TACO BELL NETHERLANDS VS. THE US (international taco bell taste test)

In this episode, Michelle and Alex taste and compare all of the unique, international Taco Bell menu items in the Netherlands with their friends in the US, Simon and Kristen, and see which Taco Bell experience is best. Can a Doritos Locos Taco and Baja Blast compete with the Netherlands menu?
If you're wondering why there are wardrobe changes in this video, it's because we actually recorded the entire thing about a month prior, but lost some of the footage. So this video is a bit chaotic. ;-)
Episode 59 · Filmed on April 24, 2023 · Rotterdam, the Netherlands
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· Rodecaster Pro II mixer: cb.prf.hn/l/n0bd3zz (NL), amzn.to/3mpxJXq (US)
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🎶 Our music is from Epidemic Sound: share.epidemicsound.com/9ult2k
0:00 Introduction
0:57 Introducing Simon and Kristen
1:26 Taco Bell Netherlands menu items (Beefy Nacho Griller, Churros)
5:39 Taco Bell US menu items (Baja Blast, Doritos Locos Taco)
9:08 Comparing the most popular menu items
14:44 What surprised us?
15:11 Our favorites and least favorites
16:48 Wrap up
#netherlands #tacobell #tacobellmukbangs
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WHO IS BUNCHARTED?
We're Michelle and Alex, a travel-obsessed American couple living abroad in the Netherlands.
In 2020, we quit our jobs to travel the world, and... yeah, that didn't happen. So in 2022, we decided to make an even BIGGER change, packing up our lives (and our cats 🐈), moving from Austin, Texas, to Rotterdam, in the Netherlands. Subscribe for new videos like this every week!

[@themadsamplist]

I didn't even know Taco Bell was in the Netherlands. I looked it up and there is even one in my hometown 😂

[@prairiepirate]

It's good to see you all doing these kinds of videos again. Also love this kind of collaboration. Even though I live in the Midwest, I haven't been a frequent patron of Taco Bell. I think much of it is because we've long had local Mexican chains (Taco Via, Taco Johns) and so many high quality, family owned Mexican restaurants. Mexican food is a mainstay of my diet and I would say that it's the favorite cuisine of people in Kansas City. And I say that as a food critic here. They love barbecue, but they eat Mexican more often. We even have a "Taco trail" in Kansas City, which I have yet to investigate more. One Kansas City local Mexican specialty is parmesan on hard tacos. I've been an ovo-lacto vegetarian since 1989, so Taco Bell has always been an affordable veg-friendly option when I travel. Especially on remote Midwest highways. A few years ago, I learned that Taco Bell will make any menu item vegetarian and will also let you build your own things. My favorite Taco Bell menu item used to be the Seven Layer Burrito. I'm surprised that Taco Bell doesn't have a decent Mission style burrito (like what Chipolte offers). Maybe too expensive to make?

[@buncharted]

michelle and i mentioned that as well when we were prepping for this video - it does seem like a miss, doesn’t it? they could do a california style burrito too with the nacho fries!

[@jackvandersluis1723]

Like this vlog, make more Netherlands vs. The Us taste comparising video's! 👍

[@buncharted]

thank you! we had a lot of fun with this one 😂

[@ReneVanKralingen]

Love you guys ... you're funny and are not afraid of trying different things ... ever checked out the video of the lady that calls The Netherlands the "Worst country in the World" ? 😂😂 .... love and regards from Delft 😊

[@RealConstructor]

The soda color at 6:00 is called gifgroen in Dutch, poison green in English. I have never seen a Taco Bell in The Netherlands and after seeing this video, I don’t think I’m going to look for one.

[@buncharted]

poison green perfectly describes the taste - and probably the health quality!

[@denisehoenjet3024]

Fun to see the differences between the “real” taco bell and the one we have here. Really liked this type of collab!

[@buncharted]

thank you - tried something new and finally had an excuse to eat taco bell :)

[@denisehoenjet3024]

Also your friend looks like Emma Stone !

[@ericdenissen1229]

good video about food maybe worth repeating with other american couples

[@ElMariachi1337]

Never ate taco bell in NL, but I gotta say that US Doritos taco looked like something I would wanna try. Also we only had Mountain Dew in NL for a couple of years but it got banned due to the brominated vegetable oil it contained and that's a prohibited ingredient in the EU. They removed the ingredient for Dutch production but I guess the damage was done and Pepsi stopped producing it all together some years later.

