Can You Guess The 5 Menu Items On Taco Bell's Original Menu?
Nowadays, Taco Bell's menu provides a dizzying array of options, including Crunchwraps, quesadillas, chalupas, nacho fries ... and that's to say nothing of limited-time offerings like birthday cake churros or the infamous Baja Blast pie that had the internet wilding out. With the Taco Bell app, you can customize your meal with dozens of toppings and sauces, making your dining options all the more expansive. That's why it may surprise you to know that, once upon a time, your entrée options there were quite limited. When the first Taco Bell location opened its doors in 1962, just five menu items were up for grabs: frijoles, tostadas, burritos, tacos, and a chili burger. To make matters simple at the cash register, each item cost exactly the same price: 19 cents.
You might recognize several of those options from Taco Bell today. Burritos and tacos are a cornerstone of the TBell menu, obviously, and Mexican-style beans can be found both within tortillas as a condiment and served on the side. The Tostada, which came back for a limited time as part of a nostalgia menu in 2024, consisted of a crispy corn shell piled with refried beans, shredded lettuce, cheese, and red sauce. Its closest contemporary relative might be a staple you recognize from Dolly Parton's Taco Bell order: the Mexican pizza! As for the last item of that quintet, Taco Bell has shied away from burgers in recent years. Later called the Bell Beefer, this sloppy joe by way of Tex-Mex disappeared after a brief resurgence in popularity in the 2010s.
What was it like eating at the original few Taco Bell locations?
When Taco Bell first appeared on the scene, it was a small stucco stand in Downey, California with a walk-up window. The restaurant got its name from founder Glen Bell. The average American customer was so unfamiliar with the type of food being served that many patrons pronounced the name of the signature menu item as "tay-kohs." Even if they couldn't say the word, it turned out that people loved the product.
Two years after the first Taco Bell opened, the chain had its first franchise location. Many of the initial franchisees were unprepared for the onslaught of sales that a new location would generate, with contemporary accounts painting bewildering pictures of back room tables flooded with one-dollar bills and newbie managers who didn't know how to fill out a bank deposit slip. By the '70s, Taco Bell was publicly traded and on the grow. According to internet anecdotes, the first locations had fire pits out front around which customers could gather to enjoy their food, an experience that seems long removed from the drive-thrus of today!
Next time you hit up the Taco Bell line for a combo, think fondly of the chain's humble beginnings. When you can't decide what to order, keep in mind that, more than 60 years ago, the menu was much simpler. And, when you enjoy a classic TBell taco — pronounced the right way — you will know that you are indulging in a bite of fast food history!