History of Taco Bell in Timeline

Taco Bell, founded in 1962 by Glen Bell, is an American fast-food restaurant chain specializing in Mexican-inspired cuisine. It is a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc., and offers a menu of tacos, burritos, quesadillas, nachos, and value items. By 2023, Taco Bell served over two billion customers annually across 8,212 restaurants. A significant majority (over 94%) of these restaurants are owned and operated by independent franchisees and licensees.

1948: Bell's Drive-In Opens

In 1948, Glen Bell opened Bell's Drive-In, a hot dog stand, in San Bernardino, California.

1951: Bell Opens New Stand

In 1951, Glen Bell, after learning how to make hard-shelled tacos, opened a new stand.

July 6, 1962: First Taco Bell Opens

On July 6, 1962, Glen Bell opened the first Taco Bell at 7112 Firestone Boulevard in Downey, California, serving tacos, burritos, tostadas, chiliburgers and frijoles for 19 cents each.

August 7, 1962: Second Taco Bell Opens

On August 7, 1962, the second Taco Bell location opened at 1822 Santa Fe in Long Beach, CA.

September 1962: Third Taco Bell Opens

In September 1962, the third Taco Bell location opened in Hawaiian Gardens, California.

1962: Taco Bell Founded

In 1962, Glen Bell founded the fast food chain Taco Bell in Downey, California.

1962: Chiliburger Introduction

In 1962, one of Taco Bell's original menu items was the Chiliburger.

1964: First Franchisee Purchased

In 1964, Kermit Bekke, a former police officer, purchased the first Taco Bell franchise.

May 28, 1965: First Franchise Grand Opening

On May 28, 1965, the first Taco Bell franchise location had its grand opening in Torrance, California.

January 20, 1967: 100th Taco Bell Grand Opening

On January 20, 1967, the 100th Taco Bell location had its grand opening in Anaheim, California.

September 20, 1968: First Taco Bell East of the Mississippi

On September 20, 1968, the first Taco Bell restaurant east of the Mississippi River opened in Springfield, Ohio.

1969: Chiliburger Renamed Bell Burger

In 1969, the Chiliburger was renamed the Bell Burger.

1970: Taco Bell Goes Public

In 1970, Taco Bell went public with 325 restaurants.

1975: First Franchise Closes

In 1975, the first franchise location closed when it moved across the street to store #1130 at 1619 West Carson Street.

1976: Corporate Office Relocates

In 1976, the Taco Bell corporate office settled into Irvine, California, at 17901 Von Karman Avenue.

1976: Mission Style Honolulu Opens

In April 1976, a mission-style location operated in Honolulu, Hawaii.

1978: PepsiCo Purchases Taco Bell

In 1978, PepsiCo purchased Taco Bell from Glen Bell.

1978: PepsiCo Acquisition

In 1978, PepsiCo purchased Taco Bell.

1979: Bell Burger Renamed Bell Beefer

In 1979, the Bell Burger was renamed the Bell Beefer.

1979: Taco Bell Opens First Store in Canada

Taco Bell has been present in Canada since 1979, with the first store opening in Windsor, Ontario.

September 1981: Taco Bell Opens in Australia and Faces Lawsuit

In September 1981, Taco Bell first opened in Australia, but was ordered to change its name after a local restaurant called "Taco Bell's Casa" successfully sued Taco Bell for misleading conduct.

1982: Acquisition of Taco Charley

In 1982, Taco Bell acquired Taco Charley, a San Mateo, California-based chain.

1984: Acquisition of Pup 'N' Taco

In 1984, Taco Bell acquired Pup 'N' Taco, a Long Beach, California-based chain and Taco Bell replaced its Mexican-based branding, replacing it with a more mainstream design.

1984: Taco Bell Express Experimentation

In 1984, Taco Bell began experimenting with the Taco Bell Express concept with several test mall locations opening.

1986: Discontinuation of Bell Beefer

Around 1986, Taco Bell discontinued the Bell Beefer to maintain a more typical Tex-Mex-inspired menu.

