The best Taco Bell items to pick from the menu

What's in it: Seasoned ground beef, lettuce, cheese

There's technically nothing wrong with the Bell's soft tacos, but there's nothing exceptional about them either. Treat yourself to an upgrade and spring for a mind-blowingly delicious Doritos Locos taco or go all out with a Cheesy Gordita Crunch—both will fill you up faster than the softie.

What's in it: Three-cheese blend stuffed into a flour tortilla

You might think to yourself, 'It's only a dollar—I might as well toss in a Cheesy Roll Up in case I'm hungry later.' Save your dollar, unless you've got a picky kid in the car. This stripped-down, rolled-up quesadilla is rubbery and bland at best.

What's in it: Seasoned beef, beans, cheese, nacho cheese, reduced-fat sour cream

There are certain things that Taco Bell does really, really well—like mashing up menu items and coating taco shells in Doritos dust. But when it comes to burritos, there's plenty to be desired. This excessively cheesy five-layer monstrosity is no exception. By the time you get it home, the seasoned beef, beans, sour cream, cheese and nacho cheese have melded together into a sticky, gloppy mess.

What's in it: Three-cheese blend, chicken, chipotle sauce

This is a great choice for somebody who’s tooth-challenged. A soft and flavorless flatbread product is paired with oddly soft chicken and gooey cheese sauce, conspiring into a foodstuff with all the rigidity of a damp dishtowel. Like everything at Taco Bell, though, it’s not bad with enough added hot sauce.

What's in it: Three-cheese blend, egg and choice of sausage crumble, bacon or steak

Taco Bell is for late nights, of course. But breakfast? The Bell has several morning items, including a Breakfast Quesadilla that comes with a choice of meat (bacon, sausage, steak) and scrambled eggs layering into a classic quesadilla. A breakfast quesadilla as a concept is on point, but in this case, the eggs are a bit too much.

What's in it: Seasoned beef, nacho cheese sauce, reduced-fat sour cream, tomatoes, beans

What's not to love about tortilla chips smothered in nacho cheese sauce, seasoned beef, beans, sour cream and tomatoes? The truth of the matter is this dish is deeply dependent on how evenly the kitchen layers those ingredients, but I’ve rarely seen it go too wrong. For a bit of a kick, add pickled jalapeños to the party.

What's in it: Lots of sugary dough filled with icing

There's not much in the way of desserts at Taco Bell, but the Cinnabon Delights beckon if you crave a sweet fix. Each poppable nugget is crammed with icing, fried to golden-brown perfection and rolled in cinnamon and sugar. Too bad that they're just a little bit dry.

What's in it: Creamy jalapeño sauce, three-cheese blend, chicken

Sometimes, only a quesadilla will do the trick. I get it. Fortunately, Taco Bell has a decent option. Hunks of chicken swim in a sea of cheese and creamy jalapeño sauce, the latter of which gives the whole thing a nice kick without being overpowering. Psst! You can make it a Supreme for under a buck, which gets you some diced tomatoes and sour cream—suitable upgrades in our book.

What's in it: chicken, seasoned rice, black beans, avocado Ranch sauce, reduced-fat sour cream, lettuce, shredded purple cabbage, pico de gallo, guacamole, cheddar cheese

The Bell’s answer to Chipotle is a pretty passingly good burrito bowl. There’s a bit of an existential moment that happens the first time you find yourself studying the Taco Bell ingredients typically hidden inside a tortilla. Aside from chicken, the texture of marshmallows, the rice is decent, the beans are OK, and pretty much everything else conspires to be a decent substitute if you just couldn’t drive across town to Moe’s.

What's in it: seasoned beef, three-cheese blend, Mexican pizza sauce, tomatoes 

A beloved menu staple that finally returned after a long absence and is now billed as a permanent item, Taco Bell's Mexican Pizza is stacked layers of seasoned beef, refried beans, "Mexican Pizza sauce," shredded cheese, and two crispy flour shells. It's nostalgic and has a loyal following, but it sogs quickly and isn't as flavorful as other specialties.

What's in it: potatoes, reduced-fat sour cream, nacho cheese sauce

There's an entire Reddit thread dedicated to the fact that Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes deserve some extra love, and I don't disagree. Hunks of soft, seasoned potato are coated in warm nacho cheese sauce before getting a dollop of sour cream on top. *Chef's kiss.*

What's in it: Crispy dough, cinnamon, sugar

The queen of the Value Menu, these rotini-shaped dessert crisps are a no-brainer. There's a good chance you'll devour every last cinnamon-dusted twist before you get home from the drive-thru, but that's half the fun, right?

What's in it: potatoes, chipotle sauce, cheese, lettuce

This Cravings Menu must-order is the perfect add-on to your favorite Bell order. Loaded with crispy, seasoned potatoes (think home fries) and topped with crunchy lettuce, shredded cheese, and a creamy chipotle sauce, this soft taco packs a modest punch. But the combination is balanced and always leaves me wanting more.

What's in it: french fries with a side of nacho cheese sauce

The likely stoned c-suite exec who proposed the Nacho Fries at a Taco Bell board meeting deserves a raise. It’s such a simple concept: semi-crispy seasoned fries, dipped in cheese sauce, the way Jesus Christ intended. You’re probably going to need the large.

What's in it: seasoned beef, lettuce, cheese in a hardshell Doritos taco

There's something about the addition of salty, cheesy Doritos dust that takes a regular old hardshell taco to the next level. Ever since these bad boys joined the menu, I don't really want to eat a taco that doesn't leave our fingers covered in bright orange residue.

What's in it: seasoned beef, nacho cheese sauce, lettuce and tomatoes in a crunchy tostada shell

The Crunchwrap Supreme is the fast-food gods' gift to stoners. The spaceship-shaped handheld is jam-packed with beef, cheese, lettuce, tomato, sour cream and a tostada shell. Just be sure to eat it fast so that the ingredients don't get mushy.

What's in it: flatbread layered with three-cheese blend and wrapped around a crunchy taco filled with seasoned beef, spicy ranch sauce, crispy lettuce and shredded cheddar cheese

A study in texture and flavor, the Cheesy Gordita Crunch really does have it all. The warm, pillowy wrap cradles a crunchy hard shell that's hiding a treasure trove of seasoned beef, cheese, lettuce and spicy ranch. It's all glued together with even more cheese—for good measure, of course. It's no wonder this handheld is the shining star of Taco Bell's entire menu.

What's in it: seasoned beef, three-cheese blend, lettuce, tomatoes and reduced fat sour cream in fried flatbread

A favorite among vegetarians and meat-eaters, the Chalupa Supreme can be stuffed with black beans or beef, making it an easy crowd-pleaser. But the star of the show is the thick, soft shell that's like a warm hug for your mouth. This dish has no faults, and no Taco Bell order is complete without a Chalupa.