REVIEW: McDonald’s Buffalo Ranch Sauce and Bacon Buffalo Ranch McCrispy

McDonald's Bacon Buffalo Ranch McCrispy with sauce container

McDonald’s pulled a little Buffalo Ranch stealth drop – no press release, no fanfare. It just quietly slid it into the app and let social media do the rest.

If the name sounds familiar, you’re not imagining things. There was a Buffalo Ranch McChicken nearly 12 years ago, but this 2025 version is different.

It’s a fully blended sauce, available in several forms: in the Bacon Buffalo Ranch McCrispy, in a Snack Wrap, or as a dipping sauce for McNuggets or McCrispy Strips.

Buffalo Ranch sauce up close

The first thing that hits you is the color. The bright shade of orange somehow scratches a nostalgic itch – the same one left over from drinking Squeezits and squeezing purple ketchup as a kid.

The dip packaging even gives me Selena Gomez Oreo energy for some reason. It’s the same size sauce container, but with a shiny maroon-ish lid—western-coded, complete with a little horseshoe.

And the more I think about it, the less I understand why Buffalo Ranch is western-coded.

I also noticed that McDonald’s felt the need to write THE new Buffalo Ranch on the lid – taking a page straight from The Ohio State. So maybe, from now on, I should refer to it as The New Buffalo Ranch. Yeehaw.

Buffalo Ranch sauce with McCrispy Strips

Flavor-wise, buffalo leads the charge, distinctly in the Frank’s RedHot family: tangy, vinegary, and familiar in the best way. The ranch isn’t overpowering but shows up in the creaminess, adding just enough body and cooling balance to round things out. The heat is fairly mild to me, but builds pleasantly.

McDonald's Bacon Buffalo Ranch McCrispy with bacon sticking out

McDonald's Bacon Buffalo Ranch McCrispy with top bun off

I tried The New Buffalo Ranch in two ways, as a dip and in the McCrispy sandwich. The dip was solid, especially with McCrispy Strips, but the sandwich is where it really shines. I initially thought there wasn’t enough sauce, but it turned out to be plenty. The combo of tangy pickles, smoky bacon, and that creamy-spicy sauce hits every note: salt, heat, fat, acid!

It might’ve dropped without fanfare, but it doesn’t deserve to stay under the radar. The New Buffalo Ranch is a delicious and bold way to switch up your Mickey D’s order!

Purchased Price: $7.29 (Bacon Buffalo Ranch McCrispy), $5.99 (McCrispy Strips with Buffalo Ranch Sauce Cup)
Rating: 9 out of 10 (Bacon Buffalo Ranch McCrispy), 8 out of 10 (McCrispy Strips with Buffalo Ranch Sauce Cup)
Nutrition Facts: Bacon Buffalo Ranch McCrispy – 650 calories, 37 grams of fat, 8 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 90 milligrams of cholesterol, 1730 milligrams of sodium, 49 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 10 grams of sugar, and 32 grams of protein.

REVIEW: McDonald’s Chips Ahoy Frappe

McDonald's Chips Ahoy Frappe photo taken at McDonald's

While sipping on the new McDonald’s Chips Ahoy Frappe, I tried to remember the last time the chain offered a new Frappe variety. I don’t know if it was from racking my head or the brain freeze, but the pain I had prevented my memories from recalling it. So I thought it must’ve been a long time ago. But, thankfully, I know of a site that reviews McDonald’s food (this one), and I learned that I might have the brain of a goldfish because the last new Frappe wasDulce de Leche, and it came out a year ago.

But why do new Frappe drinks happen only once a year? I could use more limited time only Frappe drinks. Is it an annual notification to remind us that McDonald’s still makes the icy, sugary coffee drink? Some of you might be asking why not a Chips Ahoy McFlurry? Well, the site I know that reviews McDonald’s food (again, this one), tells me there wasone back in 2020 that came with caramel for some reason.

McDonald's Chips Ahoy Frappe look at those cookie crumble. I just want to snort them.

