Taco Bell’s international food team unleashes meatless Taco

Nancy Luna

For a limited time, the Australian market is selling Lava Burst Hot Chips. The product, shown, is served with a spicier version of the chain’s Nacho Fries. The base of chips, aka fries, are topped with seasoned beef, red lava sauce, nacho cheese sauce, sour cream and jalapeno slices. The red lava sauce is a throwback flavor inspired by the sauce used in the Volcano Taco, a U.S. LTO from years ago.

Steven Gomez, the brand’s director of international product development, said the fries used in Australia are seasoned differently than the Nacho Fries served in the U.S. The seasoning contains more cayenne, which creates a bolder and spicier flavor profile. Bold flavors tend to work well in global markets, Gomez said.

The item cost $9.95 (Australian dollar)

Nancy Luna

In Cyprus, Taco Bell is using halloumi, a semi-hard cheese made from sheep’s milk, to create a protein substitute in a Crunchwrap. The cheese, which has a higher melting point compared to other types of cheese, is breaded and fried. This week, Taco Bell said it is expanding the Halloumi Crunchwrap to the rest of Europe, which has a total of 74 restaurants.

Nancy Luna

The Crunchwrap is made with a small hockey-puck shaped halloumi cheese patty, shown. Along with the fried cheese, the Crunchwrap contains spicy ranch dressing, a tostada shell, guacamole, pico de gallo and lettuce.

Taco Bell

The Halloumi Crunchwrap is one of two meatless menu items created by Taco Bell’s international product development team. The other is the Oatrageous Taco, shown. The item was first tested in 10 Taco Bell restaurants in Finland. It is now available in 59 Taco Bell restaurants in Spain.

Nancy Luna

Here is a closeup of the Oatrageous Taco. The Crunchy Taco is stuffed with a meat substitute made of pulled oats and legumes and topped with lettuce, cheese and chipotle sauce. The meat alternative is flavored with Taco Bell’s classic ground beef seasoning for flexitarians who want the same Taco Bell flavor but without the meat, said Steve Gomez, the brand’s director of international product development.

Will the meatless dish, a first of its kind for Taco Bell, make its way to U.S. menus?

“Never say never,” Gomez said this week.

Taco Bell

The Okonomiyaki Fiesta Menu, is an expanded line of products found in Japan. The limited item offer, available as a taco, burrito or Crunchwrap, features carnitas, cabbage, cheese, red tortilla strips, Okonomi sauce, and Japanese mayo.