I went to Taco Bell for the first time. I thought it would be cheaper. (2024)

US Markets Loading... h m s

Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. Homepage

Newsletters

Subscribe

Retail

Nora Redmond

I went to Taco Bell for the first time. I thought it would be cheaper. (1)

  • Taco Bell reported a 5% rise in same-store sales in the most recent quarter.
  • The taco chain's focus on value meals has attracted cost-conscious diners amid rising prices.
  • I went to a Taco Bell in London to see how cheap and tasty the food is.

I went to Taco Bell for the first time. I thought it would be cheaper. (2)

Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read preview

I went to Taco Bell for the first time. I thought it would be cheaper. (3)

Thanks for signing up!

Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go.

I went to Taco Bell for the first time. I thought it would be cheaper. (4)

Advertisem*nt

Taco Bell has been doubling down on value — and it's working.

As fast food restaurants try to lure cost-conscious diners back, the taco chain reported a 5% rise in same-store sales in the most recent quarter.

It surpassed its Yum! Brands sister brands — KFC and Pizza Hut — and industry competitors like McDonald's, which saw sales fall in the most recent quarter.

Taco Bell has homed in on offering value meals while fast food prices have soared elsewhere, winning over customers in the process.

Advertisem*nt

I went to a Taco Bell restaurant in Bloomsbury, central London, for the first time to see just how cheap — and tasty — the food is.

Advertisem*nt

The chain reopened in the UK in 2010 after its first four stores all closed by the mid-1990s. There are now over 135 Taco Bells across the country.

I went to Taco Bell for the first time. I thought it would be cheaper. (5)

Fast food chains have been ramping up value meals recently to compete for customers.

The CEO of its parent company, Yum! Brands, said in its most recent earnings call that Taco Bell's sales growth during the quarter was partly due to its value meals, which keep it competitive.

It's clear from the moment you approach that it's trying to push its special offers.

I went to Taco Bell for the first time. I thought it would be cheaper. (6)

There were posters on the storefront windows, and promotions were the first thing you saw on the menu.

You order from one of two self-service screens, which only accept card payments.

I went to Taco Bell for the first time. I thought it would be cheaper. (7)

This wouldn't be new to British fast-food chains. What I did find was this screen was a little slow to react, and the other one was actually out of use.

Overall, it was a pretty seamless system of ordering and waiting for your number to be called before collecting your tray from a staff member.

Advertisem*nt

I ordered a Veggie Deluxe Box along with a cheesy roll-up from its Cravings Value Menu.

I went to Taco Bell for the first time. I thought it would be cheaper. (8)

Taco Bell overhauled its Cravings Value Menu earlier this year, adding six new "meal-sized" items for under $3.

The Veggie Deluxe Box consisted of a seven-layer burrito, a double cheesy black bean burrito, seasoned fries, churros with a caramel dip, and a Pepsi Max.

All in all, I paid £12.97 ($16.50). It wasn't cheap, but it was a lot of food — enough for two.

Advertisem*nt

The Veggie Deluxe Box has a good range of options and is enough to fill you up.

I went to Taco Bell for the first time. I thought it would be cheaper. (9)

If someone else were to try Taco Bell for the first time, I would recommend going for one of the deluxe boxes. My vegetarian box cost £9.99 ($12.80), so it's not the most affordable option out there, but you do get to eat a variation of popular dishes.

A Cheeseburger Saver Meal from McDonalds, which includes a cheeseburger, fries, and a soda, costs £3.99 ($5) in a nearby location. But this meal doesn't include a dessert or an extra side.

Advertisem*nt

I had high hopes for the double cheesy black bean burrito, which is usually what I'd order in similar restaurants.

I went to Taco Bell for the first time. I thought it would be cheaper. (10)

This didn't really meet my expectations. I found it too sweet and felt it could benefit from more cheese. The burrito was helped by the seasoned fries, which created a nice balance between the salty and the slight sugary aftertaste.

There is absolutely nothing I would change about those fries, I didn't even need to dip them in anything.

On its own from the Cravings menu, this item costs £1.99 ($2.55). It's not substantial enough to be a main meal but if you're just looking for a snack, this is a good bet.

Advertisem*nt

The 7-layer burrito was the most filling part of the deluxe box. I enjoyed the combination of textures.

I went to Taco Bell for the first time. I thought it would be cheaper. (11)

Nora Redmond/Business Insider

I ate the veggie 7-layer burrito. Its fillings were black beans, lettuce, tomatoes, seasoned rice, a 3-cheese blend, guacamole and sour cream. Between the softness of the wrap, the crunchiness of the lettuce, and the chewiness of the black beans, this burrito had a fun texture.

