When Malaysians found out that the first Taco Bell outlet in Malaysia would be opening in Cyberjaya, it’s safe to say, they collectively lost their minds in anticipation of this iconic franchise making its mark here.
WORLD OF BUZZ had the privilege of being one of the firsts to taste test the products and boy oh boy, were we excited. Taco Bell’s “Live Más” brand philosophy which translates to “Live More” aims to give customers a truly unique dining experience accompanied by great food. However, for their Malaysian customers, Taco Bell also introduces “Live Kaw Kaw”, encouraging Malaysians to make every day extraordinary.
Before we go into the delicious food, what got our attention was the aesthetic murals around the restaurant that definitely elevated the usual fast-food restaurant vibes. One of their key features is the centrepiece mural art that is an interpretation of how the spirit of the Malaysian culture and Taco Bell brand perfectly blend – designed in collaboration with local Malaysian artist, Wilson Ng.
Without much adieu, let’s get right to it and review the delicious dishes we were given the opportunity to taste. We were given a mixture of beef and chicken protein options but there are also vegetarian options to satisfy various customers needs.
Crunchy Taco Supreme
An international favourite, the Crunchy Taco Supreme did not disappoint! With its crispy tostada outer shell and flavourful ground beef, this taco truly lives up to its name and is a must-try when you visit Taco Bell. Customers have the option of choosing a hard shell or soft shell for this menu item but we highly-recommend the hard shell for that ASMR crunch factor.
Kickin Chicken Tacos
Instead of the usual ground chicken, this soft-shell tortilla taco has two crispy chicken strips drizzled with their signature kickin’ sauce which provided a much-needed punch! It is then topped with fresh lettuce, pico de gallo salsa, and cheese. The flavours may seem clashing but it definitely comes together well in a single bite.
Crunchwrap Supreme
If you’ve got a big appetite and are looking for something on the heavier side, the Crunchwrap Supreme is the one for you. Loaded with layers of seasoned meat, warm nacho cheese, crispy lettuce, tostada shell, juicy tomatoes and sour cream, the Crunchwrap Supreme packs a punch with every bite.
Grilled Stuft Burrito
If you’re bored of tacos (purely hypothetical situation), you can opt for this grilled stuffed chicken burrito, a flour tortilla wrapped around chicken (you can choose your preferred choice of protein), and warm nacho cheese sauce that hugs your tummy comfortingly. This burrito is also the healthier option since the meat is grilled!
Bell Rice Bowl
This dish was made especially with the Malaysian audience in mind, sort of an upgrade to our nasi lemak? The dish comes with Mexican seasoned rice which for a wild moment actually made us think it was biryani accompanied by sambal, chicken, pico de gallo salsa, black beans, and nacho chips.
Now, our writers found that the best way to enjoy this dish is to mix it all together, put it on the nacho chip, and one-bite it! Although the sambal may be a tad bit sweet for our Malaysian tongues, all you need to do is add their signature hot sauce and voila!
Cinnamon Twists
Crunchy, tasty and addictive, Taco Bell’s Cinnamon Twists was one of our favourite menu items of the day! The light and airy twists are fried to perfection before being coated with a generous amount of cinnamon sugar. Each bite left us licking our fingers to make sure nothing goes to waste!
The future of Taco Bell in Malaysia?
Now, most of you might be wondering why would Taco Bell establish its first location in Cyberjaya, especially since it’s relatively far from the city folk. Taco Bell’s Head of Marketing, Gita Sriram, explained that Taco Bell is all about growth and innovation which is why Cyberjaya seemed like the perfect fit.
“Cyberjaya has a very youthful and lively community that’s up and coming, and innovation is something that Taco Bell shares with the digital community here.”
When asked about plans to expand Taco Bell across multiple locations in Malaysia, Sriram told WOB that, “We plan on expanding quite rapidly here in Malaysia. Our plans very ambitious.” While she added that they haven’t decided where their next location will be, she said that their next outlet will be chosen based on community.”The one major question for us will always be, ‘is there something we can bring to a community that can add something extra to it?'”
We also asked if Taco Bell had plans to incorporate more Malaysian-fusion food, like the Bell Rice Bowl into their menu.”With the first rollout of products, it will be all about delivering the ionic Taco Bell experience will the signature menu items you see from Taco Bells all around the world. But as we become more mature in the market and we get to know the consumers better, it will then be appropriate for us to further innovate and make our items more Malaysian-customised.”
Sriram also assured us that all of their ingredients are sourced fresh from both the local and international market and are 100% halal certified. Foodies who would like to opt for vegan and vegetarian-friendly options can log on to Taco Bell’s website which will be up on their official opening day (2 April) to identify which menu items are best suited for their diets!
We can’t wait for Taco Bell’s official opening tomorrow! Which menu item are you guys most excited about trying?
Also read: It’s Taco Time! Taco Bell Malaysia Is Finally Opening On 2 April & We Can’t Wait!
