I compared Taco Bell's new meatless taco with the chain's classic vegan favorite and found the original is still the best

Brittany ChangApr 25, 2021, 20:10 IST

The black bean and Cravetarian Crunchy Taco Supremes.Brittany Chang/Insider

On April 21, Taco Bell expanded its veggie-friendly menu with a new plant-based protein: the Cravetarian.
I tried the Cravetarian and Taco Bell's popular vegetarian protein, black beans, in two Crunchy Taco Supremes.
The black bean Crunchy Taco Supreme was far better than the Cravetarian taco.

Taco Bell has long been popular with vegetarians and vegans.

A Taco Bell in Oklahoma has been converted into a Go Mobile format. Taco Bell

It even offers a "Veggie Mode" menu full of meat-free options ...

Taco Bell

... all made with American Vegetarian Association certified ingredients.

Taco Bell's menu now includes a "vegetarian favorites" section. Taco Bell

"People who have been flexitarian or vegetarian have known that we've been the go-to place where you can actually get a healthy, plant-based protein that you can sub into your food," Julie Felss Masino, now-president of Taco Bell International, told Insider in 2019.

The four dishes on Taco Bell's new all-vegetarian menu. Taco Bell

"People who have been flexitarian or vegetarian have known that we've been the go-to place where you can actually get a healthy, plant-based protein that you can sub into your food," Julie Felss Masino, now-president of Taco Bell International, told Insider in 2019.

And on April 21, Taco Bell continued this veggie-friendly reputation by introducing a new plant-based meat: the Cravetarian.

Taco Bell

Fast-food chains like McDonald's or Burger King have used companies like Impossible Foods or Beyond Meat for a veggie-friendly solution. But Taco Bell took a different approach by creating its own vegan protein.

John Raoux/AP Images

Fast-food chains like McDonald's or Burger King have used companies like Impossible Foods or Beyond Meat for a veggie-friendly solution. But Taco Bell took a different approach by creating its own vegan protein.

The new proprietary vegan option is made of a spiced mixture of peas and chickpeas, the later a classic protein option for vegans.

Crunchy Taco Supreme with the Cravetarian. Brittany Chang/Insider

Several of Taco Bell’s meat-based menu items can be substituted with this new vegan protein …

Taco Bell's ground beef, left, and the Cravetarian, right. Brittany Chang/Insider

… which means you can have a chalupa, burrito, or Crunchwrap Supreme with the new fake meat.

Crunchwrap Supreme with the Cravetarian. Brittany Chang/Insider

At the moment, the Cravetarian is only available at one location: 14042 Red Hill Ave. in Tustin, California. I happen to be temporarily located just a short drive away from this location and decided to check out the new product for myself.

The Taco Bell. Brittany Chang/Insider

At the moment, the Cravetarian is only available at one location: 14042 Red Hill Ave. in Tustin, California. I happen to be temporarily located just a short drive away from this location and decided to check out the new product for myself.

Disclaimer, I'm not a vegetarian, but I do prefer vegetables over meat, and often opt for meat-free meals. Most of my meals are currently plant-based.

Crunchwrap Supreme with the Cravetarian. Brittany Chang/Insider

After a short drive over the freeway, I arrived at the coveted Tustin location. I was too lazy to leave the comforts of my car, so I opted for the drive-thru.

The drive-thru. Brittany Chang/Insider

I decided to order two Crunchy Taco Supremes with no cheese or sour cream in order to vegan-ify my order. I ordered one with the Cravetarian protein, and the other with black beans. Both rung in at $2.19.

My drive-thru order. Brittany Chang/Insider

I decided to order two Crunchy Taco Supremes with no cheese or sour cream in order to vegan-ify my order. I ordered one with the Cravetarian protein, and the other with black beans. Both rung in at $2.19.

The vegan iteration of the Crunchy Taco Supreme comes with lettuce, tomato, and a protein of your choice.

The black bean and Cravetarian Crunchy Taco Supremes. Brittany Chang/Insider

Unfortunately, the chopped tomatoes were left out of my Cravetarian taco, so I took some from the black bean taco for flavor and aesthetic consistency.

The black bean and Cravetarian Crunchy Taco Supremes. Brittany Chang/Insider

The Cravetarian taco looked gloriously identical to Taco Bell's ground beef offerings, down to the color and small clumps.

The Cravetarian Crunchy Taco Supreme. Brittany Chang/Insider

Meanwhile, the black bean taco looked, well, like it had black beans. Nothing new or special.

The black bean Crunchy Taco Supreme. Brittany Chang/Insider

But I always root for the underdog, so I decided to try the black bean taco first.

The black bean Crunchy Taco Supreme. Brittany Chang/Insider

Taco Bell's bean offerings, whether refried or black, are a well-known favorite among the plant-based community, and notably certified vegan.

The refried bean Crunchy Taco Supreme. Brittany Chang/Insider

And after having my first bite of the Crunchy Taco Supreme with black beans, I totally understand why.

The black bean Crunchy Taco Supreme. Brittany Chang/Insider

The beans were salty, flavorful, well seasoned, and not too mushy.

The black bean Crunchy Taco Supreme. Brittany Chang/Insider

It was delicious!

The black bean Crunchy Taco Supreme. Brittany Chang/Insider

I thoroughly enjoyed my first few bites and quickly wolfed down the rest of the taco before I even had time to consider whether I needed more pictures of it.

The black bean Crunchy Taco Supreme. Brittany Chang/Insider

The black bean Crunchy Taco Supreme might be the best vegan fast food item I've ever tried.

The black bean Crunchy Taco Supreme. Brittany Chang/Insider

I was initially worried about the lack of sour cream and cheese (I could eat bowls of both with a spoon) but didn't miss either dairy product while munching on my little taco.

The black bean Crunchy Taco Supreme. Brittany Chang/Insider

I was initially worried about the lack of sour cream and cheese (I could eat bowls of both with a spoon) but didn't miss either dairy product while munching on my little taco.

The well-balanced black beans brought enough of a flavor punch on their own.

The black bean Crunchy Taco Supreme. Brittany Chang/Insider

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the taco. I enjoy eating beans, but I initially did not have high expectations for Taco Bell's take on the classic black beans.

The black bean Crunchy Taco Supreme. Brittany Chang/Insider

With my bar set extremely high and my stomach almost full, I decided it was time to try the Cravetarian taco.

A Crunchy Taco Supreme with the Cravetarian, sour cream, and cheese. Brittany Chang/Insider

But to my dismay, the Cravetarian filling paled in comparison to the black beans.

The black bean and Cravetarian Crunchy Taco Supremes. Brittany Chang/Insider

The Cravetarian tastes similar to other meat substitutes I've tried before.

The Cravetarian Crunchy Taco Supreme. Brittany Chang/Insider

It's salty (maybe a bit too salty), spongy, well seasoned, and has notes of hummus.

Taco Bell's ground beef, left, and the Cravetarian, right. Brittany Chang/Insider

But the longer the Cravetarian sat and the colder it got, the spongier the filling felt.

The black bean and Cravetarian Crunchy Taco Supremes. Brittany Chang/Insider

If you're looking for a substitute that tastes identical to meat, be prepared to be disappointed by the Cravetarian.

The black bean and Cravetarian Crunchy Taco Supremes. Brittany Chang/Insider

But if you like the taste of meat substitutes, you're in luck.

The Cravetarian Crunchy Taco Supremes. Brittany Chang/Insider

While I enjoy the "vegan meat" flavor, Taco Bell's Cravetarian was nothing new.

The black bean and Cravetarian Crunchy Taco Supremes. Brittany Chang/Insider

I had hoped for some Taco Bell pizzazz but was left disappointed.

The black bean and Cravetarian Crunchy Taco Supremes. Brittany Chang/Insider

In the end, I wish I had purchased two black bean tacos instead of a Cravetarian. In this case, I'll stick with the classics.

