Taco Bell has once again yanked the fan-favorite Naked Chicken Chalupa from the menu (just short of the opportunity to achieve fast food Nirvana by pairing it with the now-returned Nacho Fries). But that taco-slinging joint keeps adding “new” items to the menu by reshuffling ingredients already in the kitchen to make you think that have come up with something new and wonderful. Two of the latest additions bring the focus to their gordita flatbread with the Loaded Chicken Flatbread Taco and the Beefy Potato Flatbread Taco.
Their “gordita” flatbread is like a puffed up tortilla that it soft and pillowy and quite tasty. But the name is actually a misnomer as true gorditas are traditionally made from masa, deep-fried, and then stuffed with meat and cheese and other fillings. And they are wonderful little treasures if you can find a taco shop that does them right (I happen to know a few, so watch for an upcoming review). Taco Bell co-opted the name maybe because they thought it had an authentic Mexican sound to it. And while what they put out is not really a gordita, it is still quite tasty.
The Loaded Chicken Flatbread Taco is filled with grilled breast meat that is seasoned well and quite tender. The avocado ranch sauce adds a citrusy tang with some creaminess and maybe just a bit of a zing. The standard lettuce, tomato, and cheese toppings work well enough in this taco, giving it some crunch and freshness. Overall, this is a tasty twist on a chicken taco that is a pretty good deal at a buck and a half (prices may vary depending on your location).
The Beefy Potato Flatbread Taco comes with the Bell’s standard ground beef filling and that works well enough. However, the seasoned potatoes (the same ones used in the Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes) get pretty mushy pretty fast in the taco, and it ends up seeming like seasoned mashed potatoes were added. (Hmm, a Shepherd’s Pie taco?) The nacho cheese sauce mostly gets lost in the mix, but it does at least add a cheesy tang. This taco might have worked better if just the standard lettuce, tomatoes, and cheese were the toppings. Throw on some volcano sauce and you could have a spicy hit! As it is, the Beefy Potato Flatbread is still a good value for a buck and quite filling.
Of course, neither of these are spicy as is typical of the Bells standard menu fare. You will need to add the Fire or Diablo sauce to kick them up. (Or might I suggest Secret Aardvark Habanero sauce which works quite well on tacos). Both of these are best as value items (and they won’t burst the belt calorie-wise), and either of them pairs up quite well with Nacho Fries on the side. All are limited time only, though, so grab them while you can.
Tale of the Tape:
The Loaded Chicken Flatbread Taco
Calories: 270
Fat: 11 (3g Sat/0g Trans)
Protein: 16g
Carbs: 28g
Sodium: 580mg
The Beefy Potato Flatbread Taco
Calories: 310
Fat: 13 (3g Sat/0g Trans)
Protein: 11g
Carbs: 37g
Sodium: 700mg