Taco Bell Turns Back The Clock To 2016 With Four Major Menu Comebacks
Somehow, 2016 was already a decade ago. Let that ruin your morning accordingly.
Apparently, Taco Bell has also realized enough time has passed for us to become nostalgic about an era of Snapchat filters, Vine, Pokémon Go, Lemonade, “Damn Daniel,” and outfits that involved an alarming amount of elongated fabric. The chain is turning the clock back 10 years with its latest Decades Menu, bringing four favorites from its 2016 lineup back nationwide beginning August 20.
The Naked Chicken Chalupa, Beefy Crunch Burrito, Meximelt, and Caramel Apple Empanada will all return for a limited time, with Taco Bell Rewards members getting early access to the Beefy Crunch Burrito beginning today, August 18.
Here’s what’s coming back:
Naked Chicken Chalupa — $5.99: The beautifully unhinged creation that asked, “Does a taco actually need a tortilla?” returns with its crispy, all-white-meat chicken shell filled with cheddar cheese, lettuce, diced tomatoes, and Avocado Ranch Sauce. Taco Bell originally tested it in Kansas City in 2016 before giving it a wider release the following year. You can also get one in a $9 Discovery Luxe Box with a Cheesy Bean and Rice Burrito, Crunchy Taco, Chips & Nacho Cheese Sauce, and a medium fountain drink.
Beefy Crunch Burrito — $2.79: Seasoned beef, Flamin’ Hot Fritos, seasoned rice, reduced-fat sour cream, and nacho cheese sauce make their latest comeback after years of fans campaigning for its return. Taco Bell Rewards members can order one through the app beginning August 18, two days before the rest of the menu drops.
Meximelt — $2.99: One of Taco Bell’s longtime classics combines seasoned beef, freshly prepared pico de gallo, and a warm three-cheese blend inside a soft flour tortilla.
Caramel Apple Empanada — $2.99: Warm apple pieces and caramel tucked inside a crispy golden pastry. This one has developed a particularly devoted following over the years, and Taco Bell keeps finding reasons to bring it back.
Taco Bell isn’t stopping with the food, either. The chain is committing aggressively to the 2016 bit.
On August 25, Taco Bell will drop limited-edition collaborations with Anti Social Social Club and screen-free digital camera brand Camp Snap through its Tuesday Drops program. Rewards members will also get access to an in-app scavenger hunt running from August 25 through September 14, with a new offer available each week.
And because you can’t properly cosplay 2016 without six-second videos, Taco Bell is also partnering with Divine, an AI-free looping video platform inspired by Vine. Taco Bell fans can get early access ahead of Divine’s August 20 public launch, including access to more than 2.5 million classic Vine videos.
So, yeah, 2016 is officially old enough to become a nostalgia cycle.
The Taco Bell Decades #TBTB Menu launches nationwide August 20 for a limited time. Now pardon me while I stare into the middle distance and process the fact that Vine-era nostalgia apparently qualifies as retro culture.
