From a young age, the allure of Taco Bell’s menu has always been strong, and for me, it started with the chalupa. My inaugural Taco Bell experience involved ordering a chalupa, back when they first graced the menu in 1999. Truth be told, as a 9-year-old, the iconic commercials featuring the Chihuahua were likely more captivating than the crispy, fried tortilla shell itself. However, my burgeoning appreciation for that uniquely textured chalupa shell quickly cemented Taco Bell’s place as my favorite fast-food destination. While the Cheesy Gordita Crunch and Crunchwrap Supreme have since become my standard orders, the chalupa retains a special, nostalgic place in my fast-food heart.
Therefore, any new chalupa variation from Taco Bell immediately piques my interest. The latest offering, the Cheesy Street Chalupa, sparked an even greater curiosity. Are these street tacos, chalupa style, amplified with extra cheese? Or perhaps chalupas inspired by cheesy street food flavors? Regardless, the promotional images of the new chalupa looked incredibly appealing, and I knew a Taco Bell run was imminent upon their release on July 18th.
Taco Bell has consistently delivered satisfying fast food experiences, and I had a strong feeling this new menu item would continue that trend. Spoiler alert: the Cheesy Street Chalupa has become my favorite limited-time menu item from Taco Bell in recent memory.
The Cheesy Street Chalupas arrived with a more elaborate packaging than typical Taco Bell fare, initially making me hesitant to unwrap them for fear of causing damage. However, they were easily extracted from their packaging and nestled within a small paper sleeve for convenient handling.
The first thing I noticed about the Cheesy Street Chalupas was their size. They are undeniably small and, dare I say, adorable. Yes, I just used “adorable” to describe a chalupa, but their petite size is part of their charm. They are indeed street taco-sized, approximately half the size of a standard chalupa. Fortunately, each order includes two chalupas, and trust me, you’ll definitely want both. They are exceptionally delicious.
These unique chalupa shells are generously filled with melted mozzarella and pepper jack cheese. You can see and taste the crispy, browned cheese edges on the shell from the very first bite. If you’re a fan of traditional chalupa shells, you will absolutely adore these cheesy versions. They were served hot, intensely cheesy, offering a delightful combination of crispiness and chewiness. Honestly, they were so flavorful that I could happily eat the shells on their own, without any filling. However, the addition of slow-roasted cantina chicken, a creamy jalapeño ranch sauce, and fresh onions and cilantro elevated this dish to a level that felt closer to a genuine Mexican restaurant experience than typical Taco Bell. And that’s a compliment to Taco Bell.
I also sampled the Cheesy Street Chalupas with marinated steak. While they were also enjoyable, I found myself preferring the cantina chicken option. This preference stems not only from the chicken being particularly flavorful but also from the fact that steak isn’t typically my go-to choice at Taco Bell.
A pair of Cheesy Street Chalupas is priced at $5.49, and they are available for a limited time only. If you have any appreciation for Taco Bell, I highly recommend heading to your nearest location to try these. In my opinion, this might just be the best limited-time menu item Taco Bell has ever created, offering a delicious twist on street tacos within their familiar and beloved chalupa format.
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