina Reaper peppers. And while it might or might not ever make it to market, nfor now, we can all be routinely thankful and stop by the Bell to take a venomous bite of out of the Rattlesnake. Cómpralo ya!

Purchased Price: $2.99 each
?Size: N/A
?Rating: 8 out of 10 (Steak Rattlesnake Fries)
Rating: 9 out of 10 (Steak Rattlesnake Fries Burrito) 9 out of 10
?Nutrition Facts: Steak Rattlesnake Fries – 450 calories, 28 grams of fat, 4 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 30 milligrams of cholesterol, 1150 milligrams of sodium, 39 grams of carbohydrates, 5 grams of fiber, 3 grams of total sugars, and 12 grams of protein. Steak Rattlesnake Fries Burrito 470 calories, 22 grams of fat, 4.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 30 milligrams of cholesterol, 1260 milligrams of sodium, 52 grams of carbohydrates, 5 grams of fiber, 4 grams of total sugars, and 15 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Taco Bell Grande Burritos

Taco Bell Grande Burritos

It’s a new year at Taco Bell and to kick 2019 off right, here’s a pair of grande dollar menu burritos to shove greedily in your eagerly awaiting mouth!

A new spin of the usual combinations and recombinations of meat, cheese, and tortillas, the Bell is seemingly eager to win our hearts (and our stomachs) early this year with these cost-effective and comically large — or grande, if you will — additions that, of course, are for a limited time only. Introducing the Three Cheese Nacho Grande Burrito and, to lesser effect, the Chicken Enchilada Burrito, both worth a taste or two.

Three Cheese Nacho Grande Burrito

Taco Bell Grande Burritos 2

The Three Cheese Nacho is composed of the always-welcomed seasoned beef, lovingly ladled reduced-fat sour cream and those crunchy red strips, but is additionally smothered in a vaunted mixture of the three-cheese blend and the beautiful nacho cheese sauce. Plump the way a fast food burrito should be, this triple queso meat shaft is the bomb, each bite exploding in your mouth.

A particular point of interest, as usual, is the nacho cheese. Ain’t nobody, especially in the world of corporate tacos, that does the electric yellow paste any better. Here, it mixes with the mélange of sexy meat and red strips for a cost-effective fiesta of faux-Mexican delights.

Chicken Enchilada Grande Burrito

Taco Bell Grande Burritos 3

Not ringing my Bell as much, however, is the Chicken Enchilada one. I know the name sounds more than appealing, but this combination of spicy shredded chicken, tangy red sauce, stand-by cheese and, of course, sour cream, has one dastardly downfall in abundance — make that overabundance — of TB’s bland “seasoned” rice.

If I were to order it again, I’d ask them to hold the handful of rice kernels, because the sheer amount of them makes for a very dry, very flavorless competition with the delightful shredded chicken and red sauce. No enchilada I’ve ever downed — chicken or otherwise — has ever had this much rice dumped in it and, if it did, it was either on the side or in the garbage, take your pick.

But, I understand some of you like that; here you go, you can have the rest of mine. Don’t say I never gave you nothing.

Taco Bell Grande Burritos 4

As for me, I’ll just order an extra Three Cheese Nacho Grande Burrito next time, basking in the ancient rays of a cheesy sun, the queso spilling out and waterfalling down the front of my shirt, where it will be undoubtedly scooped up and devoured by an errant red strip or two. Cómpralo ya!

Purchased Price: $1.00 each
Size: N/A
Rating: 8 out of 10 (Three Cheese Nacho)
Rating: 4 out of 10 (Chicken Enchilada)
Nutrition Facts: Three Cheese Nacho – 420 calories, 18 grams of fat, 6 grams of saturated fat, 0 gram of trans fat, 30 milligrams of cholesterol, 910 milligrams of sodium, 50 grams of carbohydrates, 5 grams of fiber, 4 grams of sugar, and 14 grams of protein. Chicken Enchilada – 370 calories, 13 grams of fat, 5 grams of saturated fat, 0 gram of trans fat, 40 milligrams of cholesterol, 990 milligrams of sodium, 50 grams of carbohydrates, 4 grams of fiber, 3 grams of sugar, and 15 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Taco Bell Diablo Tortilla Chips

Taco Bell Diablo Tortilla Chips

Taco Bell’s Diablo Tortilla Chips are the most devilish and ominous looking chips I’ve ever seen. It’s hard to get more menacing than black chips with red seasoning that come in a bag with a warning label. The only ways I could think of to make them more intimidating is if the inside of the bag was a dark portal to hell and after opening it a claw made from the chips jets out to try to drag you into the netherworld.

