Taco Bell Might Drop These Popular Menu Items. Here's Why

The internet has been buzzing after a Taco Bell employee leaked the news through a Reddit post that the fast food chain is considering dropping some beloved menu items. In their post — and the ensuing discussion in the comments — user tacobelleblake stated that beginning August 13th, 2020 there would be some huge changes to the Taco Bell menu. Items possibly on the chopping block are fan-favorite Quesaritos, Loaded Grillers, the Triple Layer Nacho, the Beefy Frito Burrito, Spicy Tostadas, the 7-Layer Burrito, any items made with potatoes, and possibly (though at the time unconfirmed) the Nacho Supreme. The user said that their reasoning for sharing this information was they wanted everyone to be able to try the disappearing menu items before they were gone forever.

Tacobelleblake stated that in addition to eliminating some menu items, Taco Bell would be reintroducing the popular Grande Nacho Taco Box, adding a plain Beef Burrito to its $1 Cravings Menu, and moving the Chips & Cheese to the $1 Cravings Menu as well, though they noted that this new low price would be optional for franchises and only enforced in corporate stores. Items the user asserted will remain on the menu are the Nacho Crunch Double Stacked Taco, the Pineapple Whip, and the $10 Taco & Burrito Cravings Pack.

Business Insider reached out to Taco Bell to get confirmation on the possible menu changes leaked on Reddit. A representative for the fast food chain was not as forthcoming with details, however, as Reddit user tacobelleblake was, but did state, "We are in the process of evolving our menu to simplify operations and make our team member and customer experiences easier." They also noted they would be sharing more information about what those changes would look like soon.

The news of a menu reduction should come as no surprise, as many restaurants have recently been offering limited menus as a way to cut costs and streamline operations in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, according to CNN Business. From March to May of 2020, sales were $94 billion below what the restaurant industry was originally projecting. Shrinking menus is an easy way to cut costs, as restaurants are able to order ingredients in bulk if they only have a few dishes to focus on. By removing the least popular and most expensive menu items, they are able to impact the fewest amount of customer's experiences. Denny's Chief Brand Officer John Dillion told the outlet they have found diners to be incredibly understanding and "... appreciative of the focus we have been putting on safety, cleanliness, and sanitation that a slightly smaller menu enables."