It’s no secret fast-food prices have been on the rise. Taco Bell did away with its infamous $1 menu back in 2018 and launched a Cravings Value Menu, where items can cost up to $5. What once may have been a dollar now costs twice or three times as much.
As a result, many fast-food customers have found workarounds to stretch their dollar. An Ohio-based Taco Bell fan shared her hack to shave over $1 off the Chips and Nacho Cheese Sauce.
She demonstrates in a video with nearly 1 million views.
Wrong Vs. Right Way To Order Taco Bell’s Chips And Cheese
“Life hack: Do you eat Taco Bell?” TikTok creator @stradafamily asks while sitting in the driver’s seat of her car. “Let me put you onto a little secret.”
Then, she pulls up to the Taco Bell drive-thru and orders the chips and cheese the “wrong way.”
“I’ll just take a chips and cheese, please,” she says into the speaker. Her total comes out to $2.99.
After collecting her food at the next window, she decides to go through the drive-thru once more to show viewers the “correct way” to order the menu item.
“Now, let’s go back around. And I’m gonna show you how to actually order it,” the content creator says, driving back around to the speaker.
“I just would like to order one side chip and then, I’ll take a side cheese, also please,” @stradafamily tells the employee.
This time, her total is only $1.95.
She then shows viewers how the items are the exact same.
“You order the chips and cheese off the menu, it’s gonna be $3. If you order a side chip and a side cheese, it’s going to be $1.95. And it’s the exact same thing,” she concludes.
Who Wants To Try It?
Many commenters said they appreciated this hack and intend to use it during their next Taco Bell run.
“Thanks girl! Cause they trying to scam us,” one viewer remarked.
“It used to be a dollar for it. thank you for the hack,” a second stated.
“For real though, I do love a side of chips and cheese. But not for three dollars!! I will be using this,” a third wrote.
“Thank you! I order that sometimes for a snack. I’ll be using that hack!” a fourth praised.
The Death Of The Dollar Menu
The dollar menu was popularized by McDonald’s and used to exist at various fast-food chains, including Taco Bell. The queso and chips used to exist on Taco Bell’s dollar menu.
Nowadays, dollar menus are pretty much nonexistent (McDonald’s did away with theirs in 2013). Many chains have since switched over to value menus, where they offer select menu items for close to $1. Some fast-food places may also offer $1 through various promotions. For example, Burger King sold $1 hamburgers to its rewards members for just one week in early 2025. And McDonald’s sometimes sells menu items for just $1 through its app.
@stradafamily #tacobell #lifehack OK Taco bell, I love you. I have loved you a long time (your bean burritos 😂) but why you out here doing us dirty like this? We deserve better 🫢 Stay tuned & follow my page for all the fun and #moneysavingtips I swear I catch all this stuff. I guess you can say i’m extra observant 👀 #lifehackvideo #tacobell
BroBible reached out to @stradafamily via TikTok comment and direct message. BroBible also reached out to Taco Bell via press email.