Let me start by saying that I love Taco Bell. There’s just something about it. In my eyes, it is by far the superior choice for fast food. A grilled stuffed burrito with extra baja sauce and a chicken quesadilla was my go to breakfast/lunch/dinner for years. In high school and the early years of college, there was nothing better than 2 A.M. trips to Taco Bell. They even flew me to their test kitchen to educate me about their company and menu.
Taco Bell does a great job at mixing up their menu. The classics will always be there, like the Mexican pizza, but there’s usually a new “test” item that sometimes makes the menu if the people buy enough of it. This strategy has brought us such deliciousness at the Volcano menu and the Crunchwrap. Great success. The only thing about this is usually it’s just multiple items using some new sauce or similar concepts. It can get redundant.
Upon browsing my favorite food blogs this morning, I noticed that WIBIA broke a world exclusive. Taco Bell is now offering shrimp tacos for $2.49. These tacos contain 6 marinated shrimp, lettuce, pico and a ranch based sauce. Observe:
Picture was thieved away from WIBIA
Seriously, Taco Bell? Shrimp? You can’t just take two delicious things and combine them. It doesn’t work that way. Mashed potatoes and peanut butter do not go together. Neither do cookies and gravy. Then again, for some reason I want to try both of those combinations. Back to business, this is a terrible idea. I have no desire to ever try this. Taco Bell and seafood just don’t mix. Remember those stories of Taco Bell using grade D meet, which has lower standards than animal food? I’ve been able to put that behind me. Seafood? Just can’t do it.
This is by far the worst idea Taco Bell has EVER had. I am unable to find any information regarding this new menu item, but it appears to only be a regional thing. Kudos to WIBIA for the find.
Article by John Moors
I was blessed with a remarkable metabolism that has allowed me to overcome obesity and eat everything in sight.
John has written 416 other articles.
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{ 36 comments… read them below or add one }
I agree, John, much as I love shrimp. Not only would I not trust the quality, but they are going to overwhelm the subtle taste of shrimp with all of the Taco Bell sauces–bad idea.
Thanks for the post. I am pretty sure we are a test market and I can be equally sure that these will not work well in any market. When we were a test market for BK Ribs, Orlando was next so it was fun to see where else they are trying things.
I don’t know about orlando but in CA (San Francisco) shrimp burritos are really popular. One of my favorites actually. It follows in line; step 1 fish tacos, step 2 shrimp burritos. All makes sense to me.
Shrimp and tacos sound great, but shrimp from Taco Bell does not.
So it is the notion of very perishable seafood at a fast food joint that you have a problem with? I see. Yeah that is the same reason that I have never eaten at a Long John Silvers, nor have I ever had a BK or MacDo fish sandwich.
Shrimp, fish, squid, or even octopus are all delicious in tacos and burritos in my opinion, especially when the meat is grilled.
My friend swears the shrimp taco is delicious. But he doesn’t even like peanut butter, so what the eff does he know? I thought about giving this thing a go, but $2.49 for one taco is steep.
I tried these shrimp tacos here in Indianapolis. I liked them and would easily order them again. Of course they don’t taste as good as shrimp from a fine dining restaurant, however they did taste just like the frozen ones you get from the local grocery. It seemed like they were in a cevice-style marinade which acutally brought out the shrimp flavor. They also come with the creamy sauce most fish tacos do. I ordered one with and one without the sauce. They were both good and didnt overshadow any part of the taco. They also put lettuce and their “fresco style” pico de gallo on it. Over all, I feel I got what I paid for and would recommend it to anyone who likes fish tacos or anything along the lines of such. I will buy it again and be sad if it goes off the market. I hope it does well!
I work at a taco bell in california. These shrip tacos are only in some areas as test. From what I hear they are really good. But as an employee I don’t think they are a good idea. At my taco bell we are very cautious about cross contamination. Think of how many people are allergic to shell fish and how easy it would be to accidentally get some of it in other items that don’t have it. It seems like it could be a good way to get taco bell sued.
These tacos are great! I love them and they’re better than most other things on the taco bell menu.
Wack as Hell $2.49 are u kidding me! DEL TACO has SHRIMP Taco’s $1.89!DA BOMB and Shrimp in Every BITE!
To be honest, I heard about it just today and wanted to go get it right away. So I went. Only to see the redunkulous price! As much as I think it would taste good, I bet its not filled enough as it should be for such a price. I would not fear the shrimp quality or doubt Taco Bell’s success with it somewhere like Maine. But not here in Ohio. Lake Erie just does’t produce much good shrimp.
here is another great review of the tacos
http://slowthatup.com/thought-of-the-week-taco-bell-pacific-shrimp-tacos/
I had the shrimp taco last night and I have to say YUM! I thought that it was delicious and am now searching for the sauce recipe to make my own at home. As for the price, live a little. I am sure that the bottles of beer that we had at the bar were overpriced too, but we still think they are worth it! They are new to the Green Bay area for Lent. I hope they stay on the menu in the future. Give it a try!!
I have no respect for people who say they won’t try something just because it doesn’t sound good. What the mess! Grow some balls and check it out. If you don’t like it then don’t order it again, give your opinion and then shut your pie hole.
