Taco Bell is stepping up its game and taking inspiration from a beloved Chipotle menu item. The fast-food giant just announced its newest creation: Chicken Al Pastor Street Chalupas, which will be available for a limited time starting October 31, 2024. While fans of Chipotle may recognize the familiar flavors of al pastor, Taco Bell is putting its unique spin on this dish, offering a bold new option for chicken lovers.
However, do not wait to find these chalupas at your local Taco Bell. For now, they will only be available at select locations in Minneapolis. Like many other Taco Bell innovations, this limited pilot launch will help the company gauge how popular the new item is before deciding whether to expand it to more locations across the country. If the test run is successful, customers could soon see Chicken Al Pastor Street Chalupas on menus nationwide.
A New Twist on a Classic
Al pastor is a traditional Mexican dish, typically made with marinated and spit-grilled pork. The meat is seasoned with chiles, spices, and pineapple, giving it a sweet and savory flavor. It’s often served in tacos with onions, cilantro, and salsa. While the classic version uses pork, Chipotle and Taco Bell have decided to switch things up by incorporating chicken into the dish.
Chipotle’s Chicken al Pastor, which debuted in 2023 and returned by popular demand in 2024, has been a massive hit with customers. Their version features grilled chicken marinated in a flavorful blend of seared morita peppers, ground achiote, pineapple, fresh lime, and hand-chopped cilantro. The sweet, spicy, and tangy combination has quickly become a favorite.
Taco Bell’s new Chicken Al Pastor Street Chalupas, on the other hand, take a slightly different approach. The chain uses its slow-roasted Cantina Chicken, marinated in a sweet and savory mix of chiles and pineapple, to create a similar flavor profile. While the two versions share some base ingredients, Taco Bell’s preparation method gives the dish its distinctive twist.
The Chicken Al Pastor Street Chalupa Experience
What sets Taco Bell’s Chicken Al Pastor Street Chalupas apart is the unique way they’re served. Instead of the traditional soft taco shell or tortilla, Taco Bell wraps its marinated chicken in two street-sized chalupa shells that their Quesalupa inspires. The crispy chalupa shells are stuffed with melted cheese, adding an extra layer of indulgence to each bite.
Fresh onions and cilantro are inside the chalupa, staying true to the street taco-style presentation. The result is a delicious, handheld treat that combines al pastor’s bold flavors with the satisfying chalupa crunch.
The new Chicken Al Pastor Street Chalupas are a slight variation of another item Taco Bell introduced earlier this year: the Cheesy Street Chalupas. These hit menus nationwide in July 2024, following a successful test run in 2023. The Cheesy Street Chalupas also featured fresh onions, cilantro, and the customer’s choice of protein, all inside two chalupa shells filled with gooey, melted cheese. The main difference is that the new al pastor-inspired version brings in the rich, smoky flavors of the marinated chicken.
Will Taco Bell’s New Chalupa Rival Chipotle’s Chicken Al Pastor?
Taco Bell’s new chalupa launch comes when Chipotle’s Chicken Al Pastor is still fresh in customers’ minds. After its initial success in 2023, Chipotle brought back the dish for a limited time throughout the spring and summer of 2024, and it quickly became a must-try item for many diners. The grilled chicken, marinated in Chipotle’s signature blend of morita peppers, pineapple, lime, and achiote, has become a staple in their limited-time offerings.
But now, with Taco Bell entering the arena with its own al pastor-inspired item, competition between the two fast-food giants is heating up. Both chains have taken a traditional Mexican dish and reimagined it with chicken, but their unique approaches could appeal to different tastes. While Chipotle’s version is smoky, spicy, and citrusy, Taco Bell’s Chicken Al Pastor Street Chalupas offer a sweet and savory flavor, wrapped in a crispy chalupa shell that fans of the brand will surely love.
What’s Next for Taco Bell?
Taco Bell’s Chicken Al Pastor Street Chalupas are just the beginning of the chain’s exploration into al pastor-inspired dishes. According to Taco Bell, customers can expect even more exciting menu additions shortly. The chain has teased that it will be testing new items like al pastor quesadillas, burritos, and bowls starting in 2025.
This continued innovation is part of Taco Bell’s strategy to offer bold, flavorful options that keep customers returning for more. With all pastor-inspired dishes now on the horizon, Taco Bell fans have much to look forward to in the coming year.
Conclusion:
Taco Bell’s Chicken Al Pastor Street Chalupas will create buzz among Taco Bell and Chipotle fans. While Chipotle has long been known for its flavorful take on al pastor chicken, Taco Bell is proving that it, too, can deliver bold and delicious flavors with its unique street-style chalupas.
For now, the Chicken Al Pastor Street Chalupas are only available at select locations in Minneapolis. Still, if the test run is successful, customers nationwide could soon get to try them. Keep an eye out for more al pastor-inspired offerings from Taco Bell as the chain continues to experiment with exciting new flavors and menu items in 202
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