We Tasted 21 Taco Bell Menu Items And This One Reigns Supreme

Have you ever wanted to try every single thing on the Taco Bell menu? We're happy to report that we lived out your dream. And it was every bit as fantastic as you might imagine. This California-bred taco chain has been satisfying America's late-night cravings since 1962 and now has more than 7,000 locations around the world. Truly, an international delight. However, we needed just one location to get our hands on the best burritos, nachos, and tacos — and put them to the test. 

As longtime Taco Bell fans, we were so excited to taste some of the most popular items on the menu. Our ranking system here was based on how well these ingredients fit together in that particular dish — and whether or not the food lived up to its reputation outside Taco Bell. We tried to keep it fair and only based the rankings on what we were eating that day, and not the amazing taco we had there ten years ago. We'll tell you more about that later — but for now, join us as we count down the Taco Bell menu from worst to best. Where does your favorite rank on the list?

We love potatoes, so we were excited to try this dish. When we first opened the container, we were happy enough as the spuds looked like homefries — one of our favorite options. They were nicely seasoned and golden brown, so we knew they were cooked nicely. Unfortunately, that's when the nice things about this dish ended. The two types of cheese included in this side were nice in concept, but their texture was awful. They were so gloopy it felt a bit like eating spoonfuls of slime.

Not only that, but even when we mixed the dish together thoroughly, the weird texture never really went away. For some reason, instead of evenly coating the pieces, it kind of seemed like the starch of the potatoes was actively repelling the cheese instead. Because of this textural nightmare, the Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes have to rank near the very bottom of the list.

One of the most glaring issues with the Chicken Enchilada Burrito is the overwhelming presence of rice. The rice-to-filling ratio is completely out of balance, with the burrito feeling more like a rice dish than a hearty, protein-packed meal. The excessive amount completely dominated the flavor profile, almost ruining each bite. Plus, there was hardly any chicken inside. The lack of protein was disappointing.

Plus, the texture of the burrito was a bit too doughy for our liking, as the tortilla was so tightly wrapped that if you were not getting rice, it was just a mouthful of tortilla at times. This made eating the dish feel pretty dense, as it was so carb-heavy that it kind of went down like an anvil. Finally, the enchilada sauce falls short of expectations. It lacks the rich, complex flavors typically associated with traditional enchiladas. This resulted in a taste experience that felt disconnected from its namesake. If the sauce was better, we might have ranked this higher, but as it stands the Chicken Enchilada Burrito is a flop.

The rice in the burrito tasted like those pre-packaged ones, à la Uncle Ben's. It tasted stale and old. That said, unlike other options on this list that had entirely too much rice, we have to add that the Cheesy Bean and Rice Burrito had a better ratio.

Unfortunately, it went downhill with the beans, because they were so unevenly spread. Instead of getting some in each bite, we found that they were just clumped together at one end. This made the burrito taste rather unbalanced. Although the Cheesy Bean and Rice Burrito is a cheap and convenient meal option, it falls short of its potential. It's possible the rice we had really was old and this dish was only bad in a one-off, but we don't think so. Although the beans tasted nice, it was too much at once. For this reason, this dish ranks pretty low on our list.

The Cheesy Roll-Up is on the dollar menu, offering a quick bite for those on a budget. At first glance, it kind of looks like a miniature cheese quesadilla. It's a warm tortilla wrapped around melted cheese. But when you take a closer look, it's obvious that there's way more tortilla than cheese happening here. The tortilla is nice and soft, but there's so little cheese inside that it kind of tasted like we were just eating bread with nothing else.

The only plus about this snack, and the reason that we've still ranked it this high, is that it still has good value. If you're on a budget and you want to feel full, dropping a dollar plus tax on this cheese and tortilla combo is enough to make the hunger pangs drop a bit. So while it doesn't come through for flavor, it does come through on substance.

We were excited to try the Nachos Bellgrande, which promised a bold explosion of flavors, with crispy chips smothered in cheese and topped with savory meat. Unfortunately, only about half of these things came true. First, the cheese in the Nachos Bellgrande provided a welcome kick of spiciness, adding a pleasant warmth to each bite. However, its texture was a bit strange and kind of tasted like a cheap, knockoff Velveeta.

On a more positive note, the chips were nice and crispy. Their sturdy texture held up well under the weight of all the toppings, so nothing broke off mid-scoop. But even though the chips had a nice crunch, the Nachos Bellgrande still fell short overall. It just didn't feel as complete as nachos without other toppings like lettuce and jalapenos to add a pop of color and fresh taste. So we liked this dish okay, but it could have been better — leaving it in the middle of the pack.

