Taco Bell is adding Nacho Fries to its Dollar Cravings menu Jan. 25 at roughly 7,000 restaurants. (Courtesy Taco Bell)

Taco Bell’s Nacho Fries are seasoned and served with a side of warm nacho cheese. The Register’s Nancy Luna tried the fries last year while visiting Taco Bell’s test kitchen in May. (Nancy Luna, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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Taco Bell is adding Nacho Fries to its Dollar Cravings menu Jan. 25 at roughly 7,000 restaurants. (Courtesy Taco Bell)

Taco Bell’s Nacho Fries are seasoned and served with a side of warm nacho cheese. The Register’s Nancy Luna tried the fries last year while visiting Taco Bell’s test kitchen in May. (Nancy Luna, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Taco Bell’s Nacho Fries are seasoned and served with a side of warm nacho cheese. The Register’s Nancy Luna tried the fries last year while visiting Taco Bell’s test kitchen in May. (Nancy Luna, Orange County Register/SCNG)



The latest player to dip its toe in the fast-food burger wars is an unlikely competitor: Taco Bell.

The Mexican-inspired fast-food chain, known for its Gen Y appeal, is crossing over into burger territory by adding $1 french fries to its value menu at the end of the month.

The so-called Nacho Fries are being touted by the chain as “the most-anticipated menu item release of the year.” The seasoned fries, served with a side of warm nacho cheese, will debut on the Dollar Cravings menu Jan. 25 at roughly 7,000 restaurants.

In early December, Irvine-based Taco Bell announced plans to double down on its dollar menu by introducing at least 20 items over the course of 2018. In late December the chain added The Stacker, a folded quesadilla with three layers of seasoned ground beef, melted shredded cheese and nacho cheese sauce

Come late January, The Stacker will exit the bargain menu to make room for Nacho Fries, which earned social media buzz last year when they were tested in restaurants in Bakersfield and West Virginia.

Taco Bell said fans can customize the fries for an up-charge by adding beef, salsa, extra nacho cheese and sour cream. The fries also can be bought as part of a $5 box that includes a Doritos Locos Taco, a Cheesy Gordita Crunch and a medium drink.

The fries will be available for a limited time as Taco Bell plans to stagger new dollar foods throughout the year.

The current dollar menu includes the Spicy Potato Soft Taco, Beefy Fritos Burrito, Cheesy Bean and Rice Burrito, Cheesy Roll-up, Beefy Mini Quesadilla, Shredded Chicken Mini Quesadilla, Triple Layer Nachos, Spicy Tostada, Cinnabon Delights two-pack, Caramel Apple Empanada and Cinnamon Twists.