Spicy Food News: Taco Bell Queues Up More Throwback Favorites, Dairy Queen Adds a Spicy BBQ Patty Melt, and More

Taco Bell Brings Back Y2K Favorites

The Bell is rewinding the clock back to the beginning of the 20th century and bringing back five fan-favorites from the first decade. Here is the rundown from the press release:

Cool Ranch® Doritos® Locos Tacos: The legendary sequel to the original Nacho Cheese Doritos® Locos Tacos, this mouthwatering twist has sparked fan petitions for years – all demanding its return to the menu. The original taco shell is swapped for the crunchy, tangy Cool Ranch® Doritos® shell filled with seasoned beef, lettuce, and cheddar cheese – available for $2.49.

Double Decker Taco: First introduced in 1995 with an epic return in 2006, the Double Decker Taco gained widespread popularity and is beloved by all. Fans have kept it alive through menu hacks and in-app voting. A comforting bean-filled soft tortilla wrapped around a crunchy taco shell and filled with savory seasoned beef, lettuce, and shredded cheddar cheese – available for $2.49.

7-Layer Burrito: A vegetarian staple and customization icon, the 7-Layer Burrito has lived in fan memory as the gold standard of Taco Bell layering. It is a perfect harmony of refried beans, seasoned rice, reduced-fat sour cream, guacamole, crisp lettuce, diced tomatoes, and three-cheese blend wrapped inside a flour tortilla for $2.49.

Chili Cheese Burrito: IYKYK. The Chili Cheese Burrito – a cult favorite and most passionately pursued menu item – sparked a fan-run Chili Cheese Burrito Tracker to hunt down locations that still serve it. It has hearty chili and cheddar cheese wrapped inside a flour tortilla. Now it’s back everywhere, and yours for $2.99.

Caramel Apple Empanada: Since its debut in the early 2000s, the Caramel Apple Empanada has built a passionate fanbase pleading for its revival. The crispy golden crust filled with warm apple pieces and a creamy caramel filling is back from the vault for just $2.99.

Note that prices will vary, especially in places like New York and California. These are around for the dreaded limited-time-only, and with Taco Bell that can be very limited, so you will want to pay a visit soon if you want to relive any of these favorites.

Dairy Queen’s Dr. Pepper BBQ Patty Melt Brings Some Heat

DQ is kicking up its Patty Melt with its signature Dr Pepper BBQ sauce, but it is also adding a little bit of heat to that. Here is the full description of the burger:

Built on two slices of warm, buttery Texas toast, the Dr Pepper BBQ Patty Melt features a juicy, pure-beef patty topped with American cheese, crispy bacon, two golden onion rings, and a sweet & spicy jalapeno relish, all finished with the Dr Pepper BBQ Sauce.

This is, of course, a limited-time-only selection (available until October) and since many of DQ’s stores are franchises, not all will carry the new item.

Pizza Hut Offers Some Heat on Its Crafted Flatzz

The Hut is offering a new personal pizza called Crafted Flatzz and that comes in several varieties including one that has a kick: Pepperoni Duo, Three Cheese, Ultimate and Chicken Bacon Ranch, and Nashville Hot Chicken.  Here is the full description of the latter option:

Nashville Hot Chicken – Topped with crispy-fried boneless chicken pieces with spicy Nashville Hot seasoning, fresh onions, mozzarella, and pickle-flavored ranch sauce.

This is a limited-time selection, and they are currently offering them for five bucks before 5 PM.  They will be on the menu until November.

Maruchan Spices Up Its Yakisoba Noodles

Maruchan is jumping on the “swicy” trend by adding two new sweet and spicy flavors to its Yakisoba Noodles lineup. Here are the descriptions from the press release:

Mango Habanero Flavor Yakisoba strikes the perfect balance between tropical sweetness and fiery spice. Ripe mango flavor is layered with the kick of habanero peppers, all infused into Maruchan’s signature Yakisoba noodles for a vibrant, sweet-heat experience that builds with every bite.

For those craving a sweet and zesty fusion, Pineapple Jalapeño Flavor Yakisoba delivers a tangy-sweet pineapple taste paired with the mild, earthy heat of jalapeño. The noodles are coated in a savory sauce accented with garlic, onion, and a subtle citrus finish, making for a uniquely refreshing take on a spicy noodle dish.

Both flavors are currently available on Amazon ($10.99 for an 8-count package, click on the links above) and they will be coming to stores later in Summer. There is no indication at this time that these are limited-time selections.