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Finding the Best Thing to Order in Taco Bell: A Comprehensive Guide

3 min read

According to official company information, millions of customers visit Taco Bell restaurants each week in the US alone, making it one of the most popular fast-food chains. But with a menu full of cheesy, crunchy, and savory options, deciding what is the best thing to order in Taco Bell can be a delicious dilemma. This guide breaks down the top choices based on taste, value, and personal preference.

Quick Summary

A breakdown of the top Taco Bell menu items for every type of craving, including fan-favorite specialties, budget-friendly options, and satisfying choices for vegetarians and customizers.

Key Points

  • Cheesy Gordita Crunch: A fan favorite known for its satisfying combination of a hard taco shell wrapped in a soft gordita flatbread with melted cheese and spicy ranch sauce.

  • Crunchwrap Supreme: An iconic, portable meal with seasoned beef, nacho cheese, and a crunchy tostada shell all grilled into a hexagonal wrap.

  • Best Value Option: The Cheesy Bean and Rice Burrito is a budget-friendly and filling choice, especially when ordered grilled for extra crispiness.

  • Vegetarian Excellence: The Spicy Potato Soft Taco offers a flavorful, meat-free option with crispy potatoes and creamy chipotle sauce.

  • Customization is Key: Taco Bell's menu is highly customizable. Don't hesitate to add, swap, or remove ingredients to create your perfect meal, or try a secret menu hack.

  • Consider Your Cravings: The best order depends on your mood. Choose a Crunchwrap for portability, a Cheesy Gordita Crunch for texture, or the Chicken Quesadilla for a classic flavor combination.

In This Article

Fan-Favorite Taco Bell Specialties

For many, the true appeal of Taco Bell lies in its unique creations that blend classic taco ingredients into innovative, portable formats. These flagship items are often the first thing people recommend.

The Cheesy Gordita Crunch

The Cheesy Gordita Crunch is a consistent fan favorite. It includes a taco shell with seasoned beef, spicy ranch sauce, lettuce, and cheese, all wrapped in a soft gordita flatbread with melted cheese. This combination of textures and flavors is a key highlight.

The Crunchwrap Supreme

Introduced in 2005, the Crunchwrap Supreme is an iconic menu item. It features a large flour tortilla filled with seasoned beef, nacho cheese sauce, a crispy tostada shell, sour cream, lettuce, and tomatoes, folded into a hexagon and grilled. Its design makes it a convenient, handheld meal.

The Chicken Quesadilla

The Chicken Quesadilla is a popular and straightforward choice, often being the most ordered combo meal in some scenarios. It contains grilled chicken and a melted three-cheese blend in a toasted flour tortilla, enhanced by creamy jalapeño sauce. Its simple yet classic flavors make it a reliable option.

The Ultimate Taco Bell Value Menu

For value seekers, Taco Bell’s Cravings Value Menu offers many affordable yet flavorful options.

Cheesy Bean and Rice Burrito

A great value option, the Cheesy Bean and Rice Burrito is vegetarian-friendly. It's a filling mix of refried beans, seasoned rice, and nacho cheese sauce, often costing less than other menu items. Grilling it is a popular enhancement.

Spicy Potato Soft Taco

This vegetarian option features crispy fried potatoes, lettuce, shredded cheese, and creamy chipotle sauce in a soft tortilla. The seasoned potatoes provide a satisfying texture and taste.

Customizations and Secret Menu Hacks

Taco Bell allows for significant customization to create personalized orders.

  • Get it Grilled: Requesting a burrito be grilled adds a crispy texture.
  • Add Nacho Fries: Incorporating Nacho Fries into burritos or tacos adds crunch and saltiness when available.
  • The Cheesarito: A simple cheese roll-up with red sauce and scallions, this discontinued item can sometimes be ordered by request.
  • The Incredible Hulk: This is a Beefy 5-Layer Burrito with guacamole replacing the nacho cheese.

Taco Bell Favorites: A Comparison Table

Here is a quick overview of some popular items:

Feature Crunchwrap Supreme Cheesy Gordita Crunch Chicken Quesadilla
Flavor Profile Mix of beef, tangy sauce, vegetables. Beef, cheese, spicy ranch. Grilled chicken, cheese, creamy spicy sauce.
Texture Soft tortilla, crunchy tostada, creamy fillings. Soft gordita, crunchy taco shell. Toasted tortilla, melted cheese.
Portability Excellent. Good, can be messy. Generally good, can be messy.
Key Ingredients Beef, nacho cheese, tostada, sour cream, lettuce, tomato. Beef, three-cheese blend, spicy ranch, lettuce, hard taco shell. Grilled chicken, three-cheese blend, creamy jalapeño sauce.

How to Build the Best Taco Bell Order

The best choice is personal. Consider your craving (crunchy, cheesy, spicy?), your budget (check the Cravings Value Menu), and don't hesitate to customize. Swapping proteins for beans or potatoes works for vegetarians, and adding ingredients like extra cheese is easy.

Conclusion

While many items are great, the Cheesy Gordita Crunch or Crunchwrap Supreme are strong contenders for the best overall experience due to their unique textures and flavors. For value, the Cheesy Bean and Rice Burrito is a top pick. The Chicken Quesadilla is a classic choice for chicken lovers. Taco Bell excels at satisfying various cravings through its menu and customization options. Visit TacoBell.com for more information.

Note: Availability and pricing of menu items can vary by location.

Frequently Asked Questions

While multiple items are fan favorites, the Cheesy Gordita Crunch and Crunchwrap Supreme are frequently ranked among the most popular and beloved menu items due to their unique flavor and texture combinations.

For many, the Cheesy Bean and Rice Burrito represents the best value. It's affordable, filling, and can be customized easily. Other excellent value options include the Spicy Potato Soft Taco and Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes.

Yes, but it's not official. The 'secret menu' consists of popular customer-driven modifications and discontinued items that can sometimes be ordered by asking for specific ingredients, such as getting a burrito 'grilled' or ordering an Incredible Hulk.

Yes, Taco Bell's black beans and refried beans are certified vegetarian by the American Vegetarian Association (AVA), making them a reliable option for vegetarian meals.

Most items can be made vegetarian by swapping out the seasoned beef or chicken for black beans or potatoes. This is a common customization that allows for a wide range of meat-free options.

The Cheesy Gordita Crunch features a spicy ranch sauce. This sauce adds a creamy, zesty, and slightly spicy flavor that complements the beef and cheese filling.

You can ask for your burrito to be 'grilled,' which is a simple request that many Taco Bell employees are familiar with. This will toast and flatten the burrito, creating a crispier outer shell.

References

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Medical Disclaimer

This content is for informational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice.