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Dave and Chuck the Freak

Taco Bell Testing A ‘Nostalgic Menu’ With 1 Item From Each Decade

Author Dave & Chuck the Freak and Cort Freeman
Taco Bell Testing A 'Nostalgic Menu' With 1 Item From Each Decade (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Taco Bell is testing a Nostalgic Menu with 1 popular item from each decade during the restaurant’s 62-year history. These are some of their most iconic offerings ever!

Taco Bell is definitely thinking outside the bun with this Nostalgic Menu. It features some items you might not have thought about in a long time, but might have loved back in the 60s or 70s! Now, the question is: will other popular fast-food chains follow suit?

Taco Bell Testing A Nostalgic Menu With 1 Item From Each Decade

Who doesn’t love a bit of nostalgia? It can take you back to your childhood when you were happy and stress-free. Now, you can get a sense of that back with the Nostalgic Menu that Taco Bell is currently testing at 3 locations in California. McDonald’s is also doing something similar focusing on nostalgia with their Collector’s Meal where you can get a collector’s cup that was popular in the past.

Taco Bell’s Chief Marketing Officer Taylor Montgomery tells Food & Wine, “Thanks to our rich history, we have a vault of craveable products our fans have become passionate about and we continuously explore ways to reintroduce the ones that deliver on the comfort and value they are looking for. Now we’re thrilled to unite two groups of fans: those who fondly remember these menu items and those who have yet to experience the delight of a Caramel Apple Empanada or savor their first bite of a Meximelt with this menu.”

So, what will be a part of this new Nostalgic Menu at Taco Bell? According to Food & Wine, it will have a Tostada ($2.19) to represent the 19060s. It was one of the items on Taco Bell’s menu when its first restaurant opened back in 1962. See more about that iconic first store in the TikTok video below.

@ocfeed

Yep, this is literally the FIRST Taco Bell building, opened up in 1962 in Downey. Glen Bell’s 400 square foot building (literally smaller than any two car garage) was serving tostados, chiliburger, frijoles, burritos, and of course, tacos - all for 19 cents each. Alright, how do you get there? Route to Taco Bell HQ. 1 Glen Bell Way, Irvine CA Once you’re there, drive into the lot, go past the parking structure on the right (don’t enter it) and you’ll be there. I found this place as part of a deep dive into a series I’m making for subscribers - 30 Unique Things To Do in OC You’ve Never Actually Heard Of (most of which I haven’t posted about!) I couldn’t NOT post this one, because it’s so weird. It was Glen’s vision to have a whole center inspired by Mexican culture - it was surrounded by live mariachi performances and a mission style plaza. In just 2 years since this tiny restaurant’s success, eight more locations opened in SoCal. In 1967, 5 years after, there were 100. This particular building was in operation as a Taco Bell until 1986. Other restaurants apparently took over for spurts of time - couldn’t figure out which ones. Then in 2014, it was permanently vacant. After that, there were plans for the building to be demolished. But Taco Bell as an entity couldn’t let that happen. So in 2015, they picked up the building in Downey and drove it over to the Irvine Headquarters, where it rests randomly in this parking lot to this day, lol. Please be respectful if you decide to go check this out! It is in a company parking lot which is very quiet and peaceful. Had NO clue this was here until I was doing research on that list! I’ll be sharing it in July :)

♬ original sound - Ocfeed

For the 1970s, they’ll be offering a Green Burrito for $2.49. The unique burrito was popular back then and is filled with refried beans, crunch onions, and shredded cheddar, along with a green sauce made with green chiles, tomatillos, and jalapenos, per Food & Wine. That sounds fantastic! If this Nostalgic Menu makes it to Colorado they’re going to eat it up!

The menu will feature a Meximelt to represent the 1980s and will cost $2.99. Remember when Taco Bell used a “Run For The Border” slogan? Me neither. I wasn’t around yet. However, back in those days this was an insanely popular menu item.

Now, we’ve made it to the 90s. For that decade, they’ll have a Beef Gordita Supreme. That used to be my order! At least until the Chalupa came around and that was a game-changer for me. You might remember the Taco Bell Chihuahua from this era. That little guy was possibly even more popular than the menu items!

Finally, for the 2000s, Taco Bell will have the Caramel Apple Empanada for $2.99. Why not end your meal with a little dessert? How great does that sound?

Taco Bell Testing Nostalgic Menu With Popular Items From The Past

The menu is currently being tested in 3 Southern California locations. Hopefully, it will make it national and we can all try this unique menu. It will be tested for the next week and if it goes well then they’re considering launching it nationwide! Which one of those do you want to try the most? Let us know!

Cort Freeman was born and raised in Metro Detroit. He was named Clarkston High School 2009 Class Clown 13 years after graduating. Totally normal thing to happen. That’s thanks to his time spent as an Intern at Comedy Central and Social Media Correspondent for The Colbert Report. Cort has done comedy across the country, both standing up and sitting down. When he’s not trying to make you laugh on-air and online, he’s probably at home enjoying his favorite shows like Seinfeld, South Park, and The Office. He’s also totally uncomfortable writing about himself in the third person. Cort enjoys writing about comedy, food, sports, and entertainment. So, basically anything and everything.

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