REVIEW: McDonald’s The HUNTRIX Meal

McDonald’s The HUNTRIX Meal

The promotion for McDonald’s KPop Demon Hunters asks you to pick a meal to pick a side. Those two sides are The HUNTRIX Meal versus The Saja Boys Breakfast Meal. If you have no idea what the previous sentence means, I suggest going to the Wikipedia page for KPop Demon Hunters to get yourself caught up, which is what I had to do because I know the music, but I do not know the movie.

But is it a hard choice? If you compare the two, it seems easy to pick a side. The Saja Boys Meal comes with just a Sausage McMuffin with Egg covered in Spicy Saja Sauce, hash browns, and a small soft drink. The HUNTRIX Meal, meanwhile, is a spread of 10-piece Chicken McNuggets with two special sauces — Hunter Sauce and Demon Sauce — Ramyeon McShaker Fries, and a medium drink. Both meals come with photo cards of the characters, but the HUNTRIX Meal offers so many more flavors. It’s not even a contest.

Demon Sauce and Hunter Sauce dipping sauces

Hunter Sauce tastes like another previous McDonald's dipping sauce

That said, while the HUNTRIX Meal offers more flavors, the two McNugget sauces taste suspiciously similar to previous ones. Let’s start with the Hunter Sauce, which McDonald’s describes as a sweet and slightly spicy sauce that blends chili, garlic, and pepper. I swear it tastes like one of the limited-time dipping sauces McDonald’s offered within the past three years, though I can’t pinpoint which one. It’s a pleasant, sweet, and peppery sauce with a mild kick. Tasty, but the Demon Sauce was more intriguing.

Yes, the Demon Sauce is purple. Care Bear purple.

Your eyes aren’t deceiving you, and my iPhone’s nearly four-year-old camera isn’t messing with the colors — the Demon Sauce really is purple. If you’re wondering how it got its pretty purple pigment, the ingredients list butterfly pea flower extract, fruit juice, and vegetable juice. The color brings back memories of those Heinz EZ Squirt ketchups from the ’90s, available in green, blue, pink, and purple.

It tastes almost exactly like my favorite McNuggets sauce, Hot Mustard — which still exists, though not everywhere, I think. So it’s no surprise I prefer it over the Hunter Sauce. The only differences between the Demon Sauce and standard Hot Mustard are the color and the heat, with the Demon Sauce building spiciness the more you eat.

Ramyeon McShaker Fries seasoning packet

Dump the fries in the included bag, then dump the seasoning, then close the bag, and shake.

Finally, the Ramyeon McShaker Fries feature a savory blend of soy, garlic, sesame, and spices. The flavor reminds me of the seasoning packet from a bag of instant noodles, so McDonald’s did a solid job of replicating ramyeon flavors. There’s a strong soy sauce note throughout, though I was a little surprised there wasn’t any heat — ramyeon is typically known for being spicy. The seasoned fries were enjoyable, but not enough to make me miss them when they’re gone or to buy them à la carte while they’re still around.

The standout of the HUNTRIX Meal was the Demon Sauce, for its striking purple color and its Hot Mustard flavor. But despite that being the only true standout, I still think the HUNTRIX Meal is far more interesting than the Saja Boys one. So I guess I picked a side — I’m Team HUNTRIX.

Purchased Price: $12.19*
Size: Medium
Rating: 6 out of 10 (Hunter Sauce), 9 out of 10 (Demon Sauce), 6 out of 10 (Ramyeon McShaker Fries)
Nutrition Facts: (w/medium Diet Coke) 930 calories, 54 grams of fat, 8 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 70 milligrams of cholesterol, 1915 milligrams of sodium, 88 grams of carbohydrates, 5 grams of fiber, 14 grams of sugar, and 28 grams of protein.

*Because I live on an island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, things are a bit pricier here. You’ll probably pay less than I did.

Taco Bell Steak & Guac Nacho Fries Review

Taco Bell Steak & Guac Nacho Fries is topped with marinated chicken, sour cream, nacho cheese sauce, chipotle sauce, and guacamole.

Like four-digit numerical passcodes for your phone, there are thousands of combinations Taco Bell could come up with for its loaded Nacho Fries using its standard ingredients.

The latest is the Steak & Guac Nacho Fries, which have the most condiments I’ve ever seen on the chain’s Nacho Fries and marinated steak — guacamole, reduced-fat sour cream, nacho cheese sauce, and chipotle sauce. There isn’t anything other than the fries and steak to provide some resistance for your teeth.

Since it’s almost halfway there, maybe Taco Bell should create something called Sauce Pool, Sauce Rainbow, or Sauce Swamp Nacho Fries that contains every sauce Taco Bell offers, plus a new one or two. But we’re not here to talk about my wet sauce dream, unless you represent the Yum! Brands, Inc. and are willing to offer me royalties. We’re here to review Taco Bell’s Steak & Guac Nacho Fries.

Taco Bell Steak & Guac Nacho Fries has one scoop of guacamole.