I thought it was a generous size and one would be enough for lunch. This was probably one of the best value for money dishes on the menu.

Advertisem*nt

I was delighted to see that this box included churros. They smelled delicious.

I went to Taco Bell for the first time. I thought it would be cheaper. (12)

I was excited to bite into one of these as soon as I collected my tray. I was worried they might be greasy or oily, but was pleasantly proved wrong.

For me, the churros didn't actually need a sauce, and the caramel dip they did come with was too sweet for me.

To buy alone, these cost £2.69 ($3.45). There were only two in a bag so I felt this price was a bit high.

Advertisem*nt

The cheesy roll-up was fairly bland, but it did cost less than £1 ($1.22).

I went to Taco Bell for the first time. I thought it would be cheaper. (13)

The cheesy roll-up from its Cravings menu was literally that — a wrap with melted cheese. I'm a big fan of cheese, so it wasn't bad.

If you find yourself feeling peckish but not ready for a full meal, I thought this was good value for a snack.

The popping colors and flying tacos printed on the wall were good fun.

I went to Taco Bell for the first time. I thought it would be cheaper. (14)

My meal from Taco Bell was only okay. I felt the portions were more than fair, but the food didn't taste all that great to me. And it wasn't as cheap as I hoped.

Read next

Fast Food London UK

More...

Advertisem*nt

I went to Taco Bell for the first time. I thought it would be cheaper. (2024)

FAQs

What was Taco Bell apologizing for? ›

Taco Bell hires Pete Davidson to help apologize. Taco Bell is apologizing for its breakfast menu. In recent years, it has been littered with questionable foods, such as the Naked Egg Taco or even the Waffle Taco, that have since been discontinued.

Who lost 85 pounds in a bid to get Taco Bell to revive his favorite menu item? ›

The goal of his workout antic is twofold: While his primary objective is to bring back his beloved Grilled Stuft Nacho, when he began his Taco Bell challenge more than one year ago, Sandberg — who weighed close to 300 pounds before the pandemic — was also seeking to lose weight. He decided to merge the two missions.

What is the new slogan for Taco Bell? ›

Taco Bell's killing its "Think outside the bun" slogan and replacing it with "Live mas" (mas means 'more' in Spanish), reports Maureen Morrison at AdAge.

What Taco Bell employee was killed by manager? ›

Carver was shot and killed inside the Northwestern Mutual Office, not far from the Taco Bell where he worked. Police say his manager, Simmons, is the one who pulled the trigger. His family was also in court Friday, as the alleged killer stood next to his attorney, waiving his right to a preliminary hearing.

Why are we boycotting Taco Bell? ›

In 2001, the CIW launched the boycott of Taco Bell, calling on the fast-food giant to take responsibility for human rights violations in their supply chain, to improve wages and working conditions by passing on a penny-per-pound pay increase to the workers, and to buy only from Florida growers who passed this penny per ...

What is the most ordered food at Taco Bell? ›

Best Sellers
  • Chalupa Supreme® $4.99 | 360 Cal. ...
  • Cheesy Bean and Rice Burrito. $1.19 | 420 Cal. ...
  • Chicken Quesadilla. $5.19 | 520 Cal. ...
  • Spicy Potato Soft Taco. $1.19 | 240 Cal. ...
  • Crunchwrap Supreme® $5.39 | 540 Cal. ...
  • Beefy 5-Layer Burrito. $3.79 | 500 Cal. ...
  • Nachos BellGrande® $5.99 | 740 Cal. ...
  • Cinnamon Twists. $1.29 | 170 Cal. Add to Order.

What is Taco Bell's $5 box called? ›

The $5 Taco Discovery Box comes after the California-based company led a successful charge to free the “Taco Tuesday” trademark, which was previously owned by Taco John's.

What food is Taco Bell getting rid of? ›

The four menu items that have officially been discontinued are: the chipotle ranch grilled chicken burrito, beefy melt burrito, fiesta veggie burrito, and classic combo. As for the fifth item, the cinnamon twists will be leaving the value menu but will be available on the “drinks and sweets” section.

What's the oldest Taco Bell? ›

1962. Glen Bell opens his first Taco Bell restaurant in Downey, CA, serving what his customers called "Tay-Kohs."

What food item did Taco Bell bring back? ›

To round out the nostalgia-filled menu, Taco Bell is bringing back a dessert from the '00s. The Caramel Apple Empanada, which featured a crispy fried dough coated with cinnamon sugar and filled with apples and creamy caramel filling, is making its triumphant comeback after being discontinued in 2019.

What did Taco Bell apologize for? ›

Taco Bell is apologizing for its breakfast menu. In recent years, it has been littered with questionable foods, such as the Naked Egg Taco or even the Waffle Taco, that have since been discontinued. Turns out, people just want the basics and the chain is finally accepting that.

