Taco Bell Quietly Brought Back the Enchirito — And Fans Have Mixed Feelings
No press release. No marketing blitz. Just a quiet Instagram post placing the Enchirito’s 2026 return alongside “the invention of fire” and “the wheel” in the timeline of history’s most important events.
The Taco Bell Enchirito is back for a limited time, available now through July 22 exclusively through the Taco Bell app or website. It launched June 18 — and the fan response has been exactly what you’d expect from one of the most nostalgic items in fast food history: genuine excitement, pointed criticism, and at least one accusation of it being an “imposter.”
The churros are also very good, by the way.
The Enchirito: What It Is and Why It Matters
The Enchirito debuted in 1970 as one of Taco Bell’s original menu items — a hybrid of an enchilada and a burrito that became one of the chain’s most beloved offerings before being discontinued in 1993. It’s come back periodically since then, most recently in 2023, and each return generates a predictable wave of nostalgia.
The 2026 version features seasoned beef, refried beans, and diced onions wrapped in a warm flour tortilla, smothered in red enchilada sauce and topped with melted shredded cheddar cheese. At $3.99 and 370 calories, it’s one of the more nutritionally solid items Taco Bell has ever offered — 19 grams of protein and 7 grams of fiber from the beans give it real staying power. The sodium at 1,200mg is the caveat worth knowing about.
The Olive Controversy
The biggest complaint about the returning Enchirito is the same one fans have raised every time it’s come back: no black olives.
The original 1970 Enchirito included three black olives as a topping — a detail that may sound small but looms large in the memory of longtime fans. “If you’re gonna bring it back, bring it ALL THE WAY BACK! With the black olives and loaded sauce and cheese,” one Redditor wrote. “That impostor never has been, and never will be, an Enchirito,” declared another.
Taco Bell has not restored the olives in any of the Enchirito’s returns since 1999, and the 2026 version is no different. If you’re a purist, you can theoretically add black olives as a customization — but it’s not the same.
App and Online Only — Through July 22
This is the key logistical detail: the Enchirito is only available through the Taco Bell app or website at participating locations. You cannot walk up to the counter and order one. Download the app, place your order, and pick it up at the window or through delivery.
The window closes July 22, giving fans about three more weeks to try it.
The New Cinnamon Sugar Churros — $1.99 for Three
Debuting alongside the Enchirito is a new addition to the Luxe Value Menu: Cinnamon Sugar Churros. Three snack-sized crispy churros with a sweet cream filling, dusted with cinnamon sugar and served warm — for $1.99.
Early reviews are positive. One food writer who tried the full summer menu called the churros genuinely good, noting an impressive amount of cinnamon sugar and a sweet filling that didn’t overwhelm. The only complaint: three pieces isn’t enough. At $1.99, ordering two sets is still a reasonable decision.
Also New: Strawberries & Cream Chiller at Live Más Café
Rounding out the summer launch is a new Strawberries & Cream Chiller, available exclusively at Taco Bell’s Live Más Café locations. The frozen beverage features vanilla ice cream mixed with strawberry-flavored syrup, topped with sweet cream cold foam and strawberry cheesecake-flavored sugar, with optional dried strawberries and strawberry drizzle add-ons. Priced at $4.19 for 16 oz and $4.59 for 20 oz.
The Bottom Line
The Taco Bell Enchirito is available now through July 22, exclusively through the app or website, for $3.99 at participating locations. The new Cinnamon Sugar Churros are $1.99 for three on the Luxe Value Menu. If you loved the original Enchirito, go in with tempered expectations on the olive front — but the smothered, saucy format that made it iconic is very much intact.
