I Tried Taco Bell’s Luxe Value Menu, Here’s 10 Items Ranked from Worst to Best

Sometimes if you work hard enough, your dreams can come true. I’m living proof. Because I recently got to sit down to ten Taco Bell menu items and eat them—for my job. And guess what? I felt great afterwards. Kudos to you, Taco Bell. Your food is delicious and didn’t make me feel absolutely awful (which is more than I can say for another fast food chain, which we’ll cover at a later date). 

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Anyway, those ten items I got to taste all came from Taco Bell’s new Luxe Value Menu. This new value menu includes both returning and new items, all of which are $3 or less. Technically there are 11 items on the menu but we were unable to get the Mini Taco Salad, which sucks because that sounds like my ideal Taco Bell item. So we went ahead and reviewed and ranked what we received. We’ll update this ranking with the Mini Taco Salad the second we get our sporks on it. 

If you’re wondering which items on the Luxe Value Menu to nab and which to leave behind, here’s all ten items ranked from skip to score. 

Taco Bell Luxe Value Menu Items, Ranked

Chocolate Fudge & Caramel Empanadas

Chocolate Fudge & Caramel Empanadas

Taco Bell

One of my defining qualities is that I don’t like pockets filled with goo. So I was a bit nervous about biting into these goo-stuffed empanadas. Lucky for me, there isn’t actually a lot of filling. But that’s bad news for people who do want an empanada filled with creamy caramel or rich fudge. Instead, you get one thick-skinned empanada filled with a scant amount of caramel (which definitely needs to have some apples in the mix) and then another thick-skinned empanada filled with thick brownie batter. That last one isn’t bad. But if we’re talking about Taco Bell desserts, the Cinnamon Twists are still hands down the way to go.

Credit: Liv Averett / Taco Bell

Rating:

4.5/10

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Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes

Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes ($2.50)

Taco Bell

While these potatoes are fine, they’re definitely not worth three whole dollars. You get a little cup of seasoned potato chunks (which are sometimes crispy and sometimes mealy) topped with melty nacho cheese (it’s good) and sour cream. If these started at $1.50, I’d be much more positive, especially because you can plus these up in the app with stuff like pico, beans, and ground beef. But since the cup of potatoes starts at nearly $3, I simply cannot recommend them to you. There are better deals to be found on Taco Bell’s Luxe Value Menu. 

Credit: Liv Averett / Taco Bell

Rating:

5.5/10

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Cheesy Roll Up

Cheesy Roll Up ($1.50)

Taco Bell

It’s a rolled-up quesadilla, essentially. And the cheese in ours was not quite melted. So it was an underwhelming rolled up quesadilla. I understand that this is a favorite for a lot of people because you can easily make it your own with additions, but the blank canvas on its own is seriously meh. That said, it only costs $1.50, so you have room to add toppings and turn it into something actually good while still staying under the $3 mark.

Credit: Liv Averett / Taco Bell

Rating:

6/10

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Beefy Potato Loaded Griller

Beefy Potato Loaded Griller ($2.79)

Taco Bell

This substantial burrito is stuffed with ground beef, potatoes, nacho cheese sauce, chipotle sauce, and sour cream. That’s a lot of creamy sauces for one burrito. It’s definitely filling, but something in the mix gave the beef a strange tang that we didn’t love. If you’re looking for something beefy and filling, there’s a way better option on the Luxe Value Menu.

Credit: Liv Averett / Taco Bell

Rating:

6.5/10

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Spicy Potato Soft Taco

Spicy Potato Soft Taco ($1.50)

Taco Bell

An absolute Taco Bell staple for vegetarians, the Spicy Potato Soft Taco is a great deal at just $1.50. It’s spicy and saucy and satisfying. It doesn’t quite have that “it” factor like some of the other items on Taco Bell’s Luxe Value Menu, but you should for sure throw one into your order. 

Credit: Liv Averett / Taco Bell

Rating:

8/10

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Avocado Ranch Chicken Stacker

Avocado Ranch Chicken Stacker ($2.99)

Taco Bell

At just under $3, this Stacker gives you some real bang for your buck. You get so much food! It’s a sloppy, folded mess of grilled chicken, Avocado Ranch Sauce (lots of it), shredded cheese, lettuce, and tomatoes. It’s a real ranch-fest. And it should be consumed in private. But it definitely should be consumed. It’s good. 

Credit: Liv Averett / Taco Bell

Rating:

8.5/10

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Cheesy Bean and Rice Burrito

Cheesy Bean and Rice Burrito ($1.50)

Taco Bell

When was the last time you had Taco Bell’s Cheesy Bean and Rice Burrito? Do yourself a favor and slap down $1.50 for this banger. The refried beans are great—savory and creamy. The rice tastes like good Spanish-style rice from a box. It’s filling. It’s tasty. It rocks with Taco Bell’s hot sauce. And it’s easy to eat in the car.

Credit: Liv Averett / Taco Bell

Rating:

9/10

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3 Cheese Chicken Flat Bread Melt

3 Cheese Chicken Flat Bread Melt ($2.50)

Taco Bell

I would never have purchased this on my own. It doesn’t sound particularly interesting. It’s flatbread filled with grilled chicken, chipotle sauce, and a blend of melted mozzarella, pepperjack, and cheddar cheese. But, wow, all of those elements come together to make such a satisfyingly zippy, saucy, zingy bite that is genuinely spicy. And the flatbread is amazing—Taco Bell describes it as “pillowy” and it truly is.

Credit: Liv Averett / Taco Bell

Rating:

9/10

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Cheesy Double Beef Burrito

Cheesy Double Beef Burrito ($2.89)

Taco Bell

You get so much food for less than $3 (although, for some reason, our Cheesy Double Beef Burrito ended up costing $3.49—still worth it). You get a burrito stuffed with ground beef, rice, nacho cheese sauce, mozzarella, pepperjack, cheddar cheese, fiesta strips, and sour cream. The beef tastes genuinely beefy—like, good beef. Our only note? Get rid of those fiesta strips; they just get soggy. And toss some pico into the mix if you’re feeling flush.

Credit: Liv Averett / Taco Bell

Rating:

9.5/10

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Chips and Nacho Supreme Dip

Chips and Nacho Supreme Dip ($2.49)

Taco Bell

This new Taco Bell item is the best thing on the Luxe Value Menu. And it also might be my favorite dip of all time? For less than $3, you get a little sleeve of crispy tortilla chips and a cup of beef, beans, nacho cheese sauce, sour cream, pico de gallo, and shredded cheese. It’s like deconstructed nachos that never get soggy! The dip has the perfect amount of each ingredient. It’s so satisfying and delivers all the classic Taco Bell flavors. If they have this at a Taco Bell Cantina, order it and a beer or a spiked Mountain Dew Baja Blast immediately. That’s practically a vacation.

Credit: Liv Averett / Taco Bell

Rating:

10/10

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