16 Taco Bell Menu Items From The 1990s You Probably Forgot About
Taco Bell has never been afraid to get a little weird—and the 1990s were peak experimental era. From neon cheese sauces to double-decker mashups, here are 16 Taco Bell menu items from the ’90s that you probably forgot about (but may now suddenly crave again).
1. Chilito (a.k.a. Chili Cheese Burrito)
Originally called the Chilito, this cheesy, beefy burrito was warm, gooey, and wildly comforting—though the name eventually changed for obvious reasons.
2. Bell Beefer
Taco Bell’s take on a Sloppy Joe, made with seasoned beef on a bun. Phased out in the early ’90s but never forgotten by fans of messy, meaty nostalgia.
3. Taco Bell BLT Soft Taco
A limited-time soft taco filled with bacon, lettuce, tomato, and creamy sauce. It didn’t last long, but it was an oddly tasty twist on the classic.
4. Seafood Salad
This one confused everyone: shrimp, crab (maybe imitation), and veggies in a crispy tortilla bowl. It was short-lived—and for good reason.
5. Enchirito
A blend between an enchilada and a burrito, topped with red sauce and melted cheese. It was discontinued, then revived, then vanished again.
6. Bacon Cheeseburger Burrito
Yep, it happened. Ground beef, bacon bits, cheese, lettuce, tomato, and burger sauce all wrapped in a tortilla. It was the ’90s.
7. Taco Bell Border Bowls
A (then) health-conscious option with rice, beans, veggies, and meat in a bowl instead of a tortilla. A precursor to today’s power bowls.
8. Fiesta Taco Salad
Served in a crispy tortilla shell and topped with seasoned beef, sour cream, cheese, and lettuce. Taco Bell’s answer to “salad” in the loosest sense.
9. Zesty Chicken Border Bowl
A step up from typical fast food, this bowl featured grilled chicken, black beans, rice, and a zesty dressing.
10. Extreme Nachos
Loaded nachos topped with beans, beef, nacho cheese, guac, sour cream, and more—all in ridiculous proportions. Think late-night dorm food at its finest.
11. Grilled Steak Soft Taco
One of the first times steak made it onto the menu, this soft taco gave Taco Bell a “fancier” protein option in the late ’90s.
12. Santa Fe Chalupa
A spicy and smoky version of the classic chalupa, loaded with black beans, corn, and chipotle sauce. Southwestern vibes all the way.
13. Taco Bell MexiMelts
A soft flour tortilla with seasoned beef, melted cheese, and pico de gallo. Simpler than most items but surprisingly satisfying.
14. 7-Layer Burrito
A meatless fan favorite with beans, rice, guacamole, sour cream, lettuce, tomatoes, and cheese. Discontinued during menu downsizing but fondly remembered.
15. Taco Bell’s Ranchero Chicken Soft Taco
Grilled chicken with a spicy ranchero sauce, lettuce, and cheese. A lesser-known soft taco with a cult following.
16. Double Decker Taco (Original)
A classic crunchy taco wrapped in a layer of refried beans and a soft tortilla. It debuted in the late ’90s and stuck around for years thanks to its satisfying combo of textures.