Doritos Locos Taco vs Crunchy Taco
These two tacos are the same filling in two different shells, and the panels prove it: both land at 170 calories. The Crunchy Taco is the plain corn shell with seasoned beef, lettuce and cheese. The Nacho Cheese Doritos Locos Taco swaps that shell for a Nacho Cheese Doritos shell and keeps the rest. Everything else in this comparison is the price of that swap.
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Side by side
| Measure | Doritos Locos Taco | Crunchy Taco |
|---|---|---|
| Sampled price | $2.89 (range $2.29–$3.19) | $2.09 (range $1.99–$2.49) |
| Calories | 170 Cal | 170 Cal |
| Protein | 8g | 7g |
| Fat / sodium | 10g / 370 mg | 9g / 310 mg |
| Protein per dollar | 2.8g | 3.3g |
The verdict, from the panels
On nutrition this is a tie with a footnote: same calories, 1g of protein and 60 mg of sodium apart. On price it is not a tie at all — the Doritos shell costs 80 cents, about 38% more, for no extra food. The Crunchy Taco wins every efficiency measure. The Doritos version wins only if the shell itself is the point, which, to be fair, is why it exists: people do not order a Doritos Locos Taco for the macros. Pay for the shell knowingly, or save the 80 cents.
About this guide's data
Both sides are the standard builds, taken from our dataset: sampled prices — the middle figure across the listings we sampled, with the range shown on each item page — and published nutrition panels, compiled in October 2026. Where one side has no verified value, the table shows the gap rather than an estimate. Full sourcing: how we verify our data.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a Doritos Locos Taco and a Crunchy Taco?
The shell. Both have seasoned beef, lettuce and cheese; the Doritos Locos Taco uses a Nacho Cheese Doritos shell instead of a plain corn shell.
Which has more calories?
Neither — both are 170 calories on their published panels.
Is the Doritos Locos Taco worth the extra money?
On the numbers, no: $2.89 sampled against $2.09 for the same calories. The premium buys the flavoured shell, not more food.
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