Barbacoa Items at Taco Bell

Taco Bell seems to be continuing their trend of adding more "authentic" items to their menu or at least items that have some sort of semblance to "authentic" Mexican food items. Whether they should try to or not is a different matter. Some will say, "Hey, let them give it a shot," while others will say, "Taco Bell makes plastic, mass-produced food that can hardly pass as 'Mexican' and they should stay that way and not even attempt to pass themselves off as an authentic taqueria."

As for me, I don't really care. I currently live near a Taco Bell that experiments with test items so I tend to give each one a try. Some items end up making it to every Taco Bell while some are a flash in the pan that I see once and never see anywhere again (i.e., the "International Tacos," the "Doritos Tacos," etc.). Their newest attempt is a line of barbacoa items, a food which itself has Caribbean origins. You can get a barbacoa soft taco, quesadilla, or burrito. I tried the quesadilla and it did have a smoky, tangy flavor to it and very tender shredded beef, although the cheese inside was hardly melted. Just don't call it "barracuda" if you order it. I actually heard somebody ask for a "barracuda burrito" at Chipotle before.

As with their Cantina Tacos I wouldn't say to get these when you're able to get better Mexican food elsewhere. But if you're hungry and a Taco Bell is the closest place to eat be aware that there's some new options out there . . . at some Taco Bells . . . and maybe for a limited time only.

• Wikipedia Article on Barbacoa

UPDATE (April 4, 2011): Here's the new poster they are using for these items: