TACO Bell has confirmed the return of discontinued menu items that date back several decades.
The fast food giant seeks to send longtime customers down memory lane and introduce a new era of fans to beloved classics.
Taco Bell is focusing on nostalgia this fall with its new Decades Menu[/caption]
Five items spanning five decades will be offered starting on Halloween[/caption]
There will also be exclusive merch available while supplies last[/caption]
Starting on Halloween, four options from the ’60s, ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s will be available to order at Taco Bell locations nationwide and through its mobile app on the “Decades Menu,” per a Thursday press release.
Then, on November 21, a ’00s dessert that was only recently taken away a couple of years ago will make its hallowed comeback.
“This fall, the brand is celebrating a fandom that has spanned generations by bringing back a taste of the most mouth-watering hits across the first 50 years of its history,” the release noted.
Most customers have been thrilled at the Decades Menu announcement, but a few have raised concerns about pricing.
“Nostalgic prices, not a nostalgic menu!” someone wrote in a post to Facebook.
“Bring back those vintage prices!” another exclaimed.
Customers can rest easy, as the offerings will be $3 or less, per the press release.
Taco Bell noted that it wanted to cement its position as a “value-focused brand” with the costs.
WHAT’S INCLUDED?
The tasty items on the Decades Menu include the Tostada, an original offering from when Taco Bell opened in 1962 at its walkup restaurant in Southern California.
It includes a “crispy corn tostada shell, layered with savory refried beans, tangy red sauce, crispy lettuce and shredded cheese.”
Customers will also see of $3 or less on the offerings as Taco Bell cemented its position as a “value-focused brand,” per the release.
That includes the Tostada, which will be available for just $2.19.
The second item available for a limited time starting on October 31 is the Green Sauce Burrito, made popular in the 1970s.
It will only cost $2.49 and was noted by Taco Bell as one of its “most-hacked” burritos that includes refried beans, onions, shredded cheddar cheese, and the green sauce — which includes green chili, tomatillos, jalapeno peppers, and spices.
Taco Bell Decades Menu
Taco Bell is introducing its Decades Menu this fall starting on October 31. Customers will be able to get five previously discontinued items from the ’60s, ’70s, ’80s, and ’00s. Each is listed below:
- The Tostada (’60s)
- Green Sauce Burrito (’70s)
- The Meximelt (’80s)
- Gordita Supreme (’90s)
- Caramel Apple Empanada (00’s) *Available starting November 21
Third on the list is the Meximelt from the 1980s, which Taco Bell said was one of the discontinued items it received return requests for the most over the years.
Inside a tortilla is seasoned beef with a three-cheese blend of melted cheddar, Monterey jack, and mozzarella, topped with pico de gallo.
The Meximelt will be offered for $2.99.
For the 1990s on the “vintage” menu,’ it’s the Gordita Supreme.
Also for a price of $2.99, the item comes with a warmed flatbread exterior and seasoned beef inside, reduced-fat sour cream, lettuce, and a blend of cheddar, Monterey jack, and mozzarella cheeses along with diced tomatoes.
There will even be a $7 Luxe Cravings Box featuring the Gordita Supreme as an entree, the Beefy 5-Layer Burrito, Double Stacked Taco, chips and nacho cheese, and a medium fountain drink.
The fifth and final offering on the Decades Menu from the 2000s is none other than the Caramel Apple Empanada, arriving fashionably late on November 21.
Customers who got it before it vanished in 2019 will remember the “golden-brown crispy exterior” with apple pieces at the center and a caramel filling.
It will also sell for a price of $2.99.
MERCH MADNESS
Those excited to take advantage of the Decades Menu can also get exclusive merchandise for a limited time to celebrate, including Stainless-Steel Decades Cups representing Taco Bell designs from each decade.
Plastic Decades Cups versions will be available at Taco Restaurants for customers to get while supplies last.
There are also Limited Edition Decades Hoodies.
Merch goes on sale for Rewards Members early on October 29 at 2:00 pm PST, and they can even complete a Decades Quiz experience in the meantime for a chance to win a hoodie or stainless-steel cup.
Taylor Montgomery, chief marketing officer at Taco Bell, hailed the Decades Menu as a “love letter” to fans.
“Everyone remembers the moment they fell in love with Taco Bell and that one special menu item that brings you right back,” Montgomery said in Thursday’s release.
“The Decades Menu and the merch we’re creating are an ode to our rich history and a love letter to our fans, whether they’ve been rolling through our drive-thru for decades or are just about to discover their first Caramel Apple Empanada.”
