From chalupas to gorditas, we've ranked the best Taco Bell menu items—from worst to best
Taco Bell fans are a loyal bunch. By the last count, the average Taco Bell customer visits the fast food chain every 11 days. Even more impressive, by the company's estimates, around half the U.S. population visits the restaurant every month.
Why so much love for the Bell? For starters, it's hella good. Each menu item packs in a symphony of flavor and texture—cheesy, crunchy, salty, spicy—mashed up in various formats that are easy to take to-go and supremely satisfying to eat. A Dorito-flavor taco? Yes, please. Mexican pizza? Absolutely. A tortilla shell wrapped in a pillowy soft gordita and packed with the most delicious sauce known to mankind? Hang on, on my way to my nearest Taco Bell.
Be aware: the chain likes to keep its customers on their toes by discontinuing some fan favorites and bringing them back at various times. The way they play with our hearts, and stomachs, is possibly part of the allure.
With their bold flavors, innovative twists and irresistible combos, it's a hard task to say which Taco Bell menu items are the absolute best. But we've taken on the difficult yet important work of evaluating all of the dishes at Taco Bell—and ranking them from worst to best. Did your go-to order make the cut? Take a look and see if you agree with our line-up.
There's technically nothing wrong with the Bell's soft tacos, but there's nothing exceptional about them either. Treat yourself to an upgrade and spring for a mind-blowingly delicious Doritos Locos taco or go all out with a Cheesy Gordita Crunch—both will fill you up faster than the softie.
You might think to yourself, 'It's only a dollar—I might as well toss in a Cheesy Roll Up in case I'm hungry later.' Save your dollar, unless you've got a picky kid in the car. This stripped-down, rolled-up quesadilla is rubbery and bland at best.
There are certain things that Taco Bell does really, really well—like mashing up menu items and coating taco shells in Doritos dust. But when it comes to burritos, there's plenty to be desired. This excessively cheesy five-layer monstrosity is no exception. By the time you get it home, the seasoned beef, beans, sour cream, cheese and nacho cheese have melded together into a sticky, gloppy mess.
Taco Bell is for late nights, of course. But breakfast? The Bell has several morning items, including a Breakfast Quesadilla that comes with a choice of meat (bacon, sausage, steak) and scrambled eggs layering into a classic quesadilla. A breakfast quesadilla as a concept is on point, but in this case, the eggs are a bit too much.
What's not to love about tortilla chips smothered in nacho cheese sauce, seasoned beef, beans, sour cream and tomatoes? The truth of the matter is this dish is deeply dependent on how evenly the kitchen layers those ingredients, but we've rarely seen it go too wrong. For a bit of a kick, add pickled jalapeños to the party.
There's not much in the way of desserts at Taco Bell, but the Cinnabon Delights beckon if you crave a sweet fix. Each poppable nugget is crammed with icing, fried to golden-brown perfection and rolled in cinnamon and sugar. Too bad that they're just a little bit dry.
Sometimes, only a quesadilla will do the trick. We get it. Fortunately, Taco Bell has a decent option. Hunks of chicken swim in a sea of cheese and creamy jalapeño sauce, the latter of which gives the whole thing a nice kick without being overpowering. Psst! You can make it a Supreme for under a buck, which gets you some diced tomatoes and sour cream—suitable upgrades in our book.
A beloved menu staple that finally returned in 2022 and is now billed as a permanent item, Taco Bell's Mexican Pizza is not a pizza at all, but stacked layers of seasoned beef, refried beans, "Mexican Pizza sauce," shredded cheese, and two crispy flour shells. It's nostalgic and has a loyal following, but it sogs quickly and isn't as flavorful as other specialties.
There's an entire Reddit thread dedicated to the fact that Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes deserve some extra love, and we don't disagree. Hunks of soft, seasoned potato are coated in warm nacho cheese sauce before getting a dollop of sour cream on top. *Chef's kiss.*
It's honestly shocking that this teal-hued beverage doesn't taste like battery acid. It's sweet but subtle with a hint of citrus that keeps you coming back for more. Perfect for washing down a Doritos Locos taco.
The queen of the Value Menu, these rotini-shaped dessert crisps are a no-brainer. There's a good chance you'll devour every last cinnamon-dusted twist before you get home from the drive-thru, but that's half the fun, right?
This Cravings Menu must-order is the perfect add-on to your favorite Bell order. Loaded with crispy, seasoned potatoes (think: home fries), and topped with crunchy lettuce, shredded cheese, and a creamy chipotle sauce, this soft taco packs a modest punch. But the combination is balanced and always leaves one wanting more.
There's something about the addition of salty, cheesy Doritos dust that takes a regular old hardshell taco to the next level. Ever since these bad boys joined the menu, we don't really want to eat a taco that doesn't leave our fingers covered in bright orange residue.
The Crunchwrap Supreme is the fast-food gods' gift to stoners. The spaceship-shaped handheld is jam-packed with beef, cheese, lettuce, tomato, sour cream and a tostada shell. Just be sure to eat it fast so that the ingredients don't get mushy.
A study in texture and flavor, the Cheesy Gordita Crunch really does have it all. The warm, pillowy wrap cradles a crunchy hard shell that's hiding a treasure trove of seasoned beef, cheese, lettuce and spicy ranch. It's all glued together with even more cheese—for good measure, of course. It's no wonder this handheld is the shining star of Taco Bell's entire menu.
A favorite among vegetarians and meat-eaters, the Chalupa Supreme can be stuffed with black beans or beef, making it an easy crowd-pleaser. But the star of the show is the thick, soft shell that's like a warm hug for your mouth. This dish has no faults, and no Taco Bell order is complete without a Chalupa.
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