Taco Bell recently introduced the Zab’s chicken ranch Nacho Fries as a new spin on their already popular nacho fries. The item takes the classic seasoned fries and turns them into a “loaded” dish by adding toppings and sauces directly on top instead of serving them separately for dipping. 

 On paper, it sounds like a smart upgrade to one of Taco Bell’s most recognizable menu items, especially for people who already enjoy the original fries. Unfortunately, the execution does not really improve the experience and instead creates several new problems that make the item feel disappointing overall. 

The biggest issue with Zab’s chicken ranch Nacho Fries is that they cost noticeably more than the regular version without offering much better quality. Costing 5.99 as opposed to the traditional nacho fries cost of 2.69. 

The ingredients themselves do not taste fresher or more premium, so the higher price feels difficult to justify. 

 The loaded style also hurts the flavor rather than improving it. One of the best parts of Taco Bell’s normal nacho fries is being able to dip each fry into the cheese sauce and get a balanced amount of flavor in every bite. With the loaded version, everything is piled on top, causing some fries to become soggy while others barely have any toppings at all. 

 Because of that uneven distribution, the flavor actually feels weaker and less satisfying than the original version. 

While there are a few decent bites here and there, the item mostly comes across as messy, overpriced, and less enjoyable than the regular nacho fries that inspired it. My Overall Rating for the Zab’s chicken ranch nacho fries taking all of this into consideration is a 3/10.