Taco Bell facts for kids
Logo since 2016
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Current headquarters at 1 Glen Bell Way in Irvine, California
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| Subsidiary | |
| Industry | Restaurants |
| Genre | Fast-food restaurant |
| Founded | March 21, 1962 Downey, California |
| Founder | Glen Bell |
| Headquarters | 1 Glen Bell Way, Irvine, California, U.S. (2009–present) |
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Number of locations
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8,218 (2022) |
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Areas served
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List
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Key people
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| Products | |
| Revenue |  $1.988 billion (2015) |
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Taco Bell Corp. is a large American chain of fast food restaurants. It was started in 1962 by Glen Bell in Downey, California. Taco Bell is part of a bigger company called Yum! Brands, Inc..
The restaurants serve many kinds of Mexican-inspired foods. These include tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and nachos. They also have special and "value menu" items. As of 2023, Taco Bell serves over 2 billion customers every year. There are 8,212 restaurants, and most of them are owned by independent business owners.
PepsiCo bought Taco Bell in 1978. Later, PepsiCo separated its restaurant businesses into a new company. This company eventually changed its name to Yum! Brands.
Contents
How Taco Bell Started
Taco Bell was founded by Glen Bell. He was an entrepreneur who first opened a hot dog stand in 1948. It was called Bell's Drive-In and was in San Bernardino, California.
Bell noticed long lines at a Mexican restaurant nearby. This restaurant was famous for its hard-shelled tacos. Bell tried to figure out how they made the tacos. Eventually, the owners let him see their recipe. He used what he learned to open a new taco stand in 1951. The name of his business changed a few times before it became Taco Bell.
The very first Taco Bell opened on July 6, 1962, in Downey, California. It was a small building, about the size of a two-car garage. It had a walk-up window where customers could order. The first menu items were tacos, burritos, tostadas, Chiliburgers, and beans. Each item cost only 19 cents.
This first restaurant closed in 1986. However, the building was saved from being torn down in 2015. It was moved to the Taco Bell headquarters in Irvine, California. It is now known as "Taco Bell Numero Uno." The oldest Taco Bell that is still open today is store #2. It opened on August 7, 1962, in Long Beach, California.
In 1964, a former police officer named Kermit Bekke bought the first Taco Bell franchisee. This means he opened a Taco Bell restaurant that was part of the chain. By 1967, there were 100 Taco Bell restaurants. The first Taco Bell east of the Mississippi River opened in 1968.
Early Taco Bell restaurants only had walk-up windows. They did not have indoor seating or drive-thru service. Indoor seating was added in 1968, and drive-thru service became common around 1980. As of 2025, seven original mission-style Taco Bell restaurants are still operating.
Taco Bell and PepsiCo
In 1978, PepsiCo bought Taco Bell from Glen Bell. In the 1980s, Taco Bell grew quickly. It bought other fast food chains and changed them into Taco Bell locations. This helped Taco Bell expand across the country.
In 1991, Taco Bell opened its first Taco Bell Express. These smaller locations are often found inside convenience stores, airports, or shopping malls. In 1995, Taco Bell started working with other restaurants like KFC. They opened places where you could buy food from both chains. Later, they also partnered with Pizza Hut and Long John Silver's.
In 1997, PepsiCo decided to separate its restaurant businesses. Taco Bell and other chains became part of a new company.
Taco Bell and Yum! Brands
The new company that owned Taco Bell was first called Tricon Global Restaurants. In 2002, it bought other restaurant chains like A&W and Long John Silver's. Then, it changed its name to Yum! Brands.
In 2005, a group called the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) won an important victory. They had been boycotting Taco Bell to improve working conditions for tomato pickers. Taco Bell and Yum! Brands agreed to meet the group's demands. This helped improve wages and conditions for farm workers.
Taco Bell started trying out new restaurant ideas. In 2014, they created U.S. Taco Co. and Urban Taproom. This was a more upscale restaurant with different kinds of tacos. It closed in 2015 so the company could focus on a new idea called Taco Bell Cantina.
Taco Bell Cantina restaurants have special menu items and serve alcohol. The first one opened in Chicago in 2015. In 2016, a large Taco Bell Cantina opened on the Las Vegas Strip. It is open 24 hours, serves alcohol, and even has a DJ. In 2017, they announced that this Las Vegas location would even host weddings!
In 2016, Taco Bell started testing an artificial intelligence bot. This bot could take orders on the messaging app Slack. Taco Bell also began selling its hot sauces in bottles at grocery stores in 2014. Later, they added chips and shredded cheese to their grocery store products.
In 2016, Taco Bell built a restaurant using five shipping containers for a music festival. It was so popular that they moved it to South Gate, California. This restaurant has outdoor seating and a drive-thru, but no indoor seating. In 2019, Taco Bell even opened a pop-up hotel called "The Bell: A Taco Bell Hotel and Resort" for one weekend. It was fully booked in just two minutes!
Menu and Advertising
The first Taco Bell commercials aired in 1968. Famous voices like Mel Blanc and Bob Barker were in them. In 1992, Johnny Cash appeared in a commercial for Taco Bell's value menu.
