The Taco Bell secret menu is a fun addition to my other secret menu articles. I pretty much lived off Taco Bell in my college days and it was typically consumed after 10 o’clock at night. I would have loved to play around with some of these secret menu items back in the day, especially if any could have saved me money. With no further ado, here’s how their secret menu currently breaks down along with my personal review of many of the items. Enjoy.

Cheesarito

This Cheesarito is basically a cheese burrito with some yummy sauce in it.

To get the actual Cheesarito, I asked them to throw in a little onion they call scallions, and same taco sauce they use on their Mexican Pizza.

Verdict: I liked it. It was warm and gooey and had a little kick to it. If you like enchiladas, you’ll like this as it reminded me of a cheese enchilada wrapped up in burrito form.

Chicken Bacon Ranch Gordita Crunch

This bad boy is both a mouthful to say and eat.

To get it, you just order a Cheesy Gordita Crunch and substitute the regular taco shell with the ranch shell.

Then ask for chicken as your protein and all the sudden you have a party in your mouth “border burger” style.

Verdict: Unfortunately, the Taco Bell I was at didn’t have any ranch taco shells.

See Also: The Chipotle Secret Menu Will Literally Blow Your Socks Off

Chili Cheese Burrito

Also known as a Chilitto, this is a bean and cheese burrito, but instead of refried beans, they’ll use chili beans.

The bonus of beef in the chili is what makes this sucker a winner in my book.

Verdict: Good stuff, but I’m a big “whole bean chili guy”, especially over refried beans, so it was right up my alley.

Twice Crispy Quesadilla

You can ask for ANY type of Quesadilla to be “Crispy” or “Well Done”.

What comes out is an amazing creation with a slight, yet DELICIOUS, crust on it.

Verdict: I had my daughter try this one as she loves their quesadillas. She said it was NOT any more crispy than the regular quesadilla, so there’s a good chance employees won’t double crisp yours either.

Doritos Locos Crunch Wrap Supreme

Get the right Taco Bell employee and they’ll hook you up with this beauty.

It’s created when they put a Doritos shell inside the crunch wrap and the end result is supposedly out of this world.

Verdict: I haven’t tried this one yet, but it’s definitely on my short list.

Enchirito

The Enchirito is half burrito, half enchilada and sounds ridiculously awesome.

Order it by name and you’ll get a beef and bean burrito, smothered in red sauce, then topped off with melted cheese.

When I recently ordered it, they did NOT know it by name and I had to explain what it was which was a bummer.

So I broke it down by ordering, “a Burrito Supreme with extra beef and cheese. Then I asked them to put red sauce, nacho cheese sauce and blended cheese on top and heat it up real quick.”

The two employees were awesome and had fun with it and I gave them a nice tip for helping me out.

Verdict: Not gonna lie, the Enchirito was darn good and reminded me of wet chimichanga that you would order at a Mexican restaurant.

It’s definitely a bit of hassle to order but I’d probably do it again if they’re not super busy.

The Hulk

Think “green” and order a bean and cheese burrito, then add guacamole to it for a cool avocado surprise.

Guac on pretty much anything is a winner in my book.

Plus, it was be fun to order just to see the reaction of “burrito artist” behind the counter.

Verdict: It was decent. Let’s be honest here, the guacamole at Taco Bell ain’t real authentic and is more of a sauce than a fresh avocado treat, so everything in the burrito just melted together.

The extra cost of the guacamole wasn’t worth it in my opinion.

The Incredible Hulk

Take it a step further and order “The Incredible Hulk.”

If they have no idea what the hell you’re talking about, just tell them you want a Beefy 5-layer burrito but instead of the nacho cheese, ask for guacamole.

Also, I’ve heard of folks telling them to leave out the inner tortilla but I’m not sure why you’d want to do that, especially if you’re a starving college student.

Verdict: Meh…the flavors, gooeyness, and sauces all kind of melted together on this burrito, I really didn’t taste much guacamole.

I think it would be BETTER to leave in the nacho cheese and have them add guacamole in addition, I might try that next time.

Quesarito

This bad boy was on a bunch of Taco Bell menus as recent as 2014.

And guess what? Many locations will still throw one together for you and it’ll still be in the ordering system.

The Quesarito is 50% burrito, 50% quesadilla, and 100% awesome.

It’s basically a cheese quesadilla folded up like a burrito with all of your favorite burrito fillings inside.

Verdict: This was a winner. I went with a 7-layer burrito as my center piece and a cheese quesadilla wrapped around it.

It was BIG and very filling, and messy, you’ll need a lot of napkins for this one.

