Meximelt back on menu, joins other discontinued items like Gordita Supreme

Attention ’80s Taco Bell fans: the Meximelt has resurrected from the dead. And it’s not the only popular discontinued item back on the menu.

On Halloween, five items that disappeared from the menu over the past six decades have returned to Taco Bell drive-thru and order-in screens nationwide. Earlier this month, we introduced the limited-time Decades Menu, bringing back five popular items, including the Meximelt − which features seasoned beef, pico de gallo, and a mix of mozzarella, cheddar, and Monterey Jack cheese in a tortilla. All five, each from its signature decade, returned priced at $3 and under each.

Five items Taco Bell items − each introduced in a different decade and priced at under $3 − are now back in stores.

They are:

  • ’60s: Tostada priced at $2.19 and available starting Oct. 31. This item layers refried beans, red sauce, crispy lettuce and shredded cheese over a corn tostada shell.
  • 70s: Green Sauce Burrito priced at $2.49 and available starting Oct. 31. This burrito from the 1970’s is filled with refried beans, onions, shredded cheese and green sauce made with green chili, peppers, tomatillos, jalapeño and spices.
  • ‘80s: Meximelt priced at $2.99 and available starting Oct. 31. This item introduced the 1980’s combines pico de gallo, seasoned beef and a three cheese blend of mozzarella, cheddar and Monterey jack wrapped in a tortilla.
  • ‘90s: Gordita Supreme priced at $2.99 and available starting Oct. 31. This item from the 1990’s wraps a flatbread over seasoned beef, reduced-fat sour cream, crisp lettuce, diced tomatoes and a three cheese blend of mozzarella, cheddar and Monterey jack.
  • ’00s: Caramel Apple Empanada priced at $2.99 and available starting Nov. 21. Launched in 2000, the sweet treat surrounds apple pieces and a creamy caramel filling with a golden-brown crispy exterior.

ASMR: “Kentucky Fried Chicken Rain Sounds” by KFC and Hatch

Waking up can be tough sometimes. Falling asleep can be even tougher, though. If you can relate, you’ll want to check out the new collaboration between Hatch, a sleep wellness company that creates premium sleep audio content and devices, and KFC. Offering an unprecedented fusion of fried chicken and auditory relaxation, the two brands teamed up to launch the “Kentucky Fried Chicken Rain Sounds” channel. This cheeky initiative is designed to deliver a soothing ASMR-inspired experience for KFC fans and Hatch users alike. By combining the classic sounds of a rain-soaked ambiance with the comforting, familiar sizzle of KFC’s famous fried chicken, this new channel promises to create an unexpected escape. Whether you’re winding down after a long day, need something to help you focus during work or are looking for the perfect holiday gift for someone who needs to relax, this collaboration aims to provide a surprising oasis of calm sounds.

Taco Bell’s new app feature: Tailor Orders to a Specific Budget

A new feature on Taco Bell’s app puts customer spending control front and center. The app asks, “How much are you looking to spend?” After the user inputs their budget — with a $5 minimum and $25 maximum — the app generates combinations of menu items fitting that constraint. Drinks, combos, party packs and certain other items are excluded, but customers can pin preferred items to their cart and continue randomizing other options to complete their order. Taco Bell presents a new tactic for dealing with heightened price sensitivity. By allowing customers to mix and match a menu within a specific spending limit, its tool can transform budgeting into an engaging experience.

Double Decker Taco Returns! 10/10

A fan favorite, the Double Decker Taco and the Double Decker Supreme Taco will return to the menu for a limited time starting Thursday, October 10 through the October 30. The Double Decker Taco will be available for customers to order across all channels.

Taco Bell Fastest Drive-Thru Four Years in a Row

Taco Bell took the 2024 QSR© Drive-Thru Report crown as the fastest drive-thru in the industry for the fourth consecutive year. KFC was number two.

Taco Bell on the last day of July announced it planned to expand automated voice ordering at the drive-thru to “hundreds” of restaurants by year’s end. The technology was live in more than 100 U.S. units across 13 states.