Like many of the previous loaded Nacho Fries varieties that use Taco Bell’s standard ingredients, it tastes fine, and it’s filling. However, when mixed, it tasted like the sour cream, nacho cheese sauce, and chipotle sauce were upset about the steak and guacamole getting top billing here, so they took over the show. The steak’s meaty flavor is erased when coated with all those sauces, and the guacamole loses most of its avocado-ness when mixed with everything. The only flavors I consistently tasted were the nacho cheese sauce and a bit of the chipotle sauce’s smokiness, which also had a slight spicy kick.

Taco Bell Steak & Guac Nacho Fries up close

Because the headlining ingredients don’t make a strong impression, it makes me wonder whether Taco Bell needed to combine all those sauces in the first place. Sour cream and nacho cheese sauce seem to be on EVERY loaded Nacho Fries variant that has come out. Maybe give the sour cream and nacho cheese guns in the kitchen a break.

These Nacho Fries might’ve been wholly more guacamole if the sour cream and nacho cheese were left off and replaced with another serving of guacamole. Then the menu item might’ve been worthy of the Steak & Guac name.

Purchased Price: $7.19*
Rating: 5 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 530 calories, 34 grams of fat, 5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 30 milligrams of cholesterol, 1230 milligrams of sodium, 42 grams of carbohydrates, 5 grams of fiber, 3 grams of sugar (includes less than 1 gram of added sugar), and 13 grams of protein.

*Because I live on an island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, things are a bit pricier here. You’ll probably pay less than I did.

Taco Bell Cantina Chicken Rolled Quesadilla Review

Taco Bell Cantina Chicken Rolled Quesadilla with sour cream

Taco Bell’s Flat Burrito is back.

I mean, Taco Bell’s Rolled Quesadilla is back, and it’s gotten the Cantina Chicken treatment. According to the fast food chain, the new permanent menu item is: “A warm flour tortilla filled with savory slow-roasted chicken, a melty blend of mozzarella, pepper jack, and cheddar cheeses, and creamy chipotle sauce, grilled to perfection, rolled, cut, and wrapped for easy enjoying on the go. Served with reduced-fat sour cream and an Avocado Verde Salsa packet.”

It follows the Steak & Poblano Rolled Quesadilla that got the product rolling late last year. Speaking of previously released menu items, this new thing in a tortilla is similar to an old thing in a tortilla — the Cantina Chicken Quesadilla. They share the same ingredients, and the only differences between the two are how they’re presented—the original version also came with a side of guacamole for dipping—and this rolled version has twice as much chicken.

Taco Bell Cantina Chicken Rolled Quesadilla smooshed

The original Cantina Chicken Quesadilla didn’t make a strong impression on me, and the same goes for this updated version. The chicken is lightly seasoned and pairs well with the cheeses and chipotle sauce, but it’s all not too flavorful or exciting. But as mentioned earlier, it comes with a side of sour cream and a packet of Avocado Verde Salsa, which significantly enhanced the flavor, especially the latter, which I think is one of the best Taco Bell sauces. They take the menu item from “meh” to “mmm, okay.” I wish the default dipping sauce were the guacamole, because reduced-fat sour cream isn’t exactly known for taking mouths to the flashy side of Tasty Town.

Here’s my biggest issue with these Rolled Quesadillas: a regular quesadilla is fanned out when it’s presented to you, so its price makes sense to me. But with these rolled ones, they look like burritos that got smooshed a bit too much in the grill press, making them appear less substantial than Taco Bell’s regular burritos, which, in turn, makes them not worth the surprisingly high price, even if they have twice the chicken. Though I will admit their shape does make them less awkward to dip into a sauce cup than a regular quesadilla wedge.

So, yes, Taco Bell’s Rolled Quesadilla is back, but nothing about its size or flavor has improved to make me want to try the next one, if there ever is one. Maybe it needs to go back to the drawing board.

Purchased Price: $7.99*
Rating: 5 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 570 calories, 28 grams of fat, 13 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 105 milligrams of cholesterol, 1410 milligrams of sodium, 46 grams of carbohydrates, 5 grams of fiber, 3 grams of sugar (includes 1 gram of added sugar), and 33 grams of protein.

*Because I live on an island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, things are a bit pricier here. You’ll probably pay less than I did.

Jollibee Aloha Chicken Sandwich Review

Jollibee Aloha Chicken Sandwich wrapper

I’m usually not a fan of hot fruit. Before I eat any fruit-filled pie, it has to be at room temperature or chilled — so you don’t have to worry about me sneaking a bite of a freshly baked pie cooling on a windowsill.

However, when a heated savory dish includes pineapple, like Hawaiian pizza or sweet and sour pork, I don’t mind it. And the same can be said about Jollibee’s Aloha Chicken Sandwich.

Jollibee Aloha Chicken Sandwich with lettuce, Aloha Sauce, chicken fillet, bacon, and brioche bun

If you’re unfamiliar with Jollibee, it’s a Philippines-based fast food chain that has over 80 locations in US. It’s mostly known for its chicken and spaghetti, but also offers burgers and other items.

