Taco Bell and Salt & Straw have officially brought back the Tacolate, the viral ice-cream taco whose announcement sent social media into a meltdown last year.
What’s Inside the Tacolate
Available once again, the Tacolate is back for a second run after the Oct. 3 drop sold out faster than a Crunchwrap at midnight. Salt & Straw, the Portland-based ice cream makers, went all in, creating a hand-pressed, extra-crunchy waffle-cone shell dipped in single-origin chocolate and filled with cinnamon ancho chili ice cream. The shell is studded with toasted quinoa and comes with two Taco Bell–inspired sauces: Mango Jalapeño and Wildberry Cinnamon.
A Decade in the Making
Salt & Straw first experimented with ice cream tacos in 2016 at its soft-serve offshoot, Wiz Bang Bar. Then, in 2022, the brand dropped a limited batch of “Chocolate Tacolates,” which sold out in minutes and inspired imitations. The success caught the attention of Taco Bell CEO Sean Tresvant, who, along with Salt & Straw’s cofounders Kim and Tyler Malek, saw an opportunity to bring back the nostalgic treat in a way authentic to both brands.
Taco Bell’s track record of headline-grabbing creations reads like a late-night fever dream in the best way possible. From the record-breaking Doritos Locos Taco to the Mexican Pizza, which returned due to overwhelming fan demand, and the Baja Blast, a distinctive neon-blue drink that evolved into a cultural phenomenon, these items have all made their mark.
“It has been a dream to collaborate with Taco Bell to bring this product to life,” said Tyler Malek, Salt & Straw’s cofounder and head ice cream innovator. “Nearly a decade in the making, we’ve developed a reimagined version of the nostalgic treat, and we could not be more excited to bring our version to ice cream and tacos lovers.”
Related: America’s Favorite Ice Cream Flavor May Surprise You
Where to Get It—Before It’s Gone Again
The Tacolate is available in Salt & Straw shops across Oregon, Washington, California, New York, Florida, Nevada, Arizona and New England, as well as nationwide shipping in six-packs via Salt & Straw’s website. The launch also includes limited-edition merchandise, such as a commemorative Tacolate keychain, because you’ll eat your Tacolate so fast that you’ll need something to remember it by.
The Perfect Cheat-Day Treat
For Taco Bell, the Tacolate continues its mission to blur the line between wild ideas and winning products. For Salt & Straw, it’s proof that the brand’s playful, chef-driven creativity can scale without losing its wonderful edge. Together, the two iconic brands have turned a nostalgic treat into the perfect cheat day treat.
Whether you’re celebrating a new personal best at the gym or just surviving another week of adulthood, the Tacolate is the cheat meal you didn’t know you needed. A crunchy, creamy, spicy, sweet combination that is the best of all the worlds.
Related: Taco Bell Drops New Protein-Packed Burritos for Just $3
