Taco Bell Launching Their Gourmet ‘Cantina Bell’ Menu Nationwide

Taco Bell is taking their Cantina Bell Menu, a line of gourmet bowls and burritos featuring premium chef-driven ingredients, and offering them nationwide starting July 5th. All items are guaranteed to be under $5 each.

The menu initially only found its place in select test markets, featuring several different taco, burrito and salad bowl options all utilizing new whole black beans, citrus and herb marinated chicken and cilantro rice.

Comparisons to Chipotle’s vaguely similar menu offerings have been a topic of conversation since the first days of testing, and for obvious reason.  Despite these comparisons, the big push behind the new menu, as seen from Taco Bell’s end, is a theme of ‘quality,’ which will supported by various ad campaigns in the coming weeks.

The Cantina Bell was developed in conjunction with Lorena Garcia, a leading Latina chef and personality on the NBC television show America’s Next Great Restaurant.

Inspired by Chef Garcia, the new menu promotes eight ingredients including whole black beans, cilantro rice, 100-percent all-white meat chicken in a citrus and herb marinade, guacamole made with 100percent Hass avocado, fire-roasted corn salsa, creamy cilantro dressing, romaine lettuce and pico de gallo.

Here is nutritional information and pricing, provided by Taco Bell, for the two main products, the Cantina Bowl and the Cantina Burrito:

• Cantina Bowl: Chicken ($4.79, 560 calories, 22g total fat. 26g protein), Veggie ($4.79, 540 calories, 21g total fat, 14g protein), Steak ($4.99, 550 calories, 23g total fat, 22g protein)

• Cantina Burrito: Chicken ($4.79, 760 calories, 27g total fat, 32g protein), Veggie ($4.79, 740 calories, 26g total fat, 20g protein), Steak ($4.99, 750 calories, 28g total fat, 28g protein)

Sides are also an added option, allowing you to order chips and Garcia’s pico de gallo or fire-roasted corn salsa, chips and guacamole, or black beans and cilantro rice, each for $1.49.

Breakdown of the new ingredients is as follows, according to Taco Bell:

• Black Beans: We use black beans, not refried, and add a Latin Spice Blend of onion, garlic, cumin, chili powder, with other ingredients
• Cilantro Rice: Rice cooked in a cilantro seasoning that features onion, garlic, cilantro and parsley
• Citrus and Herb Marinated Chicken: Boneless, skinless chicken breast marinade that features garlic, onion, lemon, cilantro and tomatillo
• New Guacamole: Lorena-inspired guacamole made with Hass avocados, and blended with tomato, jalapeno, onion, cilantro and lemon juice and other ingredients
• Fire-Roasted Corn Salsa: Super Sweet yellow corn and fresh red and green bell peppers, fire roasted, with our Latin Spice Blend
• Creamy Cilantro Dressing: Lorena-inspired Creamy Cilantro dressing features cilantro blended with oil, lemon juice, vinegar and garlic, and other ingredients
• Pico de Gallo: Diced tomatoes and onions blended with fresh chopped cilantro and a tangy dressing made with lemon juice and vinegar