Taco Bell Nacho Fries Review 2018

Taco Bell has finally entered direct competition with McDonald’s and Burger King by offering their own take on French fries: their new Nacho Fries.

Writer’s Note: This article was originally published in February 2018 on my Meatless Fast Food blog, but I’m now bringing it to my current website Sakmann Sports News and Entertainment Blogs.net. This was a review of them at launch, so the content of the article remains unchanged. The funny part (if you can stomach the inflation) is seeing how much cheaper Taco Bell was just seven years ago.

The Nacho Fries themselves are both vegetarian and vegan, but the dipping cheese that it is served with is obviously not vegan. The fries are advertised nationally at $1, which is pretty good value, but every franchise I’ve visited has sold them for $1.39. The fries are also offered in a $5 box (again, upwards of $6.50 for me), alongside a Cheesy Gordita Crunch and Doritos Loco Taco, with a medium drink.

To make the fries even more versatile, they are offered in Supreme and Bell Grande varieties. The fries are served in a tray, topped originally with beef (which you would substitute for refried or black beans), sour cream, cheese, and tomatoes.

Finally, in another solid move for meatless Taco Bell-goers, the fries can be substituted for beef, in say, a Crunchwap Supreme. The end result is pretty satisfying, if not even too much food. The only downside: it’s not a clean substitution, but a $1 upcharge. Considering the move from meat to potato, it’s just a little disappointing.

Now getting to the fries themselves.

For “$1,” the size of the fries isn’t too bad. I’ve found that as a side, there’s a fair amount of fries, but on their own I find myself wishing there were just a few more fries.

The Nacho Fries have “Mexican seasoning,” with visible red specks on them. I wouldn’t call it spicy, maybe just a hint of a kick, but nothing that should be too spicy for anyone. The Mexican seasoning includes: Maltodextrin, garlic, paprika, sugar, onion, salt, paprika extract (VC), citric acid, disodium guanylate & inosinate, spices, aged cayenne red peppers, vinegar, natural flavors.

The cheese is the biggest difference between the Nacho Fries and say, McDonald’s fries. Served warm, it’s perfect for dipping your fries (again, unless you’re vegan!). The fries are thick enough for scooping and holding the cheese sauce. I guess any shortage in fries is made up for with the inclusion of cheese, usually at least $0.50. If you look at it that way, the Nacho Fries are even cheaper.

Since Nacho Fries were released nationally on January 25th, I’ve found myself getting them a few times. They’re a great add-on if you’re already getting an item or two, or could serve as a nice snack on their own.

The fries didn’t blow me away, but they were good, and with the cheese it’s still a great value whether it’s $1 or $1.39.