From performances to petitions, Taco Bell taps into fans’ pent up excitement to celebrate the return of the beloved item
While rumors of the Mexican Pizza’s return have been swirling for months, it hasn’t been publicly confirmed, until now. From petitions, to memorials, to merch, the Taco Bell cult has (rightfully) been all but silent about its menu hiatus. Doja Cat, the voice of the Taco Bell people, was one of the first to confirm the news this past weekend, when she literally dropped the mic with the HOT news of the Mexican Pizza’s return this May.
But, Doja wasn’t the only fan who played a role in bringing back the Mexican Pizza. Equally vocal with their pleas for the menu items return were 200K+ signers of a Change.Org petition, spearheaded by superfan Krish Jagirdar. Leading up to the May 19 return, fans can expect even more ways to get involved with its historical return.
“Like many Indian-Americans who grew up vegetarian, we had limited access to the ‘fun’ fast food, so Taco Bell became a bridge to belonging in American culture for many kids like me who grew up in immigrant households,” said Krish Jagirdar, super fan and organizer of the Change.Org petition. “That’s what made it especially devastating when the Mexican Pizza was pulled from menus in 2020, but fast forward two years later and I found myself on a conference call with the Taco Bell team as they shared news of the return of the Mexican Pizza, showing that listening to their fans is clearly embedded in their DNA. It’s one of the many reasons Taco Bell is more than just another fast-food restaurant.”
Saucy fan pleas alone aren’t all it took to get the Mexican Pizza back to menus, as the masterminds in the Taco Bell test kitchen worked to streamline operations and ingredient sourcing, and leave a lighter footprint at the same time. To expedite its return, Taco Bell has been dedicated to improving its sustainability practices, including a sauce packet recycling program pilot in the US with TerraCycle as the brand tracks towards its 2025 commitment for all recyclable, compostable or reusable consumer facing packaging.
As an IOU, Taco Bell Rewards Members who received a mystery reward back during the Big Game will score a free Mexican Pizza when it’s back May 19*, and loyalty members will get first dibs with early access to the menu item beginning May 17**.
For fans wishing to snag a Mexican Pizza without leaving their home, customers can enjoy the convenience of delivery exclusively through DoorDash for the first week the iconic menu item is back (May 19 – May 26), rolling out to other delivery platforms beginning on May 27. DoorDash members can exclusively enjoy $2 off one Mexican Pizza with a minimum subtotal of $12 using promo code MEXPIZZA at checkout***.
“Our menu is full of fan-favorites, but the Mexican Pizza is at the top of that list,” said Mark King, CEO of Taco Bell. “From its flashy introduction to menus in 1985 as ‘Pizzazz Pizza’ to its inspiration behind the creation of infamous jingles, Mexican Pizza has a long history with the brand and I’m glad we could give fans what they crave and bring our classic Mexican Pizza back home where it belongs.”
Vegetarian lovers have been among the most vocal and hopeful for the Mexican Pizzas return, as Taco Bell has been a haven for vegetarians**** thanks to the ability to customize. The Mexican Pizza is made up of two crispy flour shells, layered with beans, pizza sauce, seasoned beef, tomatoes and a melted three cheese blend all for $4.49****, and is available vegetarian without the seasoned beef. Fans can make it a combo with a Mexican Pizza, 2 Crunchy Tacos and a Large Fountain Drink for $8.99****.
Fans in Aruba, Costa Rica and Dominican Republic will also have the beloved Mexican Pizza back on their menus at participating restaurants on May 19. Additional offers and exclusive fan experiences will be revealed leading up to the menu item’s return.
*Special reward valid from 5/19 through 11:59PM PST on 6/1 and redeemable only via the Taco Bell mobile app for in-store/drive-thru pickup orders, at participating U.S. Taco Bell locations, while supplies last. Not available for web pay ahead, pickup order or delivery order. Must be a registered Taco Bell app user in order to redeem. Reward valid once per registered user. No product or ingredient substitutions, upgrades or add-ons. Reward is non-transferable and cannot be combined with any other offer. No cash value. Terms and conditions apply.
**Early Access is only available from May 17th- May 18th only via the Taco Bell mobile app for instore/drive-thru pickup orders, at participating U.S. Taco Bell locations, while supplies last. Not available with a web pay-ahead, pickup order or delivery order. Must be a registered user in the Taco Bell app in order to redeem. No limit on the number of times the challenge can be completed during promotional period. Non-transferable and cannot be combined with any other offer. Substitutions, upgrades or add-ons may incur additional charges. Check your local Taco Bell store for availability. No cash value. Additional terms and conditions apply.
***$2 Off: Get $2 off one (1) Mexican Pizza at Taco Bell for orders placed on DoorDash. This offer is valid for active DashPass Users only. Offer valid from 5/19/2022 to 5/26/2022, or while supplies last. Valid only at participating Taco Bell restaurants. Limit to one (1) promotional redemption per person. Fees (including service fee), taxes, and gratuity still apply. The maximum value of discount from using the promo code is $2 with a minimum subtotal of $12. All deliveries subject to availability. Must have or create a valid DoorDash account with a valid form of accepted payment on file. No cash value. Non-transferable. Use promo code MEXPIZZA to redeem. See full terms and conditions.
****American Vegetarian Association-certified vegetarian food items are lacto-ovo, allowing consumption of dairy and eggs but not animal byproducts. Vegetarian and meat ingredients are handled in common, and cross contact may occur, which may not be acceptable to certain types of vegetarian diets. Neither Taco Bell, our employees, franchisees nor the AVA assume any responsibility for such cross contact
***** At participating US locations. Contact local restaurant for prices, hours and participation, which vary. Prices higher with delivery