[@buncharted]

the doritos locos taco is definitely worth trying sometime! just think of the team of evil food scientists that concocted such a magical thing. 😂

[@ShadowDrakken]

the clear green sauce looks like tomatillo sauce/salsa verde

[@buncharted]

yep, for sure it was!

[@mr83961]

Something very different from Taco Bell, you guys should try the Japanese restaurant Yama, in Rotterdam. Quite pricey and hard to get a reservation, but when you do, it's an experience!

[@buncharted]

ah yeah this is definitely on our list!!!

[@peterjaro6804]

I LOVE this! Could you please do a 'Wendys' video? I know that 'Wendys' HongKong for ex has a lot of chinese stuff... so do 'Wendys' Netherlands have Dutch stuff like Wendy kroketten?

[@buncharted]

we don’t have wendy’s in the netherlands 😭 as someone born and raised in ohio, it makes me sad. michelle and i grew up on wendy’s!

[@remko]

@@buncharted there is a snackbar in Zeeland who owns the Benelux rights to use the name Wendy’s for its snackbar. That’s why the American chain can’t open a Wendy’s here.

[@exploringtheforeign]

I might need to go find the nearest Taco Bell now haha.

[@buncharted]

it was better than i remember it but it still wasn’t very good 😂

[@exploringtheforeign]

@@buncharted Haha, it used to be perfect for those late nights in college.

[@the_shiny_wartortle_8913]

​@@exploringtheforeign There is one in Eindhoven (so you can immediately visit your in-laws)

[@exploringtheforeign]

@@the_shiny_wartortle_8913 Good point! Thanks for the tip :)

[@Krystalfaye]

My favorite part of this video is when he stuck his finger in the churro and the look on her face 😂

[@buncharted]

😂😂😂

[@albertlay8927]

As much as I like Mexican food, I now am quite discouraged to go to Taco Bell. Even the American stuff looked doubtful. There must be places practically all over the wider southwest of the US where you can get real Mexican stuff, made by actual Mexican people. So I wonder why something like Taco Bell even exists.

[@buncharted]

it’s cheap and in the US, it’s literally everywhere and open really late. it’s not great food (it’s arguably not good food, haha), but it’s convenient. especially for the college crowd. def better mexican and texmex out there. even here in the netherlands :)

[@bartlucassen9145]

Last time i had taco Bells it was in the states 30 years ago. Can’t remember what i ate!

[@buncharted]

just remember how bad it made you feel? 😂

[@peterf1]

I started to break out in a cold sweat fearing you would go through the video without talking about the Gordita. Sorry, I should have had faith. Indeed the "Ranch Sauce Travesty" is nothing that can't be overcome with liberal application of hot sauce. That's like a TB tradition. Also you should thank your lucky stars YT hasn't developed an audio algorithm 'cause the Crunchy Wrap Supreme Thwwaappp was the naughtiest thing I've come across on this channel. And you guys take your clothes off!😄Well done.

[@buncharted]

i’m still sad that we don’t have diablo sauce in the netherlands 😢 thanks for watching - it seems like the fun we had making the video actually came through!

[@souldecides8931]

This is such a good example of dutch directness vs american (politeness) 😅😁 Or just an episode off hell kitchen...

[@buncharted]

i’m guessing because we’re politely describing the food?

[@souldecides8931]

@@buncharted no im just saying as a dutch person its good to see you getting that dutch direcctness yourself even if you maybe dont realize it.. your side is honest and looks at the negative sides as well were as your american friends: sometimes you can see the look from there faces that they dont like it and what they say is not oeh i dont like it but more like: by the nachos bell grande for example they react with oeh its sticking to the bottom, oeh the mayo is nice..... but the look on their faces tells a whole different story just like the fact that thats one off the few preducts they didnt eat to much from. this might be wild speculation and its not meant to be hate. but it just seems like you are more integrated with our society then you might realize

[@buncharted]

ah you’re right - i can definitely see that in the video! glad it’s starting to rub off on us 🇳🇱

[@NecramoniumVideo]

The biggest difference between American and Dutch or better said European food, is that American food has allot of sugar, especially corn syrup. Corn syrup is like a main reason for obesity in the US. And European food uses different (saver) additives, as in America they even use additives that are banned in Europe. Our meat is also devoid of chemicals and toxins like growth hormones that America uses like it's no big deal.

[@andreathegreat7765]

B Uncharted! Love your vids! Everyone loves Mexican food! Can you tell us how much better Taco Bell Nederland employees are compensated vs US? Allowed to unionize?

