Don't Call it a Choco Taco: Taco Bell Just Reimagined an Iconic Dessert (with a Churro Twist)

Yo quiero tacos de helado

taco bell ice cream tacos
taco bell/candace davison

Taco Bell is betting big on nostalgia right now. Shortly after reviving its Decades Menu, featuring throwback items from its past, the brand partnered with small-batch ice cream biz Salt & Straw to create an elevated take on an ice cream taco. Available for a limited time only, the treat may remind you of the Choco Taco that used to be sold at the chain, but after sampling the treat firsthand, I can say: It's in a category all its own.

salt and straw ice cream taco by cooler
Candace Davison

Salt & Straw's known for its creative, cheffy takes on ice cream, and this treat is no different. It's a riff on the Tacolate that debuted last year at scoop shops, only the version sold at Taco Bell—officially dubbed the Salt & Straw Churro Ice Cream Taco—features a taco-shaped waffle cone filled with churro-flavored ice cream, then covered in puffed rice and a hard, dark chocolate-flavored coating.

salt and straw ice cream taco in wrapper
Candace Davison

There's an excellent snappiness to the dark chocolate-flavored coating, which is rich without skewing too sweet, a solid foil to the cinnamon-forward ice cream. (The cinnamon itself was a bit strong for me and made me wish it had a cream cheese swirl, inspired by the chain's Cinnabon Delights, for a tangy note.) It's a bit smaller than a regular taco, which makes the ice cream-to-waffle cone ratio a bit more favorable, in my opinion. With that and the puffed rice, there's a blend of textures in every bite, both crunchy and creamy.

While Salt & Straw Churro Ice Cream Taco is now available at Taco Bell stores nationwide, it's only there for a short run, so you may have to act quickly to get your hands on one. On that note, if you download the Taco Bell app and become a Rewards member, you'll have the chance to score a limited-edition Salt & Straw x Taco Bell cooler filled with three ice cream tacos, as well as a custom sticker sheet. You can enter for your chance to win on Tuesday, Sept. 8, at 5 p.m. ET, via the Tuesday Drop on the app.

taco bell ice cream taco
Candace Davison

And if you miss your chance to try the Churro Taco, you can swing by Salt & Straw—or visit their website—to try the Tacolate, which features cinnamon-ancho ice cream and puffed quinoa, and is available year-round.


candace davison bio

Candace Davison

VP of editorial content

  • Oversees home, food and commerce articles
  • Author of two cookbooks and has contributed recipes to three others
  • Named one of 2023's Outstanding Young Alumni at the University of South Florida, where she studied mass communications and business