The sandwich has been around since 2024 — and there’s a burger version that’s been around for even longer — but I only got around to trying it recently because my wife was craving Jollibee, and she decided I’d probably write about a fried chicken sandwich with a grilled pineapple ring. What can I say? I’m pi…neapple-curious, and she knows me too well. Besides the pineapple, the sandwich features a hand-breaded chicken breast fillet, bacon, lettuce, cheese, and Aloha Dressing on a toasted brioche bun.

This sandwich isn’t my first rodeo with a fast food sandwich topped with a grilled pineapple. Remember the Carl’s Jr. Teriyaki Burger? You don’t. Well, it’s a good thing this site does because I totally forgot I enjoyed it.

Jollibee Aloha Chicken Sandwich and its pineapple ring

Despite having a decently sized pineapple slice, I didn’t notice its flavor or texture in the sandwich. There was a hint of sweetness that enhanced the Aloha Dressing, but the pineapple never screamed, “Hey! There’s a pineapple in here. Can you believe it? That’s crazy, right?” The tasty sauce is noticeably tangy, and I got honey mustard vibes from it, but between the sauce, chicken, and bacon, the pineapple never really stood a chance.

Jollibee Aloha Chicken Sandwich cross section

While the pineapple, Aloha Dressing, and a little bit of the brioche bun bring the sweetness, the chicken filet and the bacon bring the savory. The chicken was juicy, and the light breading had a nice crunch and a mild umami flavor that sets it apart from other chicken chains. I should note that Jollibee is my second favorite fast food chain for fried chicken — it’s tastier and crispier than KFC, and I’d say I like it as much as Popeyes. As for the bacon slices, they weren’t crispy, but they provided a porky, salty kick that rounded out the sandwich nicely. Overall, there’s a tasty, sweet-and-savory dynamic here. It’s just a shame the ingredient the sandwich is named after is the quietest one.

Anyhoo, if you’re pi…neapple-curious, I’d skip the Aloha Chicken Sandwich. But if you’re Jolli…bee-curious, any of the other chicken sandwiches are worth the trip.

Purchased Price: $9.49*
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 639 calories, 33 grams of fat, 8 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 149 milligrams of cholesterol, 1686 milligrams of sodium, 64 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of fiber, 21 grams of sugar, and 40 grams of protein.

*Because I live on a rock in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, things are a bit pricier here. You’ll probably pay less than I did.

Frankford KFC Colonel’s Favorite Jelly Beans Review

Frankford KFC Colonel’s Favorite Jelly Beans packaging

Jelly bean season is upon us, and the folks at Frankford Candy have given us the unholiest collaboration of Eastertide: Colonel’s Favorite Jelly Beans.

The colonel is Colonel Sanders—the KFC guy.

If you think that sounds terrible, you are correct. These jelly beans are not AI, but I wish they were.

The flavors are fried chicken, sweet corn (maybe we should call him Kernel Sanders?), and gravy. I didn’t expect these to be good, and yet even my low expectations remain unmet.

Frankford KFC Colonel’s Favorite Jelly Beans fried chicken

When I open the bag, I get a strong, off-putting savory smell. I often enjoy mixing savory and sweet (pineapple on pizza, Pumpkin Spice Cup Noodles), but this is not one of those times.

Frankford KFC Colonel’s Favorite Jelly Beans gravy

Even the beige color palette is unappetizing. The corn flavor is yellow, the gravy flavor is orange-yellow, and the fried chicken flavor is Caucasian skin with freckles. At least the texture is pretty typical for a jelly bean.

Frankford KFC Colonel’s Favorite Jelly Beans corn

The flavors aren’t all that different from each other; they are all strong umami, savory flavors with a fruity sweetness. If I concentrate, the fried chicken flavor does make me imagine juicy meat inside a crispy batter, but that’s not something I want in a jelly bean. The corn bean has a very faint corn flavor; it’s the best (i.e., least disgusting) of the three. And I detect an onion note in the gravy bean.

Even after I have eaten them, a weird, unpleasant aftertaste lingers in my mouth. I think these are worse than the notorious turkey dinner candy corn.

Taste the KFC Rainbow

It is difficult to find anything to enjoy about these. So why am I rating them a 2 out of 10 instead of a 1 out of 10? Well, they’re not so repulsive that I need to spit them out. They’re close, but they’re not quite there. And also, I’m pretty sure they’re meant to be amusing and ridiculous, and they’re probably meant to be a little gross. In that way, they’re a roaring success.

Don’t put these in a plastic egg for the annual egg hunt unless you want to ruin a kid’s Easter.

Purchased Price: $3.00
Size: 4 oz bag
Purchased at: Five Below
Rating: 2 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (22 pieces) 110 calories, 0 grams of fat, 0 milligrams of sodium, 28 grams of carbohydrates, 27 grams of sugar (includes 27 grams of added sugar), and 0 grams of protein.

Scroll to Top