1986: Acquisition of Zantigo

In 1986, Taco Bell acquired Zantigo, a Minneapolis, Minnesota-based Mexican chain.

1986: First Taco Bell Location Opens in the UK

In 1986, the first Taco Bell location in the United Kingdom was opened in London on Coventry Street.

1986: Original Taco Bell Closes

In 1986, the original Taco Bell location in Downey, California closed.

1990: Acquisition of Hot 'n Now

In 1990, Taco Bell acquired the Hot 'n Now chain.

1991: First Taco Bell Express Opens

In 1991, Taco Bell opened the first Taco Bell Express in San Francisco.

1992: Johnny Cash Commercial

In 1992, Johnny Cash starred in a television commercial for Taco Bell's value menu.

1992: Launch in Mexico City

In 1992, Taco Bell had a highly publicized launch in Mexico City, but all the restaurants were closed two years later.

1993: Demolition Man Product Placement

In 1993, Taco Bell was part of product placement for the movie Demolition Man and updated their currently used logo.

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1993: First Polish Taco Bell Store Opened

In 1993, the first Polish Taco Bell store was opened. Following an aggressive campaign of expansion, Taco Bell's efforts soon withered, and the chain withdrew from Poland shortly thereafter.

1994: Compass Announces Plans for Taco Bell Outlets

In 1994, Compass, a university food provider, announced plans for Taco Bell outlets on its university and college sites, though only one store opened at Birmingham University.

1995: Co-branding with KFC Begins

In 1995, Taco Bell began co-branding with KFC, opening the first such co-brand in Clayton, North Carolina.

1996: New Downey Taco Bell Opens

In 1996, a new Taco Bell location opened across the street from the original location at 7127 Firestone Blvd in Downey.

1997: Border Bell Restaurant Experiment

In 1997, PepsiCo experimented with a new "fresh grill" concept, opening at least one Border Bell restaurant in Mountain View, California.

1997: Taco Bell Reopens in Australia

In 1997, Taco Bell later reopened in Australia with a store in the cinema district on George Street, Sydney.

1997: Sale of Hot 'n Now

In 1997, Taco Bell sold Hot 'n Now to a Connecticut company.

1998: Taco Bell Opens Within KFC Stores in Australia

In 1998, Taco Bell opened within a few KFC stores in the state of New South Wales, Australia.

September 2000: Taco Bell Shell Recall

In September 2000, up to $50 million worth of Taco Bell-branded shells were recalled from supermarkets due to the presence of genetically modified corn called StarLink.

2000: Taco Bell: Tasty Temple Challenge Game Release

In 2000, Taco Bell: Tasty Temple Challenge was released for DOS, a kid-friendly first-person 3D action shooter where the player controls Baja Bill and replenishes health with Taco Bell food.

March 2001: Mir Space Station Promotion

In March 2001, Taco Bell announced a promotion coinciding with the re-entry of the Mir space station, offering a free taco to everyone in the United States if a falling piece of Mir hit a target in the Pacific Ocean.

2001: $60 Million Settlement

In 2001, Tricon Global announced a $60 million settlement with the suppliers related to the StarLink corn recall, stating that it would go to Taco Bell franchisees.

2002: Tricon Renamed to Yum! Brands

On May 16, 2002, Tricon Global Restaurants changed its name to Yum! Brands after purchasing Yorkshire Global Restaurants.

2003: Taco Bell Enters Chinese Market

In 2003, Taco Bell entered the Chinese market by opening a "Taco Bell Grande" restaurant in Shanghai People's Square.

October 2004: First Philippine Branch Opens

In October 2004, Taco Bell opened its first Philippine branch at the Gateway Mall in Cubao, Quezon City.

2004: Taco Bell Arena and Mountain Dew Baja Blast

In 2004, a Taco Bell franchisee acquired the naming rights to Boise State Pavilion, which was then renamed Taco Bell Arena. Also in 2004, Mountain Dew offered Taco Bell exclusive rights to sell Mountain Dew Baja Blast.

2004: First Taco Bell in Spain Opens at Naval Station Rota

In 2004, the first Taco Bell in Spain was opened at Naval Station Rota, available only to those authorized to access the naval base.