This cookie-enhanced Frappe features McDonald’s mocha coffee Frappe base blended with ice and chocolate chip cookie syrup. It’s also topped with whipped light cream and Chips Ahoy cookie pieces. Yes, it’s as sweet as it looks.

The Frappe base with the chocolate chip cookie syrup doesn’t remind me of Chips Ahoy cookies, but it has a flavor that’s kind of like the Coffee mate Nestle Toll House cookie creamer in stores now, but with a stronger chocolate taste. It’s almost like a chocolate milkshake with a hint of something something that makes it slightly different. I do wish the syrup had a brown butter flavor to make the cookie-ness stand out more. You have to mix the toppings into the drink so the Chips Ahoy crumbles float in the Frappe base. Oh, and the syrup negates any coffee taste.

McDonald's Chips Ahoy Frappe - However, instead of snorting them, I mixed them into the rest of the drink

When the cookie pieces get mixed in with the ice, there are two contrasting textures: the slightly soggy crumbs and the crunchy ice. When my mouth got one of those crumbs with the Chips Ahoy chocolate chips, they brought a chocolatey burst that’s recognizable as Chips Ahoy and different from what’s in the Frappe base. However, the combination of soggy and crunchy textures was a little odd to chew on. The best-tasting, texture-pleasing sips I had were the final ones at the bottom of the cup, with a whole lot of cookie crumbs and mostly melted ice, all of which had a stronger chocolate flavor than when I first started slurping.

McDonald’s Chips Ahoy Frappe is a caffeinated dessert that I enjoyed. However, the contrasting textures were odd, and I wish the base had a stronger cookie flavor. But I’ll probably forget those issues, and the Frappe as a whole, a year from now.

Purchased Price: $4.19*
Size: Small
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 540 calories, 19 grams of fat, 12 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 65 milligrams of cholesterol, 220 milligrams of sodium, 85 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 64 grams of sugar (including 58 grams of added sugar), 7 grams of protein, and 90 milligrams of caffeine.

*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.

REVIEW: Limited Edition Nissin Turkey Dinner Cup Noodles

Turkey Dinner Cup Noodles cup

Four years ago, I reviewed one of the most unusual pumpkin spice products I’ve had: Pumpkin Spice Cup Noodles! It’s back under a new name, Pumpkin Pie instead of Pumpkin Spice. As far as I can tell, after tasting it again, it’s the same.

But that’s not all! It is now joined by the other iconic Thanksgiving food: Turkey Dinner Cup Noodles. Besides the turkey, this variety of Cup Noodles includes the side dishes of corn, green beans, and cranberries.

Turkey Dinner Cup Noodles before boiling water

When I open the cup, it totally smells like stuffing. Sage, I think? I can’t know for sure, because the ingredients list only says “spice.”

Unlike an actual turkey dinner, this is easy to prepare: Just add water to the fill line, put it in the microwave for four minutes, and let it stand for one minute. Once it’s done, it has a cozy scent that reminds me of Thanksgiving morning at my grandparents’ house, even though that was decades ago.

Turkey Dinner Cup Noodles after boiling water between two turkeys

I’m no food scientist, but I think the “turkey” is the “textured soy protein” listed in the ingredients. And to be honest. I’m fine with that representing turkey, because that sounds better than a freeze-dried bird. It has a vague Thanksgiving/poultry flavor and a slightly chewy texture that is almost like tough meat. The ingredients also include powdered chicken, turkey broth, and turkey fat, so there is actual poultry in the cup, even if it’s a negligible amount.

Turkey Dinner Cup Noodles up close

The corn, green beans, and cranberries make up less than two percent of the ingredients, and it is easy to miss them. Many Cup Noodles varieties include corn, and it’s no different here. It’s not my favorite way to consume corn, but it’s fine. The green beans are a little more noticeable, but it would be easy to overlook them if you weren’t paying attention. The cranberries are barely there. The pieces are so tiny that you maybe get a very slight tart, sweet flavor if you’re really looking for it. If cranberry sauce is your favorite part of a turkey dinner, you’ll want to bring your own here. (I expected Craisins, but they appear to be whole cranberries chopped into small pieces.)

