Sorry if I’ve been remiss in reviewing the Beefy Crunch Burrito here. I know you’ve been expecting it, and I haven’t delivered until right now. I apologize.

Truth is I wanted to test out the Beefy Crunch Burrito from a Taco Bell other than the one nearest to my house, which is the Worst Taco Bell in the World. The pathetic part is that I actually planned some of my Christmas shopping around a better Taco Bell just so I could try said Beefy Crunch Burrito. But then I went on vacation and never got around to posting anything about it.

I took an exterior photo of the burrito but it just looked like any Taco Bell burrito. Here’s the inside:

So how is it? Well, as you can see from that picture, I’m not sure I’d call it “Beefy.” The “Ricey Crunchy Burrito” would be a more accurate name, though inevitably a less popular menu item.

And that’s kind of the thing. I’m hardly one to hate on Taco Bell, but really, who wants rice from Taco Bell? It’s pure filler, and the reason I shy away from items like the Grilled Stuft Burrito. I’m here for the beef, people.

Besides that quibble though, this is a good burrito. I don’t need to tell TedQuarters-reading Taco Bell enthusiasts about the tortilla, sour cream, seasoned beef, and nacho cheese because basically if you’ve ever had anything supreme from Taco Bell you know what all of those things taste like. The big innovation here is the presence of Flamin’ Hot Fritos, which are an excellent addition to the Taco Bell roster of ingredients.

I’ve long advocated the Crispy Red Strips as a great way to insert crunchiness into portable Taco Bell items (i.e. the ones you can eat while driving). But awesome though the Crispy Red Strips are, they don’t add flavor, just crunch. The Flamin’ Hot Fritos build on the work done by the Crispy Red Strips and elevate it, bringing a good deal of heat into the equation.

I look forward to their inclusion in Taco Bell items that aren’t so bogged down by rice. How ’bout a Beefy Crunchy Soft Taco, folks? Oh, and with lava sauce.