Is Taco Bell’s Naked Crispy Chicken Taco Too Beautiful For This World?
Some men look at a taco and ask, “Why?” Others, particularly the ones employed by Taco Bell’s test kitchen, dream about a taco shell that’s made out of crispy chicken and ask, “Why not?”
The objet d’art in question is called the Naked Crispy Chicken Taco, and it’s pretty much exactly what it sounds like. In lieu of a traditional taco shell, or a taco shell wrapped in a different kind of taco shell, the geniuses over at Taco Bell’s test kitchen went with a thin patty of white meat chicken.
The chicken is folded over to create a pocket for lettuce, cheese and tomatoes, and it’s fried to give it a little solidity. Probably also to make it delicious, but it’s hard to tell. For those outside of southern California, all you can really do is imagine.
Taco Bell opted for a soft launch with the new product. According to a statement made to Buzzfeed by a spokesperson for the restaurant chain, the Naked Crispy Chicken Taco is currently only available in a very small test market.
“It’s our first and only taco with its shell made from premium, all-white meat chicken and filled with shredded lettuce, cheddar cheese and fresh diced ripe tomatoes. We’re conducting a small test in Bakersfield, California and will roll out nationally if successful.”
Fortune reports that, if you are in the Bakersfield area, about $3 is all that stands between you and a naked crispy chicken taco of your own.
If it wasn’t for the internet, and more specifically Twitter, those not located in southern California may have gone on in blissful ignorance, unaware of the taco-less taco. Thankfully, or perhaps painfully, depending on your point of view, adventurous fast food pioneers were quick to report on their discoveries.
yo @tacobell i found a location that had a taco shell made out of chicken – it was so good. any more info on this? pic.twitter.com/41LRxgfoOX
— jawk (@jawk) September 1, 2015
naked crispy chicken taco shell pic.twitter.com/QVwIKjJpDZ
— RoAr-Ri (@EyePunchPuppies) September 5, 2015
These people are truly living on the cutting edge of the taco sciences so that you don’t have to.
Whether or not Taco Bell will take its crispy chicken shell on the road remains to be seen, although the overall response to the marriage of fried chicken and taco seems to have been positive.
There may come a day when you will be able to have a taco made out of fried chicken delivered straight to your doorstep.
Because, really, if there’s one thing this world needs, it’s more foods that are wrapped in other foods, and fried, and preferably there’s also bacon in there somewhere. There isn’t any, in this case, but there probably should be.
Would you eat a taco made out of fried chicken, or do you think Taco Bell has gone too far with this one?
[Photo credit: Tim Boyle / Getty Images News]
