I ate my way through the entire Taco Bell menu and ranked each item from worst to best

• I tried everything on Taco Bell's menu and ranked each item from worst to best. 
• My least-favorite items relied too heavily on black beans, which I don't really like. 
• But I was a huge fan of the quesadillas and the double-steak burritos on the menu. 

I've finally eaten my way through everything at my local Taco Bell.

Compiling this humongous roundup was a unique challenge. I had to bring together all my individual category rankings, including my very first review — Taco Bell breakfasts.

My driving question was the same as always: "Which of these am I most likely to order again?" Usually, that means just judging the taste, but occasionally other factors like value played a role.  

Here's the final ranking from worst to best.

54. Black beans

This is the only dish that could've occupied this spot.

I find the Taco Bell black beans watery. Although they tasted OK, all things considered, I couldn't see myself ordering them as a side. 

53. Beans and rice

The rice didn't help the beans much, though I liked this more than the plain beans. 

52. Pintos N Cheese

This was the first dish I somewhat liked. The pinto beans offered a better option than the black beans, and the cheese was cheesy.

Still, I couldn't see myself ever ordering it. 

51. Bean burrito

It's kind of like the equivalent of plain pasta with butter. I won't (happily) eat one again. 

50. Crunchy beef taco

I don't particularly enjoy crunchy tacos, but I found this palatable.

The tomato and sour cream acted as a counterbalance to the dry tortilla and salty beef. But I don't need to eat it again.

49. Soft beef taco

Even though I enjoyed this more than the hard-shell variety, it's still near the bottom of the ranking. 

48. Beefy five-layer burrito

The five "layers" of the burrito are beef, cheese, beans, nacho-cheese sauce, and sour cream. 

Unfortunately, this had too many beans. It was like someone stuffed blandness into a burrito that was only pretty good in the first place. 

47. Cheesy beans-and-rice burrito

Though the rice-and-cheese mixture offered an excellent flavor, I'd only ever order this to complete a larger meal. 

46. Chips and nacho cheese

I think the cheese was delicious, but the chips were dull overall. I like how they were fried though, the aftertaste of the oil was pleasant. 

45. Cinnamon twists

The pieces of fried dough covered in cinnamon sugar were interesting and reminded me of Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal.

But I didn't love how crispy they were. It almost hurt the roof of my mouth to chew. 

44. Nacho fries

I enjoyed the seasoned fries the most out of these lower-ranked sides.

The cheese was gooey, and the potatoes had a nice mix of spices — I even detected what I think was a citrus flavor.  

43. Black Bean Crunchwrap Supreme

Taco Bell's Crunchwraps include a soft outer shell with a crunchy hard shell alongside the fillings inside. 

I didn't care for the beans, but overall, this was pleasant.

It still left me wondering how something with so much inside can feel so underwhelming.

42. Chipotle-ranch grilled-chicken burrito

This didn't feel like much of a burrito to me — it was almost what I'd imagine a McDonald's taco salad would taste like. I also didn't taste the avocado ranch. 

41. Crunchy Taco Supreme

Though the crunchy shell was unsalted and got soggy quickly, I still mostly found it satisfying. This is a classic taco, after all. 

40. Black Bean Chalupa Supreme

The sole reason this ranked as high as it did is because the Chalupa shell is so delicious. It was perfectly fried and oozed delicious oil. 

39. Spicy potato taco

The potatoes were fascinating, especially with the chipotle sauce.

I would've liked tomato or some salsa to cut the heaviness of all the carbs, but it's a great vegetarian option. 

38. Seven-layer nacho fries

The seasoned fries served as a strong base for the beef, black beans, guacamole, nacho-cheese sauce, sour cream, creamy chipotle sauce, tomatoes, and cheddar cheese on this limited-time menu item. 

The ground beef only contributed a little to the overall dish, but I didn't really mind because the rest was good. 

37. Seven-layer nacho fries – veggie

Cutting the ground beef and adding guac ended up making these nacho fries better for me. I liked the simplicity of the dish, which was also a limited-time item. 

36. Grande toasted breakfast burrito bacon

This is probably what most people think of when they hear about a Taco Bell breakfast. It didn't blow my mind, but it's good — I especially enjoyed the touch of pico de gallo.

That said, the bacon was my least favorite of the breakfast meats, and I think the potatoes inside were a bit of an overkill. 

35. Grande toasted breakfast burrito steak

I'd never usually suggest going to Taco Bell for steak — you're out of luck if you like yours medium-rare — but it fits here.