In 2004, Taco Bell bought the naming rights to a stadium in Boise, Idaho. It was renamed Taco Bell Arena. Also in 2004, Mountain Dew offered Taco Bell stores an exclusive drink called Mountain Dew Baja Blast. This is a tropical lime flavor of the popular soft drink.
In 2005, Taco Bell released the Crunchwrap Supreme. It was so popular that it became a permanent menu item in 2006.
Since 2007, Taco Bell has had a "Steal a Base, Steal a Taco" promotion during the World Series. If a player steals a base, everyone in the United States gets a free taco. This promotion has happened many times.
In 2009, Taco Bell became the official fast-food partner of the NBA. This allowed them to advertise during NBA games. In 2012, Taco Bell teamed up with Frito-Lay to create the Doritos Locos Tacos. These tacos have a shell flavored like Doritos Nacho Cheese. The Cool Ranch Doritos Taco was released in 2013.
On July 23, 2013, Taco Bell announced it would stop selling kids' meals and toys in its U.S. restaurants. This change was completed by January 2014.
Taco Bell started serving breakfast on March 27, 2014. Breakfast items included the Waffle Taco, A.M. Crunchwrap, and Cinnabon Delights. Their breakfast ads even featured people named Ronald McDonald, making fun of McDonald's famous clown mascot.
In October 2015, Taco Bell launched a certified vegetarian menu. In 2016, they tested Cheetos Burritos and released the Airheads Freeze drink. In 2017, they introduced the Naked Chicken Chalupa, which uses a fried chicken shell. They also partnered with Lyft for a "Taco Mode" where passengers could stop at Taco Bell.
In 2018, Taco Bell celebrated National Taco Day in 20 countries. In 2019, they updated their menu for the fall season. In July 2020, they introduced the Grilled Cheese Burrito, which sometimes returns for a limited time.
In January 2021, Taco Bell brought back potatoes to its menu. They had briefly removed them to simplify operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. They also announced plans to add Beyond Meat as a plant-based option for vegetarians. In April 2021, Taco Bell said it would start reusing hot sauce packets to help with recycling. In August 2021, they launched the Crispy Chicken Sandwich Taco.
On January 6, 2022, Taco Bell started a digital taco subscription service. For $10, customers could get one of seven different tacos each day for 30 days. On April 18, 2022, Taco Bell announced that Mexican Pizza would return to its menu. It had been discontinued in 2020.
In 2023, Taco Bell tested a vegan Crunchwrap Supreme in some cities. Many people found it hard to tell the difference between the vegan and regular versions.
Dollar Cravings
On August 18, 2014, Taco Bell launched a new value menu called Dollar Cravings. It had thirteen food items, all priced at one United States dollar. This menu was later renamed "Cravings Value Menu." As of January 2024, the company still offers 10 items on this value menu.
Past Menu Items
Over the years, Taco Bell has removed many items from its menu. One original item from 1962 was the Chiliburger, later called the Bell Beefer. This was a sandwich with taco-seasoned beef on a hamburger bun. It was removed around 1986 to focus on more typical Mexican-inspired foods.
Other items that are no longer on the menu include the Enchirito, Seafood Salad, Volcano Taco, and the Meximelt. In September 2019, Taco Bell removed items like the Double Decker Taco and some Doritos Locos Tacos flavors. In August 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, they removed more items like the 7-Layer Burrito and Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes to make their kitchens simpler.
Taco Bell Around the World
The number of Taco Bell restaurants around the world has grown every year since 2010.
| 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5,896 | 5,945 | 5,980 | 6,053 | 6,206 | 6,413 | 6,612 | 6,849 | 7,072 | 7,363 | 7,427 | 7,791 | 8,218 | 8,564 |
Asia
China
Taco Bell first opened in China in 2003 but closed its stores by 2008. It returned to China in 2016. As of March 2024, there are 90 Taco Bell restaurants in China.
India
India's first Taco Bell opened in Bangalore in 2010. As of May 2019, there were 35 outlets. Yum! Brands plans to open 600 new Taco Bell restaurants in India by 2029.
Indonesia
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Taco Bell opened its first restaurant in South Jakarta, Indonesia, on December 18, 2020. As of 2022, there are four Taco Bell restaurants in Jakarta.
Malaysia
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The first Taco Bell in Malaysia opened in Cyberjaya on April 2, 2021. It has since expanded to 13 stores across the Klang Valley area.
Japan
Taco Bell had stores in Japan in the 1980s but left after a few years. For a long time, they were only on U.S. military bases. In 2015, Taco Bell returned to Japan with a new store in Shibuya, Tokyo. It has special menu items like "Taco rice."
Philippines
Taco Bell opened its first branch in the Philippines in October 2004. As of 2023, there are several locations in the Manila/Quezon City area.
South Korea
There are two Taco Bell locations in Seoul, in the Itaewon and Hongdae areas. These areas are popular with foreigners and college students. The two branches opened in the summer of 2010.
