Taco Bell Fiesta Steak Bowlz

November 14, 2007 | Reviewer: Andrew

Taco Bell Fiesta Steak Bowlz Price: $2.00 on sale
Serving: 1 bowl, 9oz.
Calories: 290 per serving
Fat: 8%, 5g
Cholesterol: 10%, 30mg
Sodium: 33%, 790mg
Protein: 15g
Carbohydrates: 14%, 42g
Fiber: 24%, 6g
Sugar: 2g
Weight Watchers Points: 5 Per Bowl

Taco Bell says: Mexican-style rice, refried beans, steak strips, smoky fiesta sauce with onions, red bell peppers, and green bell peppers

Andrew says: The terror I felt when I beheld this non-frozen, non-refrigerated, Taco Bell-sponsored meal is indescribable. Tally it up: shelf-stable meat with spicy sauce and refried beans and the Taco Bell name on the packaging. Would a real-life zombie be more or less scary?

Honestly, I do love me some Taco Bell. I always go for the double decker taco or a Baja beef chalupa if I’m feeling saucy. I also enjoy the “Mexican” “pizza” and the empanadas, which is essentially Taco Bell’s version of the McDonald’s apple pie. Taco Bell is what I thought it was: it’s cheap and potentially a gastrointestinal disaster. It doesn’t disgust me or surprise me, but it nearly always satisfies.

Still, though, with Taco Bell’s reputation as a slapdash fast-food outfit, the idea of shelf-stable food (yikes) with the Taco Bell name and all the baggage that carries (what is this meat made of, anyway?) is intimidating. But because Abi was kind enough to send me this food for free to review, I dove in with only a fork to protect myself.

The packaging makes it look as though you can expect about a third of the bowlz’s volume to be taken up by the meatlike steak strips. This is not actually the case. I didn’t bother to count how many strips I consumed, but I’m going to bet it was fewer than 10. Perhaps eight? And due to the monochromatic nature of the meal (brown rice, brown beans, brown sauce, brown meat and peppers dulled to a brownish red or green), when you’re done heating it up and you go to stir it, you’ll probably do what I did and stir it all up into a beany, rice-y, meaty paste.

How did it taste? How DIDN’T it taste! Uh, well it didn’t taste much like anything I’d order at Taco Bell in real life. The beans and rice are true to the Taco Bell canon, but the steak bits are small and unsatisfying, not at all like the steak bits you get when you splurge for the steak gordita or chalupa (I’m not kidding, those steak chunks are quite tasty). The spice is generic and doesn’t even approximate the drive-thru Tex-Mex appeal of a Taco Bell dish.

Overall, I’m impressed the dish didn’t make me go blind or give me the Ebola virus, and considering that, I can’t really recommend humans willingly consume this.

comments

18 Responses to “Taco Bell Fiesta Steak Bowlz”

Ace on November 15th, 2007

I have a chicken one of these in the garage. I thought it might be a fun thing to review. After seeing that picture, I think I might be better off lighting my garage on fire and fleeing to another country where these things don’t exist.
Crow on November 15th, 2007

Mmm…meat slurry…
Red Icculus on November 15th, 2007

Mmm…meat slurry…

This made me laugh. Thanks crow. Still doesn’t make me want to try it!
Ali Marie on November 15th, 2007

They have those (and other varieties of that brand) in my campus convenience store, along with some Betty Crocker Bowl Appetit. After trying an entirely underwhelming alfredo pasta from that company… and I usually like nearly any pasta with alfredo, regardless of brand or presentation… I stayed clear of the Taco Bell stuff. Though admittedly I was also frightened by the prospects of those particular ingredients sitting on the shelf, so it didn’t tempt that much in the first place.

So very glad I didn’t ever pick these up on a whim or curiosity, though. I can’t even tell you what that slop looks like to me, but it’s certainly not anything I’d ever want to put in my mouth… Probably not even if it actually tasted okay.
mbbored on November 15th, 2007

Who do you think approved this bowl? I mean, there had to be taste testers somewhere along the way. Who went “Yeah, this tastes good! Let’s sell it to the general public!”? Or did they never plan for mass distribution, assuming people will buy it once out of curiosity and never try again?
Abi Jones on November 15th, 2007

@Ace - I had one in my home too, but one day I came home and was informed by George that he had consumed it for dinner. I quickly asked whether or not he felt okay and he replied that the meal was just okay and there was not enough of it.

@Crow - Yes. And, ew.

@Red - Welcome to HeatEatReview

@Ali - I like the cheesy versions of the Betty Crocker Bowls, but the white sauce ones are definitely a no-go.

@Mbbored - I think in this case they bypassed the taste-test process.
Andrew on November 15th, 2007

Mbbored: It never ceases to amaze me what manner of food and drink makes it to the general market, ostensibly after nonpartisan humans have tasted it and marked down their opinions on a card and company employees have looked at those marks and said “hey, this thing might really sell!”
Marvo on November 16th, 2007

Oh crap! I have this sitting on my kitchen counter waiting to be eaten and reviewed. I wonder if I should mail it to Ace to review. Ace will eat anything.
Barb on November 24th, 2007

I love the bowlz but now cant buy at the stores they say have been discontinued is that true
Kim on November 25th, 2007

Oh wow, I have to totally agree with you here. I bought one from Target thinking “yay, another staple for the desk drawer that isn’t soup!” and despite the instant mortification from the way it looked after cooking it, took one (and only one) bite, and like you, I was a bit surprised to not end up with a major gastronomical disease.
Lisa on November 27th, 2007

I was running late to work… stopped to get gas and these were on sale at the gas station, so I picked one up. Much to my surprise… it was GOOD. I mean it’s a prefab meals, but it had flavor and satisfied my lunch craving.

I would buy it again.
Aly on November 30th, 2007

Again, what part of “Taco Bell,” “microwaveable,” and “bowlz” (that’s right, they’re rebellious, they spelled it with a z, because it makes it cooler and tastier) screamed “great idea” to you?
Renee' on March 8th, 2008

I couldn’t eat anything that looks like that. How does it smell??
Andrew on March 8th, 2008

It smells pretty normal, like Taco Bell food. Not too bad really.
paddie on March 18th, 2008

I’m on WW and I love these things! I had one for lunch today and will probably have one for dinner.. I mean yeah looks wise, they suck but I’m nutty about refried beans..
Evidence of Inflation? : Heat Eat Review : We Review TV Dinners, Frozen Meals, and Microwavable Foods on June 6th, 2008

[…] A good prize. Not Taco Bell Bowlz. […]
cj hastings on June 11th, 2008

Well unlike the rest here…..I liked it! It was so good! Next time I see them Im gonna stock up! I got three at Target yesterday and just had one for lunch. For a $1.99 and I dont have to leave the office this is great. I didnt stir the contents up I just ate it like a plate of Mexican food. Had rice, Beans and meat with corn. Very tasty and quite satisfying. I for one will be buying more……….CJ
spamalot on June 12th, 2008

I disagree, for one do not mix it.
I found it better than expected, and planning to buy more. Just wish W~MART did not raise its price 10cent in a week. grrrr