March 2005: CIW Boycott Victory

In March 2005, the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) won a landmark victory in its national boycott of Taco Bell for human rights, resulting in the CIW-Yum agreement.

2005: Taco Bell Brand Pulled Out of Australia

By 2005, the Taco Bell brand was pulled out of Australia.

2005: Crunchwrap Supreme Limited-Time Offer

In 2005, Taco Bell introduced the Crunchwrap Supreme as a limited-time menu item.

2005: Permitting Process Started in American Samoa

In 2005, Taco Bell started the permitting process to set up a restaurant in American Samoa in Pago Pago.

2006: Crunchwrap Supreme Permanent Menu Item

Due to its popularity, the Crunchwrap Supreme was made a permanent menu offering at Taco Bell in 2006.

2006: Taco Bell Established in Iceland

In late 2006, Taco Bell was established in Iceland as a part of the KFC establishment in Hafnarfjörður, a suburb of Reykjavík, after the departure of the U.S. Navy from Naval Air Station Keflavik.

September 2007: Taco Bell Returned to Monterrey

In September 2007, Taco Bell returned to Monterrey, projecting an American image with an Americanized menu that included french fries.

October 30, 2007: "Steal a Base, Steal a Taco" Promotion Realized

On October 30, 2007, Taco Bell gave away free tacos to everyone in the United States after Jacoby Ellsbury of the Boston Red Sox stole a base in Game 2, fulfilling the "Steal a Base, Steal a Taco" promotion.

November 2008: Taco Bell Opens in Dubai, UAE

In November 2008, Taco Bell opened in the United Arab Emirates in Dubai at the Dubai Mall.

November 2008: Second Location Opened in Reykjavík

In November 2008, a second Taco Bell location opened in the Ártúnshöfði part of Reykjavík.

December 2008: First Public Taco Bell Opens in Madrid

In December 2008, the first Taco Bell for the public was opened in the Islazul Shopping Mall, Madrid.

2008: Taco Bell Closes Chinese Restaurants

In 2008, Taco Bell closed its four "Taco Bell Grande" restaurants in China.

2008: Taco Bell Pulls Out of Singapore

In 2008, Taco Bell completely pulled out of Singapore, where it had mostly operated as combination stores with KFC.

July 1, 2009: Taco Bell Becomes NBA Fast-Food Partner

On July 1, 2009, Taco Bell replaced McDonald's as the fast-food partner of the NBA through a four-year deal, allowing advertising on ABC, TNT, and ESPN, along with NBA-themed promotions.

July 21, 2009: Death of Gidget the Taco Bell Chihuahua

On July 21, 2009, Gidget, the Chihuahua featured in Taco Bell ads in the late 1990s, was euthanized at the age of 15 after suffering a stroke.

December 2009: Taco Bell Opens in Cyprus

In December 2009, Taco Bell opened in Cyprus in Limassol in the MY MALL Limassol.

2009: "It's all about the Roosevelts" Commercial

In 2009, Taco Bell introduced a music video style commercial entitled "It's all about the Roosevelts," which was featured in movie theaters during previews of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen and Public Enemies, marking Taco Bell's first venture into movie theater advertising.

2009: Yum! Brands Announces Additional Restaurants in Spain

In early 2009, Yum! Brands announced that it would open additional restaurants in Spain as part of a test trial for the European market.

January 2010: Monterrey Restaurants Closed

In January 2010, Taco Bell closed its restaurants in Monterrey due to low patronage.

March 2010: Second Taco Bell Opens in Madrid

In March 2010, the second location of Taco Bell in Spain was opened at the La Vaguada Shopping Mall, Madrid.

June 2010: Facebook Petition for Two-Dollar Bills

In June 2010, Taco Bell started a Facebook group to collect signatures on a petition requesting the Federal Reserve to produce more two-dollar bills, in order to promote their $2 Meal Deals.

June 28, 2010: First New Taco Bell Store Opens in the UK

On June 28, 2010, the first new Taco Bell store in the United Kingdom opened at the Lakeside Shopping Centre in Essex.

