Taco Bell teams up with Tony Hawk on new menu item: How to get it

Taco Bell and Tony Hawk are teaming up on a new menu item ahead of the highly anticipated return of the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 video game. Announced on Monday, June 23, Taco Bell has tapped Hawk to “share his take” on the Build Your Own Luxe Cravings Box, which is a “full-sized, flavor-packed meal, made for fans who know exactly what they want.”

Here’s what to know about the meal deal and the release of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4.

Hawk’s version of the meal is available now exclusively through the app and website, according to the company, and includes:

  • Cheese quesadilla
  • Crunchy taco
  • Chips and nacho cheese sauce
  • Medium Lipton iced tea

Taco Bell offers $5, $7 and $9 Luxe Craving Boxes, but you can also create your own online in which prices vary based on items selected.

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 releases on July 11. Customers to pre-order the game will receive access to the Foundry Demo (a trial version of the game) in June and early access to the full game on July 8.

Taco Bell Introduces Crispy Chicken Tacos and Burritos to the Menu

Taco Bell is rolling out Crispy Chicken Tacos and Burritos, starting on Tuesday, June 17 — however, they’ll only be staying on menus for a limited time. The new items feature the same tortilla coating used on the brand’s Crispy Chicken Nuggets, which made their debut in December. However, the chicken — now in strip form — will give a bigger bite than the previous poultry offering. It will also be joined by ingredients such as shredded cheddar and pico de gallo, and a choice of Spicy Ranchero Sauce or Avocado Ranch Sauce. For those who simply want to enjoy the crispy chicken on its own, the new lineup also includes an order of two strips.

KFC’s chicken and waffles are back

For the first time in five years, KFC is bringing back its fan-favorite Chicken & Waffles nationwide starting April 28.

KFC’s Original Recipe fried chicken is paired with waffles made with baked in pockets of pearl sugar and topped with syrup.

“We believe Chicken & Waffles is an American icon,” said Catherine Tan-Gillespie, president, KFC U.S. “Flavorful, juicy and freshly fried secret recipe chicken, paired with sweet, golden waffles and gooey syrup – it’s bold, it’s delicious and it’s back on our menu just in time for Mother’s Day!”

Crispy chicken nuggets coming back!

Taco Bell is returning crispy chicken nuggets to its menu and looks to make them and crispy chicken a fixture in the future. Locations will once again offer its crispy chicken nuggets, marinated in “zesty jalapeno buttermilk flavor” and covered in a “blend of bread crumbs and crispy tortilla chips,” beginning April 24. This move marks the “start of Taco Bell’s journey to become a go-to destination for crispy chicken with a permanent mainstay by 2026.” “We’re a taco place doing chicken our own way and like all our best moments, it’s a little unexpected – because we’ve never been about following the rules,” Taco Bell chief marketing officer Taylor Montgomery said in a statement. “The demand for our nuggets was off the charts, which is why we’re looking at making crispy chicken permanent to give our fans what they are telling us they want.”

Yum! Brands CEO David Gibbs Announces Retirement

David Gibbs, CEO of Yum! Brands, has announced his intention to retire in the first quarter of 2026, concluding a distinguished 36-year career with the company. Gibbs joined Yum! Brands in 1989 and ascended to CEO in January 2020. Under his leadership, the company expanded its digital capabilities and global presence, notably opening 4,535 new stores in over 100 countries in 2024. Gibbs also spearheaded technological advancements, including a partnership with Nvidia for AI-driven restaurant services. The board has initiated a search for his successor, with Gibbs continuing to lead during the transition.

AI will soon be taking your drive-thru orders at 500 Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, KFC locations

Through a partnership with technology company Nvidia, fast-food giant Yum! Brands will begin rolling out AI at hundreds of locations starting in April and continuing through June. That includes using the company’s voice-ordering tech, which will handle complex menu orders and navigate customer speech patterns. The rollout will incorporate more advanced AI capable of language models, emotional comprehension and personalized customer reactions. Nvidia’s AI technology has already been used at select Taco Bell and Pizza Hut restaurants during “a successful pilot” stage, Yum! Brands said. The technology is expected to “optimize drive-thru efficiency and back-of-house labor management through real-time analytics and alerts.”

New menu items coming in 2025: Quesocrisp Taco, Midnight Baja Blast, more

At Live Más Live 2025 on March 4th, Taco Bell announced a collection of new menu items, slated to release in restaurants this year. New items include a Flamin’ Hot Burrito, made with a new Flamin’ Hot rice, and a Quesocrisp Taco, an all-new taco shell made entirely out of crispy cheese. Taco Bell is also bringing back some fan favorites, like Crispy Chicken Nuggets and the Decades Menu, which will feature items from the 2000s and 2010s.

Earlier this year, Taco Bell announced a new take on its value meal, with the choice of $5, $7 and $9 Luxe Cravings Boxes. Expected to remain on the menu through June, the varying-priced value meals feature an array of Taco Bell classics.

KFC relocating its US headquarters out of Kentucky

Kentucky Fried Chicken is moving from its home state of Kentucky in a shake-up announced Tuesday by parent company, Yum Brands.

KFC — launched by Colonel Harland Sanders — will be based in Plano, Texas, and about 100 KFC corporate employees will be relocated in the next six months, said Yum Brands, which owns KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut.

Yum said the move is part of its broader plans to designate two brand headquarters in the U.S. — in Plano and Irvine, California. KFC and Pizza Hut will be headquartered in Plano, while Taco Bell and Habit Burger & Grill will remain based in Irvine, the company said. Yum added that 90 U.S.-based employees who have worked remotely will be asked to eventually relocate to the campus where their work occurs.

Taco Bell Teamed Up with Milk Bar for Its New Birthday Cake Churros

Taco Bell and Milk Bar, a New York-based dessert company, have united to launch the new Milk Bar Birthday Cake Churros, the ultimate little treat packed with big birthday energy. Combining Milk Bar’s iconic birthday cake flavor with a Taco Bell twist, the Milk Bar Birthday Cake Churros capture that special birthday magic in every bite, giving fans a reason to celebrate no matter what the occasion. Fans nationwide can taste the latest elevated dessert from the two innovative brands for only $2.99* for two churros or $1.99* for one while supplies last.

*At participating locations for a limited time only, while supplies last. Contact restaurant for prices, hours and participation, which vary. Taxes extra. Prices higher with delivery.

Taco Bell’s Super Bowl ad features photos of customers from across the country, including Wauchula FL

Taco Bell’s Super Bowl commercial featured photos of Taco Bell customers from around the country, including photos of people from Wauchula, Florida…one of LVE’s stores! Taco Bell put up drive-thru cameras at the end of last year to snap photos of customers for them to use in the ad. More than 3,000 people were snapped by the camera with around 400 making the final cut.

“Big Game commercials tend to only lean on big-name celebrities, but we decided to flip the approach knowing very well the best Taco Bell moments don’t need a script,” said Taylor Montgomery, Taco Bell chief marketing officer, in a statement. “Our fans bring incredible Live Más spirit to the drive-thru every day, with families, pets, and celebrations in tow, so we’re putting them in the spotlight as a reminder that the most authentic representation of our brand isn’t staged—it’s lived.”

The drive-thru cameras were put up in Wauchula for three days in December. The other cities that also had drive-through cameras were Los Angeles; Cookeville, Tennessee; Middleburg Heights, Ohio; and Houston.