Taco Bell Already Working On The Next Big Thing

Nevin Barich

LOS ANGELES , March 7, 2017 (Industry Intelligence Inc.) – Taco Bell created a social media buzz recently when it announced the discontinuation of its Naked Chicken Chalupa. The announcement was surprising given the amount of buzz Taco Bell created when it came out with the menu item in the first place!

But for those of you who are sad to see the Chalupa with a breaded chicken “taco shell” go by the wayside, fear not. The fast-food chain that also brought you a taco made with Doritos has a few mashups in the pipeline that may find their way to locations nationwide soon.

The Doritos Quesalupa Crunch

Available in Cincinnati, it’s a Doritos Locos Taco wrapped in a nacho-cheese-filled Quesalupa shell, or what Taco Bell calls “the ultimate collision of the Cult of Doritos and the Cult of Quesalupa.” Inside is seasoned beef, lettuce and Cheddar cheese. The item is priced a la carte for around $3.49-$3.99.

The Chicken Enchilada Burrito

Available in Flint, Michigan, this menu item involves two of Taco Bell’s Rolled Chicken Tacos wrapped in a flour tortilla enchilada-style. Customers also have the option of ordering it “Cheesy Loaded.”

Ingredients include seasoned rice, enchilada red sauce or nacho cheese sauce for the Cheesy Loaded version, as well as sour cream, a three-cheese blend and two rolled chicken tacos. It’s priced at $2.99 a la carte.

The Caesar Crunchwrap

Available in Nashville, Tennessee, this variation of the traditional Crunchwrap includes either chicken or steak, parmesan-and-corn crisps, a three-cheese blend, tomatoes and romaine lettuce with a Caesar dressing, all folded into a grilled tortilla. The parmesan-and-corn crisp discs add crunch and enhance the Caesar flavor, Taco Bell officials said. It’s priced at $2.99 a la carte. 

It’s hard to know which of these items, if any, will make their way to the national stage (my money’s on the Doritos Quesalupa Crunch, because the name just sounds really cool). It simply depends on how well they do in their test cities. But given its history, Taco Bell will be bringing something new and creative to all of us before we know it.

Nevin Barich is the Food and Beverage Analyst for Industry Intelligence Inc. and is also Menuism’s fast-food expert. Email him at Nevin.Barich@industryintel.com or follow him on Twitter.

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