It’s 2022 And Taco Bell Needs To Bring Back Its 1962 Menu

The Mexican Pizza’s return to the Taco Bell menu is here – there have been positive reviews of signs lately — and heck, even Dolly Parton has joined the fight to bring it back.

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(I’ve tried it… 10/10. Tastes nearly exactly the same, texture is maybe 5-10% less crispy than before)

Anyways… Taco Bell’s original menu in 1962 focused on five simple items – Frijoles, Tostados, Tacos, Burritos (red or green), Chili Burgers. And if they are bringing back Mexican Pizza, they can bring back things like the Bell Beefer1

Each item went for 19 cents and was sold only via walk-up window. In the 1970s the price got jacked up to 25 cents a pop, and some other small details on the menu changed. “Tostados” became “tostadas” and the Chili Burger was renamed the Bell Beefer.

The Bell Beefer was more like a sloppy joe than a burger, according to Greatist, with loose taco meat as the main protein topped with shredded lettuce, diced onion, and mild sauce, all heaped on a hamburger bun. You could mix things up by ordering a Supreme version, which added shredded cheese and tomato.

The Bell Beefer faded off the menu in the 1990s, when the franchise was pivoting to only focusing on Tex-Mex items. Former Taco Bell employee Shaun Quinn told Greatist he believes that item in particular got cut because “it just seems wrong.”

Clearly the demand for this sloppy taco burger is there from those who were lucky enough to taste it when it was still around, and now there’s a new generation of Taco Bell obsessives clamoring for the return of other beloved items.

The timing for revisiting a classic menu item couldn’t be more perfect: This year marks Taco Bell’s 60th anniversary, and the company already has plans to release limited-edition merch and a special anniversary meal for two. Why not add some revived nostalgic dishes to the mix, which can act as a reflection on the history of the restaurant while gaining new fans?

What do you think?

4 Comments

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  1. I miss that breakfast burrito that had sausage bits shredded potatoes and some great sauce. They were tiny and just delicious!


  2. The Bell Beefer faded off the menu in the 1990s, when the franchise was pivoting to only focusing on Tex-Mex items.” Tex-Mex stuff sucks. Bring back the original menu.

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