# Taco Bell's original menu
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-bells-original-menu/368312
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [August 11, 2006, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-bells-original-menu/368312 "2006-08-11T17:42:43Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 4
### Author:  [@Birdbrain42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Birdbrain42)
#### Post date: [January 26, 2016, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-bells-original-menu/368312/61 "2016-01-26T23:01:30Z")
While I don’t remember the menu items I do remember going to one in Central Florida (Lakeland). It must have been early seventies and they had a promotion where they gave a GENUINE MEXICAN PESO with each order. There is still a Taco Bell in that location today, and it’s right down the street from the original Red Lobster (long gone). And if you get a peso at the Taco Bell, it’s only by mistake in your change.
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### Author:  [@Backwater\_Under\_Duck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Backwater_Under_Duck)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2016, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-bells-original-menu/368312/62 "2016-01-27T02:13:51Z")
Mmmmmm, Bellburgers. Boy, one of those would hit the spot right now. “Taco Bell…chomp, chomp… is a nice place to eat.” [/dinosaur] He’s eating the Taco bell restaurant.
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### Author:  [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2016, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-bells-original-menu/368312/63 "2016-01-27T02:25:25Z")
The Bellburger, sadly, was before my time. I remember a few years back getting an email survey from Taco Bell about whether they should bring it back or not, but AFAIK nothing ever came of it.
Taco Time serves a “Taco Burger” up here, which I imagine is probably pretty similar to what the Bellburger must have been, but I’ve never ordered it.
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### Author:  [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2016, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-bells-original-menu/368312/64 "2016-01-27T05:18:02Z")
I miss their Taco Salad. It was a big pile of ingredients in a clamshell-shaped flaky crust bowl, totalling around 800 calories. You finish by eating the bowl.
I remember when they brought back the enchirito – it just wasn’t the same without the sliced olives and the spork.
Never did get around to trying their Bell Beefer.
> [@AncientHumanoid](#):
>
> I remember, too, Jack-in-the-Box had some REALLY greasy tacos available. (Houston, 1970s)
They still have them. Mmmm, deep-fried lettuce!
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### Author:  [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2016, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-bells-original-menu/368312/65 "2016-01-27T14:50:32Z")
Del Taco got rid of their taco salad too. That marked the end of us going there, because it was about the only thing worth buying.
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### Author:  [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2016, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-bells-original-menu/368312/66 "2016-01-27T15:14:46Z")
Which chain was it that had tater tots with taco seasoning?
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### Author:  [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2016, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-bells-original-menu/368312/67 "2016-01-27T15:18:18Z")
> [@xizor](#):
>
> [Five items were on the original Taco Bell menu - tacos, beans, bean burritos, tostadas and Bell burgers. The first taco sold for 19 cents.](http://www.randlfoods.com/Taco%20Bell%20Facts.htm)
> [@charliefm](#):
>
> I don’t understand why all the people who are expert Taco Bell menu aficionados can’t get it right.
> The original menu listed: Taco, Red Burrito, Green Burrito, Bellburger & Frijoles. All items were 15 cents. From one of the first locations located on Carson St. in Hawaiian Gardens, Calif. We used to order 5 tacos, a soft drink and get change back from a buck.
By the time it came to our town, the tacos were up to 25 cents. I don’t remember the exact menu, but it was limited and when the adults were collecting the order for the family the question was “how many tacos do you want?”
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### Author:  [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2016, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-bells-original-menu/368312/68 "2016-01-27T15:22:12Z")
> [@AncientHumanoid](#):
>
> Which chain was it that had tater tots with taco seasoning?
Taco Time. They call them “Mexi-fries”.
The seasoning is barely even there.
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### Author:  [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2016, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-bells-original-menu/368312/69 "2016-01-27T15:27:16Z")
Not fries, tho. Tots. Definitely tots. And they were heavily seasoned. Think Sonic tots with a package of McCormick taco seasoning on them.
Tho, while I’m sure Taco Time (which I’ve never heard of) had/has Mexi-Fries, that’s not the one I’m thinking of.
