Taco Bell restaurants across the United States recently reintroduced select items from the past under their temporary Decades Menu. The menu features items such as the 60s Tostada, the 70s Green Sauce Burrito, the 80s Meximelt, and the 90s Gordita Supreme. In total, the items cost $13.47, however, that is with the $1.00 upcharge to swap the beef to chicken in the two dishes that contain meat. I, with the help of my pickiest eating friend, Jorgi Anderson, put the menu to the test, tasting and rating every item so you don’t have to! Instead, you get the total experience without the risk of wasting money.
60s Tostada – 6.5/10
Along with the opening of Taco Bell’s doors in Downey, California in 1962, was the Tostada. This original menu item is marked by a flat, crispy tortilla topped with refried beans, cheese, lettuce, and their signature red sauce. Ultimately, we give the item this rating because while it is tasty, it’s rather boring compared to the rest of the reappearing items, though the simplicity and weightlessness are to be highlighted. Additionally, Jorgi noted that it “was hard to eat and messy.” Also, it wasn’t too long ago that the Tostada was discontinued from their permanent menu (in 2020), so there was no rush to get my hands on the item if not for this review.
70s Green Burrito – 5/10
Sometime later in the 1970s, Taco Bell debuted their Green Sauce Burrito-- refried beans, shredded cheese, onions, and green salsa all enclosed in a flour tortilla. This item received this rating because the burrito was overstuffed with ingredients that couldn’t uphold the integrity of the tortilla, and if I were to get it again, I would request that the workers go easy on the ingredients. The taste was just okay, but it didn’t make up for how messy it was. Upon first bite, burrito’s innards spilled everywhere, leaving an unpleasant site. In fact, Jorgi noted that her portion rating was “purely because of how it looked” and that she "just couldn’t get passed that.” Though it isn't better than the bean burrito on their perennial menu, the overall flavor of this 1970s classic wasn’t too bad. However, the presentation of the item was enough to make it the lowest ranked on our list.
80s Meximelt – 8/10
Nearly one decade later, Taco Bell announced their Meximelt. The site describes this item as “legendary,” featuring Pico de Gallo, a melted three-cheese blend, and beef all folded over in a warm tortilla. Taking into account that I had to swap the beef on this item for chicken, the Meximelt was my favorite from the menu. The meltiness of the cheese paired with the crispness of the Pico de Gallo is something that should be adopted across all Taco Bell food items. Eliminating the way in which the item was prepared, however, makes it seem easily reconstructed, even after the Decade’s Menu is no longer in season, as every ingredient already holds a permanent space on their menu. Similar to my feelings of the Tostada, this may explain Jorgi’s thoughts about the Meximelt being “alright, but not very memorable.”
90s Gordita Supreme – 8.5/10
Lastly, Taco Bell reintroduced this fan favorite from the 90s. The Gordita is unique because it features its own, special shell, which Taco Bell describes as “pillowy warm flatbread.” Again, it was necessary for me to swap the beef in this item for chicken, though the remaining ingredients-- sour cream, lettuce, three-cheese blends, and tomatoes-- remained the same. Because of how recently the Tostada was removed from the menu, as well as the complete disappearance of the other two items, the Gordita was the only item that felt nostalgic to me. Originally, I enjoyed the Gordita during a time when I still ate beef, so the switch from that to chicken was a bit underwhelming. Still, that soft, flatbread shell is extremely iconic, a staple that needs to be reinstated into their permanent menu, as I’ve yet to have anything quite like it. Jorgi felt strongly about the Gordita, ranking the item as her personal favorite, noting that “it was the best one, but it could have been better with either melted cheese, or more shredded cheese.”
Hopefully, the breakdown of the Taco Bell Decade’s Menu can help you decide which items you’d be interested in trying, versus which ones you can do without. If you’ve already tried every item on this list and are feeling bummed with the inescapable continuity of their menu, I have good news! Following the original announcement, Taco Bell has teased the Caramel Empanada from the early 2000s, however the franchise is choosing to not make it available for purchase until later this month on the 21st of November.
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