I tried Taco Bell's polarizing enchirito during its temporary return and it felt like a step backwards after a year of successful launches

Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

• Taco Bell temporarily brought back the enchirito after a customer vote.

Taco Bell let fans vote to bring back a vintage menu item this fall, giving customers the option of the enchirito or the Double Decker Taco.

Taco Bell.      Shutterstock

The enchirito, which was on menus from 1970 to 2013, won the vote.

Taco Bell

I've never tried the enchirito, so I made sure to go before it left menus again on November 30.

Kate Taylor

It comes in a little plastic container, fogged up from the heat of the enchirito.

Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

This packaging is somewhat unusual for Taco Bell, where most items come wrapped in paper or in a cardboard box, like the Mexican pizza.

Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

At first glance it looked very cheesy, which I liked, even though the cheese looked kind of congealed and unappealing.

Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

It comes topped with diced onions, though they seem to be there more as a garnish than for adding to the flavor of the dish.

Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

The cheese was an almost rubbery texture that was difficult to get through with my fork.

Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

My first bite was mostly tortilla, cheese, and enchilada sauce, with the meat hidden further inside the middle.

Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

The filling didn't taste like much of anything.

Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

It was kind of unpleasantly mushy, and the combination of textures was strange to me.

Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

I paid $4.99 for the beef enchirito, making it one of the pricier menu items at Taco Bell.

Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

For comparison, that's the same price as a Mexican pizza, more expensive than a cheesy gordita crunch and chalupa supreme, and 30 cents less expensive than a crunchwrap supreme.

Taco Bell's Mexican Pizza.      Taco Bell

I'm generally a big Taco Bell fan, and I found the enchirito to be one of my least favorite items on the menu, especially given the price.

Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

I think it's one of the worst deals on the menu, and I'd much rather get my money's worth with a crunchwrap supreme or similar, which feels much more substantial.

Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

Some customers on social media complained that the returning enchirito was disappointingly small, and not worth the money.

Courtesy of Taco Bell

Source: Twitter, Twitter, Twitter, Reddit

Based on nutrition information from 2022 and 2013, the enchirito contains the same number of calories today as it previously did, so it doesn't seem to actually be smaller.

Taco Bell

Taco Bell had major success this year with higher priced "premium" items like Mexican pizza and grilled cheese burritos, YUM Brands CEO David Gibbs said in a November earnings call.

Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

Source: Insider

Both of those items are worth their higher prices to me compared to basic tacos and burritos, but I can't justify the price of the enchirito, and I wouldn't order it again.

Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

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