The Eagle’s Tale staff greeted Monday morning’s taste test with high hopes and bags full of items from the new Taco Bell breakfast menu.

Unfortunately, as the staff dug into the nest of paper-wrapped food, they discovered the order had been filled incorrectly. (Most grilled tacos were replaced with A.M. Crunchwraps and the order was missing a breakfast burrito.) Their initial enthusiasm soon became disappointment. Read complete reviews of the menu items below then see photos of staffers with menu items at the slide show on the home page. Click here to see the nutritional information for each new item. 

Waffle Taco- Sausage

Maisie Dyer, Associate Editor

When I heard of the Taco Bell breakfast menu, I have to admit I was curious if it would surpass my ideas of the regular menu that always leads to me feeling sick to my stomach, but I was wrong. The $2 Sausage Waffle Taco looked promising in advertisements (maybe it was just my recent craving for waffles that got my hopes up), but in reality there was nothing special about the Waffle Taco. When I opened the box, I expected ground sausage mixed in with fluffy eggs and cheese on a crisp waffle, only to be met by a flimsy waffle and sausage patty with an unnaturally bright colored cheese and bland eggs. I was only able to finish it because it was so small and smothered in salsa. After this experience I will not give Taco Bell another chance and will stick to my own waffle maker and scrambled eggs.

Josh Collins, Associate Editor

While I was pleasantly excited about my Taco Waffle and A.M. Crunch Wrap, Taco Bell messed up my order. So, I only had my sausage Taco Waffle, but I was still excited. However, after my first flavorless rubbery bite, I was mildly disappointed to say the least. The waffle itself was stretchy and the sausage and eggs were extremely bland. The best thing about the breakfast taco was the new picante sauce, Salsa del Sol. It was the only redeeming quality of my meal. When it was spread on the Taco Waffle, it was actually enjoyable. Unless someone is desperate for a cheap breakfast, I would not recommend the Taco Waffle from Taco Bell’s new breakfast menu.

Alejandro Rodriguez, Staff Reporter

I was pretty disappointed with Taco Bell, since everyone was making a big deal about how great it was. After a half gallon of syrup drowned my sausage waffle taco, it actually tasted presentable. There was barely any flavor except for the sausage. The waffle was a bit soggy, but not bad. It was not the size I expected from the picture on their website. A lot of people got their orders messed up, but fortunately mine was fine. Overall I’m sad.

Mackenzie Farmer, Yearbook Staff

After being disappointed the last few times I have been to Taco Bell, I was not surprised when I was just as disappointed in the sausage waffle taco. It was messy and didn’t have much flavor to it. I had to add lots of salsa to it and it still did not have much taste to it.

Waffle Taco- Bacon

Avery Cummings, Staff Reporter

With syrup and hot sauce, the bacon waffle taco was fairly delicious. But without the sauce, it is not the boss. Instead of bacon strips they used bacon bits which managed to fall everywhere except my mouth. The waffle was soggy, and it was difficult to eat, even while sitting down. The eggs were, as expected, fake, fast-food eggs.  The bacon waffle taco has no health benefits. I was very disappointed by the small, unfulfilling size of the taco wannabe. You may portray “Ronald McDonald” as liking your breakfast, Taco Bell, but I prefer Ronald McDonald’s breakfast, and I’m pretty sure he does too.

A.M. Crunchwrap- Steak

A.M. Crunchwrap- Sausage

Abby Caviness, Staff Reporter

Immediately after finishing my A.M. Sausage Crunchwrap, I knew that I was going to feel sick for the rest of the day. The taste was not all that bad, but the combination of the sausage, egg, spicy cheese and tortilla was not a good way to start the day. I know that skipping breakfast is a big no-no, but I really wish I had. Eating a total of 710 calories worth of chocolate is totally worth it, but the A.M. Crunchwrap is not.

Tristen Hefner, Staff Reporter

The breakfast honestly wasn’t bad.  It was what I expected from a fast food place, especially since it was Taco Bell.  Obviously it didn’t have five star qualities, but it was cheap and relatively filling.  Taco Bell did not rise above and beyond the expectations.  The last thing wrong with the breakfast, is that they got our order wrong.  I ordered a sausage and egg burrito, but as indicated by the picture of me, I am eating an A.M. Crunchwrap.  I wasn’t the only person this happened to either.  Many other fellow tasters had to try things they didn’t order simply because it wasn’t given to us.  If you do decide to try Taco Bell’s new breakfast, it won’t be bad, just do not go in with high expectations.

Lance Culbert, Guest Reviewer & Computer Science Teacher

What did breakfast ever do to Taco Bell?!?

