Ever seen a Red Burrito restaurant?

If you haven't, there may be a good reason.  Hardee's (owned by Carl Jrs.) is still trying to increase market share by muddying the waters with more poor choices.  I previously mentioned how good the Jalapeno thickburger (and even the chicken version) were.  This attempt at Mexican food goes far off of what they are actually good at.  Marketing so far has consisted of adding a side menu and extra signs all around to pitch this product line.

So first impression (by pictures) is that they have a decent product offering.  Again, should not be in a Hardee's, but stand alone it might work somewhere.  I ordered the Chicken Taco Salad.  Now choice 1 is beef (shows chili), choice 2 is chicken for about 40 cents more.  Well, it's just sliced chicken that has been "heated" and has no taste.  I perceive the heating to be a microwave, as it's just soggy with grill marks on it.  The shell bowl is stale and so puffy that it barely allowed for contents. 

My co-worker ordered a chicken quesadilla before I ordered, and I got my food several minutes faster.  Is there a hidden science to cooking a quesadilla?  Even if there was, they missed that class.  It was pressed so flat, it was as thin as a graham cracker.  There was hardly anything in it.  I was shocked.

Now, the quesadilla was slightly larger than the one at Taco Bell.  Taco Bell gets 89 cents, Hardee's gets $3.49.  Yes, I said $3.49.  This salad was $4.99 and thoroughly not worth it's price either.  Taco Bell is far from great, but the price makes the sacrifice a little more palatable.  These prices and poor quality just make Taco Bell look better.

Yo quiero... well you know the rest :)