Anyone feeling a late night happy hour???
You might be coming home from the bars, club, or a friend’s house and suddenly be craving some fast food before you walk in the door. Enter…the Taco Bell drive-through.
The glorious trip down this one-way road to cheesy, beefy heaven is all you could ever want for after-party happy hour.
But what should you order? There are a million different combinations at your disposal, but so many decisions to make.
That’s why we took a trip to our local Taco Bell establishment, ordered a bunch of food, and narrowed down our list of the 5 best taco bell items for late night happy hour.
We hope you enjoy this list as much as you enjoy the food!
But first…can we take a second to appreciate the aesthetic of old Taco Bell???
I mean…this franchise had style!
Alright, now on to the list!
1) Beefy 5-Layer Burrito
The Beefy Five Layer is the ultimate journeyman. It might not be the flashiest player on the field. It may not have all the star power that other items garner. However, at the end of the day this burrito packs a lot of flavor into one tortilla.
So what is it? It’s a burrito with beef, beans, cheese, and a nice swirl of nacho cheese.
Why is this taco bell menu item #1: It is delicious. It pairs well with a lot of other items in an order. Plus, its a nice blend of simple ingredients while retaining that classic Taco Bell flavor.
Score: (Out of ten tacos) 10 tacos
2) Cheesy Gordita Crunch
The cheesy gordita crunch is the Frankenstein’s Monster item of this illustrious list. At first glance, this tortilla wrapped monstrosity looks kinda suspicious. Although, when it comes down to it, the variety of textures and flavors packed into this specialty item gives it a deserving #2 spot on our list.
So what is it? A classic Taco Bell crunchy taco wrapped in a cheese filled tortilla. Similar to a quesadilla burrito but substitute in a taco.
Why is this taco bell menu item #2: It takes possible the most iconic of items — the OG crunch taco — and elevates it to a deliciously cheesy experience with a number of textures flying around.
Score: 8.5 tacos
3) Spicy Potato Soft Taco
This might be a surprise to see this off-brand taco so high up on our list, but this things seriously bring its. Stuffed with potatoes, chipotle sauce, and a generous toss of lettuce and cheese, it is the kind of item that you throw in at the end of your order and starts to overshadow other choices that you thought would hit harder.
So what is it? A potato-centric taco that mixes in a generous heaping of food despite its relatively low price point. They also give the taco some punch with a spicy but not too spicy chipotle sauce.
Why is this taco bell menu item #3: While not breaking the bank, this taco offers a different taste you might not see in your multiple item order and it really is just a tasty bit of Mexican food. Kind of like a soft taco but its less-boring and spicy younger brother.
Score: 7 tacos
4) CrunchWrap Supreme
You knew this was coming. Few items have become a part of American society like that of the flat tortilla wrap that promises to pack just about every ingredient from the Taco Bell kitchen into a grilled wonder.
So what is it? A big ol’ flour tortilla is wrapped around a layering of seasoned beef, nacho cheese, toasted shell, lettuce, tomatoes, and a dollop of sour cream. They even have a special way to fold the tortilla which is then grilled.
Why is this taco bell menu item #4: You can deny the reasons why this thing is a classic. Tasty, filling, and super fun to hold while you eat it — it’s called “supreme” for a reason. When you are scanning your eyes up and down the Specialty menu, you’re bound to land on the Crunchwrap and be glad you made the call. Don’t mess with the best.
Score: 6 tacos
5) Doritos Locos Taco
The brainchild of two of our favorite brands: Taco Bell and Doritos — this taco is a wonder of design. We look at the Locos Taco as a strong contender for an item that shows up as part of a marketing push and ends up staying around for a long, long time because people like it.
So what is it? This takes the classic crunchy taco that Taco Bell has perfected over decades of trial and error, and adds a flavored shell courtesy of the chip dynasty: Doritos. Dusted with nacho cheese flavoring, this taco shell is then filled with seasoned beef, lettuce, and a sprinkling of shredded cheese.
Why is this taco bell menu item #5: It’s a really strong upgrade to your typical taco order and may have a really strong shot to stand out amongst the other tacos, nachos, burritos, and Taco bell items that are sitting on your tray. Your order will seriously get better if you try this thing out. Tip: You can also ask the TBell you are at if they have any other varieties — they’ve had a spicy version available from time to time over the years.
Score: 5 tacos
So did we miss any items? Let us know in the comments and we can start working on our revised list.
At the end of the night, when you are looking for that final few minutes of glorious happy hour, nothing really can beat a few tacos, nacho cheese, and maybe a Baja blast.