by Sort of like the chicken sandwich wars currently going on, every fast food place out there wants to have buzzworthy French Fries to draw more customers into the drive thru these days. Taco Bell, which is known for . . . well . . . tacos, as well as burritos, wraps, nachos, and more (bring the Spicy Tostada back!), decided to get into the game and introduced its Nacho Fries several years back. Those proved to be an immediate hit for a simple reason: they’re pretty darn good!
The chain’s website describes these as follows: “Crisp, boldly seasoned fries served with warm nacho cheese sauce.” They are definitely generous with the seasoning, and that’s what makes these fries stand out. According to TopSecretRecipes.com, they are coated in paprika, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, and black pepper, and that truly makes for bold seasoning. They are not particularly spicy, though they do have a nice zing. Even for those who do not much care for spicy food (doctors are working on a cure for that), these fries are nothing that will bring them to tears. But these tasty spuds are definitely worth seeking out, and I consider them among the best-of-the-best in fast food fries out there.
For dipping, and to complete the nacho reference in the title, these come with cheese sauce, but that part is a bit of a disappointment. To me, it tastes like that fairly standard cheese glop used in ballparks around the country with maybe a bit of seasoning to spruce it up. I generally add some of the diablo or fire sauce they have available to improve the flavor and kick up the heat, though it still doesn’t quite complement the superior taste of the fries. But the cheese is included, and it is beckoning for a fry to be dipped into it, so you’re gonna eat it anyway. It would just be nice if they would come up with a little better recipe to complete this package (spicy hack: add a drop or two of Dave’s Insanity Sauce to give it a hot and tasty wallop!).
And now it is time for a brief editorial commentary.
Taco Bell, put the Nacho Fries on the darn permanent menu! This whole scheme of running some big promotion for part of the year then yanking them off the menu for many months is just darn annoying (as are the overly melodramatic commercials promoting them when they come back). Whoever the marketing “genius” is that came up with this idea does not give two hoots about your customers. This is one of your most popular items, Bell execs. Keep it available year-round and you will sell more! And bring back the Naked Chicken Chalupa while you are at it. You’ve never had that and the nacho fries on the menu at the same time, and they would pair up perfectly. And bring back the Spicy Tostada as well!
End of editorial.
As indicated above, the Nacho Fries will be sent back to limited-time-only-ville before too long, probably shortly after football season ends. So get them now while they are hot and available. And maybe at some point these will become a permanent menu item when Taco Bell execs quit listening to marketing hacks. But there is some good news for potato lovers who frequent this establishment. The Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes will be making a return in March which are similar to the Nacho Fries, just larger pieces. So those should satisfy until both of these become regular menu items.
The Nacho Fries currently sell for about a buck fifty or less for an order. They come in only one size (why no large order?), but the Nacho Fries Bell Grande (nachos with the fries subbing for the chips) will satisfy if you want a heftier portion. They also have a Nacho Fries box which sells for five to six bucks and includes a Beefy 5-Layer Burrito, a Crunchy Taco, and a medium drink. For me, Nacho Fries and two crispy tacos makes a good meal and that comes in under four bucks. But however you get them, hurry to your nearest Taco Bell because limited time always seems to arrive sooner rather than later.
Tale of the Tape:
Serving Size: 1 Order + Cheese Sauce
Calories: 320
Fat: 18g (2g Sat/0g Trans)
Protein: 4g
Carbs: 35g
Sodium: 620mg
