Taco Bell has introduced new Cheesy Street Chalupas, which include a crispy shell filled with mozzarella, pepper jack cheese, jalapeño ranch sauce, chopped cilantro and onion, and the choice of Cantina chicken or grilled, marinated steak. Two Chalupas are served street-style in a pairing of two for $5.49 and are available for a limited time.
According to Luis Restrepo, vice president of product innovation, the new offerings are inspired by street food vendors.
"The Chalupa has taken many delicious forms over the years, but with the Cheesy Street Chalupas, we set out to create a new flavor-rich way for fans to enjoy the beloved menu item," Restrepo said in a statement. "The fresh onions and cilantro atop layers of cheese and premium proteins seasoned to perfection adds a different flavor profile and is our playful nod to the street taco that we all know and love."
The Chalupa was first introduced in 1999 and has since featured several iterations such as the XXL Chalupa, the Baja Chalupa, and the Nacho Cheese Doritos Locos Chalupa. The street-sized cheese-stuffed Chalupa shells were inspired by the Quesalupa shell, one of Chalupa's spinoffs that was introduced in 2016 for a limited time.
The Cheesy Street Chalupa is the company’s latest nod to street food vendors. Throughout the past two years, Taco Bell has donated 26 street food vendor carts in partnership with Revolution Carts. By the end of this year, a total of 46 street-legal food carts will be donated to food entrepreneurs across Southern California.
"When it comes to supporting the communities that inspire our food innovation, we're just getting started," Restrepo said. "The 46 street-legal food cart donation is the first of a long-term commitment we have to these entrepreneurs; more to come in the years ahead."
Contact Alicia Kelso at [email protected]