The Steak Grilled Cheese Burrito delivers on its promise of substance. Each bite felt very rich and filling thanks to the generous portions of steak, rice, cheese, and tortilla chips stuffed inside. However, the burrito did manage to strike a delicate balance of flavors in such a small space. The steak was cooked well and tasted great when covered in the melted cheese. The crunch of the tortilla chips was also nice, texture-wise. The burrito has a little bit of spice, but not too much, so even people who aren't really fans of spicy food might still enjoy it.

The only downside to this dish was its weight. We felt very full after eating this and still can't decide if the bloating was a side effect of a great meal or just too many rich ingredients together. We also feel like, as with some of the other burritos, there could have been a few more ingredients so the tortilla didn't feature so prominently in each bite. For that reason, this dish ranks solidly in the middle.

Taco Bell's Black Bean Crunchwrap Supreme offers a vegetarian twist on a classic favorite. It promises the same satisfying crunch and bold flavors in a meat-free package. In a way, this dish does deliver that with the crispy tortilla shell and the mix of ingredients inside. But without the beef, it was missing something. The black beans were an okay substitute, but they didn't have that same satisfying bite as seasoned ground beef. They were too soft, so the mouthfuls were a bit mushy.

There was also a slightly disappointing lack of black beans in the black bean crunchwrap. Those that were there tasted alright overall, but there just weren't enough of them to make their flavor stand out. However, the rest of the wrap was delicious enough to help it rank higher. The crunch of the tortilla, the creamy cheese, the tangy sauce, and the crisp lettuce all came together to create a delicious mix of flavors that we enjoyed.

When you bite into the Cinnabon Delights, they might seem a bit dry like bread, but don't worry. Once you start to chew, you'll be pleasantly surprised by the moist and delicious interior that contrasts with the slightly drier outside. This mix of textures makes every following bite pretty good.

The thing we liked the best about Cinnabon Delights has to be the yummy cinnamon sugar coating. The coating adds a nice crunch and makes every bite sweet, just the way Cinnabon is known for. There's a melted icing inside, too that's nice and tangy. Even though they're small, these treats are packed with flavor. But a word of warning — they're so rich that you can't eat too many at once. The small size is actually perfect because it lets you enjoy each bite without getting overwhelmed. If we had ordered any more, we likely would have been sick.

The Chicken Power Menu Bowl is an awesome option for people who want a delicious and filling meal on the go. We enjoyed it because it had a good mix of ingredients and tasted satisfying. One of the best things about it is the variety of ingredients inside. It reminded us of a burrito bowl from Chipotle — just less expensive. It had seasoned chicken, rice, beans, veggies, and guacamole. Even though it's a little smaller than bowls from other restaurants, you get guacamole at no extra cost, which is a nice bonus.

The only downside for us is that we wish there was a bit more chicken for those who want plenty of protein. However, you can pay a bit more when ordering on a kiosk to add a double portion. But overall, the Chicken Power Menu Bowl lives up to its name because it tastes great and leaves us feeling full — but not bloated and overstuffed like after other menu items. It's also a good gluten-free option for people with dietary restrictions. For this reason, it's nearly at the top.

There are many reasons we had to rank this taco at the top. To start with, the shell was a giant Nacho Cheese Dorito. Can things get any better? The shell had a super crunchy and addictive texture, giving a satisfying cheesy crunch with every bite. The tangy Dorito seasoning really took things to another level of deliciousness. It was also the perfect match for the savory beef filling. Speaking of the filling, Taco Bell's seasoned beef seems to taste its best in this taco when compared to other options on the menu. We felt like the cheese in the shell must have been the boost beef needed to shine. 

Finally, unlike eating regular Doritos, the Locos Tacos' shell never seems to stain our fingers like the regular chips do — but maybe that's because we practically inhaled it. Either way, this dish is delicious and should be everyone's go-to.

During our taste test, the first thing that stood out to us was the lack of variety in the ingredients. While the haters might think this is a negative, we were honestly impressed with all the different ways Taco Bell has discovered to combine refried beans, ground beef, tortillas, and queso. As with any sampling, the ranking system might seem a bit subjective — but that's because it definitely is. However, in the interest of fairness, here is how we determined each food's spot. We actually ranked the foods by how well the ingredients worked together in that dish. Did the sauce go well with the other flavors? Was the cheese nice and smooth?

We also thought about whether the food matched what people think it should taste like outside Taco Bell. So the enchilada had to taste like a proper enchilada, and we considered whether we could actually make better quesadillas at home. We also tried to be fair and only based the rankings on what we ate that day, not some incredible taco we had ages ago.