Taco Bell has never been afraid to experiment — and that’s exactly what makes it one of the most iconic (and unpredictable) fast food chains in America. Over the years, the menu has become a revolving door of creative, craveable, and sometimes downright questionable items. From cult-favorite classics that fans still mourn to bizarre creations that had us wondering “why?”, Taco Bell’s track record is anything but boring.
Remember the first time you bit into a Volcano Taco and felt that glorious kick of Lava Sauce? Or how about the warm, flaky joy of the Caramel Apple Empanada after a meal of Nacho Fries and a Grilled Stuft Burrito? Some of these items weren’t just food — they were a part of our routines, our road trips, our late-night cravings. And when they vanished, they left behind a flavorful void.
But let’s be honest — not every menu item was a masterpiece. Taco Bell also gave us some head-scratchers, like the seafood salad (yes, that really happened) and the short-lived Naked Egg Taco, which confused both the eyes and the taste buds. While we admire the boldness, not everything needs to reinvent the wheel — or the taco shell.
In this list, we’re revisiting the 7 beloved Taco Bell items we still miss like crazy, and calling out 5 flops that honestly had no business being on the menu in the first place. From the nostalgic to the notorious, these picks remind us of just how far Taco Bell is willing to go to surprise us — for better or worse.
1. Beloved: The Mexican Pizza
Crispy tortillas layered with seasoned beef and refried beans, topped with melted cheese, diced tomatoes, and pizza sauce created a unique Tex-Mex masterpiece. When Taco Bell axed this fan-favorite in 2020, the backlash was immediate and fierce.
Petitions gathered thousands of signatures demanding its return. The Mexican Pizza wasn’t just food – it was a cultural touchstone for many, especially in the South Asian community where it offered a rare fast-food vegetarian option (when ordered without meat).
Thankfully, Taco Bell eventually listened to fans and brought it back permanently in 2022, proving that sometimes food nostalgia can actually change corporate decisions.
2. Beloved: Double Decker Taco Supreme
Remember biting into that perfect combination of soft and crunchy? The Double Decker Taco Supreme wrapped a soft flour tortilla with refried beans around a traditional crunchy taco, creating the ultimate texture experience.
Fans loved how the beans acted as delicious glue, preventing the notorious problem of hard taco shells shattering on the first bite. The Supreme version added sour cream and tomatoes for extra flavor.
Discontinued in 2019 during a menu simplification, this innovative creation represented Taco Bell at its creative best. Many still attempt to recreate it at home, ordering a regular taco and soft tortilla with beans separately, but it’s never quite the same.
3. Beloved: Volcano Taco
The vibrant red shell made this spicy sensation instantly recognizable in Taco Bell’s lineup. Filled with seasoned beef, lettuce, and the legendary Lava Sauce – a creamy, spicy cheese sauce with genuine heat – the Volcano Taco delivered on its fiery promises.
Part of the Volcano Menu that debuted in 2008, it quickly developed a cult following among spice enthusiasts. The Lava Sauce became so popular that fans would add it to other menu items for an extra kick.
When Taco Bell discontinued the entire Volcano Menu in 2013, fans were devastated. The combination of that distinctive red shell and genuinely spicy sauce has left heat-seekers reminiscing about the days when fast food wasn’t afraid to bring real spice.
4. Beloved: Grilled Stuft Burrito
Massive in size and packed with flavor, the Grilled Stuft Burrito was the heavyweight champion of Taco Bell’s menu. This monster burrito contained seasoned beef, rice, beans, cheese, sour cream, and multiple sauces, all wrapped in a grilled tortilla.
The grilling process sealed the edges and created appealing grill marks, preventing the dreaded burrito collapse while adding a subtle smoky flavor. What made it special was the perfect balance of ingredients – every bite contained all the flavors without any single component overwhelming the others.
After several iterations over the years, Taco Bell finally discontinued it in 2019. Its hefty size and satisfying combination of textures made it a filling meal that current menu options simply can’t replace.
5. Beloved: Caramel Apple Empanada
Hot, flaky pastry wrapped around warm cinnamon apple filling, drizzled with caramel sauce – Taco Bell’s dessert game peaked with this portable treat. The Caramel Apple Empanada provided the perfect sweet ending to a spicy meal.
Unlike many fast food desserts that taste artificial, this empanada featured recognizable apple chunks and a genuinely buttery crust. The contrast between the crisp exterior and gooey interior made each bite satisfying.
When Taco Bell quietly removed it from menus in 2019, dessert lovers were heartbroken. Current Cinnabon Delights are tasty, but they don’t capture the same homestyle appeal of biting into what essentially felt like a portable slice of apple pie after your tacos.
6. Beloved: Nacho Fries
Crispy, seasoned french fries dusted with bold Mexican spices paired with warm nacho cheese sauce for dipping – this simple concept revolutionized Taco Bell’s menu when introduced in 2018. Unlike typical fast food fries, these featured a distinctive blend of paprika, garlic, and other spices that perfectly complemented Taco Bell’s flavor profile.
