5 Changes Taco Bell Needs To Make

“Taco Bell”. Nary a week goes by without those words crossing our lips here at Sporked. The prolific chain never gives us a moment to breathe, and in a world that values innovation, movement, and shiny new stuff, that can feel like a good thing. 

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But – and here’s the kicker – it isn’t always that way. There’s a sense that Taco Bell has become so busy dishing up new menu items every other week that it’s forgotten about all the other stuff it needs to do (and whether it should be focusing so much on that in the first place). So, we’re here to remind them what its customers are crying out for. 

Ditch The Endless New Items

Okay, so this one was discussed above – but honestly, we need to talk about it. Taco Bell’s tendency to add new items has reached a fever pitch: This year, it’s announced or rolled out dozens of new options, and while some of them might try to embrace classic flavors and vibes (like its recent fajita items), others feel like hybrid mashups that nobody would ever have conceived of. 

This is a problem for customers. People increasingly feel like Taco Bell doesn’t know who it’s catering to anymore; that it’s just throwing stuff at the wall to see what sticks. You can afford to slow it down, Taco Bell. Focus on your core menu, and add things once or twice a year, as other places do.

Embrace Nostalgia

In its pursuit of innovation, Taco Bell has arguably forgotten what sells most of all: Nostalgia. Yes, we’re talking about returning menu items here (as long as they’re done well – more on that later), but we’re also talking about vibe. A recent move from a Pizza Hut franchisee to embrace a nostalgic feel in its restaurants showed how successful it can be when places go back to their visual roots.

So, Taco Bell, we offer you this: Embrace the past! Bring back those pastel-striped tables and chairs. Its interiors now feel drab, corporate, and colorless – and it can change that easily.

Keep Prices Low (Or Lower Them)

Taco Bell has never been wildly expensive, but more recently, people are feeling the pinch, and the store’s losing its reputation as an affordable fast food stop. Some now feel that Taco Bell is charging them too much, with simple items now becoming unreasonably expensive.

You know what to do here, guys. Don’t let inflation creep in; if you lose your lower-price vibe, you’ll lose a lot of custom. Keep an eye on those prices.

Fill Up Those Crunchwraps!

Check any Taco Bell-focused Reddit board in the last couple of years (there are a couple), and you’ll quickly find a common complaint: Crunchwraps have BARELY ANYTHING IN THEM. Again and again, people gripe that their orders are lacking in any filling whatsoever – and this isn’t just in the case of Crunchwraps, too, but tacos, burritos, and, well, everything. 

So, Taco Bell: Please. A gentle suggestion. Please try to fill ‘em up. Please be satisfying. Please don’t skimp. 

Bring Back The Classics (But Do It Right)

To tie this back to our first point, the never-ending parade of new items could be replaced by returning favorites (which would, of course, fulfil the nostalgic vibe that we suggested in our second section). But – but! – If you’re gonna do that, please do it right. When the Enchirito came back a couple of weeks ago, customers were disappointed by the clear shift in quality that it had undergone. A returning classic, ruined.

The people want the classics, Taco Bell. They always do. But if you’re gonna bring back the Cinnamon Crispas or something like that, make sure they feel like they used to.