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Click here to read over the basics of my new series, Fast Food Reviews
Everybody seems to have an opinion of Taco Bell, from those who swear by its frequent new items to those who condemn the place as a sad reflection of American society. However, coming in to this review, it was important that we remove any bias from our minds and focus on the task at hand.
I was joined on this day by my friend Grayson (@Steele_GG). Both of us have been to Taco Bell many times, but on this occasion we went to a different restaurant than usual to avoid familiarity.
Before even stepping foot in the restaurant, we pre-planned what our order would be using Taco Bell's online menu, totaling almost $24.
In covering all sections of the menu, we ordered at least one item from every subset besides the limited time offers and breakfast options, the former because they are temporary and the latter because the window of time had passed.
For Adam:
Doritos Locos Taco ($1.49)
7-Layer Burrito ($2.49)
Quesarito ($2.59)
Beefy Fritos Burrito ($1.00)
For Grayson:
Crunchy Taco ($1.19)
Bean Burrito ($1.29)
Loaded Potato Griller ($1.49)
Cheese Quesadilla ($2.49)
Spicy Potato Soft Taco ($1.00)
To Share:
Cinnabon Delights, 4 pack ($1.49)
Cheesy Nachos ($1.39)
Total: $24.13
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| The scene just after ordering. Taco Bell staff went into overtime preparing this order. |
Individual Item Reviews:
Doritos Locos Taco (Adam)
Everybody remembers the high-profile introduction of this item a few years ago. Since then, the item has more or less faded into being a regular part of the menu, and the taste follows suit.
The Doritos aspect is curiously understated to me, not tasting much different from the regular crunchy taco, which is incidentally 30 cents cheaper. If you order the Doritos taco, you're looking for the classic Doritos flavor and powdery aftermath, period. Taco Bells incantation does not deliver on that front, but the classic taco taste of the Bell is all there.
Crunchy Taco (Grayson)
"A mess of mainly cheese and lettuce; I see nothing else. I'm impatient, and meat isn't delivered until I delve deep into the interior of the taco, and the item, only barely holds on to its structural integrity. this is an egregious effort to what is supposed to be a Taco Bell original and stand by recipe"
7-Layer Burrito (Adam)
Although the burrito most likely housed seven different layers of ingredient, upon inspection all I could see was lettuce, tomato, and sour cream. Eating the item confirmed this, as the burrito was suspiciously low on actual meat, cheese, or any other main ingredient. As this was consistent with Grayson's assessment of the crunchy taco, I can't help but wonder if this is part of Taco Bell's M.O. - masking a lack of substance with filler.
Bean Burrito (Grayson)
"As far as bean burritos go this one is good. The consistency bugs me somewhat, it's a bit pasty and mushy with a random vegetable crunch, which I think is supposed to be pepper. Overall a decent take on a difficult item."
Quesarito (Adam)
Another once-hot new item that has now become a staple of the menu, i was excited to try the Quesarito. However, I must say that I was disappointed in the aftermath. At $2.59, one would expect this item to be greater in either magnitude or taste from Taco Bell's notorious cheaper items, but the Quesarito didn't wow me in this way. Aside from not distinguishing itself, the Quesarito features a disastrous combo that will be touched on later - cheese and rice.
Loaded Potato Griller (Grayson)
"Well wrapped, warm, and nicely toasted. Good aesthetic, quite a bit of cheese. Only complaint is that there is not enough potato."
Beefy Fritos Burrito (Adam)
Even before coming into the restaurant for this review, I knew for the most part that the Beefy Fritos Burrito was one of my favorites. From the low price of $1 to the perfect mix of meat, rice, and Fritos, there's frankly nothing I would change if given the opportunity. This is one of the best items on the menu.
Cheese Quesadilla (Grayson)
"Soggy, cheesy mess. Cheese got on my hand as I pulled it out of the condensation-soaked wrapper. Spice isn't enough to taste good it's just an annoyance. It's a cheesy mess that doesn't sit well in my mouth."
This goes back to what i noted earlier - Taco Bell's cheese in a colder melted form is terrible. When heated, as in a burrito or taco, I have no complaints, but when it appears in this quesadilla or in the flatbread steak sandwich, it is exactly as described above.
Cinnabon Delights (Both)
Grayson: "Wonderful. Sugary, sweet, and a nice change of pace. Great treat, and the creamy middle is fantastic."
