The key feature of the test item is a "freshly fried white corn shell," which resembles something you might get if you fried your own corn tortillas at home rather than something you bought from the supermarket in a pack of 10 or 12.
Beyond the white corn shell, the Cantina Crispy Melt Taco features a melted layer of nacho cheese sauce and three-cheese blend along with seasoned beef, reduced-fat sour cream, lettuce, cheddar cheese, and tomatoes (i.e. the regular filling for a Taco Supreme with the addition of the melted cheese layer).
For those opting for a vegetarian version, the option to swap out seasoned beef for black beans is available.
The pricing on the Cantina Crispy Melt Taco by itself stands at $1.99. It's also available in a $5 Box along with a Beef Chalupa Supreme, Crunchy Taco, and medium fountain drink.
Taco Bell has used the term "Cantina" for various things in the past. Back in 2010, they used it for a limited-time line of street-style tacos. Then, in 2012, it was used for the Chipotle-like Cantina Bell menu that was eventually discontinued. More recently, they use it for their Taco Bell Cantina restaurants, which are mostly urban locations that sport a fancier look, open kitchen, and a custom menu that includes alcohol.
Photo via Taco Bell.