 

KFC’s New Original Recipe Chicken Tenders Coming Nationwide

Instead of simply breading and frying the chicken tender, the new KFC Tenders are double breaded in KFC’s secret recipe and pressure-fried to create an extra crispy and juicy piece of chicken. Essentially, KFC is making the new tenders just like it makes its classic fried chicken. Along with the new recipe tenders, KFC is also introducing a new dipping sauce. After the launch of saucy nuggets, we know that eating chicken isn’t the same without a sauce. The fried chicken chain already has a signature KFC sauce and a memorable Sticky Chicky Sweet ‘n Sour Sauce, but now it’s expanding its lineup to include a new zesty, peppery Comeback Sauce to be served alongside the tenders.

Taco Bell to expand its hot sauce lineup

Taco Bell is expanding its popular lineup of sauces thanks to its first-ever hot sauce partnership with singer-songwriter Omar Apollo.

Beginning on Thursday, Omar’s Disha Hot Sauce, inspired by his mother’s recipe, will be making its debut at Taco Bell restaurants nationwide. The Disha Hot Sauce is made with roasted tomatillos, peppers, lime, and a secret spice mix, according to a news release.

Apollo also created messages for the new hot sauce packets.

Messages like “Hotter in person,” “My mom made this,” and “Who’s Omar Apollo?” can be purchased a la carte or in a limited-edition Disha Hot Discovery Box for around $8.99. The meal includes a Cheesy Gordita Crunch, a Doritos Locos Taco, a Crunchy Taco, chips with nacho cheese sauce and a medium drink.

Taco Bell rewards members will get access to the new hot sauce packets and new meals beginning on Tuesday, 9/24. Select rewards members can also grab a Taco Bell X Disha Hot liquid-infused vinyl variant of Apollo’s latest album, “God Said No,” and an exclusive Disha Hot Sauce bottle.

The exclusive bundle will only be available to the first 500 reward members who claim the offer via the Taco Bell app. The offer will go live at 2 p.m. on Tuesday.

Customers Beg Taco Bell to Add Menu Item ‘Permanently’ Ahead of Return

Taco Bell lovers are basking in delight over the upcoming return of a fan-favorite item, but they wish it wasn’t only for a limited time. The beloved Nacho Fries are coming back 9/12, but to many fans’ disappointment, the comeback is just temporary. Following the news that the famous Nacho Fries were coming back for a limited time only, users took to social media to react to the bittersweet news while imploring the brand to make them a permanent fixture on Taco Bell menus.

KFC Expands $5 Value Menu to Offer Customers More Options – Choose from Three Taste of KFC Deals

KFC is rolling out brand-new $5 deals to its Taste of KFC menu to deliver finger lickin’ good value and make KFC affordable for everyone. The Taste of KFC Deals menu features three $5 offers:

  • NEW DEAL – KFC Chicken Nuggets: Enjoy eight chicken nuggets hand-breaded with KFC’s Original Recipe, Secret Recipe Fries and your choice of two sauces.
  • NEW DEAL – Famous Bowl with KFC Chicken Nuggets: Famous Bowls are made fresh to order with a foundation of creamy mashed potatoes, sweet corn, and KFC’s 100% white meat chicken nuggets, layered together and drizzled with home-style gravy and topped with a perfect blend of three shredded cheeses.
  • Two-Piece Drum & Thigh: Grab two pieces of hot, juicy fried chicken (drum and thigh), creamy mashed potatoes and gravy and a buttery biscuit.

Taco Bell to expand AI in drive-thrus

The next time you make a Taco Bell run, a computer — not a person — may take your order. Taco Bell plans to expand its use of artificial intelligence voice technology to hundreds more drive-thru locations in the U.S. by the end of the year.

Taco Bell has already been experimenting with AI at more than 100 locations in 13 states, and Yum! Brands said it’s found that the technology frees up staff for other tasks and also improves order accuracy. The company also seeks to reduce wait times.

“Tapping into AI gives us the ability to ease team members’ workloads, freeing them to focus on front-of-house hospitality,” Dane Mathews, Taco Bell chief digital and technology officer, said in a statement. “It also enables us to unlock new and meaningful ways to engage with our customers.”