The most obvious use for this variety is for a poor college student to buy if they can’t make it home for the holiday. It’s obviously not going to replace your family feast, but what did you expect for something that costs a little over a dollar?

Turkey Dinner Cup Noodles with its friend Pumpkin Pie Cup Noodles

Overall, Turkey Dinner Cup Noodles is a fun option for November. I can’t say it’s better than most Cup Noodles, but it’s not worse either, and it’s nice to have another seasonal variant.

Purchased Price: $1.18
Size: 2.89 oz cup
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 package) 370 calories, 15 grams of fat, 7 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, less than 5 milligrams of cholesterol, 1170 milligrams of sodium, 51 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of dietary fiber, 4 grams of sugar (including 1 gram of added sugar), and 10 grams of protein.

5 Other Things I Consumed This Week: 10/24/2025

7-Eleven Hawaii Pickle Juice Slurpee

7-Eleven Hawaii Pickle Juice Slurpee

This one came out at the same time as the Cinnamon Toast one I wrote about a couple of weeks ago. Oddly, I was more curious about this one because I’ve been enjoying all the pickle-flavored products that have crossed my taste buds. However, I will not be purchasing this Slurpee ever again, and I regret getting a medium size instead of a small.

Look, it tasted like sweet pickle juice. It was, as the kids I totally made up like to say, sou-weet. But I wish that sweetness was a bit stronger to tame that sourness, much like with the pickle mochi ice cream I had a few years ago. Even though I got a medium Slurpee, I did end up finishing it, but not in one sitting or two. After my initial tasting, I put it in the freezer and ate chunks over the next couple of days. But that cup was all I’ll be sticking into my mouth.

Slate Mocha Latte High Protein Iced Coffee

Slate Mocha Latte High Protein Iced Coffee

Protein plus calcium plus caffeine? That sounds like my kind of drink to give me a shortcut to reach my protein and calcium goals while still drinking my usual amount of caffeine. However, I’m not too high on this high-protein coffee’s flavor and texture.

Its consistency when I swirl it around in a glass doesn’t match what it feels like in my mouth. In a glass, it’s creamy, but in my mouth, it’s almost like water. The can states that there is no carrageenan, which explains how it feels in my mouth. As for its flavor, it doesn’t have a punch like other coffee drinks. I guess “flat” would be the best way to describe it, and I assume the stevia and monk fruit sweeteners are the reason for that.

However, it tastes okay and thankfully its texture isn’t gritty, so I could turn a blind tongue to its lacking taste and texture because of the 20 grams of protein, 550 milligrams of calcium, and 175 milligrams of caffeine.

Celsius Spritz Vibe Snowball Frost Energy Drink

Celsius Spritz Vibe Snowball Frost Energy Drink

This is the second Celsius flavor I’ve ever had. I don’t even remember the first one I had. With that said, I’m not saying Celsius Energy Drinks are unmemorable, because I do remember that first one was tasty.

I will not forget this Snowball Frost seasonal flavor because I’m writing about it here for posterity. But I also won’t forget about it because this flavor seems weird to me. With a name like “Snowball Frost,” I expected it to have a wintery flavor or a taste that matches the colors of winter, like a blue raspberry or blueberry to convey cold weather. Instead, it’s citrusy, which I do not associate with winter. I usually think of anything citrus as a summer flavor. However, I’m not quite sure what citrus fruit I’m tasting. I’m thinking possibly tangerine. It’s not OMG delicious, and I won’t cry tears of sadness when it disappears in spring. If you do see me tearing up, it’s because of my allergies.

Joyride Sour Blue Raspberry Strips

Joyride Sour Blue Raspberry Strips

I’ve been rolling my eyes at Joyride candies ever since they came out because of how little sugar they contain. How can CANDY with little sugar taste good? But after tasting these sour strips, I’m going to have to eat my words, which I’ll substitute with more Joyride candy. 

Because I didn’t give this candy the time of day, I didn’t know it had fiber. This package, which has just six sour strips, has 12 grams of fiber, which is 40 percent of your daily recommended amount. DANG! Yes, it’s much better to get fiber from actual food, but it feels like magic to get it from candy.

