
Like many popular fast-food restaurant chains, Taco Bell had to make some changes to its menu in order to cut costs and stay in operation during the height of the pandemic. Now that sales have improved across the country, the chain has already been able to bring back normal breakfast hours at more than half of all locations.
At the onset of the crisis, parent company Yum Brands said the decline in Taco Bell's overall sales was largely attributable to a severe drop in both late-night and breakfast sales. "The breakfast business is impacted when people aren't on the roads going to work," CEO David Gibbs said in late April, as quoted by Nation's Restaurant News. "They're not going through your drive-thru for breakfast as much." (Related: 9 Restaurant Chains That Closed Hundreds of Locations This Summer)
Since the country has begun to recover and businesses everywhere have started reopening, the chain has been able to open its doors for breakfast again, which at most locations is served from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. This means that Taco Bell's breakfast items, including the Cheesy Toasted Breakfast Burrito, the Breakfast Crunchwrap, and the Cinnabon Delights, are all back. (Other chains like McDonald's, which had to cut some of its praised menu items for a few months, also recently reintroduced various menu staples, such as the Bacon McDouble, two Quarter Pounder options, and three desserts.)
Taco Bell already simplified its menu in July by cutting 12 menu items, including the Nachos Supreme, Spicy Potato Soft Taco, and 7-Layer Burrito. The company also plans to make even more menu cuts next month. Starting Nov. 5, the shredded chicken, pico de gallo, and Mexican Pizza will all be removed from the menu. (Related: The Best & Worst Menu Items at Taco Bell)
For more updates in the fast-food industry, be sure to sign up for our newsletter.
More content from Restaurants
- – Taco Bell Just Added Four New Items to the Menu
- – 7 Secrets Applebee's Doesn't Want You to Know
- – 5 Fast-Food Burger Chains Customers Are Flocking To
- – 4 New Menu Additions You'll Find at Burger King
- – 5 Steakhouse Chains Falling Out of Favor With Customers
- – 8 Fast-Food Items With Ridiculous Amounts of Fat
- – 8 Bizarre Rules Taco Bell Employees Have to Follow
- – Two Popular Burger Chains Are Now Serving This New Meaty Menu