We tried Taco Bell's new Toasted Cheddar Chalupa to see how it stacks up against the rest of the chain's revamped menu

Like the beacons of Gondor, the Toasted Cheddar Chalupas called forces from wide and far to the office kitchen.

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Our eager hands pulled back the silver wrapping paper to reveal colorful toppings gently cupped by parabolas of toasted gold.

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The chalupas had lost some of their heat and likely some of their crunch during transportation. However, they were still pleasantly warm.

Inside the deep-fried shells were the classic Chalupa Supreme fillings: ground beef, sour cream, shredded lettuce, shredded cheese, and diced tomatoes. There's also a chicken option.

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Each of us grabbed our preferred sauces and slathered them onto our chalupas.

The shell was crispy, fluffy, and savory, with a mild cheese flavor which went well with the classic Tex-Mex fillings.

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A few of us found ourselves wishing that the cheese in the shell was even cheesier. It was more like a strong supporting character than a breakout star.

However, we all agreed that the Toasted Cheddar Chalupa was very, very eatable. It was surprisingly filling and substantive, and we loved the shell's texture.

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Some of us even went back for seconds...

And this was before 11 am.

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However, some of us didn't make it through the second one before we started to feel a bit queasy. Still, we all agreed on one thing: the Toasted Cheddar Chalupa would have been a revelation for our college selves, especially after a long night of reveling.

The new Chalupa is a worthy addition to the Taco Bell menu, revamped or not.

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