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: 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. "I forgot how good the caramel apple empanada is," PureWow VP of editorial Candace Davison raves. "The crust is crisp and buttery, giving way to an outrageously rich caramel sauce. It's a little scarce on apple pieces, but the flavor doesn't disappoint. As refreshing as the Choco Taco was in summer, the empanada is every bit as cozy and comforting in the winter."

• 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.