No, it’s not just you: Taco Bell prices have been increasing, to the tune of a 14.6% jump in 2022. They were once a bastion of cheap, filling food, but that reputation has fallen by the wayside. Annoyingly, sometimes that craving still hits and you just have to make a run for the border, though.
Being the cheapskates that we are, there are items we never order (at $5, the Mexican pizza might as well have never come back!), and we’re not alone. Redditors on r/tacobell took to the forum to discuss the biggest ripoffs on the menu, and it’s making us question our typical orders.
Prices and availability may vary based on location.
Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes
Price: ~$2
The OP of the thread chose the cheesy fiesta potatoes as the biggest ripoff, and posted a screenshot of the menu listing them for $2.29 (each location can set its own prices, so it can vary). “The shrinkflation on this product has been insane,” responded one Bell fan. Another chimed in, “The way they managed to shrink the CFP cup from the top AND bottom is sickening.”
“I got it like a 30 minutes ago and its like maybe double the size of nacho sauce cup? Its insulting,” another Redditor agreed.
Quesadilla
Price: ~$4
“Uncontested biggest rip off of course goes to the Quesadilla,” said u/ripped_andsweet. “Specifically, the cheese quesadilla,” added u/hostilecarrot. “Absolute ripoff at $4.39 even if made perfect, which it rarely is. I typically only get cheese on two of the four slices.” Another Redditor chimed in to say that the plain cheese quesadilla is a whopping $5.59 in their area.
Crunchy Taco Supreme
Price: ~$3
“The biggest rip off item on the menu is a single crunchy taco supreme for $3,” said u/sweetgreenfields. “Three crunchy tacos is $10 with tax. That’s unbelievable. It makes me mad because the whole point of a taco is it’s low cost, portable, crunchy, and has hot meat and cheese.”
Think these prices are bad? This might be the country’s most expensive Taco Bell.
Cheesy Roll Up
Price: ~$2
“Biggest ripoff is cheesy roll up,” said u/A_Hot_Panini, and many agreed since it’s just cheese on a small tortilla, not even grilled like a quesadilla. “My girlfriend just described what it is and now I agree, that should be illegal.”
Related: Live Más and Stretch Your Dollar With These Taco Bell Value Menu Items
Cheesy Gordita Crunch
Price: ~$5
“The cheesy gordita crunch is basically $5,” said u/gonandogo. “It might be one of the most popular items but it’s incredibly overpriced.”
Another Redditor chimed in with how to still get a Cheesy Gordita Crunch with better value: “It literally doesn’t make sense to go to Taco Bell unless you’re ordering the cravings box on the app. You can get these same items + an entire meal for $6. Cheesy Gordita crunch and fiesta potatoes and a drink and another item.”
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Cinnamon Twists
Price: ~$1
Even though they’re only about a buck, many Taco Bell fans think the cinnamon twists are a terrible value. “It’s a ridiculous markup not matter how you slice it for deep fried starch sprinkled with cinnamon sugar,” said u/littlebilliechzburga. “The only thing they’re good for is giving to your niece so she will leave you alone while you enjoy the rest of your 5 dollar combo.”
Chips and Nacho Cheese Sauce
Price: ~$2
For a side with some of the most basic, boring components, the chips and nacho cheese sauce aren’t a great value, according to many Redditors. “Why is it like $3 for a literal side sauce serving of nacho cheese?”
“A bag of tortilla chips at the store and some Tostitos cheese is like 8$ and you get like 20 servings.”
Soda
Price: ~$2-$3
“Objectively the biggest rip off is the same as with any fast food restaurant, the soda,” said u/jaredhicks19. “It’s even more egregious when you think about how Taco Bell sells perfectly adequate mediums for $1 from 2-5 every day, but they need $3ish for the same thing outside of those hours.” This is exactly why we always bring our own drinks when we’re hitting up a drive-thru, Taco Bell or otherwise.
