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 ever-growing with new items and menu tests—there will always be discontinued favorites that fans just can’t seem to let go of. We will always remember the Double Chalupa and Waffle Taco fondly while silently hoping that Taco Bell one day appeases us and brings them back.

And hey, it’s not that wild of 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 returning items were all hits in one of the five decades since the Tex-Mex chain was founded in the 1960s.

Taco Bell Testing Nostalgic Menu With 5 Discontinued Items

The nostalgic Decades Menu includes the 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. The crispy tostada shell was topped with refried beans, red sauce, lettuce, and shredded cheese, and was beloved for years until Taco Bell axed it in 2020.

The Green Burrito—which was filled with refried beans, crunchy onions, Cheddar cheese, and a spicy green sauce made from green chili, 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 wasn’t the same. Now, the burrito is returning to restaurants, and the green sauce is coming with it.

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

Before the Cheesy Gordita Crunch became a staple on the Taco Bell menu, ‘90s kids had the Beef Gordita Supreme. The favorite started with a warm flatbread stuffed with seasoned beef, sour cream, lettuce, a three-cheese blend, and tomatoes. 

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

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

To celebrate the launch, Taco Bell is also releasing retro-inspired decades merch. Taco Bell fans can snag limited-edition Decades Hoodies and Stainless Steel Decades Cups with five designs inspired by the past 50 years of Taco Bell. On Oct. 29 at 5 p.m. EST, the first 500 Taco Bell Rewards members to enter will receive one hoodie and one cup. If you miss the first drop, you can enter for a chance to win the merch again by taking Taco Bell’s weekly Decades Quiz in the Taco Bell app.

However, if you miss out on the merch completely, don’t fret! Taco Bell is giving away plastic versions of the Stainless Steel Decades Cups at its restaurants. When you order any medium-sized drink, it will come in a random commemorative decades cup while supplies last.

Thank you, Taco Bell, for holding up your end of the deal! Now, if we could just get the Double Decker Taco back permanently, we’d be extra thrilled.