The popular chain Taco Bell opened its doors in Norwich earlier this week - but is it worth all the excitement?

The fast food spot finally launched in London Street on Tuesday and is the only branch in Norfolk following the closure of the Great Yarmouth takeaway during the pandemic.

But was Taco Bell worth the wait?

After months of hungrily staring at the sign hanging above the shop's empty and taco-less windows, I headed over and ordered five fan-favourite offerings to find out.

One item even stood out to me as a 10/10.

1. Cheese Quesadilla

The cheese quesadilla just wasn't cheesy enough for me (Image: Newsquest) Described as "simple in nature", I was surprised by how simply wrong this quesadilla tasted.

It is stuffed full of a three-cheese blend and a creamy jalapeno sauce, but it just didn't taste cheesy to me with the jalapeno sauce doing a lot of the heavy lifting.

The sauce gave the quesadillas a tangy, almost sweet taste.

After much pulling and tearing, I had no luck getting even a slight cheese pull.

Score: 5/10

2. Seasoned Fries

The seasoned fries were packed full of flavour - unlike other fast food fries (Image: Newsquest)Packed full of a paprika flavour, these fries are effortlessly better than the likes of McDonald's and Burger King's offerings.

Instead of feeling like just a side to eat alongside your main, they stood strong on their own.

Score: 9/10

3. Churros

The churros had a good texture but were a bit too sweet for my tooth (Image: Newsquest) These churros were crispy and warm but bordered on being almost too sweet for my tooth.

The complimentary caramel sauce added to the enjoyable texture but only made the already sweet treats even sweeter in the process.

I could see myself enjoying these with a coffee, but since Taco Bell doesn't offer hot drinks in the UK I can't say that I'd overly recommend these after a Mexican-inspired meal.

Score: 6/10

4. Crunch Taco

The crunch taco felt refreshing to eat instead of feeling greasy (Image: Newsquest) It only makes sense that Taco Bell would put together a good taco and they didn't disappoint. 

As per its name, the crunch taco packed a good crunch and was messy but refreshing with some great sour cream that perfectly complimented the beef.

Above all, the salad felt crisp and fresh instead of warm and soggy - something that surprised me for a fast food spot.

Priced at just £2.50 I'll be back for another taco, especially with the chain's buy one get one free Taco Tuesday deal.

Score: 10/10

5. Chicken Crunch Burrito

The Chicken Crunch Burrito was dry and chewy (Image: Newsquest) This burrito really disappointed me. It was bone dry with barely any sauce for how big it was.

It tasted like a chewier version of a wrap of the day from McDonald's - except it was about three times more expensive. 

I felt like I had to battle my way through this thing and if not for the extra sauce sachets I grabbed at the counter I probably would've let it go cold.

Score: 4/10

Price

My taste-test bill came to £17.65 in total but I'd never order this much food if I was sitting down to eat an actual meal.

If I were to grab some lunch I'd order a Crunch Taco and some Seasoned Fries - which would still set me back a somewhat pricey £5.79 without a drink.

Overall, Taco Bell is mediocrely priced compared to its fast food competition in the city but the high quality of certain menu items cannot be ignored.

This review is independent and was paid for by this newspaper.