Adam: I'll admit I wasn't expecting much from a seemingly basic cinnamon treat, especially from a Taco Bell, but like Grayson I was pleasantly surprised. The Cinnabon Delights may very well be the best dessert item I've ever had at any fast food place. Just the right temperature, and the creamy middle is perfect. Couldn't recommend more.
Spicy Potato Soft Taco (Grayson)
"Well wrapped, warm, nicely toasted - good aesthetic. Quite a bit of cheese, perhaps not enough potato."
Cheesy Nachos (Both)
Grayson: "Plain but good. Addictive, the cheese is enjoyable. A definite step above Chipotle's over salted competition."
Adam: These are much like what one would get at a baseball game. I don't know if a different type of cheese is being used, but it tastes much different (and much better) than what was used in other cheesy items.
Gradecards
Ambience
Adam (6/10): I've never really enjoyed Taco Bell's environment for whatever reason. The lighting was dim, perhaps trying to create the illusion of an upscale cantina. In my opinion, fast food places should cater to those who frequent them, and that is not being done at Taco Bell. However, I do have to give credit to the mainly clean and uncrowded interior.
Grayson (9/10): "Lighting was spectacular, art on the walls was lively and inviting. Floor clean."
Service
Adam (7/10)
I gave points off for inattentiveness at the counter, but overall I am a fan of Taco Bell's associates. The experience is minimalistic and there's no pleasantries to be exchanged - perfect for fast food.
Grayson (6/10)
"Cashier was nice, but I had to wait even with no line."
Price
Adam (8/10)
Taco Bell has an array of cheaper items to be ordered a la carte, and price is often not an issue. The only problem is occasionally items are not as filling as one would like.
Grayson (7/10)
Entrees
Grayson (3/10)
Adam (7/10)
Grayson and I disagree substantially on this category. To me, the combination of beef, meat and cheese is, for the most part, done well by Taco Bell. If this combo distastes you, then this restaurant probably isn't for you. There's certainly room for improvement but I have no major qualms.
Sides
Grayson (9/10)
Adam (8/10)
Although Taco Bell's sides are a little underwhelming in their selection, their quality obviously impressed Grayson and I. We've mentioned how good the nachos and Cinnabon Delights were, and i have no reason to believe that any of the other items (larger nachos, cheese roll-up, cinnamon twists) would be any different.
Aesthetic
Grayson (5/10)
Adam (4/10)
Although this is a rough patch for the establishment, there's not much one can do with fast food burritos to make them look overly appealing. In Taco Bell's case, burritos are hard to distinguish from one another and are all presented in the same bland, white packaging.
Nutrition
Grayson (5/10)
Adam (4/10)
The good: many of Taco Bell's main dishes have very similar ingredients and ingredient ratios, nutrition is fairly consistent across the board. The bad: those ratios are not great. As we are judging against fellow fast food restaurants, the grading curve isn't as steep as it could be, but taco Bell still does not rank favorably, more in terms of overall well-being following consumption than proteins, fats, and carbs.
Drink Selection
Grayson (6/10)
Adam (9/10)
I believe Grayson scored this category a bit low because he prefers Coke to Pepsi, whereas Taco Bell has the latter. I myself am more of a Pepsi guy, but my high score in this category goes beyond that. To my knowledge, Taco Bell is the only joint to serve Mountain Dew Baja Blast, and in my opinion, that's the only draw the place needs. It's not the widest selection, but for limited specialties, Taco Bell is your stop.
Drive Through
Grayson (4/10)
Adam (6/10)
This section was based off of prior experiences, so I can't quite get a read for Grayson's low score in this category. From my past visits, I can say that even though the restaurant is rarely crowded, the drive through has consistently had some curiously long wait times. Other than that, I've had no problems with any other aspect of the Taco Bell drive through.
Bathrooms
Grayson (9/10)
Adam (7/10)
Both Grayson and I were pleasantly surprised upon inspection of the bathrooms; they were clean and well-lit with not a leaky faucet to be found. The issues I had were 1) the bathroom was a bit too small for a large crowd, and 2) the floor was wet, which does show that it is maintained regularly, but is not desirable. Obviously no commentary on the women's bathroom can be provided.
Final thoughts
Overall Grade
Adam: 66/100
Grayson: 54/100
One Word To Describe Your Experience
Grayson: Adequate
Adam: Polarizing
That does it for Taco Bell, I'll be back soon with the next installment in this series. Leave suggestions or questions in the comments below.
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