Everything You Need to Know About the New Taco Bell Ice Cream Taco

The legendary ice cream taco has officially entered its prestige era. For decades, the phrase "Taco Bell ice cream taco" was synonymous with the Klondike Choco Taco, a foil-wrapped staple of childhood summers and late-night drive-thru runs. However, following the shock discontinuation of the Choco Taco in 2022, a massive void was left in the frozen dessert market. Today, that void has been filled by a sophisticated, culinary-driven successor: The Tacolate.

Born from a high-profile collaboration between Taco Bell and the artisan ice cream icons at Salt & Straw, the new ice cream taco is not merely a replacement—it is a complete reimagining. This version trades mass-produced simplicity for hand-pressed waffle cones, single-origin chocolate, and adventurous spice profiles. If you are searching for the nostalgic treat of your youth or the next viral food sensation, understanding the evolution of this dessert is essential.

The Rise and Fall of the Original Choco Taco

To understand why the new Salt & Straw collaboration is such a significant cultural moment, one must first look back at the original icon. The Choco Taco was invented in 1983 by Alan Drazen, a manager at the Jack and Jill Ice Cream Company in Philadelphia. It was a brilliant piece of marketing geometry: take the flavors of a standard ice cream cone—vanilla ice cream, fudge swirl, chocolate coating, and peanuts—and fold them into a taco shape to capitalize on the booming popularity of Mexican cuisine in the United States.

For years, Taco Bell was the primary national stage for the Choco Taco. It became an essential part of the menu, providing the perfect cool-down after a meal of spicy burritos and crunchy tacos. However, the partnership eventually cooled, and Taco Bell removed the item from its menus around 2015. While the Choco Taco lived on in gas station freezers and ice cream trucks for a few more years, the end came in July 2022 when Klondike (owned by Unilever) announced it was discontinuing the product due to production complexities and a need to streamline their portfolio.

The internet’s reaction was immediate and visceral. From social media memorials to petitions for its return, the disappearance of the Choco Taco proved that the public was not ready to say goodbye to the concept of a taco-shaped dessert. It was this specific wave of nostalgia that paved the way for the Salt & Straw partnership.

What is the New Taco Bell Salt and Straw Tacolate?

The "Tacolate" is the result of nearly a decade of intermittent research and development by Tyler Malek, the co-founder and head ice cream innovator at Salt & Straw. Unlike the original Choco Taco, which utilized reduced-fat vanilla ice cream and a soft, often soggy waffle shell, the Tacolate is a premium product designed to maintain its texture and flavor integrity even during shipping.

The Anatomy of the Tacolate

The construction of this new ice cream taco is a feat of food engineering. Every element has been upgraded:

• The Shell: A hand-pressed waffle cone that is significantly thicker and crunchier than its predecessor. To prevent the ice cream from making the waffle soggy, the interior is painted with a layer of chocolate before the filling is added.
• The Ice Cream: Instead of plain vanilla, the Tacolate features Cinnamon Ancho Chili ice cream. This flavor profile pays homage to Mexican chocolate and churro traditions, offering a creamy sweetness followed by a subtle, warming heat.
• The Coating: The entire taco is dipped in high-quality, single-origin dark chocolate.
• The Toppings: Eschewing the traditional peanuts, which can go stale or lose crunch, Salt & Straw uses toasted brown rice and crispy puffed quinoa. These add a sophisticated "pop" and a nut-like toastiness without the allergen concerns or texture issues of nuts.

The Secret Sauce Packets

In a move that leans heavily into Taco Bell’s brand identity, each Tacolate comes with two custom-developed sauce packets. These are not your standard chocolate or caramel drizzles; they are culinary experiments designed to be squeezed directly onto the ice cream:

1. Mango Jalapeño Sauce: A bright, tropical sauce that balances fruit acidity with a spicy kick. It is designed to interact with the ancho chili in the ice cream, creating a complex sweet-savory-spicy experience.
2. Wildberry Cinnamon Sauce: A sweeter, more traditional dessert topping that emphasizes the Pacific Northwest berry heritage of Salt & Straw while reinforcing the cinnamon notes in the ice cream.

The Technology Behind the Treat

One of the most fascinating aspects of the Tacolate is the sheer technical difficulty involved in its creation. Tyler Malek has noted that the process was nearly ten years in the making because standard ice cream machinery simply couldn't handle the delicate nature of a hand-pressed taco shell at a national scale.

To bring the Tacolate to market, Salt & Straw collaborated with a Polish equipment company to design a multi-million-dollar custom machine. This production line utilizes three different robots and over two dozen conveyor belts to replicate the movements of a human chef. These robots are responsible for the precise "hand-pressing" of the waffle cones and the intricate dipping process that ensures the chocolate shell is even and resilient. This blend of artisan recipe development and high-tech manufacturing is what allows the Tacolate to be shipped nationwide without arriving as a melted, broken mess.

Where can I buy the Taco Bell ice cream taco?

It is vital for fans to know that the Tacolate is not sold at Taco Bell restaurant locations. You cannot pull into a Taco Bell drive-thru and order one of these with your Cheesy Gordita Crunch. Instead, the distribution is handled through Salt & Straw’s established premium channels.