A.M. Crunchwrap- Bacon

Kori Adair, Co-Editor-in-Chief

I honestly think Taco Bell would have been better off bringing back the Chihuahua to their commercials instead of instituting a new breakfast menu. As a fan of both Mexican and breakfast food, I thought I would love starting out my day with a breakfast taco. Because of an incorrect order I got an egg and cheese A.M. Crunchwrap instead of my original basic egg and cheese taco, one of the only items on the menu that wasn’t calorie loaded. After one bite of the bland A.M. Crunchwrap, I immediately reached for the nearest packet of salsa, hoping to find some way to save the breakfast. Even with the hot sauce, I still couldn’t bring myself to take more than a bite out of the A.M. Crunchwrap. I’m sorry, Taco Bell. I’m afraid I’d rather just sleep in. 

Tasha Brown, Associate Editor

When I walked in the door, I was more excited than I should have been for the pile of breakfast from Taco Bell. As each person grabbed their designated food, I searched for my own egg and cheese grilled taco. It was not to be found. Instead, Taco Bell gave me an egg and cheese A.M. Crunchwrap. It was not up to par. The inside showed what should be a good combination: egg, cheese and hash brown wrapped in a grilled flour tortilla. However, something (the cheese perhaps) gave the wrap a sweet taste that did not belong with the rest of the wrap. I added ketchup, but it barely took the slight sweet taste off of the wrap. I didn’t get the chance to try the new salsa, so I can’t say if it would add to the wrap or not. Also, the A.M. Crunchwraps have, on average, 650 to 710 calories. It’s just not worth it! For all those who are interested in trying the new breakfast, I’d recommend McDonald’s instead. Taco Bell tried but missed the goal. Unlike the new ad promoting Taco Bell’s breakfast, Ronald McDonald has a much better breakfast. Nice try, Taco Bell.

Caitlin Finley, Staff Reporter

I honestly expected Taco Bell’s venture into the breakfast world to be a lot worse than it was. That being said, I wouldn’t return for my $3 Bacon A.M. Crunchwrap. First of all, I strongly caution against eating this on the road. It wasn’t messy in itself, but the hot sauce was greatly needed to make it taste good. The wrap has bacon bits instead of real bacon strips or even pieces, which was disappointing. The egg seemed like it was cooked in a slice, which is what I hate most about the breakfast sandwiches at McDonald’s. The egg also had some vaguely spicy aftertaste that was more confusing than anything else. However unlikely it is for Taco Bell, they should consider incorporating healthier choices on the breakfast (and overall) menu for people who might not favor fulfilling half a day’s calorie requirement before 10 a.m. They should also consider getting our order right next time.

Cinnabon Delights

Bailey Hufnagle, Staff Reporter

Dear Taco Bell,

A perfect breakfast for those who are not taco fans, ‘your’ Cinnabon Delights were just plain good. Unfortunately, they are awful to eat on the go. The cinnamon and sugar stuck permanently to my fingers, and the frosting exploded onto my face. Even though they were like a warm (but messy) hug, they were not worth the nutritional value.

Best wishes,

Bailey Hufnagle

Sausage Flatbread Melt

Steak and Egg Burrito    

Allison Koontz, Staff Reporter

After being overly excited to try Taco Bell’s new breakfast, I was quite disappointed to taste a below average steak and egg burrito. My first two bites were all tortilla. The egg was covered in a mysterious creamy sauce that was not a very pleasant combination with the chunky, dry steak. The only way I got through half the burrito was by drowning it in their very delicious Salsa Del Sol hot sauce. I could not bring myself to eat the rest of the half-filled burrito. I wasn’t expecting gourmet food, but I was expecting something a bit tastier. Although Taco Bell had great ideas to create a wonderful breakfast menu, I am sad to say that they executed it poorly. I don’t think I will be returning to eat breakfast at Taco Bell again.

Breakfast Burrito- Bacon

Breakfast Burrito- Sausage

A.M. Grilled Taco- Egg and Cheese

A.M. Grilled Taco- Bacon

Cortlyn Dees, Co-Editor-in-Chief

Taco Bell should not have thought outside of the bun with their new breakfast menu. Not only did they get my order incorrect, but what they did give me was very sub-par. I ate three bites of a bacon grilled taco, which was more like a soggy breakfast burrito folded into a taco. The only thing that gave it any flavor was the Salsa Del Sol hot sauce I added to each bite, and the bacon was equivalent to cheap bacon bits from a box in the grocery store. Given, I am not a huge fan of Taco Bell for a meal in general, but I will not be going back for breakfast from there again.

A.M. Grilled Taco- Sausage

Hash Brown

Premium Hot Coffee

Tropicana Orange Juice

 Salsa Del Sol-This one item seemed popular with each staffer who tried it.