November 29, 2010: Second Taco Bell Store Opens in Basildon, Essex

On November 29, 2010, a second Taco Bell store opened in Basildon, Essex.

November 30, 2010: First Taco Bell Opens in Greece

On November 30, 2010, Greece's first Taco Bell opened in Athens upon the grand opening of the newly constructed Athens Metro Mall.

2010: First Taco Bell Outlet Opens in India

In 2010, the first Taco Bell outlet in India opened at the Mantri Square mall in Bangalore.

2010: Taco Bell Locations Open in Seoul

In the summer of 2010, two Taco Bell locations opened in Seoul, in the Itaewon and Hongdae districts.

February 2011: Advertising Push in Response to Lawsuit

In late February 2011, Taco Bell launched a large advertising campaign in response to a consumer protection lawsuit alleging false advertising of the beef filling ratio in their tacos. The campaign featured employees asserting an 88% beef mixture and included print ads, Twitter, and Facebook, costing over $3 million (USD).

March 31, 2011: Priszm Files for Bankruptcy Protection

On March 31, 2011, Priszm, owner of Taco Bell (Canada), went into bankruptcy protection in Ontario and British Columbia.

May 6, 2011: Priszm Delisted from Toronto Stock Exchange

On May 6, 2011, Priszm Income Fund was delisted from the Toronto Stock Exchange for failure to meet listing requirements.

November 7, 2011: Third Taco Bell Store Opens in Manchester

On November 7, 2011, a third Taco Bell store opened in the Manchester Arndale Food Court.

March 2012: Doritos Locos Tacos

In March 2012, Taco Bell and Frito-Lay collaborated to introduce the Doritos Locos Tacos, featuring a taco with a Dorito Nacho Cheese flavored shell.

May 2012: Mountain Dew A.M. Release

In May 2012, Taco Bell released Mountain Dew A.M, a drink that is a combination of Mountain Dew and orange juice.

June 6, 2012: Announcement of Cantina Menu Test

On June 6, 2012, Taco Bell announced it would be testing a new "Cantina Menu" with upscale items in select restaurants. The menu, created by Lorena Garcia, featured items like Black Beans, Cilantro Rice, and Citrus & Herb Marinated Chicken.

August 2012: Taco Bell Withdraws From Greek Market

In August 2012, the Taco Bell restaurant in Athens closed, and the chain withdrew from the Greek market due to the country's recession.

March 1, 2013: Horse Meat Found in Taco Bell Beef in the UK

On March 1, 2013, it was announced that trace amounts of horse meat from a European supplier had been found in various food products, including Taco Bell's beef in the UK.

March 7, 2013: Cool Ranch Doritos Taco Release

On March 7, 2013, the Cool Ranch Doritos Taco was made available for order at Taco Bell.

July 2013: Early Discontinuation of Kids' Meals

In July 2013, some Taco Bell outlets started ceasing the sale of kids' meals and accompanying toys ahead of the company-wide plan to discontinue them by January 2014.

July 23, 2013: Discontinuation of Kids' Meals Announced

On July 23, 2013, Taco Bell announced that they would be discontinuing the sale of kids' meals and accompanying toys at all of their U.S.–based restaurants by January 2014.

August 6, 2013: Waffle Taco Test Market Expansion

On August 6, 2013, Taco Bell announced the expansion of its "Waffle Tacos" test market to approximately 100 restaurants in Fresno, California, Omaha, Nebraska, and Chattanooga, Tennessee, starting August 8 of that year.

January 2014: End of Kids' Meals

By January 2014, Taco Bell officially discontinued the sale of kids' meals and associated toys at all U.S. restaurants, a plan that was announced in July 2013.

February 2014: Hot Sauce Available in Grocery Stores

In February 2014, Taco Bell made its hot sauces available in grocery stores, sold in bottles, previously, Taco Bell's hot sauces were only available in packets at the chain itself.