Despite massive popularity, Nacho Fries mysteriously come and go from the menu. Taco Bell has turned them into a limited-time offering that regularly disappears, creating frenzied demand when they return.
The marketing strategy works brilliantly, but fans are tired of the emotional rollercoaster. While technically not permanently discontinued, their constant removal makes them a “missing favorite” during their frequent absences.
7. Beloved: The Enchirito
Half enchilada, half burrito – the Enchirito was a saucy hybrid that predated modern fusion cuisine. A soft tortilla filled with seasoned beef, beans, and onions, then smothered in red sauce and melted cheese created something truly unique in the fast food landscape.
Originally appearing in the 1970s, the Enchirito developed a passionate following over decades. Its distinctive oval black plastic container became instantly recognizable to fans. After several menu changes and a brief return, Taco Bell finally removed it permanently in 2013.
The Enchirito represented old-school Taco Bell before the era of Doritos collaborations and Mountain Dew freezes. Its simple, saucy goodness still inspires homemade recreation attempts from devoted fans who refuse to let this classic fade into fast food history.
8. Waffle Taco
A folded waffle holding scrambled eggs, cheese, and either bacon or sausage – the Waffle Taco sounded innovative on paper but failed spectacularly in execution. Launched in 2014 to kick off Taco Bell’s breakfast menu, this item epitomized the “just because you can doesn’t mean you should” philosophy.
The waffle quickly became soggy under the weight of its fillings, creating a floppy mess. The sweet-savory combination never quite worked, with the artificial maple flavor clashing with the eggs and meat.
Customers complained about greasy fingers and difficult eating experiences. Taco Bell mercifully discontinued it in 2015, replacing it with more practical breakfast options. Sometimes food innovation crosses the line from creative to bizarre, and the Waffle Taco definitely crossed that line.
9. Seafood Salad
Back in the 1980s, Taco Bell made a bizarre detour into seafood territory with their short-lived Seafood Salad. Served in a fried tortilla bowl, this odd creation contained shrimp, whitefish, and snow crab (or more likely, imitation crab) mixed with vegetables and dressing.
Fast food seafood is already a risky proposition, but Taco Bell’s attempt was particularly questionable. Customers reported fishy smells, rubbery textures, and concerning food safety issues during its brief run.
The experiment lasted less than a year before being yanked from menus. This failed menu item represents a strange period when Taco Bell tried competing with McDonald’s salad offerings while completely ignoring their Mexican food identity. Some menu experiments deserve to stay buried in history.
10. Bell Beefer
Before committing fully to Mexican-inspired items, Taco Bell experimented with the Bell Beefer – essentially taco meat and toppings on a burger bun. This identity-confused sandwich featured seasoned ground beef, lettuce, diced onions, and mild sauce on a standard hamburger bun.
While some nostalgic fans remember it fondly, the Bell Beefer was fundamentally flawed. The loose meat constantly fell out, creating a messy eating experience. It also failed to deliver anything unique – it wasn’t a good burger, and it wasn’t a good taco.
Discontinued in the 1990s, the Bell Beefer represents Taco Bell’s uncertain early days before fully embracing their Tex-Mex identity. Sometimes brands need to learn what they’re not before discovering what they truly are.
11. Naked Egg Taco
Imagine replacing a taco shell with a folded fried egg – that was the unsettling concept behind the Naked Egg Taco. This 2017 breakfast experiment featured a fried egg shaped into a taco shell, filled with potatoes, cheese, and bacon or sausage.
The visual was frankly disturbing – a pale yellow egg formed into an unnatural U-shape. Eating it proved equally challenging, with the “shell” tearing easily and creating a greasy, drippy mess. Most customers found the texture combination off-putting.
Mercifully short-lived, this item demonstrated that food innovation needs both creativity AND practicality. The Naked Egg Taco joined other bizarre shell experiments like the Naked Chicken Chalupa in Taco Bell’s graveyard of food concepts that should have never left the test kitchen.
12. Grilled Breakfast Burrito Fiesta Potato
A breakfast burrito should be simple and satisfying, but Taco Bell’s Grilled Breakfast Burrito Fiesta Potato version missed the mark entirely. This confusing creation stuffed scrambled eggs, nacho cheese sauce, potato bites, pico de gallo, and sour cream into a grilled tortilla.
The potato texture quickly became soggy, creating an unappetizing mush. The competing flavors – creamy, spicy, cheesy, and eggy – fought against each other rather than complementing one another. Even the name was unnecessarily complicated!
Customers found it difficult to eat on the go, with the excessive moisture making the tortilla tear easily. Eventually discontinued during a menu simplification, this item proves that sometimes less really is more when it comes to breakfast food.
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