Taco Bell is testing a new vegetarian menu exclusively in Dallas. And that's no bull.
Starting April 4, the California-based fast-food company will start selling two new items to Dallas consumers: a vegetarian Crunchwrap Supreme ($3.70) and a vegetarian Quesarito ($3.05). Both are currently sold at Taco Bells nationwide with beef; these new veg options trade the beef for black beans.
The company will tack on a third item, the existing vegetarian 7-Layer Burrito ($3.22), and debut the trifecta as a "vegetarian menu."
Dallas may not be thought of as a hub for vegetarian or vegan menus, but the Texas Rangers' ballpark was named PETA's No. 1 vegan-friendly ballpark in the country in 2017. Great vegetarian and vegan restaurants can be found across North Texas. And, seriously: We don't all ride horses and eat steak dinners.
All three items on Taco Bell's vegetarian menu are American Vegetarian Association certified, according to a press release. Taco Bell pledged to be "better for vegetarians and flexitarians" in a list of seven commitments it promised customers in early 2019. A flexitarian is a person who eats mostly plants but consumes meat occasionally.
Taco Bell staffer Missy Schaaphok told Business Insider that the company sells about 350 million vegetarian items a year. Company execs wouldn't say whether Taco Bell will start experimenting with fake meat products like the Impossible Burger, Forbes reports. But fast-food companies are increasingly tapping into consumer interests like meatless, lower-cal or "clean" menu options.
The black bean Crunchwrap Supreme can be made vegan if a customer requests no sour cream and no cheese. (An easy way to turn an item vegan is to ask for it "Fresco style," VegNews points out.) The veggie Quesarito would be harder to make vegan, since four of its seven ingredients contain milk or eggs.
The 7-Layer Burrito, available nationwide now, is a vegetarian burrito loaded with beans, reduced-fat sour cream, tomatoes, three-cheese blend, rice, lettuce and guacamole.
Here are calorie counts:
- Vegetarian Crunchwrap Supreme: 510 calories
- 7-Layer Burrito: 440 calories
- Vegetarian Quesarito: 630 calories
The new items will be sold at 200 Taco Bells in Dallas, according to a spokesperson. They consider Dallas a "strong representation of the general public," according to a statement.
Depending on how the test goes, the products may be launched nationwide in late 2019 or early 2020.
Update at 1:30 p.m. April 3, 2019: This story has been updated with pricing and the number of stores testing the vegetarian menu.
