Taco Bell Drive Thru Menu Prices, 2001 vs. 2020
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Taco Bell Drive Thru Menu Prices, 2001 vs. 2020

Comparing the Menu and Prices to Twenty years ago

By Rob Cockerham |

2001 Menu

The Taco Bell Menu has changed a lot in the last 20 years. In 2001 it was mostly dark blue with white lettering, framed with chunky white plastic. Taco Bell, in my mind, was always the cheapest fast food. This menu from 2001 reinforces that, with probably In N Out in second place. Like all successful fast food menus, the items have changed over the years, with some old favorites stuck in there forever. This photo was taken in July 2001.

2020 Menu

The Menu in 2020 has many more product photos and whitespace, despite having calorie counts next to each item. The prices at Taco Bell have more than doubled since 2001. Taco Bell had a reputation for low prices, and I think they capitalized on that.

2001 Tacos

In 2001, there were five taco options, with two variants, regular and supreme. The soft version was 10 cents more than the crunchy taco, and the supreme variety was twenty cents more.

2001 Taco Prices

  1. Cruncy Taco $0.69
  2. Crunchy Supreme: $0.89
  3. Soft Taco: $0.79
  4. Soft Supreme: $0.99
  5. Chicken Taco: $1.19
  6. Steak Soft Taco: $1.49

2020 Tacos

There are still five kinds of tacos. The Crunchy Supreme has skyrocketed, up 146%! The soft version is now the same price as the crunchy and the supreme variety is seventy cents more.

2020 Taco Prices

  1. Crunchy Taco: $1.49 +$0.80 (+116%)
  2. Crunchy Taco Supreme: $2.19 +$1.30 (+146%)
  3. Soft Taco: $1.49 +$0.70 (+88%)
  4. Soft Taco Supreme: $2.19 +1.20 (+121%)
  5. Chicken Taco: $2.59 +$1.40 (+118%)
  6. Steak Taco: $2.89 +$1.40 (+94%)

2001 Burritos

The burritos in 2001. I don't remember a chili cheese burrito. That's long gone, but they still have some of these. Note that the seven layer burrito was $1.49.

2001 Burrito Prices

  1. bean burrito: $0.69
  2. 7-layer burrito: $1.49
  3. Burrito Supreme: $1.69

2020 Burritos

The burrito selection has changed a bunch, but the oldest versions are much more valuable now. I guess burritos are like Corvettes in that way.

         

2020 Burrito Prices

  1. bean burrito: $1.49 +$0.80 (+116%)
  2. Seven-Layer Burrito: $3.79 +$2.30 (+154%)
  3. Burrito Supreme: $3.89 +$2.20 (+130%)

2001 Nachos

2001 Nacho Prices

  1. Nachos Supreme: $1.19
  2. Nachos Bell grande: $2.39
  3. Quesadilla: $1.29
  4. Chicken Quesadilla: $1.89
  5. Mexican Pizza: $2.39

2020 Nachos

One of these Nacho prices has tripled over the years. This is the most aggresive price increase of all the fast food menus. I wish I had photos of the nachos from 2001, because it is tempting to think that they were somehow different than they are today, considering the skyrocketing price.

2020 Prices

  1. Nachos Supreme $3.89 $2.70 (+226.89%)
  2. Nachos Bell Grande: $4.59 $2.20 (+92.05%)
  3. Quesadilla: $3.59 $2.30 (+178.29%)
  4. Chicken quesadilla: $4.29 +$2.40 (+127%)
  5. Mexican Pizza: $4.69 +$2.30 (+96%)

2001 Combos

The meal combos never really had the same appeal as other fast food value meals, because they don't come with fries. They just throw more tacos in there with your order. In 2001 they offered ten combos, with two additionals "grande" meals. All their meals came with huge drinks.

2001 Combo Prices

  1. Burrito Supreme Combo: $3.59
  2. Mexican Pizza Combo: $3.79
  3. Three Taco Supreme Combo: 3.49
  4. another Mexican Pizza Combo, this one with two supreme tacos: 4.79
  5. Nachos Bel Grande Combo: 3.99
  6. Three Tacos Combo: 3.29

2020 Combos

2020 Combo Prices

  1. Burrto Supreme Combo $6.99 +$3.49

2020 Combos II