March 27, 2014: Breakfast Menu Launch

On March 27, 2014, Taco Bell launched its breakfast menu, including items like the A.M. Crunchwrap and Cinnabon Delights. The ad campaign featured men named Ronald McDonald in a jab at McDonald's.

April 28, 2014: Taco Bell Ridicules McDonald's McMuffins

On April 28, 2014, Taco Bell launched a breakfast campaign that ridiculed McDonald's for its "out-dated muffins", claiming that the McMuffin belonged in 1984.

August 2014: U.S. Taco Co. and Urban Taproom Launched

In August 2014, Taco Bell began experimenting with fast-casual and urban concepts when it created U.S. Taco Co. and Urban Taproom in Huntington Beach, California.

August 18, 2014: Launch of Dollar Cravings Value Menu

On August 18, 2014, Taco Bell introduced the Dollar Cravings value menu, featuring thirteen food items all priced at one United States dollar, replacing the old Why Pay More menu.

October 2014: Pink Strawberry Starburst Freeze Launch

In October 2014, Taco Bell introduced the Pink Strawberry Starburst Freeze beverage for a limited time.

September 15, 2015: U.S. Taco Co. Closes

On September 15, 2015, U.S. Taco Co. closed so the company could focus on the Taco Bell Cantina concept.

October 2015: Vegetarian Menu Launch

In October 2015, Taco Bell launched a certified vegetarian menu.

2015: Taco Bell Returns to Japan

In 2015, Taco Bell returned to the Japanese market with a new shop in the downtown area of Shibuya, Tokyo. The original menu included "Taco rice" and "Shrimp and avocado burrito".

2015: Original Taco Bell Saved From Demolition

On November 19, 2015, the original Taco Bell building was saved from demolition and moved to the Taco Bell Corporate Office in Irvine, California.

March 2016: AI Bot Testing

In March 2016, Taco Bell introduced private beta testing of an artificial intelligence bot on Slack designed to take orders of select menu items.

August 2016: Cheetos Burrito Test

In August 2016, Taco Bell announced that it would begin testing Cheetos Burritos at select Taco Bell restaurants.

August 2016: Pink Strawberry Starburst Freeze Return

In August 2016, Taco Bell brought back its Pink Strawberry Starburst Freeze.

September 15, 2016: Cheddar Habanero Quesarito Introduction

On September 15, 2016, Taco Bell introduced the Cheddar Habanero Quesarito, a quesadilla shelled burrito.

September 2016: Taco Bell VR Arcade Opens

In September 2016, Taco Bell opened a pop-up in New York City called the Taco Bell VR Arcade with PlayStation VR.

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September 19, 2016: Airheads Freeze Launch

On September 19, 2016, Taco Bell introduced Airheads Freeze, a drink inspired by the candy Airheads White Mystery, allowing people to guess its flavor on social media.

2016: Cargo Container Restaurant Built

In 2016, Taco Bell built a restaurant out of five cargo shipping containers for the Texas music festival, South by Southwest.

2016: Taco Bell Cantina Flagship Store Launched

In 2016, Taco Bell launched the Taco Bell Cantina flagship store located on the Las Vegas Strip.

2016: Stopped Sourcing Eggs From Battery Cages

In 2016, Taco Bell stopped sourcing eggs from egg-laying hens raised in battery cages in their US restaurants.

2016: Taco Bell Relaunches in China

In late 2016, Taco Bell relaunched in the Chinese market with a new store opening in Pudong, Shanghai.

April 4, 2017: Taco Bell Opens in Eindhoven, Netherlands

On April 4, 2017, Taco Bell opened its first restaurant in Eindhoven, Netherlands.

April 2017: Naked Breakfast Taco Test

In April 2017, Taco Bell announced that it would begin testing the Naked Breakfast Taco in Flint, Michigan, which uses a fried egg as the shell for potato bites, nacho cheese, shredded cheddar, and bacon or sausage crumble.

June 15, 2017: Restel Announces Taco Bell to Finland

On June 15, 2017, Finnish restaurant company Restel announced that it is bringing Taco Bell to Finland.