Spicy Bacon Tostada

In case the regular Spicy Tostada wasn’t tasty enough, try adding bacon to it.

You can thank me later for this yummy Taco Bell secret menu item. No really, you will.

Verdict: Haven’t tried this one yet, didn’t sound very exciting as Taco Bell bacon can’t be great.

The Superman

While I doubt the Man of Steel would ever order this, it sounds really yummy, especially if you’re hungry and ready to get your grub on.

It’s a 5-layer Beefy burrito, then add the kitchen sink.

The kitchen sink in this example means potatoes, guac, sour cream, and even tortilla chips.

It basically becomes a 9-layer burrito and is not for the faint of heart (or stomach).

Verdict: I’m waiting for when I’m super hungry to give The Superman a try.

Let me know in the comments if you’ve peeled off the Clark Kent glasses and dug into this burrito.

See Also: McDonald’s Secret Menu: Mickey D’s in a Whole New Light

Waffle Taco

Taco Bell serves breakfast? Huh, who knew.

Order a Waffle Taco from their secret menu and get a waffle folded in half and stuffed with scrambled eggs, sausage, and drizzled with a little hot maple syrup.

Dang, that sounds like a really yummy way to break your fast.

Ask the Reader: What item on the Taco Bell secret menu would you order? Also, does their food have the “Conan O’Brien effect” on you sometimes?

By Kyle James

Photo credit to Mike Mozart.

Let’s face it, we’ve all been there, you’re about to checkout from an online store and you just can’t find a coupon anywhere. Well, before you pay full-price, did you know there are dozens of popular stores that’ll send you an instant coupon via email just for registering your email address? And if you already have an email address registered with the retailer, consider setting up a new “shopping only” email address…the perks are awesome if you know how to manage it correctly. Here are the stores that I discovered, many of which hand out coupons better than what you’ll find on coupon websites. (I’ll keep adding new ones as I find them)

A.C. Moore

Sign-up for email notifications from the folks at A.C. Moore and get a crafty coupon immediately sent to you for 55% off any 1 regular priced item. Not too shabby, ehh.

Adidas Store

The good folks at Adidas will happily throw you a 15% off coupon code that you can use either online or in-store.  By the way, did you know that it’s a myth that Adidas stands for “All Day I Dream About Sports”.

Aeropostale

Aeropostale might be going through Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, but they’ll still give you a coupon for 20% off your next order when you sign up for Aero emails. If you can’t find a coupon anywhere else, you might as well sign up and save an easy 20%.

Aldo

In case you’re not familiar, Aldo sells really nice shoes, boots, sandals, handbags, and accessories. But if you sign-up for emails notifications they’ll immediately send a 15% coupon to your inbox which can be used online and in-store.

Alibris Books

Sign up for emails from Alibris Books and they’ll hook you up with an immediate coupon for $5 off your $50+ online purchase. Not a huge discount but better than a kick in the ass.

Ann Taylor

Once you spend the 15 seconds required to sign up for Ann Taylor email updates, you’ll get an instant coupon sent to your inbox that’ll get you $25 off your $75+ full-priced purchase. An easy $25 for very little effort.

Birch Lane

Birch Lane will send you a 10% off coupon when you give them your email address. While the coupon can only be used on full-priced items, it’s still a worthwhile endeavor.

Charlotte Russe

If you like the clothing at Charlotte Russe, and you like to save money, sign up for their email notifications and they’ll give you a coupon good for 20% off your ENTIRE purchase. You don’t have to use it right away either as it lasts for 30 days.

Children’s Place

Score a $10 off $40+ coupon (also known as 25% off) at Children’s Place when you get added to their email list. The cool part is that the coupons will keep coming to your inbox too.

Cost Plus World Market

Give Cost Plus World Market your email address and zip code and they’ll give you a 15% off coupon. Not a bad trade, especially if your making a large furniture or home decor purchase.

Crocs

They’re so right, the fun does start when you have a 20% Crocs coupon in your inbox. Just sign up for Crocs emails to get in on the action. You can use the coupon both online and in-store.

Dick’s Sporting Goods

Dick’s Sporting Goods will send you an instant 10% off coupon (online only) when you sign-up. I bet Sports Authority never did that.

Famous Footwear

Famous Footwear will infamously send you a $5 off $25 or more coupon when you register for email alerts. And no, it’s not infamous, I just thought it was kinda catchy.

H&M

When you register for H&M emails, they’ll send you a 20% off any 1 item coupon + free shipping on your entire order (use coupon code 1616). The free shipping bonus is nothing to sneeze at as they typically require you to spend $40 or more to qualify for free delivery.