[@buncharted]

oh gosh, i have no idea! i'm sure their quality of life is significantly better than in the US though, since the cost of living is much lower here (especially cost of things that often are out of reach for lower income americans like health care). i'll try and learn a bit more about this and let you know! great question! 🌮

[@andreathegreat7765]

In NL, is Taco Schmell required to post caloric content?

[@buncharted]

hahah "taco schmell"... apparently not! it wasn't on their in-store menu and isn't actually on their website either. interesting!! looks like they list allergens but not calories, fat, sodium, etc.

[@NecramoniumVideo]

In the Netherlands we are required by law to be paid minimum wage, right now for a 20-25 year old that is 14.73. And unions are huge here, everyone is allowed to join one so i am sure as well if you work at Taco Bell.

[@markjacobs1086]

TIL: we apparently have Taco Bell in The Netherlands 😂

[@buncharted]

you aren’t missing much 😂

[@dutchgamer842]

We had them for years

[@davidc.w.2908]

I don’t have a favorite Taco Bell item because I’ve never bought anything there and don’t plan for it either 😉

[@floreswoestenburg9367]

Maybe a video about dutch products in the US vs american products here in Nederland😅

[@buncharted]

i would love to do this!

[@spoenk7448]

Maybe I should give Taco Bell another chance after being disappointed in Amersfoort. I'm in the US in a few months so I'll give it a try.

[@buncharted]

get a doritos locos taco!

[@spoenk7448]

@@buncharted I will. Damn, I'm not even done with the video and you've already responded. :P

[@liavanson8687]

Your not the only one that’s dissapointed. Amersfoort delivers cold almost empty very expensive “ beef” taco. There is just no filling in it. 😢

[@kayhoorn]

I have seen a couple taco bell spots in NL, but i never went in because i hear alot of horror stories from the US😂. Should i give it a try?😅

[@buncharted]

hahaha probably not. we tried it so you don’t have to - that’s the buncharted promise! 😂😂

[@kayhoorn]

@@buncharted thank you for your service 🫡

[@ErisstheGoddessofmanhwas]

It can't be worse than Macdonald? Right?

[@buncharted]

in the US i’d argue that it’s not, but here, it definitely was worse than mcdonald’s :)

[@NecramoniumVideo]

Read the reviews on your local ones, they are not that good.

[@Dennisboetes]

All that supreme stuff makes it sound like a transformer menu.

[@buncharted]

😂😂😂

[@sit-insforsithis1568]

I’m nervous about going to one I wouldn’t know what to order, at kfc and McDonald’s I know kind of what it is at Taco Bell no I’d

[@SuperEdwin61]

I missed one or more cats

[@buncharted]

don’t worry, there’s a cat in today’s video 🐈

[@jonellesandel1066]

Taco hell uses the same 5 ingredients and just names them differently 😂

[@buncharted]

hahaha 100%

[@bertkassing8541]

I have never been to a Taco Bell in Holland. I do not like Mexican food. Blame it on Checco Perez :-) ;-) I prefer FEBO or a local Turkish or Indonesian food. Although the spare ribs form Texas Ribs in Hoofddorp are very good :-)

[@buncharted]

there’s a bbq place we want to try in rotterdam too - it has surprisingly high ratings! i doubt we’ll go back to taco bell here though 😂

[@bertkassing8541]

@@buncharted IS the drink your Americans friends drunk Mountain Dew? If so: Mountain Dew is banned in EU and Japan because they contain an ingredient (bromine) that can lead to memory loss.

[@lotharschepers2240]

First one to trigger the algorithmen.

[@EdwinMartin]

The algoritmen and algoritwomen 😄

[@BabzV]

I've never had Taco bell, it doesn't really appeal to me. I love making Mexican food though, love their spices.

[@ShovellNL]

This whole Taco Bell thing never spoke to me, just like big M. I like making my own Taco's. I'm a BK kinda person, just the most simple burger, bacon cheese double patty and half the sauce, all the other stuff i don't care much for. But for the sake of it ill goto the Taco Bell sometime you noticed when you were here in Amersfoort.

[@gerrygrouwe70]

Why eat something from far away. I prefer a patatje speciaal frikadel speciaal and a bamibal pindasaus 😂😂😂

[@buncharted]

can’t argue with you there! but we had to do it… for SCIENCE! 😅

[@Dennisboetes]

Amen

[@user-xi6nk4xs4s]

Bamibal pindasaus is not exactly Dutch either.

[@davidc.w.2908]

That drink is probably not available outside of the USA because of some banned ingredients outside of the USA, jut like Mountain Dew and the way they get and keep their “unique” color.