The steak also cut down on the potato flavor that threatened to overtake the bacon burrito. 

34. Grande toasted breakfast burrito sausage

Sausage is my favorite Taco Bell breakfast meat. Actually, it might be my favorite Taco Bell meat in general. It made this burrito pop, even if it couldn't completely counteract the overpowering potatoes.

Overall, I was still less wowed by the breakfast burritos than the breakfast Crunchwraps. 

33. Doritos Cheesy Gordita Crunch – Nacho Cheese

I was impressed by the added ranch and consider it an above-average taco overall.

But I would rather have a regular Doritos taco — this one had too much bread with the double soft and hard shell.

32. Soft Taco Supreme

It's a solid taco, but even with the added tomato and sour cream, it was pretty plain. I don't think it's what Taco Bell does best.

31. Breakfast Crunchwrap bacon

The hash brown inside made this feel like a real breakfast and added crunch.

I still don't like the bacon as much as the other meats, but I appreciate the Taco Bell spin on the classic bacon, egg, and cheese flavor combo.

30. Burrito Supreme

Again, Supreme here basically just means a few extra toppings, namely diced tomatoes and sour cream. 

This was a solid middle-of-the-road item. The flavor combination was decent, but it lacks any bells and whistles.

29. Beefy-melt burrito

The cheese and fiesta strips (seasoned corn chips) should've been a better combination. But the chips got lost in a crowd of cheese and beef. 

28. Fiesta-veggie burrito

This had a pleasant citrus flavor (maybe from the guac), making the beans more palatable to me.

It's an excellent vegetarian choice, and I highly recommend it. 

27. Nachos BellGrande

I understand why the chips are so bland now — they are not meant to be eaten alone. The salt from the beef and cheese carried the flavor, allowing the chips to serve exclusively as a vehicle for more robust flavors.

26. Quesarito

I was pleasantly surprised by the spice and balance of flavors here. The ring of cheese around the center from the Quesaritta's signature quesadilla shell was also a highlight.

25. Black-bean Quesarito

This was my favorite meatless burrito. It had an almost sweet, barbecue-like quality, which mixed well with the queso. The spice also balanced the sweetness.

24. Hash-brown toasted breakfast burrito bacon

I liked the way the hash brown rested in the middle of the burrito.

I enjoyed this one more than the other bacon breakfast options. 

23. Mexican pizza

There wasn't much "sauce," but what I had seemed sweet. Unfortunately, the pizza suffered from too many ingredients — I don't think it needed both meat and beans alongside the cheese, tomatoes, and sauce. 

22. Veggie Mexican pizza

Surprisingly, I liked this pizza better. I loved the crust, which tasted like a thin Chalupa shell.

The sauce almost tasted as if all the spice was removed from a chipotle pepper, and I enjoyed it quite a bit. 

21. Chicken power bowl

The Taco Bell bowls are essentially burrito bowls filled with things like rice, black beans, cheese, sour cream, and meats. 

Taco Bell chicken has nowhere near enough flavor for my liking. The rest was the same as the veggie bowl, which I liked more. 

20. Veggie power bowl

It was good. Basically, the best parts of a plain taco minus the meat and plus rice and guac (two underrated Taco Bell ingredients). But I think it had a little too much lettuce and tomato. 

I still don't love the beans, but they're best in something like this. The guac was quite good, and I could see myself choosing this dish over many of the tacos.

19. Steak power bowl

I like this bowl the most, but only because I like steak more than just veggies.

The steak had a juiciness to it that I was able to detect more without a shell in the way.

18. Breakfast Crunchwrap steak

Though it was decently flavored, the steak was a little tough. I didn't taste the jalapeño sauce, which is the only reason I put it lower than the hash-brown burrito. 

17. Hash-brown toasted breakfast burrito steak

Steak and eggs is the best breakfast in the world.

I would've liked some pico, but Taco Bell salsa comes in giant tubs, so it's pretty easy to find if I wanted to add some myself.  

16. Cheesy Gordita Crunch

There was too much bread here, and I didn't get enough cheese between the shells to consider it "cheesy."

But the ranch was a complete game changer. How can you not love ranch and carbs?

15. Chicken-chipotle melt

If I were to rank my favorite Taco Bell sauces, the chipotle sauce would be a contender. It's tangy and spicy, making the standard chicken and tortilla stand out.

I could see myself pairing this with a more substantial menu item. 

