Taco Bell's Mexican Pizza Is Back (Again)

Taco Bell has been pushing the boundaries of Mexican-inspired cuisine for 60 years. In 1985, it unveiled a pizza-like item consisting of two fried tortillas layered with beef, beans, tomatoes, pizza sauce, and melted cheese. Taco Bell's Mexican Pizza disappeared from menus at the start of the decade, but following an outcry from customers, the chain announced the item's return earlier this year. After some stops and starts, Mexican Pizza will reclaim a permanent spot on the Taco Bell menu on September 15, 2022, WSLS 10 News reports.

Originally sold as "Pizzaz Pizza" close to 40 years ago, the pizza-tostada hybrid was a casualty of the streamlined menu Taco Bell introduced in November 2020. In an effort to make service faster and cut costs, Taco Bell cut four items in addition to the Mexican Pizza: the shredded chicken soft taco, shredded chicken burrito, shredded chicken quesadilla melt, and pico de gallo.

Nearly two years later, fans were still bitter about the dish's retirement. A Change.org petition to "Save the Mexican Pizza" garnered 171,735 supporters. On March 9, the rapper Doja Cat shared a song with her 23.3 million TikTok followers asking for its return.

Taco Bell heard its customers' pleas, and on May 19, it reinstated the Mexican Pizza to menus nationwide. But the comeback was brief; after just a few weeks, restaurants had run out of the ingredients needed to assemble the dish. The chain has had all summer to prepare for the item's permanent return, and this time they're getting it right. When the Mexican Pizza returns to menus once again on September 15, it will be there to stay. Customers can purchase the cult concoction for $4.49 when it's made available nationwide next month.

Taco Bell has discontinued many items over the decades, but few have gained a cult following post-retirement. In spite (or perhaps because) of the fact that it barely resembles a pizza, Taco Bell's pizza has outlived its fast-food competitors. McDonald's pulled its McPizza from menus shortly after its introduction in the 1980s.

This story originally ran on April 18, 2022; it has been updated to reflect new information.