The Taco Bell Fan-Favorite From The '90s You Can Still Find Today
Taco Bell's chili cheese burrito is now back ... or did it return a while ago? The fan-favorite burrito, made of just chili and cheddar cheese wrapped in a tortilla, is confirmed by Taco Bell to be back for a limited time in certain locations. But online, some fans of Taco Bell say this is old news, and the burrito returned to their local menus some time ago.
"Since Taco Bell operates on a franchise structure," a company representative told Daily Meal, "some stores have items on menus longer than others based on how supplies last." That appears to be borne out on a fan-operated website called Living Más with a map of Taco Bell locations currently selling chili cheese burritos. This map is based on online availability, though, which may differ from in-store availability.
The beloved burrito has a strong presence in the Midwest, along the Mississippi River, and in Eastern Texas. It's sporadically available elsewhere, too, including notable outliers like Taco Bell's native Southern California (at the time of writing).
The life, death, and revival of the chili cheese burrito?
The chili cheese burrito made its debut in 1990 on the Taco Bell value menu at a price point of $0.79. Although it was eliminated from the standard menu in the mid-1990s, it remained a secret menu item at any Taco Bell that decided to keep making it.
Taco Bell has a famously extensive secret menu, thanks in part to the versatility of many of its ingredients. And since the chili cheese burrito is such a simple item, made partially of ingredients that Taco Bell carries standard — cheddar cheese and flour tortillas — it is an easy enough item to prepare.
Taco Bell already announced promising changes to its menu in 2025, including the addition of steak nacho garlic fries. The presence of the chili cheese burrito after being gone — or at least underground — for over 25 years only adds to the excitement.