Taco Bell has, fingers down, the very best vegan and vegetarian menu within the quick meals universe. Certain there are vegan-focused chains like Loving Hut and Monty’s Good Burger, however these chains are area particular and don’t have the nationwide attain of one thing like Taco Bell. Whereas most quick meals chains are dropping plant-based burgers and rooster (after which quietly discontinuing them whereas hoping nobody will discover) at Taco Bell you may flip nearly each menu merchandise right into a vegan or vegetarian meal, and as long as Taco Bell doesn’t have some kind of particular meat-based fried menu merchandise (like wings, or fried rooster), the frying oil is freed from animal by-products as effectively.
That’s nice for vegan Taco Bell heads. However sadly, it has additionally allowed Taco Bell to f*ck round all of those years and never have a real vegan meat taco, one thing that’s virtually assured to promote effectively. I’ve been to many Taco Bell tastings on the Taco Bell Take a look at Kitchens, and so they’ve tried all types of various formulations of plant-based non-meat “meats,” however in all of that point they haven’t cracked a real vegan taco that lives as much as their OG. Effectively at present, I’m joyful to report that they’re formally one step nearer.
Starting at present, choose Taco Bell areas in Los Angeles, New York Metropolis, and Orlando, Florida shall be promoting the Vegan Crunchwrap for one week (or whereas provides final), a dish that has now turn into — spoiler warning for the evaluation — our favourite vegan meal in all of quick meals. The Crunchwrap options proprietary seasoned vegan beef, proprietary nut-free vegan blanco and nacho sauce, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, and a crunchy tostada shell wrapped up in an enormous grilled tortilla.
So how good is it? Let’s break it down.
Vegan Crunchwrap Overview

Tasting Notes:
Earlier than we begin speaking about how this factor tastes I feel it’s vital to say that I’m not vegan or vegetarian. I like consuming meat and, as such, I’m not the most important fan of “meat substitutes.” Give me a dish that tastes good and I gained’t care if it has meat or not, however the minute you ask me to fake a plant-based burger tastes nearly as good as the actual factor, I’m out. I’ve had excellent plant-based quick meals, Umami burger specifically, however most plant-based quick meals (KFC’s vegan nuggets come to thoughts) simply can’t nail texture and taste the way in which actual meat does.
Having mentioned all that, I feel I like Taco Bell’s Vegan Crunchwrap greater than the actual factor. Let’s be sincere, Taco Bell’s floor beef isn’t nice and whereas I really like a Taco Bell crunchy taco (see our Taco Bell rating here), the first taste profile of the bottom beef is grease and salt. The meat substitute used within the Vegan Crunchwrap delivers a lot extra taste, I’m tasting chili powder, garlic, onions, black pepper, and a touch of cumin — leading to one thing that’s extremely savory and mildly spicy, no sauce packet required.
In relation to texture I can’t actually say the way it compares to the actual factor as a result of a Crunchwrap, true to its title, is stuffed with crunch courtesy of the tostada shell and lettuce, which implies I’m not fascinated by the feel of the pea-protein primarily based “meat.” All I’m getting is the flavour, which is objectively extra complicated and fascinating than the actual factor.
I’m additionally liking the vegan blanco and nacho cheese sauce much more, the sauces listed below are made solely nut-free (lots of faux cheese is made with nuts) and nonetheless come throughout as complicated including an indulgent high quality to this Crunchwrap that makes every chunk extremely addicting. Better of all, you get that with out the overly salty notes of the common nacho cheese sauce. It’s virtually eerie how scrumptious this factor is, and that’s coming from somebody who isn’t even the target market of this dish.
The Backside Line:
Taco Bell is totally knocked it out of the park with the Vegan Crunchwrap. It’s scrumptious, packed stuffed with the kind of zesty taste Taco Bell is beloved for and doesn’t reduce any corners within the course of. It manages to take a beloved dish on the Taco Bell menu and truly enhance upon it. We are able to’t wait till you’re capable of substitute the vegan meat into different basic Taco Bell dishes just like the Crunchy Taco and Mexican Pizza.
Sadly, as of now, you may’t. Belief me, we requested!
Proper now this dish is priced the identical because the OG Crunchwrap which implies for those who’re within the take a look at market, there may be completely no motive for not attempting this for those who already love the Crunchwrap.
Here’s a record of areas at the moment carrying the Vegan Crunchwrap:
Los Angeles—6741 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90028
New York Metropolis—976 sixth Ave., New York, NY 10018
Orlando—11893 East Colonial Dr., Orlando, FL 32826
Discover your nearest Taco Bell here.