[@buncharted]

radiation? 😂

[@Siriusly_Sirius]

How did the McD's and Dominos videos not get views??? Also, I'm with Alex - Cheesy Gordita Crunch all the way. That's my go to whenever I'm in the mood for trashy wannabe Mexican food...now I want Taco Bell... ::hangs head in shame::

[@hunchbackaudio]

Let me see, I can order Taco Bell, or some Indonesian, Thai or Surinamese food. Tough decision 😂. How do they stay in business, must be a youngster thing. They also opened a Starbucks in Amersfoort, I thought the place would stay empty, but it’s pretty crowded, why pay 8 Euros for a mediocre coffee in a plastic cup? Puzzles me every time?

[@deetgeluid]

Why would Taco Bell give us a watered down version of the US Taco Bell? That’s just plain mean!😮

[@buncharted]

at least give us all of the sauces!!!

[@deetgeluid]

Funny thing, you guys got me so hungry for Mexican food , I sought up a Mexican restaurant in the Hague and had dinner there. Very nice! It’s called KUA.

[@Roggen45]

My least fav is everything, i have never had Taco bell ( didnt know they opened shops here ), McDonald's, Burger king or KFC....it all looks nasty to me, if i want something like a burger or chicken or taco's i am making it myself ( not to mention i have huge trust issues and i don't trust any fastfood chains handling food ), only time i ever go out to eat is to a restaurant with an open kitchen🤭

[@TheBontekraai]

we have taco bell?

[@buncharted]

yessir

[@CakeboyRiP]

Overall the mexican related food in the Netherlands is of a poor quality. Especially in seasoning

[@buncharted]

we liked the place we went in gouda! i think the biggest issue is lack of peppers - the fresh jalapeños lack taste and are hard to find. everyone uses pickled jalapeños.

[@BrazenNL]

I don't like cheese and I don't like guac, so I guess it's not for me.

[@buncharted]

how do you feel about mystery beef? 😅

[@BrazenNL]

@@buncharted Buncharted territory. 😉

[@dobberdop]

Have to say, Taco Bell in the Netherlands..ehm I don't knew it. But, actually the in the ond Netherlands it doesn't looked good.

[@nout1972]

There is unfortunately not any real good Mexican food out here in the Netherlands, well at least not where I live, in 's-Hertogenbosch. And the food they serve at taco Bell, seen in this video doesn't look that appetizing and certainly not spicy to me.

[@buncharted]

taco bell is definitely not good mexican food. it barely qualifies as food at all 😂 we went to a great mexican restaurant in gouda!

[@Dutch1961]

No Taco Bell for me. Greasy junk, just like KFC I try to stay healthy. I made myself stir fried oriental vegetables and whole wheat noodles with salmon from the oven today.

[@erikmulder2574]

Wow, it all looks disgusting. It might taste good though. Personally, I am not a fan of Mexican food like tortilla and nachos. My favorite fast food can be found in a good sushi bar 🤗 However a patatje oorlog or een bamischijf is nice as well, occasionally. Are you also planning to go the opposite way with food tasting, like Michelin star level restaurants?

[@buncharted]

we’re a little uncomfortable recording in super fancy michelin star restaurants but yes, we would love to show off both sides. we love food!

[@erikmulder2574]

@@buncharted there you have a point, I think it might not be very appreciated if you film there 🤔

[@EJannings]

Yuk, that looks awful, no matter what country. I have never had anything from Taco Bell's and after seeing this video I have no plans to change that. On a rare occasion (two or three times a year) I buy some fries, and a "broodje kroket". That's enough junk food for me.

[@buncharted]

we do love junk food, but we don’t like to eat much fast food. that said, it is a fun excuse to do these videos 😅

[@ikke5212]

😉😊

[@r.a.h7682]

Honest question, who even cares about this? outside of Americans? Taco bell isn't Dutch, neither does it represent us.

[@buncharted]

we like scoping out the menus at major fast food chains and seeing what unique items they offer in different countries. even before we started doing youtube! so we’re just having fun, being ourselves, and sharing it with y’all. ✌️

[@Basic190]

Zeur! Kijk dan niet!

[@andreathegreat7765]

@@buncharted Great answer, may I add it sounds like they need to EAT MORE BEANS! Boontje komt op zn loontje!

[@andreathegreat7765]

Plus, it is very much a thing to try out American fast food chains elsewhere in the world to see how they compare, sauces, etc.! International Marketing. Like the "Mister Clean" in Europe has hair, black hair while BALD in the US! Fascinating!

[@dutchgamer842]

​@@andreathegreat7765 He's bald here as well