Hobby Lobby

Sign up for emails at Hobby Lobby and they’ll send you a welcome email with a coupon good for 40% off any 1 regular-priced item. They kinda hide the coupon in the email for some reason so you’ll have to look for it closely.

Joann Fabrics

Joann rarely has coupons good for for 20% off your ENTIRE order. But if you sign up for their emails they’ll happily send you one that you can use either in-store or online.

Kate Spade

Way down their at the bottom of the Kate Spade “thank you” email is a 15% off coupon that can be used in-store and online. You’d think they would make the coupon a little more prominent.

Lands’ End

Get yourself on the Lands’ End email list and they’ll shoot you over a coupon for 40% off any 1 item. The free shipping on $50+ is no biggie as they always offer that.

Levi’s Store

Levi coupons can often be hard to come by, so if you’re about to make a purchase and you can’t find one, just sign-up for their email alerts and they’ll send you a 20% off coupon along with free shipping.

Macy’s

If you have a Macy’s purchase in your near-future, and you’re planning on spending over $100, be sure to sign-up for their emails and they’ll hook you up with a 15% off coupon with free shipping.

Maurices

If you can’t find a Maurices coupon, just get added to their email list and they’ll shoot you over a 15% off coupon good for regular-priced items only. You can use the coupon either online or in-store. Cool beans.

Moosejaw

Somewhere in all that boiler plate is a coupon code good for 10% off all full-priced items at Moosejaw. How’d I get the coupon in my inbox? I just spent 10 seconds signing up for their email alerts. And yes, I agree, lawyers are a bunch of meanies.

New York & Co.

The fashion company New York & Co. will send you a pretty sweet coupon for $25 off $75 or more when you sign up for their email alerts. The coupon came to my inbox right away so it’s an easy way to score a killer coupon, then just unsubscribe if you want.

Old Navy

The web team at Old Navy immediately sent me a 30% off coupon code to be used on my next online purchase. It took me 10 seconds to sign-up which is a pretty good return on my time.

Origins

The skincare company Origins rewards those who sign-up for their email list with a smooth little 15% off coupon code. Not a bad discount for a company that rarely offers coupons.

Pottery Barn

Pottery Barn is another company that rarely has coupons, well, unless you sign-up for their email list. If you spend the 20 seconds required to sign-up, you’ll get a 15% off promotion code instantly sent to your inbox.

REI

When you sign up for REI emails they’ll shoot you over a 15% off coupon to use both online or in-store. As far as the REI disclaimers go, they really aren’t that bad.

Sanuk

My favorite flip-flops that I ever owned were from Sanuk. Total dessert for my feet, but at full price. I wished I’d have waited and signed for their email club and scored a 10% off coupon.

Shutterfly

While the folks at Shutterfly won’t send you a percent off coupon when you sign-up, they’ll send you an email that’ll get ya a free magnet, 50 4×6 prints, and a set of free address labels. Pretty cool.

Sole Society

Sign up for emails with Sole Society.com and you’ll be instantly rewarded with a 15% off coupon on your $80+ purchase. No flies on that deal.

Soma

When buying lingerie from Soma.com, be sure to not pay full-price, especially on your first purchase. When you sign up to be on their email list, they’ll zap you a 20% off coupon to be used either online or in-store.

Starbucks

Join the Starbucks email list and get hooked up with a 10% coupon to be used online. Use it to buy your Starbucks coffee, mugs, K-cups, and such. Starbucks rarely has a flat percentage-off coupon so the 10% off code is a definite win for shoppers. Don’t forget to also hack the Starbucks menu and save even more.

Tommy Hilfiger

If you have a Tommy purchase in your near future, be sure to get on their email list and they’ll reward you with a 20% off coupon. You can use it either on their regular website or in their online outlet. Also, you’ll have exactly one month to use the coupon before it expires.

UntuckIt

I’m a big fan of the “untucked” look, have been since I was a kid. So when I discovered UntuckIt, a company that specializes in making shirts designed to be untucked, I knew I found my sweet spot. Then throw in a 20% coupon for signing up for their email club and I’m officially sold.

Wayfair

Be sure to snag your 10% off coupon for registering your email with Wayfair. Not a huge discount, but better than nothing, which is typically what they have when it comes to coupons.

Williams Sonoma

The good folks at Williams-Sonoma rarely have coupons. So when I signed up for emails and got a 15% off coupon (on $49 or more order) I was pleasantly surprised. Be sure to save it for a significant purchase and maximize your savings in the process.