The black bean Crunchy Taco Supreme. Brittany Chang/Insider

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I compared Taco Bell's new meatless taco with the chain's classic vegan favorite and found the original is still the best

Taco Bell has long been popular with vegetarians and vegans.

It even offers a "Veggie Mode" menu full of meat-free options ...

... all made with American Vegetarian Association certified ingredients.

"People who have been flexitarian or vegetarian have known that we've been the go-to place where you can actually get a healthy, plant-based protein that you can sub into your food," Julie Felss Masino, now-president of Taco Bell International, told Insider in 2019.

And on April 21, Taco Bell continued this veggie-friendly reputation by introducing a new plant-based meat: the Cravetarian.

Fast-food chains like McDonald's or Burger King have used companies like Impossible Foods or Beyond Meat for a veggie-friendly solution. But Taco Bell took a different approach by creating its own vegan protein.

The new proprietary vegan option is made of a spiced mixture of peas and chickpeas, the later a classic protein option for vegans.

Several of Taco Bell’s meat-based menu items can be substituted with this new vegan protein …

… which means you can have a chalupa, burrito, or Crunchwrap Supreme with the new fake meat.

At the moment, the Cravetarian is only available at one location: 14042 Red Hill Ave. in Tustin, California. I happen to be temporarily located just a short drive away from this location and decided to check out the new product for myself.

Disclaimer, I'm not a vegetarian, but I do prefer vegetables over meat, and often opt for meat-free meals. Most of my meals are currently plant-based.

After a short drive over the freeway, I arrived at the coveted Tustin location. I was too lazy to leave the comforts of my car, so I opted for the drive-thru.

I decided to order two Crunchy Taco Supremes with no cheese or sour cream in order to vegan-ify my order. I ordered one with the Cravetarian protein, and the other with black beans. Both rung in at $2.19.

The vegan iteration of the Crunchy Taco Supreme comes with lettuce, tomato, and a protein of your choice.

Unfortunately, the chopped tomatoes were left out of my Cravetarian taco, so I took some from the black bean taco for flavor and aesthetic consistency.

The Cravetarian taco looked gloriously identical to Taco Bell's ground beef offerings, down to the color and small clumps.

Meanwhile, the black bean taco looked, well, like it had black beans. Nothing new or special.

But I always root for the underdog, so I decided to try the black bean taco first.

Taco Bell's bean offerings, whether refried or black, are a well-known favorite among the plant-based community, and notably certified vegan.

And after having my first bite of the Crunchy Taco Supreme with black beans, I totally understand why.

The beans were salty, flavorful, well seasoned, and not too mushy.

It was delicious!

I thoroughly enjoyed my first few bites and quickly wolfed down the rest of the taco before I even had time to consider whether I needed more pictures of it.

The black bean Crunchy Taco Supreme might be the best vegan fast food item I've ever tried.

I was initially worried about the lack of sour cream and cheese (I could eat bowls of both with a spoon) but didn't miss either dairy product while munching on my little taco.

The well-balanced black beans brought enough of a flavor punch on their own.

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the taco. I enjoy eating beans, but I initially did not have high expectations for Taco Bell's take on the classic black beans.

With my bar set extremely high and my stomach almost full, I decided it was time to try the Cravetarian taco.

But to my dismay, the Cravetarian filling paled in comparison to the black beans.

The Cravetarian tastes similar to other meat substitutes I've tried before.

It's salty (maybe a bit too salty), spongy, well seasoned, and has notes of hummus.

But the longer the Cravetarian sat and the colder it got, the spongier the filling felt.

If you're looking for a substitute that tastes identical to meat, be prepared to be disappointed by the Cravetarian.

But if you like the taste of meat substitutes, you're in luck.

While I enjoy the "vegan meat" flavor, Taco Bell's Cravetarian was nothing new.

I had hoped for some Taco Bell pizzazz but was left disappointed.

In the end, I wish I had purchased two black bean tacos instead of a Cravetarian. In this case, I'll stick with the classics.