"Critical" Review of Taco Bell's Grilled Stuft Nacho

Vimeo: nickmicale

After seeing the television advertisement for Taco Bell’s Grilled Stuft Nacho – the one where there is a teenager running up the street while holding and eating the Grilled Stuft Nacho (seen here: http://youtu.be/y61fLD0NWAA ) – I decided to go out to taste, rate, and review this latest offering from Taco Bell.

So, on this past damp but unusually warm winter Saturday at lunchtime, I went to my local Taco Bell to partake in this menu item. The Taco Bell in which I dined was a full Taco Bell, as opposed to a counter in a mall, or one of the combined Taco Bell/KFC establishments. This Taco Bell was cleaner than not, and on this particular Saturday, the restaurant was relatively empty.  The cashier behind the counter greeted me pleasantly and asked me for my order. 

“I’ll try the new Grilled Stuft Nacho, please,” I said.

“Sure, would you like a drink with that? And is that for here or to go?” she asked.

“For here, thank you,” I replied.

(Now, I have to admit, I decided to write this after the fact…otherwise, I might have tried to get into character. Then again, I tend to not to be confrontational  when ordering or dining in fast food establishments, for fear of…well…you know…retaliation.)

I received the Grilled Stuft Nacho in a reasonable amount of time. The Grilled Stuft Nacho was presented inside of a protective clear wrapper, well-branded with the Taco Bell logo. I took my tray to an open table, and proceeded to open the wrapper.

Now, I was under the impression that this Grilled Stuft Nacho was encased in a hard taco shell, mainly due to the television advertisement. In fact, the Grilled Stuft Nacho was encased in a soft triangular-cut tortilla. When I went to pick up the Grilled Stuft Nacho, the Grilled Stuft Nacho flopped over. Fortunately, the contents of the Grilled Stuft Nacho did not spill out. Well, until the first bite.  I would not recommend running, driving, or performing any other mobile activity with the Grilled Stuft Nacho, unless you are attempting to create a new South-Of-The-Border fashion statement. If you are, then I wish you the best of success.

In order to maintain the experience of prior Taco Bell excursions, I did not include the use of a plastic fork and knife as part of my dining repertoire. I quickly adjusted my expectations, and focused on the culinary aspect of the Grilled Stuft Nacho.  In other establishments, nachos are usually made with jalapenos, tomatoes, and salsa. The Grilled Stuft Nacho had none of those ingredients, at least directly. Taco Bell remained true to its traditional experience of simplicity with a hint of flavor. The Grilled Stuft Nacho has seasoned beef, nacho cheese sauce, cheesy jalapeno sauce, red tortilla chip pieces, and sour cream. The ingredients blended well together, and the red tortilla chip pieces added a surprise textural contrast to the sauciness of the other ingredients. The seasoning of the beef provided a hint of spiciness, without being overpowering, or potentially offensive to those who have more mild tastes. The Grilled Stuft Nacho, for its size and price, was surprisingly filling.

For anyone who enjoys Taco Bell and the normal Taco Bell experience, the Grilled Stuft Nacho did not disappoint. Well, as long as you’re sitting down and eating it, instead of trying to eat it on the run.

Rating:  3 bells out of 5. 

For more info:  http://www.tacobell.com/