Buzz
Taco Bell has been at the forefront of Mexican-inspired fast food for 60 years. In 1985, it debuted a pizza-like creation featuring two crispy tortillas stacked with beef, beans, tomatoes, pizza sauce, and melted cheese. After disappearing from the menu at the beginning of the decade, the beloved Mexican Pizza will make a permanent return on September 15, 2022, as reported by WSLS 10 News.
First introduced as the "Pizzaz Pizza" nearly four decades ago, this hybrid of pizza and tostada fell victim to Taco Bell's simplified menu in November 2020. In a bid to improve service speed and reduce costs, Taco Bell also cut four other items, including the shredded chicken soft taco, shredded chicken burrito, shredded chicken quesadilla melt, and pico de gallo.
Despite the menu cut, fans remained upset over its departure. A Change.org petition to "Save the Mexican Pizza" earned 171,735 signatures. On March 9, rapper Doja Cat joined the movement, posting a song to her 23.3 million TikTok followers to rally for its return.
On May 19, Taco Bell responded to customer demand by bringing back the Mexican Pizza to their menus nationwide. However, the return was short-lived as the restaurants soon ran out of the necessary ingredients to serve the dish. After spending the entire summer preparing for its permanent comeback, Taco Bell is now ensuring its success. Starting September 15, the Mexican Pizza will be available for good, with a price of $4.49 when it hits menus nationwide next month.
Taco Bell has phased out many menu items over the years, but few have garnered such a dedicated following after their removal. Despite its questionable resemblance to a traditional pizza, Taco Bell's Mexican Pizza has managed to outlast other fast-food competitors' similar attempts. For example, McDonald's discontinued its McPizza shortly after introducing it in the 1980s.
This article was first published on April 18, 2022, and has since been updated with the latest information.
