Taco Bell is making the Mexican Pizza $1 for a day. I tried the fan-favorite item, and it’s worth the hype.

Taco Bell was thriving before the cyclosporiasis outbreak. It hosted giveaways and getaways for loyal customers, frequently revived beloved menu items, and had a knack for collaborating with hot sauce companies favored by Gen Z.

In February, the chain reported 7% same-store sales growth. On July 7, the stock price of Yum! Brands, Taco Bell’s parent company, hit a five-month high of $167. It fell to $147 on July 17, the day after the FDA announced that shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell restaurants in five states had been linked to at least 1,644 cyclosporiasis cases.

According to data from the location intelligence firm Placer.ai, Taco Bell locations also saw a decline in foot traffic as news of the outbreak spread.

The chain hasn’t responded to requests for comment on its business amid the outbreak. Still, on July 21, CEO Sean Tresvant published an open letter — posted on his LinkedIn and on Taco Bell’s official Substack — promising fans “there is a better way forward, and we are going to lead the way.”

“We aren’t entitled to your loyalty,” he added. “We earn it one meal at a time.”

Tresvant is putting his words into action with the new $1 specials, and it comes at a time when dollar-menu items have basically gone extinct at fast-food chains. Even a side of black beans and rice at Taco Bell costs $1.79.

Taco Bell announced the news on its Instagram page on Monday, noting that the $1 deal would be available at participating locations, as well as on the app and website, while supplies last. Customers will be limited to one per transaction.

Taco Bell prices can vary slightly by location, but for me, a Mexican Pizza costs $6.29 in Los Angeles, making the $1 deal hard to pass up.

Few fast-food items are as beloved as the Mexican Pizza. Taco Bell fans made that clear in 2020, when it was discontinued after 35 years on the menu. More than 170,000 people signed a Change.org “Save the Mexican Pizza” petition, and even Dolly Parton, a fellow Taco Bell superfan, told me she thought it should come back.

In April 2022, Doja Cat announced at Coachella that the Mexican Pizza was coming back for good.

Taco Bell’s Mexican Pizza features ground beef and refried beans sandwiched between two tortilla shells, topped with cheese, tomatoes, and pizza sauce. 

My Mexican Pizza didn’t have as much pizza sauce as I’d hoped, but there was a generous sprinkle of cheese and fresh tomatoes on top, and I could see some beef oozing out from the sides. 

It seemed there was an even split between beef and refried beans.

The tortilla base was crispier than I expected, adding a nice crunch to every bite. The beef was nicely seasoned, and I loved the fresh tomatoes and pizza sauce on top.

My only gripe was that the beans and beef weren’t mixed together. The beef was really prominent in some slices, but in others, you could only taste the beans.

The veggie Mexican Pizza is almost exactly the same, except it only features refried beans between the two tortilla shells. 

I first heard about Mexican Pizza from my best friend Shivani, who was always ordering it when we went to Taco Bell in high school. For many years, I didn’t even realize there was a meat version. 

Shivani was among the many people I knew who were devastated when Taco Bell took Mexican Pizza off its menu, and she was the first in line for its return. When I asked Shivani what the Mexican Pizza meant to her, she said it’s always been her favorite item at any fast-food restaurant. 

“Growing up as a vegetarian, it was always tough to find food that was tasty and fulfilling — especially when it came to fast food,” she said. “Anytime my parents asked if we wanted to eat out, my first thought was always Taco Bell.” 

Thinking back to the ’90s, the only vegetarian items I remember being offered at fast-food restaurants were french fries, salads, and In-N-Out’s grilled cheese sandwiches. 

But the Mexican Pizza is original, playful, and delicious. Now that I’ve tried it myself, I can see why it’s so beloved by vegetarians — especially those who grew up before fast-food chains began embracing non-meat options. 

We’ll have to wait and see if the cyclospora outbreak has long-term implications for Taco Bell. But the chain’s fans have continued to pledge their loyalty online, and the $1 deals are sure to help.

And if Taco Bell is wondering what their next $1 lettuce-free deal should be, may I recommend the grilled cheese burrito?