Make way for a taco takeover on menus

Photos courtesy of the brands.

It’s a busy week for taco concepts, as they send out new items to join the menu. And while tacos dominate, there are also drinks and chicken nuggets coming into play. But there’s also activity in pizza, sandwiches and breakfast. Take a look at what’s trending now on restaurant chain menus.

The 420 Blazin’ Taco launched at Velvet Taco, a limited-edition item tied into April 20, the day that celebrates cannabis. The new taco features a craveable mix of mac and cheese, Flamin’ Hot Cheetos-crusted crispy chicken tenders, flamin’ red chile aioli and a sprinkle of sweet and crunchy Fruity Pebbles cereal—all wrapped in a warm flour tortilla. It’s a combo that should satisfy anyone’s munchies. To further celebrate, Velvet Taco is hosting a giveaway on social media, offering one fan a chance to win two tickets to Lollapalooza. 

The Al Pastor Taco is Tacodeli’s “Special of the Moment,” a taco that reflect’s the brand’s Mexico City culinary leanings. The filling is a combination of cooked organic pork marinated in house-made adobo and topped with jalapeño escabeche, served in a signature tortilla. It’s priced at $5.50. “Al pastor” translates to “in the style of the shepherd,” but the dish was actually adapted from the spinning shawarma spits that Lebanese immigrants brought to Mexico City. 

Crispy Chicken Nuggets roll out nationwide at Taco Bell. | Photo courtesy of Taco Bell.

Taco Bell’s news is about chicken nuggets, not tacos. The chain’s Crispy Chicken Nuggets, introduced in December, are now rolling out nationwide April 24 for eight weeks, their longest limited-time run. The nuggets are made with all-white meat chicken, marinated in jalapeño buttermilk and coated in a crispy blend of tortilla chips and breadcrumbs. Customers can choose from three dipping sauces, including Hidden Valley Fire Ranch, Bell Sauce and Jalapeño Honey Mustard. The nuggets’ return kicks off Taco Bell’s plan to bring crispy chicken permanently to the menu in 2026. 

And taco concept Taco Cabana is going to the beverage side for its latest release. The Cholula Rita is debuting at all locations across Texas, starting April 30, a few days before Cinco de Mayo. The frozen margarita, made with the chain’s exclusive Casa Alta Tequila, is blended with chili lime hot sauce from the Cholula brand. The result is a balanced cocktail with a tropical, tangy, spicy flavor profile. 

Sandwiches were also in the spotlight this week, with chicken salad hitting the menu at Jersey Mike’s for a limited time. The Signature Chicken Salad Sub features a simple mix of slow-roasted, all-white meat chicken, diced celery, black pepper and mayonnaise. It can be ordered on freshly baked bread or as a sub bowl. Due to chicken’s popularity, the sandwich chain recently added more of this option to the menu, including the Spicy Italian Chicken and Roasted Chicken Breast subs.

The Signature Chicken Salad Sub debuts at Jersey Mike’s. | Photo courtesy of Jersey Mike’s.

Lion’s Choice launched El Cubano Wednesday, the winning sandwich in the chain’s Ultimate Sandwich Smackdown. Created by Ben Hamlin, executive chef at The Renaissance Hotel in downtown St. Louis, French bread is layered with roast beef, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles, and spicy mustard. The bold, fan-created sandwich is joining the permanent menu. 

On the casual-dining front, Old Chicago Pizza + Taproom travels to the Southwest for menu inspiration. Five items are the result, including the Nacho Average Pizza, topped with queso sauce, ground beef or grilled chicken, tomatoes, pickled red onions, jalapeños and mozzarella. There’s also Queso Bueno, a beer-infused queso with spinach, tomatoes and hot sauce, a Ranchero Quesadilla with spicy ranch for dipping, and Southwest Chicken Pasta. Cream cheese-filled Churro Bites and a Ginger Paloma round out the new items. 

&pizza is joining the value trend with a new $7 combo meal. Aimed at the lunch crowd, the deal includes a half cheese pie with one topping and a free drizzle along with a drink. It’s available daily until 4 p.m. And making their menu debut are Lemon Pie Knots ($5.99) —a sweet way to end a pizza meal. The knots are made from the same pizza dough, then sprinkled with powdered sugar and drizzled with Bavarian cream and a sweet but tangy lemon glaze. 

Lemon Pie Knots at &pizza. | Photo courtesy of &pizza. 

The Great American Pancake Trio ($4.99) is the latest value offer from Perkins American Food Co. Customers can choose from buttermilk, chocolate chip, blueberry and strawberry varieties to make up their breakfast sampler. There’s also a Build-Your-Own Sampler for happy hours (4-6 p.m. and 8 p.m.-close), composed of half-price appetizers to mix-and-match. These include Chicken Strips, MozzaSticks, Fried Pickles and Onion rings.

Partnering up once again are Mountain Dew and Little Caesar’s, this time on a beverage they’re calling the Mountain Dew Mango Rush. The new drink, which arrives on menus May 5, fuses Mountain Dew’s citrus kick with a burst of mango. It’s available in a collectible 16-ounce can with a co-branded design, for a limited time while supplies last

Healthy dessert bowls are the story at 3Natives Acai & Juicery. Two options are available: the Coco Breeze is a coconut-based bowl topped with granola, Nutella, strawberry, mango and coconut flakes, while Nutella Crunch starts with acai and is finished with granola, Nutella, banana, strawberries and chocolate almonds.

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