Salt & Straw Physical Locations

The Tacolate is available at participating Salt & Straw scoop shops. These shops are located in major metropolitan hubs, including:

• Oregon: Portland, Eugene
• Washington: Seattle
• California: Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Orange County
• Nevada: Las Vegas
• Arizona: Phoenix/Scottsdale
• Florida: Miami, Disney Springs
• New York: New York City (Upper West Side, West Village)
• New England: Select locations

Nationwide Shipping and Online Availability

For those who do not live near a physical Salt & Straw shop, the Tacolate can be ordered online through the Salt & Straw website. Because of the specialized packaging required to keep the items frozen during transit—utilizing dry ice and insulated coolers—these are typically sold in 6-packs.

The online launch has been historically volatile. During the initial release in October 2025, the product reportedly sold out within 10 minutes. Fans are encouraged to follow both Salt & Straw and Taco Bell on social media to receive alerts for "restock" events.

Is the Tacolate worth the premium price?

With a single Tacolate retailing for approximately $8 in-store and 6-packs priced around $65 (including specialized shipping), this is a significant step up from the $2.00 gas station Choco Tacos of the past. Based on extensive culinary testing and consumer feedback, here is how the experience holds up.

The Texture Experience

The most immediate difference is the "crunch factor." Traditional ice cream tacos often suffered from a "leathery" shell. The Tacolate’s shell is undeniably crisp. The inclusion of toasted brown rice and quinoa provides a multidimensional crunch that lasts until the very last bite. The chocolate coating is thick enough to provide a satisfying snap without being so hard that it shatters and falls off the taco.

The Flavor Profile

The Cinnamon Ancho Chili ice cream is the star of the show. For those worried about the "chili" aspect, it is important to note that the spice is exceptionally mild. It doesn't sting; rather, it provides a depth of flavor that makes the chocolate taste richer. The mango jalapeño sauce is the more polarizing of the two extras—some tasters find the savory-spicy notes too aggressive for a dessert, while others praise it as the most innovative part of the collaboration. The wildberry cinnamon sauce is a crowd-pleaser, adding a jammy sweetness that pairs perfectly with the dark chocolate.

Comparison: Choco Taco vs. Tacolate

Why the Ice Cream Taco Matters in 2025

The return of the ice cream taco in this new form is a masterclass in modern brand strategy. Taco Bell has long been a pioneer in "food mashups," starting with the Doritos Locos Taco. By partnering with Salt & Straw, they are elevating their brand from "affordable fast food" to "lifestyle and culinary innovator."

For Salt & Straw, the collaboration provides a massive national platform to showcase their chef-driven approach. It proves that artisan quality can be scaled if the right technology is applied. Furthermore, the Tacolate fits into the broader trend of "nostalgia bait"—the act of taking a beloved, discontinued item from the 80s or 90s and bringing it back as a limited-edition, high-end experience.

What is the future of the Taco Bell ice cream taco?

While the current Tacolate is marketed as a limited-time offering or a seasonal restock item, the success of the partnership suggests a long-term future. There have been hints from Taco Bell’s "Live Más Live" events that more flavors could be on the horizon.

Given the modular nature of the Tacolate’s design, it isn't hard to imagine future iterations. We could see a "Baja Blast" sorbet taco, a "Dulce de Leche" variant, or even a collaboration involving Taco Bell’s famous Cinnabon Delights. For now, the Cinnamon Ancho Chili version remains the definitive modern take on a classic.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can I buy the ice cream taco at Taco Bell drive-thrus?

No. The Tacolate is exclusively available through Salt & Straw scoop shops and their official website for nationwide shipping. It is not stocked in Taco Bell restaurants.

Is the Choco Taco ever coming back to grocery stores?

Klondike has not officially announced a permanent return of the original Choco Taco. While they have hinted at "future possibilities," the Salt & Straw Tacolate is currently the only official way to enjoy a Taco Bell-affiliated ice cream taco.

Does the ice cream taco contain nuts?

Unlike the original Choco Taco which featured peanuts, the new Salt & Straw Tacolate uses toasted brown rice and puffed quinoa as its primary crunchy topping. However, consumers with severe allergies should always check the latest ingredient list on the Salt & Straw website, as cross-contamination in production facilities is always a possibility.

How much does the Tacolate cost?

In physical Salt & Straw shops, a single Tacolate is approximately $8. For online orders, they are typically sold in 6-packs for around $65, which includes the cost of dry ice and specialized frozen shipping containers.

Why is there chili in the ice cream?

The ancho chili is used to create a "Mexican Chocolate" flavor profile. It is not meant to be "hot" like a hot sauce, but rather to add a subtle warmth and complexity that enhances the cinnamon and chocolate flavors.

Summary of the Tacolate Experience

The evolution of the Taco Bell ice cream taco from a simple vending machine treat to a $8 robotic-engineered masterpiece reflects the changing landscape of American food culture. While we may mourn the simplicity of the original Choco Taco, the Salt & Straw Tacolate offers a vastly superior culinary experience.

With its extra-crunchy shell, sophisticated spice profile, and innovative sauce packets, the Tacolate is more than just a dessert—it's a statement piece. Whether you're ordering a 6-pack for a nostalgic party or visiting a shop in NYC or LA to try one fresh, the new ice cream taco proves that some things really do get better with age and a little bit of culinary ambition. Keep an eye on the Salt & Straw restock calendars, as this is one treat that doesn't stay on the shelves for long.