Review: Steak Cheesy Street Chalupas from Taco Bell
Bottom Line: The Cheesy Street Chalupas from Taco Bell are a bit too heavy on the shell with not enough taste and heat coming from within.
Taco Bell has been putting out so many new menu items these days that it probably has the heads spinning for those who frequent the establishment. Step in for a Doritos Locos Taco and a Mexican Pizza and you are confronted with Cantina Chicken and the latest Loaded Nacho Fries and Cool Ranch Doritos Locos Tacos and even Crispy Chicken Nuggets! So many choices, so few treadmills to burn off the extra calories.
The Cheesy Street Chalupas hit the new items section of The Bell’s menu a few months back, and I never got around to trying them because I was busy trying the Crispy Chicken Tenders and the Crispy Chicken Tacos and the Chipotle Ranch Grilled Steak Burrito and… I think I spend too much time at Taco Bell!
Well, I happened to stop by there again just recently and saw that the Cheesy Street Chalupas are still around and decided to give those a try. They consist of two of the street-sized (read: smaller) chalupas with a layer of grilled cheese between them, filled with marinated grilled steak, Jalapeño Ranch sauce, and an onion-and-cilantro blend (two per order). They also have a chicken version, but I’ve been eating too much of the bird lately–since the restaurant industry seems to think that’s the only protein that can be spiced up–so I went with the cow instead.
With the first bite of these, the prominent taste is those chalupa shells. They’re like thick soft tortillas—pillowy inside with a bit of sweetness—and just one generally works out okay. But two seems like overkill, with a lot of doughiness and a heavy fried taste. If that cheese between the shells stood out more, it might cut back on the dough overload, but I barely even noticed it.
As for the inside of the chalupa, the beef is tender and has some good taste, but unfortunately, it gets lost in the mix. The Jalapeño Ranch sauce adds some creaminess but hardly much flavor beyond that. I did like the pungent, herby pop from the onions and cilantro, and they seemed fresh enough. But be warned, those onions will stick with you for a bit!
As for the heat, there’s barely any of it, as the sauce fails to rise up over the other ingredients. I wouldn’t even put it at Mild on my scale, and I added some Fire sauce to kick things up. Overall, I’d say the Cheesy Street Chalupas were a miss for me, though they were still edible, and I liked them more once I added some heat.
Calorie-wise, two of these come to a total of 410 cals, which isn’t bad for the drive-thru. Of course, you know you’ll add more items to your bag because it’s Taco Bell, and a regular crunchy taco only bumps up the tally by another 170 cals. If you add much more than that, though, it’s going to be time to hit that treadmill!
The Cheesy Street Chalupas are one of Taco Bell’s many limited-time-only items, and I believe they’re close to the end of their tenure. They cost $5.49 in my area, which is a bit on the high side for what you get, but not terrible. If you do miss out on them, though, don’t fret, The Bell will probably have another twist on what they call a chalupa hitting the menu soon.
Nutrition Info:
Calories: 410
Fat: 23g (6g Sat/0 Trans)
Protein: 17g
Carbs: 35g
Sodium: 780mg
