Taco Bell Is Testing a ‘Crispalupa’

The chalupa? Well, folks, apparently it’s just not crispy enough. That’s what Taco Bell seems to be thinking, anyway. Hot off the back of what has surely been the busiest few months of the restaurant’s life, in which it launched or announced everything from its new Dirty Sips to a Flamin’ Hot menu, it’s now decided that it needs to give people a touch more crunch. 

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Enter the Crispalupa, a menu item that Taco Bell is currently testing in Atlanta, alongside some other locations. But what is it? And how does it taste? We’ve got the answers to all your questions, right here.

What Is the Crispalupa?

The Crispalupa is, as you can probably guess, a bit of a twist on its chalupa – but it also flies close to being an empanada. This handheld item consists of a crispy shell with Cantina chicken, cheddar cheese, ranch sauce, pico de gallo, and lettuce inside. It starts at around $3.49, but it might be a bit more expensive, depending on where you find it. We have to admit, the combination of textures at play here is definitely intriguing, but the proof will be in the crunch (by which we mean, of course, the flavors).

Where Can I Get It?

Taco Bell is testing the Crispalupa across Atlanta, and as you’ve got dozens of locations across the city, you shouldn’t have too much trouble finding it. Luckily, though, it’s also popped up in some other places around the country, including Chicago. There’s no word just yet on exactly how long the Crispalupa will stick around, and whether it makes it nationwide is largely dependent on whether people like it or not. 

So, Yeah, About That…Do People Like It?

Umm…kinda! To be honest, the Crispalupa has been getting some mixed reviews from the people who have tried it so far, and the issue doesn’t lie in the crunch factor. The problem with the Crispalupa is that the filling kinda leaves a lot to be desired: The Cantina chicken doesn’t exactly set things on fire, and although the condiments and extra fillings give it a touch of life, it comes across as ever so slightly bland.

There’s also a ratio concern at play. One review over at Tasting Table pointed out that there’s actually not that much filling at all, and that it can be smushed up at the bottom of the crispy shell, which basically means that you’re getting all crunch, no chicken. That’s obviously kinda a skill issue, but it looks as though Taco Bell hasn’t quite nailed this one just yet. We guess that’s what testing periods are for, huh? If you’ve tried this menu item, we wanna hear your take; until we can get our hands on it, we’ll be making do with its new chicken nuggets.