9 Huge Blunders Everyone Makes When Ordering at Taco Bell

In 1962, Glen Bell inaugurated the inaugural Taco Bell outlet in Downey, California. Nowadays, this establishment boasts over 7,000 outlets across America, transforming into one of the nation’s favorite quick-service restaurants with its distinctly Mexican-themed menu items. With increasing patronage, Taco Bell refined its signature dishes such as crispy and soft tacos, burritos, quesadillas, among others. Over recent twenty years, the brand has focused intensively on offering an unparalleled level of customization to patrons; however, despite these efforts, certain individuals continue to encounter difficulties placing their orders correctly.

The restaurant is well-known for its constantly rotating menu, where it experiments with new items, and often brings back seasonal or fan-favorite products. Taco Bell proudly serves vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options, and makes customization simple so that everyone can find something delicious to enjoy. While most fast food lovers believe they have cracked the code to the perfect order, some Taco Bell superfans might be missing out on easy ways to optimize their Taco Bell order. From neglecting secret menu items and creative add-ons to missing out on money-saving ordering hacks, these are some of the biggest mistakes people make when ordering at Taco Bell.

Read more: 7 Taco Bell Menu Items From The 1980s You Probably Forgot About

1. Error: Failing To Order Via The Taco Bell App And Missing Out On Becoming A Rewards Member

Using the Taco Bell app to order your meals is advantageous for numerous reasons. Namely, you receive points for each order that you place and these points are automatically credited to your account. Customers receive 10 points for each dollar spent and then earn a reward every 250 points earned. Points can be used to redeem free popular menu items such as cinnamon twists, cheesy bean & rice burritos, crunchy tacos, and more. After you rack up 2,000 points you enter the Fire! Tier of the reward program, earning you more points per dollar spent and gaining access to additional free menu items.

Outside of earning points on each order, ordering through the app allows you to easily customize orders, skip the line at the register, and see what drool-worthy new menu items are dropping before their official release. Not to mention, Taco Bell offers a free welcome reward when you sign up for the rewards program through the app, and who doesn't love free food?

2. Mistake: Not Ordering Nacho Fries Inside Your Entrée

Taco Bell’s Nacho Fries rank among their most sought-after temporary offerings. These fries come sprinkled with Mexican spices and pair perfectly with the well-known nacho cheese dip. Even though customers often protest, demanding these fries become a staple on the regular menu, the eatery continues to introduce and withdraw them periodically. Some staff members have disclosed that the primary hurdle preventing these fries from becoming a constant fixture is the challenge involved in storing and preparing them at scale.

Nevertheless, when these options become accessible, enjoying the robust flavors doesn’t solely depend on getting them as a side order. You have the flexibility to add Nacho Fries into your burrito, quesadilla, Crunchwrap, or nearly any other dish from their menu—a clever trick that significantly elevates your dining experience. Additionally, through the Taco Bell mobile application, you can choose to include Nacho Fries with your selected menu items.

3. Error: Overlooking the Hidden Menu Options

As with countless quick-service eateries, Taco Bell's secret menu offers numerous clever customization options that elevate your dining experience. Their secret menu caters perfectly to individuals seeking to enhance their usual orders or explore completely new flavors. Moreover, this feature is especially helpful for patrons aiming to replicate limited-time or seasonal offerings. As an example, the Quesarito became one of Taco Bell’s well-loved custom creations. was removed in 2023 As per the hidden menu, requesting a quesadilla made with beef, along with sauce, sour cream, and rice served separately allows you to create your personal Quesarito.

Additionally, the secret menu has products that have never been featured on the main menu. One of which is the Hulk burrito, in which all you have to order is a regular bean and cheese burrito with guacamole inside. Another fan favorite is the Superman burrito, which is a Cheesy Double Beef Burrito with potatoes, sour cream, guacamole, and crispy tortilla strips added inside. Whether you're upgrading your quesadilla Whether you're blending sauces to craft your signature taste or experimenting with something completely novel, the secret menu has everything you need. Delicious!

4. Error: Overlooking the Healthier Choice of Ordering Fresco Style

Although Taco Bell isn’t typically considered a health-focused eatery (fast-food establishments generally aren't), you can modify your orders to make them more nutrient-rich and lower in calories. Nearly every item on their menu can be customized Mural Technique as a more nutritious choice A Fresco-style meal entails substituting ingredients for healthier alternatives. For example, instead of using fatty components such as sour cream, cheese, or mayonnaise-based sauces, they might replace them with chopped tomatoes (or pico de gallo at certain places).

With this approach, you can continue savoring your favorite dishes from their menu without compromising too much on healthiness. This choice is particularly favored by individuals avoiding dairy products yet wishing to relish Taco Bell cuisine. Although many staff members know about Fresco Style orders, feel free to specify any ingredient substitutions or omissions directly at the kiosk, counter, drive-thru lane, or via the mobile application.