July 2017: Taco Bell Opens in Sri Lanka

In July 2017, Taco Bell opened an outlet in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

July 2017: Lyft Partnership and "Taco Mode"

In July 2017, Taco Bell partnered with Lyft in Orange County, California, allowing passengers to request "Taco Mode" for a Taco Bell stop between 9 PM and 2 AM; however, the program was cancelled after negative feedback.

August 2017: Taco Bell Branches in the UK

By August 2017, there were 17 Taco Bell branches in the United Kingdom, all of which were in England and outside of London.

August 2017: Cantina to Host Weddings

In August 2017, it was announced that the Taco Bell Cantina flagship store in Las Vegas would begin hosting weddings.

September 13, 2017: Taco Bell Announces Return to Australian Market

On September 13, 2017, Collins Foods announced that Taco Bell would return to the Australian market, with their first store being situated in the Brisbane suburb of Annerley in Queensland.

October 12, 2017: First Taco Bell Opens in Bucharest

On October 12, 2017, the first Taco Bell store opened in Bucharest, Romania.

November 4, 2017: Annerley Store Opens

On November 4, 2017, the Taco Bell store in Annerley, Brisbane, Queensland, opened, using a refurbished Sizzler restaurant.

November 9, 2017: First Taco Bell Opens in Finland

On November 9, 2017, the first Taco Bell restaurant opened in central Helsinki.

November 2017: Urban and Cantina-Style Expansion Plans

In November 2017, Taco Bell announced plans to open 300 more urban and Cantina-style locations by 2022.

November 2017: Taco Bell Expands in Espoo, Finland

Later in November 2017, Taco Bell restaurants opened in Sello and Iso Omena malls in Espoo.

December 2017: First Scottish Taco Bell Branch Opens

In December 2017, the first Scottish Taco Bell branch was opened in Glasgow.

2017: Taco Bell Branches in Spain

By 2017 Taco Bell had 32 branches in Spain.

2017: Forever 21 Clothing Line Partnership

In 2017, Forever 21 produced a clothing line in partnership with Taco Bell, featuring branded T-shirts and sweatshirts, as well as bodysuits made to look like Border Sauce packets.

May 2018: Chips Available in Grocery Stores

In May 2018, Taco Bell made its branded chips available in grocery stores.

September 21, 2018: Announcement of National Taco Day

On September 21, 2018, Taco Bell announced National Taco Day to celebrate its global presence in 20 countries.

2018: Border Bell Still Open

Close to the time that PepsiCo spun off its restaurant business in 1997, the Border Bell in Mountain View was closed and converted to a Taco Bell restaurant which was still open in 2018.

2018: Development Deal Signed

In 2018, Collins Foods signed a development deal with Yum! Brands to open over 50 Taco Bell restaurants across Australia between January 2019 and December 2021.

2018: Bogotá Outlets Closed

In 2018, the four Taco Bell outlets in the Bogotá area in Colombia closed.

January 2019: Collins Foods Development Deal Begins

In January 2019, Collins Foods' development deal with Yum! Brands commenced, planning to open over 50 Taco Bell restaurants across Australia between January 2019 and December 2021.

January 2019: Increased Television Advertising Spending

In January 2019, Taco Bell nearly doubled its television advertising spending to US$64 million.

April 2019: Introduction of Loaded Nacho Taco

In April 2019, Taco Bell introduced a "loaded nacho taco" for a dollar as part of the Cravings Value Menu.

May 15, 2019: Taco Bell Announces Master Franchise Agreement in India

On May 15, 2019, Taco Bell announced an exclusive national master franchise agreement with Burman Hospitality. At this time, the chain operated 35 outlets across India.

June 2019: Taco Bell Branches in Scotland and England

As of June 2019, there are 39 Taco Bell branches in Scotland and England, including three in London.

September 2019: Menu Changes and Discontinued Items

In September 2019, Taco Bell made changes to its menu, discontinuing items including the Beefy Mini Quesadilla, Chips and Salsa, and Double Decker Taco.

September 2019: Menu Revamp for Fall Season

In September 2019, Taco Bell revamped its menu for the fall season.

