Taco Bell’s New Crispy Chicken Strips, Tacos and Burritos, Reviewed by a Food Editor

Before tasting the handhelds, I wanted to try the chicken strips on their own. Considering how impressed I was with the chicken nuggets, which are marinated in the same zingy, slightly spicy jalapeño buttermilk and coated in the same tortilla chip-breadcrumb breading, I was excited to taste them. Starting at $4 for two, the strips are thick, juicy, crunchy with visible tortilla chip crumbs in the breading (although the ratio is meatier than the nuggets) and well-seasoned without being too salty. They’re more zesty than spicy, and very hefty.

I’d suggest dunking them in one of two new sauces, Spicy Ranchero—a creamy, tomato-jalapeño sauce with a kick—or Avocado Ranch—a zesty, herby condiment for the spice-averse. (FYI, you can order a side of either sauce for 60 cents or add it to any menu item for 30 cents.) If you don’t customize, they’ll come with Spicy Ranch for dipping, which I praised for its citrusy, herby, tart flavor and modest heat in my ranking of Taco Bell dips and sauces.

There are two types of each taco (and burrito), the only difference being the sauce that comes on them. The tacos have one crispy chicken strip, purple cabbage, lettuce, pico de gallo, shredded cheddar cheese and either Spicy Ranchero or Avocado Ranch sauce, tucked in a flour tortilla. For about $3 each, the tacos pack a satisfying punch, since the chicken strips are so substantial. My favorite was the avocado version; the sauce is bright and limey, and pairs really nicely with the produce for a crispy fish taco vibe.

The burritos are nearly identical to the tacos, although they include two chicken strips instead of one for a heartier bite and come wrapped and grilled in a larger flour tortilla. In a way, it feels like less bang for your buck at $5.50 each (and that’s just the starting price—mine in Philadelphia cost a little more than $6), since you’re paying almost $3 more for one extra chicken strip. I was surprised that these didn’t include more bulk ingredients; I feel like rice, potatoes, guacamole or beans would make it feel more worth the upcharge.

That said, I thought the burritos were still pretty filling (they’re heavy!). They maintained their crunch, even wrapped and sauced. I enjoyed the Spicy Ranchero iteration most this time around, compared to the Avocado Ranch. The crispy char on the grilled tortilla made a tasty pairing for the smoky notes of the sauce.