Taco Bell is bringing back 5 discontinued menu items from the past 50 years

Despite Taco Bell’s already stacked menu — which seems to be constantly growing with new items and menu tests — there will always be discontinued favorites that fans just can’t let go of. We’ll always remember the Double Chalupa and Waffle Taco fondly, while quietly hoping that one day Taco Bell will relent and bring them back.

And hey, it’s not to crazy with a thought. Taco Bell has been known to bring back beloved items with enough begging — and we’re not just talking about the Mexican pizza.

Now, Taco Bell is digging into its vault of discontinued items to bring back five nostalgic menu items from the past 50 years. The five returned items were all hits in one of the five decades since the Tex-Mex chain was founded in the 1960s.

Taco Bell tests nostalgic menu with 5 discontinued items

The nostalgic Decades Menu includes Tostada, Green Burrito, Meximelt, Beef Gordita Supreme and Caramel Apple Empanada.

Taco Bell’s Tostada was one of the OG menu items when the fast food chain first opened its doors in 1962. Topped with refried beans, red sauce, lettuce and shredded cheese, the crispy tostada shell was beloved for years until Taco Bell axed it. that in 2020.

The green burrito — which was filled with refried beans, crispy onions, cheddar cheese and a spicy green sauce made from green chiles, tomatillos, jalapeños and spices — was popular in the ’70s. Customers have been trying to recreate the green burrito with existing menu items for years, but without the special green sauce, it just wasn’t the same. Now the burrito is returning to restaurants, and the green sauce comes with it.

Taco Bell’s Meximelt was an ’80s icon made with pico de gallo, a blend of three cheeses and seasoned beef in a tortilla. It’s been on the menu for nearly 30 years, but hasn’t been seen since around 2018.

Before Cheesy Gordita Crunch became a staple on the Taco Bell menu, ’90s kids had Beef Gordita Supreme. The favorite started with a warm flatbread filled with seasoned beef, sour cream, lettuce, a mix of three cheeses and tomatoes.

To round off the nostalgia-filled menu, Taco Bell is bringing back a dessert from the 00s. The Caramel Apple Empanada, which featured a crispy dough coated in cinnamon sugar and filled with apples and creamy caramel filling, is making a triumphant comeback after being discontinued in 2019.

Taco Bell tested the Decades Menu in California this summer, and customers have spoken. They wanted the throwback menu to be available nationwide, and now it will be. Starting October 31st, the Tostada, Green Sauce Burrito, Meximelt and Gordita Supreme will be joining Taco Bell menus for a limited time. So on November 21st, the Caramel Apple Empanada will be available for a limited time.

To celebrate the launch, Taco Bell is also releasing retro-inspired decade merch. Taco Bell fans can grab limited edition Decades hoodies and stainless steel Decades cups featuring five designs inspired by the past 50 years of Taco Bell. On 29 October at 5pm EST, the first 500 Taco Bell Rewards members to participate will receive a hoodie and cup. If you miss the first drop, you can enter for a chance to win the item again by taking Taco Bell’s weekly Decades Quiz in the Taco Bell app.

But if you miss the item completely, don’t worry! Taco Bell is giving away plastic versions of the Stainless Steel Decades Cups at its restaurants. When you order a medium drink, it comes in a random anniversary cup for decades, while supplies last.

Thanks, Taco Bell, for stopping to cut the deal! Now, if we could just bring the Double Decker Taco back permanently, we’d be extra excited.