My Return to "American Mexican" Left Me Craving Cancun’s Real Flavors

During a layover in Denver on my way to Palm Springs, I decided to indulge in some "Real American Mexican" food (wink wink) at Taco Bell. After spending the last three months savoring authentic tacos in Cancun and Tulum, I was eager to see what Taco Bell had to offer, especially when I saw the posters for their new Chicken Nuggets, breaded with crushed tortillas. Intrigued, I gave them a try.

The verdict? If this had been one of my One Bite Video Reviews, I’d give it a 1.1 out of 10.

Here’s why:

Texture: As someone who can't taste or smell (thanks, COVID April 2021), texture is everything. These nuggets were dry and uninspired, with bland breading that did nothing to enhance the experience.

Sauces: I tried them plain, with Fire Ranch, and with Bell Sauce—none made a difference.

Missed Potential: My inner foodie started brainstorming—what if they had used Nacho Cheese Doritos, Cool Ranch, or even Flaming Hot flavors for the breading? Now that could have been interesting.

This was not the warm "Welcome Back to America" meal I was hoping for, especially after dining on authentic Mexican (and Argentinian) tacos.

However, Taco Bell’s Beefy Bean and Cheese Burrito? Still on of my favorite "Real American/Mexican" burritos.

Taco Bell, here’s the takeaway:

Innovate with intent, or stick to the classics.

For now, I’ll be dreaming of the real flavors of Mexico.