In the spicy battle between Rattlesnake Fries and Reaper Ranch Fries, the former has emerged victorious at Taco Bell.
Taco Bell tested both items last summer, building on the popularity of its Nacho Fries. Reaper Ranch Fries were Nacho Fries served with a dipping sauce made with Carolina Reaper, considered the hottest pepper in the world. Rattlesnake Fries, tested in Ohio, were layered like nachos with jalapeños, grilled steak and multiple sauces.
Now called Steak Rattlesnake Fries, the item will become part of the nationwide Taco Bell menu for a limited time on Thursday, Feb. 28. For the dish, Nacho Fries, which recently returned to the menu, are topped with pieces of steak and two sauces: nacho cheese sauce and creamy jalapeño sauce. It’s then layered with slices of jalapeños to “rattle” your taste buds, the Irvine, Calif.-based chain said.
“It’s a little bit of an eating adventure,” Rene Pisciotti, group manager of product development, told media during a recent menu preview at Taco Bell headquarters.
Taco Bell said the rattlesnake fries, which will sell for a suggested price of $2.99, can also be turned into a burrito for the same price. The item is available through early April.
The LTO comes as fast-food chains have been busy announcing new menu items to boost visits, which continue to flatline across all industry segments, according to The NPD Group.
Last week, McDonald’s announced the introduction of Donut Sticks to revive lackluster breakfast sales.
This week, San Diego-based Jack in the Box said it is testing a menu item that tastes like a burger but looks a French fry.
Burger Dippers are currently in test in Sacramento through March 31. The dippers taste like a cheeseburger but resemble mozzarella sticks. A company representative said the fried dippers contain ground beef and are meant to be portable like a French fry.
Jack in the Box, which is exploring a sale amid criticism from its franchisees, did not provide additional information about the LTO’s ingredients. Consumers can buy the dippers as a Munchie Meal for $6 or à la carte for the suggested price of $2.50, which includes four dippers.
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