Long-time fans of Taco Bell will remember its Fiesta Taco Salad. It was essentially a tortilla shell that customers could choose which toppings to fill with.
It was a sort of popular dish on its breakfast menu, but the restaurant stopped serving it in 2020. The Power Menu Bowl was served in its stead, which led to many disgruntled customers.
Why Did Taco Bell Discontinue the Taco Salad?
Taco Bell stopped selling the Taco Salad along with a dozen other items in Q1 2020 to streamline operations and enhance the ordering process. Moreover, the item was not economical as the shells prepared in the morning would become stale by nighttime.
To learn more about Taco Bell’s taco Salad, keep reading…
What Was The Fiesta Taco Salad?
The Fiesta Taco Salad, known by fans as the taco salad, was a breakfast item offered by Taco Bell. It was a round, crispy taco shell that customers can fill with ground beef, onions, lettuce, and other toppings of their choice.
Then the pandemic began, and the Fiesta Taco Salad was removed along with about a dozen other items. This move saw great controversy and customers weren’t shy to express their dissatisfaction through petitions and social media.
Why Did Taco Bell Remove So Many Items From Its Menu?
In early 2020, Taco Bell removed 13 items from its menu as a result of a “menu evolution” and changing consumer tastes. Some of these menu items include nachos supreme, potatoes, and the Quesarito.
By reducing its menu items, Taco Bell can streamline its efforts into more profitable items, and free up resources for new product innovation.
A smaller menu also means that Taco Bell can serve customers faster, which is important as customers are increasingly using online delivery services.
As the COVID-19 pandemic ravaged the food industry, many long-time favorites that couldn’t adapt were forced to close their shutters.
Even Taco Bell was not spared, as every fast-food chain was forced to close hundreds of stores worldwide. In fact, Taco Bell saw a decline in same-store sales as lockdown measures forced its breakfast and dinner customers to stay home.
There was only one problem: fans loved the Fiesta Taco Salad. So what gives?
Why Discontinue Something That’s Well-Loved?
The ingredients involved in preparing the taco salad were simply too much of a hassle to be profitable. Since it was a breakfast item, any leftover shells had to be thrown out or they’ll become stale.
Employees couldn’t use the shell for other items either, since it was shaped specifically for the Fiesta Taco Salad.
All this leads to more wasted time, money, and effort — bad things for a business to experience during an economic and labor recession.
Can You Still Buy Taco Salad from Taco Bell?
You can still get a taco salad from Taco Bell but it involves a few more steps.The restaurant replaced the Fiesta Taco Salad with the Power Menu Bowl, which is literally the same dish but served in a bowl instead.
All you need to do is spoon the salad into a tortilla shell, which you can buy from Walmart for $2.80 per 4-piece packet.
How To Make Your Own Taco Salad
You can find many copycat recipes of the Fiesta Taco Salad. All you need are some tortilla chips and the salad toppings of your choice. This is obviously up to your preference, but a good salad should have:
– Shredded meat
– Vegetables (lettuce, tomatoes, corn, etc.)
– Seasoning mix
– Garnish (cheese, onions, sour cream, etc.)
Cook the shredded meat (usually beef) over medium-high heat, before adding the seasoning mix and vegetables. Stir for a while before arranging nicely into the tortilla shells. You can also add cheese, sour cream, or any other sauce if desired.
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Conclusion…
Taco Bell removed its taco salad to speed up the ordering experience and reduce operational costs. Employees had to fry the shells in the morning, which would go stale by nighttime.
Instead, Taco Bell now serves the Taco Menu Bowl, which is the same salad served but served in a bowl rather than a tortilla shell.