But the candy doesn’t taste like it has much fiber. It’s one or two levels of sourness below Sour Patch Kids, but it has a flavor that’s almost as good. And it does it with only 5 grams of sugar. As someone who’s trying to sneak more fiber in my diet, I think I’ll be taking more Joyride flavors for a joyride.

Cove Smurfberry Probiotic Soda

Cove Smurfberry Soda

Bacillus subtilis DE111 is a probiotic. It’s also now in my search engine history with “bison vs buffalo,” “Jason Statham catchphrases,” and “[REDACTED].”

I bought this soda for the probiotics and the Smurfs, but was a little smurfed at the lack of fiber since, as you’ve read above, I’m trying to find ways to sneak the nutrient into my body. I’m also extremely smurfed that this beverage is clear, with no hint of Smurf color. What the smurf is up with that?

According to the can, Smurfberry is supposed to taste like blue raspberry, and it does give me Louie-Bloo Raspberry Otter Pop vibes, but it’s subdued like it’s been watered down a little. It tastes good enough that I’m slightly curious about the other flavors in Cove’s cove. 

REVIEW: Taco Bell Frank’s RedHot Diablo Crispy Chicken Soft Taco

Taco Bell Frank's RedHot Diablo Crispy Chicken Soft Taco barfing vegetables

What is up with Taco Bell’s double dose of collaborations at the same time? Currently on the menu, there’s the Flamin’ Hot Grilled Cheese Burrito and this Frank’s RedHot Diablo Crispy Chicken Soft Taco (there’s also a burrito version). Taco Bell should’ve gone for a Flamin’ Hot Frank’s RedHot collab in one product. That would’ve been hot and one long product name.

The highlight of the limited-time menu item is the sauce, which is a combination of Frank’s RedHot Buffalo Sauce, Taco Bell’s Diablo Sauce, and tangy ranch. Looking at that lineup makes me think this could’ve been a crazy collaboration between Frank’s RedHot and Hidden Valley Ranch. Two words: sauce synergy!

But there’s a more critical issue I must focus on.

Yes, my order looks like the flour tortilla is throwing up cheese, pico de gallo, purple cabbage, and lettuce, with Frank’s RedHot Diablo Sauce drooling out of the side of it. I guess the crispy chicken strip would be the tongue? I’m not sure if the person who made my order was being loosey goosey with the ingredients because of the lunch rush, but my taco was thiccco. And, as expected, with the unusual amount of taco roughage, a lot of it lost to gravity.

Despite the Sizzler salad bar in my taco, the Buffalo flavor stands out. However, it’s hard to determine how the folks at Taco Bell Diablo-fied it because it tastes like a standard vinegary and smoky Buffalo sauce, and it’s not noticeably hotter. There’s a spicy kick to it that I’d rate a three or four on my personal heat scale, but I don’t think adding the Diablo sauce turns up the fire. Finally, I don’t taste any tanginess from the ranch, although its creaminess is evident.

Taco Bell Frank's RedHot Diablo Crispy Chicken Soft Taco a closer look at the mess.

But I’m fine with the condiment not tasting like a unique mashup because I enjoyed the Buffalo flavor. But what I also liked was the vegetable smorgasbord. The acidic bursts from the tomatoes complement the spicy orange sauce, and I liked the crunch of the purple cabbage that enhanced the chicken strip’s texture. Although a little dry, the chicken strip was meaty and went the entire length of the tortilla. But its flavor was blocked by the Buffalo, which I didn’t mind.

Overall, Taco Bell’s Frank’s RedHot Diablo Crispy Chicken Soft Taco is delicious, and I enjoyed it enough to order it again during a subsequent visit. While the second one wasn’t as stuffed as my first one, it was just as tasty.

Purchased Price: $3.79*
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 250 calories, 11 grams of fat, 3 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 25 milligrams of cholesterol, 710 milligrams of sodium, 27 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of fiber, 2 grams of sugar, and 11 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.

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