Next time you make a run for the border, you may notice a few changes.
Taco Bell is going more upscale.
The chain announced yesterday that it plans to roll out some new menu items created by celebrity chef Lorena Garcia for its over 5,000 U.S. locations. New items will include ingredients like black beans, cilantro rice, citrus- and herb-marinated chicken, and even cilantro dressing.
The introduction of the new menu items, which Taco Bell exec Brian Niccol calls “gourmet Mexican,” is an attempt to compete with casual-dining restaurants like Chipotle and Qdoba.
It’s a bit of a departure from the chain’s traditional fare like tacos, burritos, and chalupas, though those items will stay on the menu.
Introduction of the new Taco Bell menu items is part of the chain’s desire to satisfy its customers who are, more and more, looking for more than just a quick bite on the go, said Niccol.
He credits Garcia, who will appear on Bravo’s Top Chef Masters this summer, as the force behind the new Cantina Bell menu.
“She brought a lot of new thinking, a lot of fresh approaches to our ingredients that change the flavor profile of the brand,” Niccol said.
The new Taco Bell menu items will debut on July 5.
Related articles
- Taco Bell introducing more upscale menu items (miamiherald.com)
- Taco Bell Introducing More Upscale Menu Items (business.time.com)
- Taco Bell introducing more upscale menu items (seattlepi.com)
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