Wendy’s Is Changing One of Its Most Beloved Menu Items

You might judge me when you read this, but I’m one of those people who orders a salad at Wendy’s. It’s not every time I go to the fast food restaurant. I love a 444—with a Jr. cheeseburger, fries, and chicken nuggets—and trying new menu items, like the “Spongebob Squarepants”-inspired Krabby Patty meal, or whatever new Frosty is on the menu.

However, if I’m not in the mood for a burger and fries, I know there’s another delicious option: one of Wendy’s fresh-made salads. Wendy’s has sold salads at its restaurants for decades now—dating back to the salad bar in 1979—but none are as iconic or beloved as the Taco Salad.

The Taco Salad was a fast favorite in the ‘90s before being discontinued in 2010 when Wendy’s revamped its entire entrée salad menu. The chain brought the salad back in 2016, and it’s been a staple ever since—sitting alongside the Apple Pecan Salad, Parmesan Caesar Salad, and Cobb Salad. While Wendy’s occasionally rotates its salad menu, the Taco Salad is a permanent fixture.

Fans, including myself, love Wendy’s Taco Salad for one main reason: the chili. The salad starts with romaine lettuce, which gets topped with tomatoes and cheese and is then accompanied by salsa, sour cream, tortilla chips, and Wendy’s famous chili for you to add yourself.

The Taco Salad is my favorite hearty way to switch it up at Wendy’s. It’s a little spicy, zesty, and, of course, crunchy—and it’s a unique menu item for a burger chain to offer. Wendy’s has not changed its Taco Salad since it originally joined the menu, but, for the first time ever this fall, the chain is giving the beloved salad a refresh.

Wendy’s Is Changing Its Taco Salad

Beginning Nov. 12, Wendy’s Taco Salad will look a little different. Instead of tortilla chips, it’ll be topped with crispy tortilla strips and feature the new addition of fire-roasted corn. Additionally, Wendy’s is changing the “dressing” from regular-old salsa to a creamy zesty salsa dressing that sounds similar to Chick-fil-A’s adored Creamy Salsa.

Don’t worry, the Taco Salad will still include the chili—as well as the tomatoes and cheese. Truthfully, as a Taco Salad fan, the refreshed salad sounds like it’s going to be even better than the original—especially if the dressing tastes anything like Chick-fil-A’s.

The new and improved Taco Salad will join menus alongside the new Salted Caramel Frosty—which will replace the current pineapple-mango Frosty—and Mushroom Bacon Cheeseburger on Nov. 12. While the new Frosty and burger are limited-time items for the fall, the Taco Salad improvements seem to be here to stay. So, if you’ve never tried the salad before, now might be your time.