Taco Bell has launched many new menu items this year, a strategy that has proven successful for the Mexican fast-food chain. Still, nothing compares to the nostalgic classics, with loyal fans consistently asking for the return of discontinued favorites.
That's why Yum! Brands' (YUM) Taco Bell is bringing back five fan-favorite menu items with the return of its Decades menu, this time featuring the Y2K era and pricing all items under $3.
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Taco Bell Decades Y2K menu:
- 7-Layer Burrito
- Cool Ranch Doritos Locos Tacos
- Double Decker Taco
- Chili Cheese Burrito
- Caramel Apple Empanadas
The New Taco Bell Decades Y2K Menu will be available at Taco Bell locations nationwide on September 9, but Taco Bell Rewards Members can get early access to the Caramel Apple Empanada in-app only from September 2 through 8 before the entire menu becomes available nationwide.
Related: Taco Bell reveals 30 new menu items launching in 2025
In addition to the returning menu favorites, Taco Bell is launching a $9 Discovery Luxe Cravings Box, which comes with best-sellers including the Crunchwrap Supreme, Cool Ranch Doritos Locos Tacos, Crunchy Taco, Chips & Nacho Cheese Sauce, and a medium fountain drink.
The Cool Ranch Doritos Locos Tacos will also be featured in a new Variety Taco Party Pack, which includes six Crunchy Tacos and six Cool Ranch Doritos Locos Tacos.
Image Source: Taco Bell
Taco Bell is releasing a Y2K merch capsule
To make this launch even more nostalgic, Taco Bell is releasing a limited-edition Y2K merch capsule in collaboration with Ed Hardy, which includes exclusive collectible apparel and accessories.
The merch will be dropped on its app every Tuesday at 2 p.m. for three consecutive weeks starting September 2, and only 500 units will be available per item.
Y2K merch drop dates:
- September 2: Ed Hardy hats
- September 9: Y2K-inspired digital watches
- September 16: Vintage-style Decades Y2K T-Shirts
Taco Bell's strategy combines innovation with nostalgia
Taco Bell launched its Decades menu in August 2024, featuring discontinued menu items from the 1960s through the 2000s. A initial test run included select Taco Bell locations in Southern California before making the items available nationwide in October last year.
The first launch also included an exclusive drop of five Taco Bell hoodies and collectible cups, each themed around the specific decade.
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The re-release of fan favorite items was so successful that Taco Bell brought back the Decades menu this year.
“No one did the 2000s like Taco Bell. That era gave us some of our most iconic menu items, including the Crunchwrap Supreme, which remains one of our best-sellers two decades later,” said Taco Bell Chief Marketing Officer Taylor Montgomery.
“Fans have never stopped asking for these items, and honestly, we’ve missed them, too. But Decades Y2K isn’t just about the menu. It’s about reliving the flavors, the fashion, and the fun that made that moment in time unforgettable – and letting our fans be the first to live it all over again.”
Early last year, Taco Bell hosted the Live Más Live Event in Las Vegas to celebrate the launch of over 30 new menu items and brand partnerships coming to its U.S. restaurants in 2025, which has fueled its momentum.
With the re-release of discontinued fan-favorite menu items, Taco Bell fans will never get bored with its evolving menu, which has managed to capture changing consumer trends.
Related: Taco Bell returns a favorite menu item after hiatus