5. Error: Skipping Out on Happy Hours

When the midday energy dip strikes everyone at some point, Taco Bell offers an ideal fix to power through till evening feeling rejuvenated. You wouldn’t want to miss their special deal; order during Taco Bell’s happier hour for a budget-friendly way to enjoy your preferred drinks. This promotional period runs from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM every day. Within these hours, all medium drinks and regular freezes drop down to just $1 each. While prices may differ slightly across locations, typically, a medium soda would usually be priced around $3 to $4 otherwise.

The promotion features the highly popular Baja Blastfreeze that Taco Bell has become renowned for. Actually, the restaurant chain is introducing this item. the first new taste, Baja Blast Midnight This year, make sure to check out the Happier Hour menu. Although many places take part in Happier Hour, it’s best to visit their website to verify which nearby outlet participates, along with details about pricing and timings. Should you own the Taco Bell application, expect a notification within the beverages section alerting you to the offer as soon as Happier Hour begins.

6. Error: Failing to Save Money by Opting for the Cravings Value Menu

Taco Bell offers numerous opportunities for patrons to cut costs on their meals, with the Cravings Value Menu being among the easiest methods to savor a dish without breaking the bank. This affordable lineup includes 10 distinct food choices priced at $3 or below. It caters to both vegetarians and those who prefer meaty dishes, offering customization options similar to what’s available on the standard menu.

Some of the Cravings Value Menu items include the cheesy bean and rice burrito, chicken enchilada burrito, cheesy double beef burrito, loaded beef nachos, double stacked taco, and more. Modifications and add-ons may come at an additional cost. While menu items are occasionally rotated out, the restaurant typically tries to keep some vegetarian menu items on the Cravings Menu so that everyone can enjoy an affordable meal.

7. Error: Failing to Customize the Cheesy Bean and Rice Burrito

The Cheesy Bean & Rice Burrito from Taco Bell features prominently on their value menu and has consistently been a beloved choice among fans. This dish consists of basic ingredients like refried beans, seasoned rice, zesty nacho sauce, and smooth jalapeño sauce all rolled into a soft flour tortilla. Despite being priced at just $2, this meal offers an impressive array of flavors. For those who wish to personalize their order further, numerous options are available: you could include extra toppings such as your preferred sauces, meats, or more cheese; request that it be toasted for a crisper exterior; or enhance its taste and volume with additions like diced onions, shredded lettuce, or potato chunks. A commonly requested alteration involves swapping out the standard refried beans for black beans instead.

Taco Bell also offers suggestions on how to personalize this menu option online. To enhance your order, you might choose to “go Supreme” by including tomatoes and sour cream, or opt for the “Fresco” version by substituting dairy items with pico de gallo. There’s an array of customization possibilities; however, remember that some extras come at additional charges.

8. Error: Failing to Replace Meat with Potatoes or Beans in Common Dishes for a Vegetarian Choice

In recent years, the major fast-food company has attempted to offer vegetarian options and even plant-based choices for their patrons Indeed, based on customer feedback, Taco Bell often tops the list as one of the simplest fast-food places to find vegan and vegetarian choices. To help identify these dishes, the restaurant labels them with a green "V." Additionally, many regular menu items can become vegetarian just by making minor adjustments, all while keeping their signature taste intact. As an example, you could swap out the beef in the Crunchwrap Supreme for fries instead.

The simplest method to convert menu items into vegan options at Taco Bell is by substituting meat with ingredients such as potatoes or beans and adopting a fresh, light preparation style to substitute dairy components. Moreover, certain dessert offerings on their menu, including the cinnamon twists, happen to be vegetarian-friendly too. Taco Bell provides a detailed listing of both vegan and vegetarians choices available. vegetarian-friendly menu items and ingredients on its site to make it simple for everyone to customize their meal based on individual diet preferences.

9. Mistake: Not Ordering Your Burrito Grilled

Taco Bell first introduced the grilled cheese burrito in 2020 as a temporary menu item. After fans expressed great interest, the chain brought it back as a permanent fixture to the menu.

The cheesy beef-stuffed interior and additional three-cheese mixture melted on top had customers begging for more. It further skyrocketed in popularity in 2024 as customers started sharing their customizations and modifications to the burrito and eating them in videos .

Nevertheless, many patrons might not realize that they can inquire about having nearly any menu item prepared on a grill—at absolutely no extra cost. Be it a burrito, Crunchwrap, or quesadilla, you have the option to request these items grilled for that added touch of crispiness without affecting your budget. While both the quesadillas and Crunchwraps come pre-grilled upon ordering, you may also specify to have them doubly grilled for an even more gooey, cheesier, and crisper tortilla experience.

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