Up next in 10
Yo quiero Taco Bell! Today on Weird History we are gonna make you hungry for a titan of tacos! We will go way deep into how the franchise got started by a one Mr. Bell. Starting way back in 1962, with Tacos, then tostadas, the menu just grew and grew over time... with the success of many additions to their menu, they started fusions and mashups of all sorts, many of which are still on the menu today!
Show More Show Less View Video Transcript
0:00
Today, we're heading to the drive-thru to check out every Taco Bell menu item ever
0:05
Taco Bell's original menu only had five items. There were tacos, tostados, the humble burrito, the frijoles, and a chili burger
0:15
In the 1970s, Taco Bell introduced the Enchirito. The 1980s marked the beginning of the restaurant's golden era
0:22
The first new addition came in 1980, when Taco Bell launched Cinnamon Crispas
0:26
By the end of the decade, they were reimagined as cinnamon twists. In the mid-1980s, Taco Bell introduced a taco salad
0:34
as well as a seafood salad with snow crab and shrimp. Alongside these healthy options were nachos and the nachos bel grande
0:40
1988 saw the release of the Mexican pizza. To finish off the decade, your purchase of a 32-ounce drink
0:46
came in one of four collectible Batman cups, with a free order of Batman-branded cinnamon twists
0:52
In the 90s, the chain released a chili cheese burrito. Taco Bell entered into a promotional deal with 1993's Demolition Man
0:59
Customers who ordered a burrito, nachos, and a large drink got a complimentary movie poster
1:04
Next, the company brought forth the Seven Layer Burrito. Two years later, in 1995, Taco Bell got experimental with a chicken club burrito
1:13
a bacon cheeseburger burrito, and a BLT soft taco. Also, in 1995, the Double Decker Taco was launched
1:20
In 1998 Taco Bell altered fast food history with its most important addition to the menu yet the gordita The gordita is a flatbed wrapped around a crunchy taco shell glued together by a three blend Taco Bell brought us the chalupa in 1999
1:35
which offered regular taco fillings and a chewy fried bread. 2001 saw the release of a line of grilled stuffed burritos
1:42
which set off a trend of grilled tortilla treats like the grilled stuffed nacho
1:46
In 2003, we were graced with a spicy chicken burrito. 2004 was the premier year for Taco Bell's signature drink, Mountain Dew Baja Blast
1:56
In 2005, Taco Bell scored another massive win thanks to the introduction of the Crunchwrap Supreme
2:01
What is now one of the restaurant's most popular items, the Crunchwrap Supreme boasts all your standard taco ingredients wrapped in a crunchy grilled tortilla
2:09
As 2008 rolled around, so did the Volcano Taco. A year later, for Halloween, Taco Bell put out the Black Jack Taco
2:17
In 2012, the Volcano Taco was replaced by the Doritos Locos Taco
2:23
Taco Bell's breakfast menu rose with the sun in 2014. The menu item includes breakfast crunch wraps, the Waffle Taco, and Cinnabon Delights
2:31
The Quesa Lupa was foisted upon unsuspecting customers in 2016. 2017 was home to the short-lived Naked Chicken Chalupa
2:39
Finally, 2018 gave us Nacho Fries, the most popular menu item in the history of Taco Bell
2:44
Today, fiesta potatoes, spicy soft tacos, and burritos are part of the permanent menu
2:50
In addition, items like the cheesy roll-up, chicken enchilada burrito, and three-cheese chicken flatbread have all found homes on the value menu
Food
Restaurants
Fast Food