14. Cheesy fiesta potatoes

This was an excellent side. I'm ranking it so highly because it could also be a wonderful breakfast.

The sour cream danced between the two star ingredients. 

13. Nacho Cheese Doritos Locos Tacos

When I first heard about this combination, it blew my mind — honestly, it still does.

A Doritos taco shell is a stroke of genius. If the chain could find a way to make this a soft-shell taco, I'd be over the moon.

The fact that a crunchy-shelled taco is ranked this high is a testament to how good Doritos are. It's the perfect "one more thing" to add to an order. 

12. Crunchwrap Supreme

I love the way the cheese spilled out of the shell. I also loved holding this like a sandwich.

Still, it wasn't as delicious as I remember. 

11. Breakfast Crunchwrap sausage

This brought me back to my elementary-school lunchroom days — in a good way.

The Taco Bell sausage is greasy and mellow, two qualities that go well with cheese. It did get a little one-note, though, and needs salsa or hot sauce. 

10. Cinnabon Delights

Taco Bell executed the cinnamon-sugar treat perfectly here — it's just a top-tier flavor combination. 

I also love that the icing is in the middle of the dessert.

9. Nacho Cheese Doritos Locos Tacos Supreme

The seasoned shell mixes perfectly with the beef, and together, they provide an excellent counterbalance to the condiments.

8. Cheesy roll-up

This item, which is exactly what it sounds like, shows how far cheese and bread can take you. It made me feel like a 5-year-old, and I loved how it was unfettered by extra ingredients.

The only issue with this one is I'm not sure it's a very good value. Somehow a dollar still feels too expensive.

7. Hash-brown toasted breakfast burrito sausage

The grease and salt from the sausage mixed in with the other ingredients perfectly.

The one thing I didn't like was that the burrito didn't have enough cheese. Still, that's a minor qualm in the grand scheme of things. 

6. Chalupa Supreme

I love how the Chalupa shell oozes a little oil in every bite. It's incredible how far it can take the dish because the rest is a standard Taco Bell taco.

I got the same feeling eating this as when I get a new hat — I'm the same person, but the shell makes me see things in a new light. 

5. Chicken quesadilla

I'm taking a few points away from the quesadilla because the chicken wasn't noticeable here, but you can't go wrong with cheese and bread.

I could also see this being a great way to sneak some protein into a little kid's diet. 

4. Cheese quesadilla

It's like a super version of the cheesy roll-up, and it's very close to being the best thing on the menu.

I loved the jalapeño sauce and the fact that the quesadilla includes several kinds of cheese, which rounds out the flavor. It's only knocked down because I prefer things with meat.

3. Double-steak grilled-cheese burrito

I love how Taco Bell put the cheese on top and inside of this burrito. The steak was also tough but flavorful.

This is an excellent choice, and I wish it wasn't a limited-time offering. 

2. Steak quesadilla

I want another piece. The steak is cut fine enough that I'm not bothered by its chewy texture, and the three kinds of cheese were excellent. But the creamy jalapeño sauce really makes this.

You can switch any of the quesadillas out, depending on your preferences. In fact, I could've made a case for all three.

1. Spicy double-steak grilled-cheese burrito

Once again, the creamy jalapeño sauce sets this apart from the plain double-steak burrito — and the rest of the menu.

Underneath, it's a delicious, filling burrito with two kinds of cheese, fiesta chips, and chipotle sauce. I feel like Taco Bell threw everything it had onto a tortilla and baked it in a magic oven. 

It leans into the cheese-and-tortilla combo the chain is famous for, but with a little extra pizzazz. I wish Taco Bell would add the limited-time offering to its official menu.

Thank you to everyone who joined me on this wild journey — it involved more than one stomach ache.

After eating through the entire Taco Bell menu, my main takeaway is that my least-favorite items relied on black beans. 

The middle of the pack is where you get a lot of value. Those items are typically cheap and are all slight variations on beans, cheese, rice, shell, and veggies. 

I love the Taco Bell specialties because I fall for the gimmicks, like Doritos shells and extra cheese. The spicy double-steak burrito is my favorite thing on the menu, but the plain double-steak burrito and all the quesadillas are high contenders. 

Read more:

I tried every taco at Taco Bell and ranked them from worst to best

I ate every burrito at Taco Bell and ranked them from worst to best

I tried everything on Taco Bell's specialties menu and ranked them from worst to best

I tried everything on Taco Bell's sides and sweets menu and ranked them from worst to best

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