I was so curious about these. I had some questions in the back of my mind – and frankly I never heard of actual shrimp being sold in any fast food place. It was also $2.99, which is not exactly something off the dollar menu. But I bought one and have to tell you all I will save up my loose change and buy a couple a week until they inevitably disappear off the menu in favor of some rad combination of beef and cheese – because the shrimp taco from Taco Bell was DELICIOUS!!!!!!!! The 6 medium shrimp were marinated in some spicy chili-lime, with lettuce and tomato bits and what seemed to be ranch dressing, flour tortilla. Absolutely delicious! and different – I suppose a man after a long night of drinking would stick to the half pound beans/hamburg/rice burritos. But what a nice thing for those who want something light and tasty, a nice snack, not a meal (unless you buy more stuff to eat with it). I don’t think it’s going to be around long, it’s not the same old thing, it’s too outre, but I loved it!
I agree I thought the same thing when I saw that taco bell was making a shrimp taco I was like uggh no way will that ever taste good from a burrito joint but I ordered it bc I will try any food at least once and tried it and it was actually pretty darn good…so hey dont knock it til you try!!!
I just purchased the pacific shrimp tacos for lunch today at $2.79 each alacart here in Wilmington,NC. My shrimp taco looked nothing like the photo on the drive-thru menu board and tasted really nasty. I give taco bell an “F” for this idea. Even more scary is the handling of seafood by fastfood employees. No more for me!
I live on the southern oregon coast where we are able to get fresh shrimp always. The shrimp taco I had a taco bell was wonderful!! I will and have gone back a few times since my first encounter. The price is a little steep but oh so good. I am looking for a copy cat recipe as I respond on here. Try one. I would think the majority of shrimp lovers will totally enjoy it.
These tacos aren’t bad.. until you smell them. I went with my friend last night after reading this to try them. And 2.49 is way too much! Bad idea on my part. My advice is save your money and taste buds!
i think this is the worts idea. taco + shrip is good. but taco + shrimp + tacobell is not good.
Just look @ the picture….nuff said.
I like to dip my shrimp taco in a bowl of mayonaise, it really gives the taco extra flavor.
for Lent I am going to give up these shrimp tacos from taco bell…
I’m going to give these tacos to my brother…mikie will eat anything!
Jail food was better than this
I live in Westchester, NY and they are pushin these ‘shrimp tacos’ in my area’s Taco Bells and they are god-awful! HOPE THAT GIVES YOU SOME INSIGHT HAHA
My experience?
I think this Facebook group just about sums it up:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=395636663081
I tried these a few months ago after seeing a billboard for them…I love shrimp and fish tacos, BELIEVE ME! I am a seafood fan, but I wasn’t impressed with Long John Silvers’ baja fish taco…hated the sauce and it was a half piece of fish…but being the shrimp lover that I am I went and tried one…I could have made a hell of a lot tastier shrimp taco…I didn’t even taste the shrimp…just the not so great baja sauce…so as much as I like shrimp…I’m gonna have to put my thumb down on this…and it isn’t 2.49 good…maybe 99 cent good…sorry, Taco Bell!
Taco Bell Shrimp Tacos are GREAT! THey keep selling out everytime so you need to not go too late in the day. KEEP THE SHRIMP TACOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Its funny how so many people can leave a negative comment and havent even tried the Taco Bell Shrimp Tacos. I live by the beach and have tried Shrimp Tacos all up and down the coast including Mexico and the one thing I can say is that most places do not know how to prepare Shrimp for obtimum flavor. Believe it or not, Taco Bell did it! I love them, great Shrimp flavor that doesnt get lost. If Taco Bell can get the price to $2.00 each, I would eating allot more of them. TRY ONE, then come back and thank me.
I decided to try this today (about a minute after i first heard of them from the drive thru sign), and it’s actually pretty good. I was skeptical, but the shrimp is a good size and tasty.Sauce is good too. Just wish it had more shrimp for the price.
I tried the shrimp tacos, and I loved them. I wish I could duplicate the sauce. They are pricey but I would buy them again!
These are actually pretty delicious. I think the shrimp tacos have become one of my favorite “healthy” options to order from there. Then again, I loved shrimp tacos/burritos long before Taco Bell decided to market them, so I may be biased. And I didn’t die from food poisoning or have any, erm, symptoms suggesting I might get it! So that’s a plus. Don’t knock it til you’ve tried it, dude.
Woah man! This is one of the best ideas Taco Bell has had since the chalupa. I didn’t even eat shrimp until I tried these, and might I say they’re pretty ballin’.
Taco bell definitely went all out on these, I truly implore you to try these if not for the delicious sauce and tasty pacific shrimp then for the novelty of SEAFOOD from Taco Bell,
Lets look at this burrito as half full shall we?
you should keep the shrimp. its time for taco bell to get something different on their menu and the shrimp does that. i love taco bell, i eat there a lot but change is a good thing.
Don’t knock it till you try it. I’m camping out this holiday weekend and actually got on line to find the recepie for Taco Bell’s shrimp tacos when I saw all these comments. I love em!