Taco Bell’s most innovative restaurant will have a four-lane drive-thru. Nicknamed “Taco Bell Defy”, the new prototype opens in Minnesota in June. Three of the four drive-thru lanes are specifically mobile orders and third-party delivery, while the fourth is a traditional lane with speaker box and menu board. After customers complete their order in the drive-thru, a Team Member places the meal in a vertical lift system that transports the order to guests.
Category Archives: News & Events
KFC announces the ‘Jack Harlow Meal’
KFC is continuing its partnership with rapper (and Kentucky native) Jack Harlow. KFC announced the new “Jack Harlow Meal,” which will drop at KFC locations nationwide beginning June 6.
The combo meal, hand-selected by Harlow himself, includes the brand’s spicy chicken sandwich, mac & cheese, secret recipe fries, a side of ranch, and a lemonade.
“From releasing ‘Come Home the Kids Miss You’ and now launching my own meal at KFC, I’m having a super blessed summer,” Harlow said in a press release.
He added that the meal brings together his childhood favorites from growing up in Louisville (like the brand’s classic mac & cheese) to newer menu items such as the spicy chicken sandwich (released in 2021) and secret recipe fries (first introduced in 2020.)
Demand for Mexican Pizza Exceeds Expectations
Demand for the Mexican Pizza was seven times higher than when it last appeared on menus two years ago. Many locations have sold out.
“Because of the incredible love for the Mexican Pizza, we have begun selling out across the country,” Taco Bell said on its corporate website. “Our restaurant teams trained weeks for what we knew would be a big return, we just didn’t realize how big, and replenishing the beloved menu item is taking longer than we’d like.”
The statement went on to say that Taco Bell is working “diligently with our restaurants and suppliers” to get more ingredients for the pizza, and hopes it returns permanently to menus “by this fall.”
Mexican Pizza Early Access and Free Reward
Thursday, May 19 is the first day the pizza is officially available to order, but Taco Bell Rewards members have early access Tuesday and Wednesday when ordering on the mobile app for in-store or drive-thru orders. Loyalty members who joined by the Super Bowl also will have a reward to get the pizza for free, redeemable through June 1. As an IOU, Taco Bell Rewards Members who received a mystery reward back during the Big Game will score a free Mexican Pizza when it’s back May 19, and loyalty members will get first dibs with early access to the menu item beginning May 17. The free pizza reward is valid from 5/19 through 6/1 and redeemable only via the Taco Bell mobile app for in-store/drive-thru pickup orders.
Dolly Parton to star in a musical on TikTok about Taco Bell’s Mexican pizza
Dolly Parton is starring in a TikTok musical about Taco Bell’s Mexican Pizza. The musical will premiere live on TikTok on May 26th. The country music icon shared the news about her leading role in “Mexican Pizza: The Musical” on social media. “I’m making #MexicanPizzaTheMusical with @TacoBell,” Parton wrote in an Instagram post, which contained a photo of the screenplay. The satirical musical is “based on the true story of the Internet losing its mind” after the fast-food chain removed the product from its menu in late 2020, according to the screenplay shared on Parton’s Instagram post.
“They used to make a little … Mexican Pizza,” Parton said of Taco Bell, “which is also good. I love that.”
***UPDATE 5/27/22***
“Mexican Pizza: The Musical” has been postponed. The event will likely be rescheduled to a later date.
KFC is Offering Fried Chicken Bouquets for Mother’s Day
This Mother’s Day, KFC and Proflowers are helping you celebrate mom like never before – introducing the Kentucky Fried Buckquet, a DIY floral arrangement that, once assembled, can be part fried chicken, part fresh flowers and altogether amazing.
Order a KFC Sides Lovers Meal for Mother’s Day via the KFC mobile app or kfc.com (offer online only, not available in restaurants) between May 1-3 and receive a promo code to redeem your very own free Kentucky Fried Buckquet kit from Proflowers. The Kentucky Fried Buckquet kit from Proflowers will include 12 colorful and vibrant roses, a glass vase, a KFC vase applique, eight skewers (for KFC’s world famous fried chicken separately purchased and not included in kit) and a card to tell mom just how much you love her (as if the Buckquet didn’t do so already!).
Mexican Pizza is Back!
Following a two year absence, the Mexican Pizza is coming back!
After the decision back in 2020 to remove the popular Mexican Pizza from the menu, fans have been clamoring for its return. The effort led to a Change.org petition signed by more than 200,000 frustrated customers. After nearly two years of outcry on social media, Taco Bell announced it’s bringing the fan-favorite back: “I’m glad we could give fans what they crave and bring our classic Mexican Pizza back home where it belongs,” said CEO Mark King. The return of the pizza will be rolled out on May 19th, but will “only be available through DoorDash for the first week of its re-release.”
New Taco Bell in Wake Forest, NC!
LVE is excited to announce the grand opening of the newest Taco Bell in North Carolina! Located in Gateway Commons minutes from the Heritage and Traditions communities in Wake Forest. This new location is our First with Double Drive-Thru!
We are proud to join the community and further build the brand! Congratulations to the LVE Development team led by Mario Flores, Area Coach Desmond Toon, and General Manager Asmar Wilson!
951 Gateway Commons Circle, Wake Forest, NC
Taco Bell Adds New Dairy-Based Coffee Creamer
Taco Bell restaurants nationwide have introduced a dairy-based coffee creamer and a new coffee drink. The vanilla creamer replaces a non-dairy product and will become a permanent offering. Consumers who order 12-ounce hot or 20-ounce iced coffee drinks have the option of adding the creamer. The creamer also is featured in the Cinnabon Delights Coffee, which is available at participating U.S. locations for a limited time. The creamer and the Cinnabon Delights flavor demonstrates Taco Bell’s commitment to grow its breakfast business.
Jack Harlow’s KFC Favorites
Kentucky native and multiple-GRAMMY nominated rapper Jack Harlow is sharing his favorite KFC menu items to be featured on the KFC app and KFC.com. Beginning March 24, fans can find Jack Harlow’s Kentucky Fried Favorites on the KFC app and KFC.com. Included in Jack’s Kentucky Fried Favorites are the rapper’s go-to menu items— the Spicy KFC Chicken Sandwich, Secret Recipe Fries, Extra Crispy Tenders, a side of Mac & Cheese and of course, KFC’s famous biscuits.
“Partnering up with KFC feels like poetic justice. I’ve begun traveling the world and no matter how far I go, KFC is one of the first things people want to bring up when they find out where I’m from,” says Jack. “I’m excited to align myself with something that started in Kentucky, but resonates all over the globe. I grew up going to the restaurant with my family, here are a few of the menu items I’ve been enjoying since I was a child.”
You can skip the drive-thru line and enjoy Jack’s Kentucky Fried Favorites faster by ordering through KFC’s Quick Pick-Up option on the KFC app or KFC.com at select locations. After placing a digital order for Quick Pick-Up, guests can head to the restaurant, park in dedicated VIP parking spots, and run inside to grab their hot and ready order waiting for them on KFC’s new Quick Pick-Up shelf.