Taco Bell Brought Back 5 Classics And Here Is How They Rank

Taco Bell has opened the floodgates of nostalgia, and you might already be looking forward to your next drive thru experience. With the launch of its “Decades Menu,” the fast-food restaurant chain has brought back five beloved dishes from the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s. I’ll go over each item in this post, ranking them from best to least favorite, and explain what they are, why they are important, and how they work. Here is the complete flavor breakdown, regardless of whether you’ve been a fan for a long time or are just interested in the hype.

1. ’90s Gordita Supreme

The first item on my list is the Gordita Supreme from the 1990s. Seasoned beef, reduced-fat sour cream, lettuce, diced tomatoes, and a three cheese mixture of Monterey Jack, cheddar, and mozzarella fill this tender flatbread pocket. The beef offers savory depth, the flatbread adds a warm chew, and the creamy components bring everything together. It is both comforting and decadent. It’s balanced for fast food and has that nostalgic, comforting Taco Bell flavor we recall from the late 1990s menu era, even though it’s not exactly health food.

2. ’80s Meximelt

Second place goes to the Meximelt from the 1980s. Melted cheese, pico de gallo, and seasoned beef come together in this straightforward but incredibly filling tortilla wrap. While the cheese blend provides a gooey, melty texture that made it a fan favorite for years, the pico adds freshness. The Meximelt leans heavily toward comfort food; it’s not ostentatious or complicated, but that’s part of its appeal. It only lags behind the Gordita Supreme because it doesn’t have the sour cream layer and variety of textures that give the Gordita a slightly more finished feel. It’s still a classic that’s worth seeing again.

3. ’00s Caramel Apple Empanada

Moving on to dessert, this resurrected menu lineup ends sweetly with the ’00s Caramel Apple Empanada. It has a crisp, gooey contrast with its warm pastry filled with soft apple chunks covered in caramel sauce. The return of one of Taco Bell’s most popular desserts gives the Decades Menu some much needed diversity. It definitely satisfies a fast food sweet tooth, but if you’re serving it with a savory dish, you might want to split it because it’s rich. Despite having a high sugar and fat content, it’s worth every bite for the nostalgic warmth when enjoyed occasionally.

4. ’70s Green Sauce Burrito

The ’70s Green Sauce Burrito is ranked fourth. Refried beans, onions, cheddar cheese, and a zesty green sauce made with jalapenos, green chilies, and tomatillos are all included in this burrito. Unlike more conventional red sauce burritos, it has a zesty brightness from the sauce. Because it contains less protein than beef based alternatives, it feels lighter and is appropriate for people who prefer a simpler, plant forward option. Its flavor is well balanced, mild rather than spicy, and has its roots in Taco Bell’s original strategy of providing a comfort food menu that was “inspired by Mexico.”

5. ’60s Tostada

The ’60s Tostada, one of Taco Bell’s original menu mainstays, completes the list. It is a straightforward but nostalgic dish that honors Taco Bell’s origins, consisting of a crisp corn shell layered with refried beans, red sauce, shredded lettuce, and cheese. It feels minimalistic in comparison to contemporary fast food items, despite being light, crunchy, and satisfying in its simplicity. Nevertheless, for those who want a taste of Taco Bell’s past, its vintage charm makes it ideal as a snack or light meal. It may not make you feel full, but it does make you smile in a nostalgic way.