Hoffman's Houston
Drive-Thru Gourmet

Taco Bell plays ketchup to burger kings with new cheesy fries

Taco Bell plays ketchup to burger kings with new cheesy fries

Taco Bell Nacho Fries Drive Thru Gourmet
Taco Bell puts a "Mexican" spin on the fry game.  Courtesy photo

This week I reached out for a buck bunch of Nacho Fries at America's leading Mexican-style drive-through, Taco Bell, with 7,000 restaurants north of South of the Border.

Here's the Nacho Fries breakdown: hot fries coated with "Mexican spices," served with a side tub of warm nacho cheese sauce.

Total calories: 320. Fat grams: 18. Sodium: 620 mg. Carbs: 35 g. Dietary fiber: 4g. Protein: 4 g. Manufacturer's suggested retail price: $1. There's also a "Supreme" upgrade with ground beef, sour cream and even more cheese sauce for $2.49.

Fries, not typically a Mexican-style staple,  have been a long time coming to Taco Bell. Fries are America's drive-through addiction, a "gotta have" on the menu, so we'll overlook the culture clash.

Taco Bell's fries are a little thicker than McDonald's, the golden standard of fries. These fries are orange-y, glistening with dark flecks that will have you thinking seasoned curly fries at Arby's, or Jack in the Box or Checkers. You can't get them unseasoned — the decision is theirs.

(I know a guy named Chip who bristles at seasoned fries. He goes into a rant: "I am perfectly capable of seasoning my own fries!" He's a major loon.)

Taco Bell goes against norm by offering nacho cheese sauce as the "comes standard" condiment. The Bell is done playing ketchup with the big boy burger chains.

The glaring yellow cheese sauce is gloppy and greasy, it beads and slides off a dipped fry. It could double as paste for elementary school projects, though.

Bottom line: 
Are Taco Bell's Nacho Fries any good? Yes, in the sense that any fries, as long as they're hot and salty, can't miss. My fries at the Bell were hot and salty...so good. And only a buck...so great. 


Ken Hoffman reviews a new fast food restaurant item every Wednesday. Have a suggestion or a drive-thru favorite? Let Ken know in the comments, or on Twitter