Might have been a local chain or a local offering…
.
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### Author:  [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2016, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-bells-original-menu/368312/70 "2016-01-27T15:33:51Z")
Taco John’s Potato Olés.
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### Author:  [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2016, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-bells-original-menu/368312/71 "2016-01-27T15:34:25Z")
> [@AncientHumanoid](#):
>
> Not fries, tho. Tots. Definitely tots.
Exactly. [Mexi-fries.](http://tacotimenw.com/Menu/Sides/Mexi-Fries%c2%ae.aspx)
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### Author:  [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2016, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-bells-original-menu/368312/72 "2016-01-27T15:35:50Z")
> [@AncientHumanoid](#):
>
> Not fries, tho. Tots. Definitely tots. And they were heavily seasoned. Think Sonic tots with a package of McCormick taco seasoning on them.
>
> Tho, while I’m sure Taco Time (which I’ve never heard of) had/has Mexi-Fries, that’s not the one I’m thinking of.
>
> Might have been a local chain or a local offering…
> .
Might have been Taco Tico. It was in the right region for me. (SouthWest Conf, Big12 area)
And, as I said, very heavily seasoned.
.
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### Author:  [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2016, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-bells-original-menu/368312/73 "2016-01-27T15:37:39Z")
> [@silenus](#):
>
> Del Taco got rid of their taco salad too. That marked the end of us going there, because it was about the only thing worth buying.
Maybe for you folks on the West Coast, but out here, their brief foray into the Chicago market was pretty much the only place you could get baja style fish tacos and shrimp tacos at a fast food joint (or for that matter, almost any taco joint. While you can find fish tacos here, they take some sleuthing.) And I thought they were pretty good.
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### Author:  [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2016, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-bells-original-menu/368312/74 "2016-01-27T15:38:21Z")
> [@Smapti](#):
>
> Exactly. [Mexi-fries.](http://tacotimenw.com/Menu/Sides/Mexi-Fries%c2%ae.aspx)
Cool.
I’ve never been to a Taco Time.
**Silenus** , that’s a good one, too.
Apparently several places have done it. 🆒
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### Author:  [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2016, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-bells-original-menu/368312/75 "2016-01-27T15:44:12Z")
I make my own now. At home. From scratch.
Not actually scratch 😉 , but a good cheap bag of frozen tots from Krogers, with chili powder and garlic salt on them comes very close. Not really worth it, tho, to make a whole bag.
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### Author:  [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)
#### Post date: [January 28, 2016, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-bells-original-menu/368312/76 "2016-01-28T18:05:22Z")
I love putting chili powder on tots and fries. Dry onion soup mix on them is also awesome.
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### Author:  [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)
#### Post date: [January 29, 2016, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-bells-original-menu/368312/77 "2016-01-29T01:02:05Z")
> [@AncientHumanoid](#):
>
> I make my own now. At home. From scratch.
> Not actually scratch 😉 , but a good cheap bag of frozen tots from Krogers, with chili powder and garlic salt on them comes very close. Not really worth it, tho, to make a whole bag.
Probably stupid question: do you apply seasoning before or after baking?
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### Author:  [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)
#### Post date: [January 29, 2016, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-bells-original-menu/368312/78 "2016-01-29T01:50:55Z")
When I turn them over.
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### Author:  [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)
#### Post date: [January 29, 2016, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-bells-original-menu/368312/79 "2016-01-29T02:04:43Z")
[ ](https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3394/3589564048_1cbf5913f1_b.jpg)
Here is McDonalds
[ ](https://i.pinimg.com/564x/52/20/50/5220501da9da2b847da3495a13838259.jpg)
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### Author:  [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)
#### Post date: [January 29, 2016, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-bells-original-menu/368312/80 "2016-01-29T02:48:37Z")
That’s not Taco Bell’s original menu, by the way. It’s half of a later menu. Note the lack of tacos on the menu. The Taco Bell Grande debuted around 1985.
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