Why Fans Think Taco Bell's Cheesy Gordita Crunch Isn't As Good Anymore

Taco Bell first introduced the Cheesy Gordita Crunch to the menu in 2001 for a limited time. It proved to be a hit and, 25 years later, fans can still enjoy it. Or they can in theory, at least. The current Cheesy Gordita Crunch consists of a crunchy taco shell filled with seasoned beef, Spicy Ranch sauce, lettuce, and shredded cheddar, all wrapped in a flatbread layered with a three-cheese blend.

However, there's more than a little rumbling online about the current Cheesy Gordita Crunch not being what it used to be. Some customers say the flatbread has changed in both texture and taste, while others complain that the shell is often stale.

"For the last few months the flatbread on my cheesy gordita crunch has been noticeably thinner and tasted different," said one Redditor, adding that it's "something more akin to cardboard than a flatbread." They aren't alone in noticing the difference. In the same thread, other commenters compared it to drywall or a double-layer taco. In a different thread from 2024, another Redditor noted the shell was "always stale." 

Another Redditor who identified as a Taco Bell employee echoed fans' suspicions, saying "the flatbread is different." There may be something to this. In a separate thread directed at Taco Bell employees, one commenter asked whether other locations had noticed a difference in the flatbreads they were receiving. Replies described all kinds of texture issues, with some saying the flatbreads were unusually sticky while others said they became too hard. Interestingly, one person claiming to work at the chain noted that despite the decline in quality, the flatbreads still came from the same supplier.

The Cheesy Gordita Crunch used to be served with Baja sauce – one of the many discontinued Taco Bell items fans wanted back. "Ain't been the same since they got ridda the baja sauce," summarized one commenter. Luckily, there are a few ways to get a better Cheesy Gordita Crunch, including these 12 tips for ordering at Taco Bell.

Some suggest the Cheesy Gordita Crunch needs to be both steamed and grilled in order to taste its best. One Redditor suggested part of the problem with that was that the steamers break frequently and aren't always functional, meaning this step gets skipped. 

"I don't have time to grill a flatbread for a cheesy gordita crunch or a chicken flatbread for the 30 seconds your supposed to grill them for," said one Redditor responding to a thread directed at Taco Bell employees about the flatbreads. Another commenter in a different thread claimed the flatbreads were no longer being grilled, writing, "Now, they come snow-white with no cooked dimples."

Even the lettuce has been blamed for throwing the Cheesy Gordita Crunch off. "It's like massive chunks of lettuce now, not that finely shredded stuff," said one Redditor. Beyond the quality complaints, some commenters said the Cheesy Gordita Crunch simply isn't worth the price anymore. We had similar reservations about the Nacho Cheese Doritos Cheesy Gordita Crunch, which we previously named the worst item on Taco Bell's menu.