What did Taco Bell used to be called? ›

He took what he had learned and opened a new stand in 1951. The name underwent several changes, from Taco-Tia through El Taco, before settling on Taco Bell. Glen Bell opened the first Taco Bell in 1962 at 7112 Firestone Boulevard in Downey, California.

What does Yo Quiero Taco Bell mean? ›

The dog was made to speak through special effects. Her advertising catchphrase was "¡Yo quiero Taco Bell!" ("I want Taco Bell!").

Why did Taco Bell get rid of their mascot? ›

Voice actor Tom Kenny, who is a friend of Alazraqui, said that Hispanic advocacy groups lobbying for the end of the campaign led to the cancelation of the Taco Bell dog. Other reports say the use of the dog was discontinued because it failed to increase Taco Bell's revenue stream in spite of the dog's popularity.

What is the Taco Bell lettuce scandal? ›

Taco Bell restaurants were the source of an outbreak of the dangerous E. coli O157:H7 during the final weeks of 2006, which was traced to contaminated lettuce. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported on Dec. 13, 2006 that 71 people were ill with E.

What did Brian Niccol do at Taco Bell? ›

Before joining Chipotle, Mr. Niccol spent three years as chief executive of Taco Bell, part of the fast food giant Yum! Brands. There, he introduced new menu items, sold off stores to franchisees and focused on digital efforts like mobile ordering, an approach he later carried over to Chipotle.

What did Taco Bell remove? ›

The four menu items that have officially been discontinued are: the chipotle ranch grilled chicken burrito, beefy melt burrito, fiesta veggie burrito, and classic combo. As for the fifth item, the cinnamon twists will be leaving the value menu but will be available on the “drinks and sweets” section.

Top Articles
Deviantart Kim Possible
Craigslist In Tampa Florida
SZA: Weinen und töten und alles dazwischen
Mopaga Game
Senior Tax Analyst Vs Master Tax Advisor
Pj Ferry Schedule
Bme Flowchart Psu
Valentina Gonzalez Leaked Videos And Images - EroThots
What Does Dwb Mean In Instagram
DIN 41612 - FCI - PDF Catalogs | Technical Documentation
No Hard Feelings Showtimes Near Cinemark At Harlingen
Christina Khalil Forum
Games Like Mythic Manor
Craigslist Panama City Fl
Watch The Lovely Bones Online Free 123Movies
Music Go Round Music Store
Chase Bank Pensacola Fl
Reborn Rich Kissasian
Mythical Escapee Of Crete
Boise Craigslist Cars And Trucks - By Owner
Sorrento Gourmet Pizza Goshen Photos
City Of Durham Recycling Schedule
Nearest Ups Ground Drop Off
Meggen Nut
Mawal Gameroom Download
What Is The Lineup For Nascar Race Today
Warren County Skyward
Smayperu
2012 Street Glide Blue Book Value
Bimmerpost version for Porsche forum?
D3 Boards
Otter Bustr
Stanford Medicine scientists pinpoint COVID-19 virus’s entry and exit ports inside our noses
Tiny Pains When Giving Blood Nyt Crossword
Linda Sublette Actress
How To Upgrade Stamina In Blox Fruits
Carroll White Remc Outage Map
11 Best Hotels in Cologne (Köln), Germany in 2024 - My Germany Vacation
Blackwolf Run Pro Shop
R: Getting Help with R
Expendables 4 Showtimes Near Malco Tupelo Commons Cinema Grill
Swsnj Warehousing Inc
25 Hotels TRULY CLOSEST to Woollett Aquatics Center, Irvine, CA
Www Pig11 Net
SF bay area cars & trucks "chevrolet 50" - craigslist
Is My Sister Toxic Quiz
Understanding & Applying Carroll's Pyramid of Corporate Social Responsibility
Goosetown Communications Guilford Ct
Publix Store 840
Hy-Vee, Inc. hiring Market Grille Express Assistant Department Manager in New Hope, MN | LinkedIn
BYU Football: Instant Observations From Blowout Win At Wyoming
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Greg Kuvalis

Last Updated:

Views: 6251

Rating: 4.4 / 5 (55 voted)

Reviews: 94% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Greg Kuvalis

Birthday: 1996-12-20

Address: 53157 Trantow Inlet, Townemouth, FL 92564-0267

Phone: +68218650356656

Job: IT Representative

Hobby: Knitting, Amateur radio, Skiing, Running, Mountain biking, Slacklining, Electronics

Introduction: My name is Greg Kuvalis, I am a witty, spotless, beautiful, charming, delightful, thankful, beautiful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.