Did Taco Bell’s Super Bowl ad for its new limited-time offering, the quesalupa, have you drooling like Homer Simpson at the thought of doughnuts? Craving that some cheesy goodness like Joey Tribbiani yearns for sandwiches? Leave you more than a little confused about what it is and why it’s going to be #BiggerThanEverything?
Yeah, Us too, which is why we decided to dig into this brand new concoction — available nationwide Monday, February 8 — to learn what it’s all about.
So what is it, exactly? According to the fast-food chain’s fact sheet about this mysterious culinary creation, the quesalupa is “the first time in Taco Bell history that a quesadilla and chalupa are coming together.” OK, so that explains the name.
Let’s break down the basics some more:
Shell: A ton of pepper jack cheese stuffed between two soft tortillas and then deep fried into the shape of a taco.
Filling: Lettuce, tomatoes, cheddar cheese, seasoned beef and reduced-fat sour cream —because hey, every gram of fat counts!. (Does this sound like the chalupa supreme to anyone else? Taco Bell Corp. tells Us that the main difference is in the shells. The chalupa shell is more of a flat bread.)
Nutritional info: For the traditional quesalupa (read: beefy, cheesy goodness), you’re looking at 460 calories, 26 grams of fat. Better walk to that Taco Bell if you want to live mas …
But hey, if the quesalupa as Taco Bell intended it isn’t quite your style, that’s OK. Like many of the chain’s menu items, you can customize it to fit your needs. For example, you can get this concoction with chicken or steak instead, which means 20 fewer calories and 3 fewer grams of fat.
Are you a vegetarian? No problem. Replace the meat with beans! Craving it before it’s even lunch or dinner time? Order it for breakfast with bacon or sausage (though be warned, this will up the calories to 560 and 600 respectively, and 34 grams and 39 grams of fat, depending on your meat of choice).
Sound good? Taco Bell patrons seem pretty into the new menu item so far:
The #quesalupa is everything I imagined and then some. Thank you @tacobell ?
— Charles Visser (@CharlesVisser) February 8, 2016
The #Quesalupa was everything I hoped it would be & more but unfortunately I just ate 2 of them & I fear I’m not long for this world
— D.R. Pena II (@RegularDonnie) February 8, 2016
No lie, this is the single greatest @tacobell item I’ve ever eaten #Quesalupa #Wow pic.twitter.com/t6eM2xQhFE
— Alex Reaves (@The_Alex_Reaves) February 8, 2016
The #quesalupa is everything I hoped it would be. Ate 3 of them. pic.twitter.com/LnBx6qidij
— FlapSnapple (@FlapSnapple) February 6, 2016
Wait, what’s this? A tweet from Saturday, February 6, reviewing the quesalupa? Yes, yes indeed. Taco Bell made its latest offering available for a two-hour window that day in its first-ever blind pre-order.
But those lucky eaters weren’t even the first to try it. Taco Bell actually did a 36-restaurant test in Toledo, Ohio, last year that the company declared “one of the most successful” in its history.
As for when the quesalupa’s menu-life is expected to run out? No word yet, so better get ’em while they’re hot.
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