Ask the Reader: What store surprised you with a better than average coupon when you signed up with them?

By Kyle James

Photo Credit: Terry Johnson

As we head toward the deals and coupons of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, I wanted to take this opportunity to highlight some things that are actually going to be a better buy before the big shopping weekend. Stuff that either doesn’t excite frantic turkey stuffed shoppers or always just seems to be on sale in early to mid November. See if you can take advantage of any of these deals this year and cross some names of your gift buying list at a MAJOR discount.

1. Winter Apparel

During the first couple weeks of November we always see an influx of deals on winter apparel on Rather-Be-Shopping, much better deals and coupons then you’ll find on Black Friday.

Retailers tend to try and sell older Fall inventory on BF and offer some screaming deals to entice shoppers.

But they seem to hold back on offering the awesome deals (ie, 40% off or better) on “in-season” jackets, boots, coats, winter sweaters, etc.

So I’d definitely shop for winter apparel now rather than waiting for Black Friday.

2. Cookware Stuff

Cookware and houseware retailers realize many consumers will be shopping for pots and pans in preparation of Thanksgiving and Christmas feasts.

The crew here at Rather-Be-Shopping.com has noticed this translates into some great deals and coupons on new cooking sets making it a great time of year to buy.

Essentially you kill two birds with one stone, you get a new cookware set or piece and you also get to blow the socks off your guests with your turkey, stuffing, and gravy.

Speaking of gravy, I really love gravy. Smother anything with gravy and I think I could eat it.

3. Candy! Candy! Candy!

My wife can attest to this one. She always stocks up on Halloween candy in early November as it’s really cheap because stores need clear it out.

As a matter of fact, we still have some Halloween Hershey Kisses in our freezer from last year.

By the way, have you ever had a frozen Snickers? One of my absolute favorites. Just make sure you have strong teeth before you crunch down or you might be heading to the dentist.

4. Furniture

November is a great time to buy furniture as new styles and fabrics tend to come out around Christmas so stores are trying to clear out last season’s models.

Cost Plus World Market, for example, is selling all furniture at 25% off the original price with a coupon code.

Also, JCPenney.com is having their biggest furniture sale of the year offering products at up to 50% off the original price.

Both of these deals expire well before Black Friday weekend.

5. New Cars

Don’t wait for Black Friday thinking car lots will be offering great deals as well. 2017 models are being cleared out right now and the longer you wait, the less inventory you’ll find to shop from.

If you head out on Black Friday weekend you’ll likely end up with the full-priced 2018 model as your only option.

6. Laptops (Not the Budget Variety)

Historically, budget, err….cheap, laptops are one of the hottest items on Black Friday and that doesn’t stand to change this year.

If anything, budget laptop deals will be better than ever this Black Friday. Early word has some pretty incredible deals surfacing.

But what if you are looking for a laptop that has stronger specs and won’t be obsolete in a few short weeks.

High end systems will not be on sale on Black Friday, so you’ll want to look for a deal now.

For example, we just got a coupon from Dell.com for $510 off the Inspiron-15 7000 touch laptop with the Intel Core i7 processor, 8GB memory, 1TB hard drive + FREE Shipping.

7. Patio Furniture

Many stores didn’t sell their inventory of patio furniture back when the temperature was 102 degrees, so now they are slashing prices to make room for fake Christmas trees and a blow-up Frosty the Snowman.

Their loss is your gain.

At my local Home Depot I saw a 8-piece patio set that normally sells for $699 marked down to an incredible $199.

If I didn’t already have some patio furniture I would have been all over it like white on rice. By the time Black Friday rolls around most of the great deals will be gone, buyer beware.

8. Wedding Dresses

The wedding season is over and dress retailers need to clear out last season’s styles to make room for the new.

If you are planning a wedding for this winter or next spring right now is the perfect time to buy your wedding dress.

November is by far the best month to buy your dress and deals up to 75% off are available.

Look for demand (and prices) to go back up in January as many couples get engaged around the holidays.

Key stores to check: David’s Bridal.com, The Knot.com, and House of Brides.com.

9. Christmas Toys

Many media outlets say to wait until closer to Christmas (after Black Friday) to find the best deals on toys.

For the most part, they are correct. Our research, however, has actually found that the best deals are from the beginning of November until Cyber Monday.

In years past, coupons are better and site-wide toy sales are better in early November than in December.

Why you ask? Retailers are in the driver seat as we get closer to Christmas and won’t be offering many sales as they have a captive toy buying audience.

By Kyle James

Photo credit to Bill Ward.