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

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

Source: 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

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

Taco Bell

Source: Insider

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

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

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

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

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