Review: Taco Bell Salsa Roja Tortada
Author: indianapoliseater | Filed under: Food Reviews
Within the past few days, Taco Bell has debuted yet ANOTHER menu item (seems like this happens about once a month). This time, they’ve introduced a line of tortadas with one being a Bacon Ranch Tortada and the other being a Salsa Roja Tortada. If you look at the title of this review, you can obviously figure out which one I got.
What I Got: Salsa Roja Tortada $3.29
The Salsa Roja Tortada is, in Taco Bell’s words:
“A warm flour tortilla loaded with fire-grilled marinated all-white meat chicken, crisp shredded lettuce, fiesta salsa, flavorful salsa roja, and a blend of three cheeses – cheddar, pepper jack, and mozzarella, all grilled together hot and toasty.“
Well, I can confirm that is the case. My Tortada included all of these things and I must admit that I was a big fan of the salsa roja. I thought it would be the same thing as the fiesta salsa that you find in all the Fresco style items and I also thought listing salsa roja and fiesta salsa would be redundant because they would be the same thing, yet I was surprised by the taste. The salsa roja it had a slight bit more kick to it than your usual fiesta salsa (or at least it seemed that way), so it was a great addition to the Tortada.
The remainder of the Tortada was just a conglomeration of items that Taco Bell ordinarily has on hand (they are good at that). The cheese was gooey, the tortilla was toasted and grilled quite well and the chicken was flavorful and tender.
As a quick note, this is a fairly decent sized item too as they serve it in the same packaging that they ordinarily serve their quesadillas. It’s not as big as a quesadilla, but it is somewhat comparable in size.
Would I Buy It Again? Well, that’s a tough question and here’s where I sometimes struggle to give definitive answers for this blog because the taste of an item doesn’t always match up with the price of the item. If I was buying on taste alone, then yes, I would buy it again. If I was buying on taste combined with value, then no, I would not buy it again. This was a very tasty menu item, but I don’t think it is worth the $3.29 that they charged me for it. If it was in the neighborhood of $2.50 or so, it would be an exceptional value. At $3.29, it’s a bit too much, even though you are getting a decent sized menu item.
Even still, if you want to try something different, then give this Tortada a shot. You won’t be disappointed.
-IndianapolisEater
Tags: Food, mexican, salsa roja tortada, Taco Bell
Ok, what bugs me about this is their use of the word Tortada. A tortada is the equivalent of a pie or a tart, usually filled with sweet ingredients.
Taco Bells seems content in the ascertian that no one who speaks spanish will eat (or pay attention) to their food, so the just throw a spanish food word onto the front of something and POOF they have a new menu item!
Next, we’ll have the Cajeta Taco (yum, goats milk caramel!) LOL!
Glad you enjoyed it!
@Erin: There’s a lot of discussion on that around the internet actually. Most of the people are making fun of Taco Bell, but those are the people that take Taco Bell too seriously (anyone that considers Taco Bell a Mexican restaurant). I have no problems with the name because it is classic Taco Bell…taking something that has a Mexican slant to it and overly Americanizing it. That’s what they do with their food, the food names, etc. It’s just all part of the fun of being a Taco Bell customer.
I can dig it.
From the pictures – it looks really similar to their quesadilla. Is it kind of like their quesadilla, but with more ingredients (and as you noted, a smaller size)?
@Amateur Mixologist: Yeah, I would say it is very similar to their Quesadilla, which is also quite good and also overpriced.
Ok, question… is it enough for a meal or do you need to add a few tacos on your order? Chicken, Bacon and Ranch one sounds good on paper… Can’t go wrong with that combination…kind of like a BLT.
@WIBIA: If you are a light eater, you can probably squeeze by with just thus in a meal. If you are a normal eater, you’ll need to add at least one more taco (I added several more).
Haha, I don’t think they call themselves a Mexican fast food restaurant. I was in my local Taco Bell, and notice a sign touting their ingredients and “Mexican-style” food which I find to be a little more truthful.
My taste buds tell me their “Salsa Rojas” is just their medium hot sauce. So basically, if it’s not spicy enough, you can just squeeze some hot sauce in.
i must live in some taco bell hot belt or something because it’s 3.99 here which is like 4.27 with the tax and it is definitely not worth that. nice review
Well, you do get what you pay for; As a chef, when I use prepared foods I always figure in a higher cost to my total meal; So, with $3.29/per + taxes, you gotta think…$4 for all the labor involved in the production of said item…The packaged processed cheese, the prepackage chicken, and all the other ingredients, let alone the man hours/advertising taco bell is putting in…so, $4 for a meal that you enjoyed even in the slightest should be considered worth it…though, quality of product is less than par. lol.