October 2019: Doritos Locos Tacos Served in the UK

Beginning in October 2019, Taco Bell locations in the UK began serving Doritos Locos Tacos.

November 12, 2019: First New Zealand Location Opened

On November 12, 2019, Taco Bell officially opened its first New Zealand location in the suburb of New Lynn, Auckland.

November 2019: Taco Bell's Taco Shop Announced

In November 2019, Taco Bell announced Taco Bell's Taco Shop, an online store with Taco Bell branded merchandise including hoodies and tees, holiday ornaments, inflatable sauce packets, and wedding-related items.

2019: Taco Bell Expands Outside Helsinki

In 2019, Taco Bell expanded outside the Helsinki metropolitan area to Lappeenranta and Turku. Finland is the first country to include pulled oats (a meat substitute) in the menu.

2019: Taco Bell Hotel Pop-Up

In 2019, Taco Bell opened a pop-up hotel called "The Bell: A Taco Bell Hotel and Resort" for one weekend in August.

2019: First Taco Bell Store Opened

In 2019, the first Taco Bell store was opened.

February 2020: Legal Dispute Resolved

In February 2020, the legal dispute between Collins Foods and Victoria-based restaurant chain Taco Bill was resolved.

March 2, 2020: First Welsh Taco Bell Branch Opens

On March 2, 2020, the first Welsh Taco Bell branch was opened in Cardiff.

March 2020: Suburban Stores Converting to Cantinas

In March 2020, Taco Bell announced that it would be converting 3 of its suburban stores into Cantinas as part of a test run.

July 2020: Grilled Cheese Burrito Announcement

In July 2020, Taco Bell announced the Grilled Cheese Burrito, a recurring menu item that occasionally reappears for a limited time.

August 13, 2020: Menu Update Due to COVID-19 Pandemic

On August 13, 2020, Taco Bell updated its menu to streamline processes due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Discontinued items included the Grilled Steak Soft Taco, 7-Layer Burrito, Nachos Supreme, Beefy Fritos Burrito, Spicy Tostada, Triple Layer Nachos, Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes, Loaded Grillers (Cheesy Potato and Beefy Nacho), Chips & Dips, and Mini Skillet Bowl.

August 2020: Discontinuation of potatoes.

In August 2020, Taco Bell briefly discontinued potatoes to streamline processes in restaurants in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

December 18, 2020: Taco Bell Opens First Indonesian Restaurant

On December 18, 2020, Taco Bell opened its first Indonesian restaurant in South Jakarta.

January 2021: Return of Potatoes to the Menu

In January 2021, Taco Bell announced the return of potatoes to the menu after a brief discontinuation in August 2020. Plans were also announced to expand the vegetarian menu with Beyond Meat.

April 2, 2021: Taco Bell Opens First Malaysian Store

On April 2, 2021, Taco Bell opened its first Malaysian store in Cyberjaya, Sepang.

April 2021: Hot Sauce Packet Recycling Program

In April 2021, Taco Bell announced a partnership with TerraCycle to start reusing hot sauce packets, aiming to reduce environmental pollution.

July 2021: New Taco Bell Branch Opened in Oulu

In July 2021, a new Taco Bell branch was opened in Oulu, Finland.

August 2021: Crispy Chicken Sandwich Taco Announced

In August 2021, Taco Bell announced the Crispy Chicken Sandwich Taco.

November 2021: Taco Bell Opens 77th UK Store

In November 2021, Taco Bell opened its 77th UK store, returning to the British Midlands with a store in The Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham.

December 2021: End of Development Deal Period

In December 2021, the period for Collins Foods' development deal with Yum! Brands ended, which aimed to open over 50 Taco Bell restaurants across Australia between January 2019 and December 2021.

2021: Taco Bell Restaurants Spread Across the Country

In 2021, there were 11 Taco Bell restaurants spread across the country.

January 6, 2022: Taco Lover's Pass Launch

On January 6, 2022, Taco Bell launched the Taco Lover's Pass, a digital taco subscription service, through the company app. Costing $10, customers could order one of seven different tacos each day for 30 consecutive days.

