500 Words or Less Reviews: The Jack in the Box Taco

Dear Jack in the Box,

Your tacos are cheap and delicious. Never change them.

Now, I hear the precious foodies sputter and stammer, as they shudder in disgust at the description of the aforementioned tacos. “They are loathsome!” they bemoan. “How dare they call these monstrosities food?” they rage. I have no problem admitting that the Jack in the Box tacos leave something to be desired from a purely aesthetic perspective. They are rather ugly. I would even go one-step further and posit that broken down into each ingredient, these tacos should not work. Allow me to elaborate.

The Objective Evidence:

Examine the shell. It is a corn-like substance that is one part hard as a rock–risking dental injury if you bite down too aggressively–and one part oily mess. Typically, I avoid foods that are dripping in grease and this taco is a major offender in this regard. Somehow, on the Jack in the Box taco, the grease is inviting and seductive. It is a siren call that unexpected pleasure is waiting just inside the soft and soggy center. I have repeatedly succumbed to the call and am not remotely ashamed.

Next, consider the “meat.” We are all adults here, so I will be as frank as possible: I am dubious of Jack in the Box’s claim that there is any meat in this substance. At my most generous, I can only call it a brownish paste. I say brownish because I rarely even see the “meat” when I am shoveling one of them in my mouth. The deep fried, hard and soggy shell does a fantastic job of hiding the meat from plain site. From a biological standpoint, I believe that Jack in the Box uses this meat paste in an effort to assist in the digestive process. The meat paste needs no additional digestion to work its way through the body.

Finally, we have the toppings: American cheese, lettuce, and sauce. American cheese is the Ringo Starr of cheese. Yes, we all know who he is. We hear him play on most Beatles’ songs. Yet, nobody loves Ringo. He’s just there. It is pretty clear the shredded lettuce comes from scraps they use for other food items, tossed on the tacos to make them appear a little more legitimate. And the sauce is just their pre-packaged taco sauce–mostly bland and innocuous.

A sum that is greater than its parts

Based on this description, you would think the Jack in the Box taco is unpalatable. You would be utterly mistaken. The disparate ingredients, all more unbecoming and repulsive than the last, form a scrumptious and supremely satisfying delight.

Jack in the Box: do not bend to modern whims. Do not attempt to “jazz” up your taco recipe or make it healthier by using fresh ingredients. Flee from any requests to take it off the menu because it is probably killing people. A death by the Jack in the Box taco would be a worthy death.

Long Live the Jack in the Box taco!

Phill Lytle
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Phill Lytle

Phill Lytle loves Jesus, his wife, his kids, his family, his friends, his church, J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, 80s rock, the Tennessee Titans, Brandon Sanderson books, Whiteheart, Band of Brothers, Thai food, the Nashville Predators, music, books, movies, TV, writing, pizza, vacation...

7 thoughts on “500 Words or Less Reviews: The Jack in the Box Taco

  • January 23, 2017 at 1:50 pm
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    I have to try these tacos….

    Reply
    • January 23, 2017 at 3:31 pm
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      These barely qualify as food, but I agree with Phill. You won’t regret giving these a chance.

      Reply
  • January 23, 2017 at 4:09 pm
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    This is an incredible ode to cheap cuisine. I loved reading it. And no one goes to Jack-in-the-box for the health reasons anyway. So of course, they shouldn’t ever change their tacos. Unfortunately, here in Virginia Beach, VA we do not have “Jack in the Box” franchises. I do hope we can lure one to our area. I will have to eat a Jack-in-the-box taco next time I am in Tennessee as I have never had the pleasure of tasting one.

    Reply
  • January 23, 2017 at 5:03 pm
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    I dissent! Don’t eat them! Stay away! If you are persuaded to try them, be sure you have no plans to be anywhere else but home (or in your motel room if you travel.)
    Just because you have the right to the tacos and the right to enjoy them, doesn’t mean you should.

    Reply
    • January 23, 2017 at 8:29 pm
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      Brothers, I beseech you to flee from Amy and her words of “wisdom.” No amount of gastrointestinal discomfort should dissuade you from partaking in the culinary delights of the Jack in the Box tacos.

      Reply
  • January 23, 2017 at 7:50 pm
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    If I ever get close to a JitB, my brain is going to be so confused going in….

    Reply
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