Taco Bell Revived 5 Discontinued Items from Past Decades—Here’s a Food Editor’s Honest Ranking

• What’s In It: flour tortilla, seasoned beef, three-cheese blend and pico de gallo
• Decade: 1980s
• Price: $2.99

It was basically a soft beef taco with pico in place of lettuce. I don’t love the quality of Taco Bell’s tomatoes, and they took up a lot of real estate, so this one wasn’t my favorite. Texturally, it was also a bit one-note; it would probably be tastier grilled for a bit of crunch. But TBH, most Taco Bell items are the same ingredients rearranged on different flour- or corn-based carbs, so if you like the chain’s beef, you won’t find it inedible by any means.

• What’s In It: crispy corn tostada shell, refried beans, red sauce, lettuce and shredded cheese
• Decade: 1960s
• Price: $2.19

Mine was a bit messier than the chain probably intended (all the red sauce sloshed to one side), but I wasn’t mad about it. The tortilla stayed crispy in most places but was soft enough in the center to break into pieces, so I ate it like a giant, single-serve nacho. I also love Taco Bell’s refried beans (IDK, chalk it up to the bean burrito being the first item I ever ate there as a kid) and the glossy, smoky, vibrant red sauce. Think of it as a shortcut vegetarian spin on the chain’s Mexican pizza.

• What’s In It: flour tortilla, refried beans, onions, shredded cheddar cheese and green sauce made with green chili, tomatillos, jalapeño peppers and spices
• Decade: 1970s
• Price: $2.49

I was most excited for this Decades menu item (again, I love a bean burrito). The affordable handheld was tiny but still filling because of the high-fiber, protein-rich beans, but the acidic, slightly spicy green sauce was the real highlight. I wouldn’t have minded more heat (that’s nothing a packet of Fire sauce can’t fix) and a touch of sour cream, but there was truly nothing wrong with this burrito.

• What’s In It: pillowy flatbread, seasoned beef, three-cheese blend, tomatoes, lettuce and sour cream
• Decade: 1990s
• Price: $2.99

I’d imagine folks were most stoked about this comeback. (If I were a longtime fan, it would’ve annoyed me that they could *technically* make a Beef Gordita Supreme all this time, since the Cheesy Gordita Crunch was still on the menu.) The flatbread was deliciously pillowy and soft, sort of like what I imagine the Chalupa shell is like before it’s fried. It was delightfully chewy, sticking to my teeth in the best way as I noshed. Texturally, I would love to add a crispy element (like Fiesta Strips) next time around, although the lettuce definitely did its job.

• What’s In It: crispy empanada shell filled with apple pieces and creamy, caramel-y filling
• Decade: 2000s
• Price: $2.99

Whether you’re Team Cinnamon Twists or Team Cinnabon Delights, this dessert is sure to be right up your alley. Personally, I can’t wait for it to hit stores on November 21.