Taco Bell Diablo Tortilla Chips 2

The chip’s flavor honors Taco Bell’s Diablo Sauce. It’s a limited time only addition to the Taco Bell Tortilla Chips line that made its debut earlier this year with three flavors — Mild, Hot, and Classic.

The second thing I noticed about these, right behind reminding me of death, is how hearty they are. They feel thicker and sturdier than Tostitos or Doritos and could handle any dip you put in front of it. But there’s no need for any because they have a lot of flavor.

They also have some heat.

If you’re not familiar with Diablo Sauce, you should know these chips are spicy. To me, they’re below or equal to Flamin’ Hot products. The first few have a nice burn. But at a point, they seemed to get less spicy. It’s as if my mouth got slightly numb, so I couldn’t feel the hot peppers as much. While I didn’t feel the need to grab a glass of water, I did need to grab a tissue because the spiciness made my nose run a little.

Taco Bell Diablo Tortilla Chips 3

On the back of the bag, it says they have a hint of lime. My definition of a “hint” is different and, to me, these have more than a hint. But that’s fine with me because the lime flavor is what makes these stand out. The citrus cuts through the heat a little, which might explain the previously mentioned drop in spiciness, and it also helps make the peppery flavor stand out, which kind of reminds me of taco seasoning, but super spicy.

If you’re a fan of the sauce, you’ll very much enjoy Taco Bell’s Diablo Tortilla Chips. They are spicy AND flavorful. A minor downside is that the seasoning doesn’t make your fingers look like you’ve been crawling through hell. Sucking on the seasoning that builds up on fingers from eating Cheetos and Doritos is satisfying, so I’m disappointed I don’t experience something like that with these. But, overall, these are heavenly.

Purchased Price: Too much from eBay
Size: 3.5 oz. bag
Purchased at: eBay (currently a 7-Eleven exclusive, will be available in more stores later this year)
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 oz.) 140 calories, 8 grams of fat, 0.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 110 milligrams of sodium, 16 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 1 gram of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Taco Bell Chipotle Triple Double Crunchwrap

Taco Bell Chipotle Triple Double Crunchwrap

If you thought that last month’s Double Cheesy Gordita Crunch was one filling S.O.B., the Triple Double Crunchwrap is back to prove you woefully wrong, and this time, it’s got some seriously sassy backup in the form of a seriously spicy chipotle sauce.

I hope you have some of that Baja Blast waiting off to the side, son.

The infamous disc-like shape of the Crunchwrap effortlessly holds the best and brightest of Taco Bell’s menu in an easy-to-transport carrying case, barely containing plenty of cheese, plenty of meat, and plenty of chipotle. It’s a monstrosity, a real two-hander judiciously wrapped in a mostly-bulging tightly-pressed tortilla, ready to carnalistically explode in a flame of intense flavor.

Once again, the patented Taco Bell nacho cheese sauce takes full control here, mixing most hedonistically with the heated chipotle sauce, bringing an unexpected twinge of sweet hurt to the proceedings, a small controlled burn that only a culinary arsonist could ever truly love. Without a doubt, the cheese and the chipotle are the true crossover stars here, mostly thanks to those unsung taco artists back in the kitchen doing an excellent job of laying it on thick and heavy.

Taco Bell Chipotle Triple Double Crunchwrap 2

The top layer of lettuce and tomatoes are a veritable bed of much-needed greens for vitamins and minerals, but are quickly forgotten when the hidden action that lies in Taco Bell’s always provocative seasoned beef is devoured. Spread across two hard tostada shells and wrapped in the aforementioned pressed tortilla with a good bit of reduced-fat sour cream here and there in the folds, this might be the Bell’s best creation yet.

Taco Bell Chipotle Triple Double Crunchwrap 3

An exciting improvement to the original Triple Double Crunchwrap — which is back on the menu too — this chipotle variation is not just another random notch on Taco Bell’s belt, but instead, a welcomed, spicier take on some of their best menu items, with only one real minor drawback. This thing is so massive and filling that you’re not going to have room in you for anything else, except for that Baja Blast.

Is it too much of a good thing? Perhaps, but I’ll take it anyway. Sure, they may be going back to the well two (or three) times over, but each new additional ingredient, no matter how small, proves that Taco Bell keeps on knocking it out of the border ballpark with every ingenious turn of the tortilla. Cómpralo ya!

(Nutrition Facts – 770 calories, 38 grams of fat, 10 grams of saturated fat, 0.5 gram of trans fat, 50 milligrams of cholesterol, 1650 milligrams of sodium, 86 grams of carbohydrates, 9 grams of fiber, 8 grams of sugar, and 8 grams of protein.)

Purchased Price: $3.49
Size: N/A
Rating: 10 out of 10
Pros: Ingenious move. Absolutely huge. Great oral burn.
Cons: No need to order other items other than a Baja Blast.