April 18, 2022: Announcement of Mexican Pizza Return

On April 18, 2022, Taco Bell announced that Mexican Pizza would return to its menu on May 19, after its having previously been discontinued in November 2020.

August 2022: Sam Reid's Taco Bell-Only Diet

From July to August 2022, filmmaker Sam Reid ate nothing but Taco Bell for 30 days to test the food's nutritional content. The stunt gained national attention, including coverage from news stations and a mention on The Tonight Show.

August 2022: Taco Bell Opens in Torquay, Devon

In August 2022, a Taco Bell was opened in Torquay, Devon, the second in the county after Plymouth.

November 2022: Taco Bell Restaurants in Finland

As of November 2022, there are 16 Taco Bell restaurants in Finland, most of them in the Helsinki metropolitan area.

November 2022: North Queensland Outlets Closed

In November 2022, both of Taco Bell's two outlets in North Queensland, previously located in Cairns and Townsville, closed.

2022: Taco Bell Expansion in Indonesia

As of 2022, Taco Bell had opened three more restaurants in Indonesia, all located in Jakarta.

January 2023: Taco Bell New Zealand Store Count

As of January 2023, there are 14 Taco Bell restaurants across New Zealand; 10 on the North Island and four on the South Island. By city, there are seven in Auckland, three in Christchurch and one each in Dunedin, Rotorua, Taupiri and Wellington. There are two outlets at airports in New Zealand, one at Auckland Airport and the other at Christchurch Airport.

2023: Taco Bell Customer Base

As of 2023, Taco Bell serves over two billion customers each year across its 8,212 restaurants.

2023: Taco Bell in the Philippines

As of 2023, there are some Taco Bell outlets in the Manila/Quezon City area.

2023: Hafnarfjörður Location Closed

In late 2023, Taco Bell closed its Hafnarfjörður location in Iceland.

January 11, 2024: 10th Taco Bell Opens in the Netherlands

On January 11, 2024, the 10th Taco Bell restaurant in the Netherlands opened in Leidsche Rijn, Utrecht. It is the first Taco Bell restaurant worldwide to use batteries to store energy.

February 2024: Taco Bell Australia Store Count

As of February 2024, there are 39 Taco Bell restaurants across Australia, with locations in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, and Western Australia. There are also plans to open restaurants in other locations, such as Canberra, the Central Coast, Port Macquarie and Toowoomba.

March 2024: Taco Bell in China

As of March 2024, Taco Bell has 90 outlets in China.

August 2024: Taco Bell Planned Opening in Berlin

Taco Bell planned to open its first German location in Berlin in August 2024.

October 17, 2024: First Taco Bell Opens in Bosnia and Herzegovina

On October 17, 2024, the first Taco Bell opened in Ilidža near Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

December 2024: Second Taco Bell Opens in Sarajevo

As of December 2024, there is another Taco Bell branch located in Sarajevo City Center.

2024: Taco Bell Locations in the UK

As of 2024, there are now more than 130 Taco Bell locations in the UK.

2024: Taco Bell Expansion in Romania

By the end of 2024, Taco Bell had expanded to 16 locations nationwide in Romania.

2024: Announcement of Pork Production Benchmarks

In 2024, Taco Bell announced that it would publish benchmarks on moving away from gestation crates in pork production by the end of 2024. However, no such benchmarks were published that year.

2024: First and only Taco Bell store opened in Gibraltar

In 2024, the first and only Taco Bell store in Gibraltar was opened.

April 2025: Taco Bell Owner Announces Exit From Australian Operations

In April 2025, Taco Bell owner Collins Foods announced to exit the Australian operations.

May 13, 2025: First Taco Bell Restaurant in Ireland Announced

On May 13, 2025, it was announced that the first Taco Bell restaurant in Ireland would open in the summer of the same year in partnership with Applegreen, with more locations to follow.

May 2025: Planned Opening of Taco Bell in Germany Canceled

In early May 2025, the planned opening of Taco Bell in Germany was canceled after Yum! Brands terminated the franchise agreement with ISH in January due to operational difficulties.