Sri Lanka
In July 2017, Taco Bell opened a restaurant in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Thailand
There are Taco Bell branches in Bangkok and Pattaya.
Europe
Bosnia and Herzegovina
The first Taco Bell opened in Ilidža, near Sarajevo, on October 17, 2024. As of December 2024, there is another branch in Sarajevo.
Cyprus
A Taco Bell opened in Cyprus in December 2009. There are now stores in Limassol, Paphos, Nicosia, and Larnaca.
Finland
The first Taco Bell restaurant in Finland opened in Helsinki on November 9, 2017. Finland is the first country to include pulled oats (a meat substitute) on its menu. As of November 2022, there are 16 Taco Bell restaurants in Finland.
Gibraltar
The first and only Taco Bell store in Gibraltar opened in 2024.
Netherlands
On April 4, 2017, Taco Bell opened its first restaurant in Eindhoven, Netherlands. As of January 2024, the 10th Taco Bell restaurant in the Netherlands opened in Utrecht. This location is special because it uses batteries to store energy.
Portugal
The first Taco Bell store in Portugal opened in 2019. By 2021, there were 11 restaurants across the country.
Romania
The first Taco Bell store opened in Bucharest, Romania, on October 12, 2017. By the end of 2024, it had grown to 16 locations nationwide.
Spain
Spain is a very important market for Taco Bell in Europe. There are 119 Taco Bell branches in Spain by early 2024. The first Taco Bell for the public opened in Madrid in December 2008.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom was the first European country to have a Taco Bell in 1986. However, these early stores closed in the mid-1990s. For a while, the only Taco Bell branches were on U.S. Air Force bases.
In the late 2000s, Yum! Brands decided to reopen Taco Bell locations in the United Kingdom. They saw that more people in the UK were interested in Mexican food. The first new store opened in Essex on June 28, 2010. By August 2017, there were 17 Taco Bell branches in the UK. The first Scottish branch opened in Glasgow in December 2017. As of 2024, there are more than 130 locations in the UK. The first Welsh Taco Bell opened in Cardiff on March 2, 2020.
Middle East
A Taco Bell opened in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in November 2008. However, all locations in the UAE have since closed. Taco Bell is still open in Kuwait.
North America
Canada
Taco Bell has been in Canada since 1979. There are currently locations in 7 of the 10 Canadian provinces. Taco Bell used to operate in Quebec but left the province in 2022.
Oceania
Australia
Taco Bell first opened in Australia in 1981 but had to change its name due to a legal issue. It tried again in 1997 but pulled out of the country by 2005.
On September 13, 2017, Taco Bell announced it would return to Australia. The first new store opened in Brisbane on November 4, 2017. As of February 2024, there are 39 Taco Bell restaurants across Australia.
New Zealand
Taco Bell officially opened its first New Zealand location on November 12, 2019. As of January 2023, there are 14 Taco Bell restaurants across New Zealand.
Territories of the United States
Taco Bell has stores in Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and Puerto Rico. In 2005, Taco Bell also started planning to open a restaurant in American Samoa.
South America
There are Taco Bell restaurants in Brazil, Chile, and Peru. There were four outlets in Colombia, but they closed in late 2018. Taco Bell operated in Ecuador from 1993 to 2009 and is set to return in 2025.
Other Countries
Taco Bell is also present in the Dominican Republic, Aruba, Costa Rica, and Panama.
Former Operations
Greece
Greece's first Taco Bell opened in Athens in 2010. However, it closed in August 2012, and the chain left the Greek market.
Iceland
Taco Bell in Iceland was part of a KFC restaurant. It opened in late 2006. A second location opened in 2008. The Hafnarfjörður location closed in late 2023.
Mexico
Taco Bell has tried to enter the Mexican market twice. After a big launch in Mexico City in 1992, all restaurants closed two years later. In 2007, Taco Bell returned to Monterrey, but it closed in 2010 due to low customer numbers.
Poland
The first Polish Taco Bell store opened in 1993. However, Taco Bell left Poland shortly after.
Russia
In the early 1990s, PepsiCo opened some Taco Bell locations inside the Moscow Metro. This experiment lasted only a few years.
Military Bases
The AAFES provides Taco Bell restaurants for military bases in several countries. These include Bahrain, El Salvador, Germany, Guatemala, Iraq, Italy, and Kosovo.
Animal Welfare
Taco Bell follows the animal welfare rules of its parent company, Yum! Brands. In 2016, Taco Bell stopped using eggs from hens kept in small cages in its U.S. restaurants.
Clothing Line
In 2017, the clothing company Forever 21 created a clothing line with Taco Bell. It included T-shirts, sweatshirts, and bodysuits that looked like Taco Bell sauce packets.
In November 2019, Taco Bell launched "Taco Bell's Taco Shop." This is an online store where you can buy Taco Bell-branded items. These include hoodies, holiday ornaments, and even wedding-related items.
See also
In Spanish: Taco Bell para niños
- Priszm
- Taco Bell chihuahua
- Enchirito
- Crunchwrap Supreme
