I love Taco Bell. I loved it in high school because it was close enough to drive to during lunch periods. I loved it in college because it was the only place open for hungry drunken kids (this was before places like McDonalds and Wendy’s started staying open past 10pm). And I love it now because, well just because I still love fast food. If you look at a T-Bell menu you’ve got like 100 different entrée choices, but like any other Mexican restaurant sometimes it’s tough to tell exactly what’s what. I think Jim Gaffigan said it best during his stand up about what different menu items are: “Just say a word and I’ll bring you something!” It is kind of true, what’s the real difference between an enchilada, a tostada, a chalupa, or a gordita? It’s some kind of tortilla with cheese, meat and vegetables inside. Well now they add to that: The Tortada.
This is not the Taco you’re looking for...
As you may have guessed based on other reviews, I’m a sucker for new menu items. And thanks to TBell, I have ample opportunities to try new things. Their newest offering, the Tortada, is some sort of sandwich hybrid. I made a run to the closest boarder and ordered one up (along with a few other favorites) and headed back home excited to experience something new. Unfortunately, the “new” I experienced was similar to when my TiVo records something listed a first run that’s really a three year-old repeat. The Tortada is basically a Crunchwrap without the taco slice in the middle, and cut in half. Seriously, there’s little to no difference other than a few ingredients. The two different Tortadas have so little of the actual ingredients that make them different that’s it tough to tell what’s actually inside. And then on top of that, it’s cut in half, losing the novelty of the Crunchwrap where it was easy to eat.
In terms of nutrition, well they’re not horrible. The bacon ranch version is obviously worse for you, but they’re not the unhealthiest thing on the menu. If you’re anything like me you don’t just order one thing, though the Tortada is a decent size so you’re probably okay getting just one other companion item with it. Meaning that your trip to T-Bell won’t completely ruin your dietary requirements for the day.
Overall, it just seems like a knockoff of a menu item that isn’t all that popular. It isn’t terrible, but it’s just not good. It’s messier than a very similar item, and it’s not healthy alternative to anything. Even as a TBell fan I can’t recommend this to anyone.
I give it one sad cracked bell.
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