Choco Taco Taco Bell searches are heating up again after Taco Bell introduced a new ice cream taco with Salt & Straw across participating U.S. restaurants. The limited-time dessert arrived September 1, 2026, bringing a new take on the nostalgic ice cream taco concept that many customers associate with the discontinued Klondike treat.
The latest release is not the original Klondike dessert. Taco Bell’s new offering features Salt & Straw’s Churro Ice Cream inside a crispy waffle cone shell. It also comes with a dark chocolate-flavored coating and puffed rice for extra crunch.
The launch marks a major change from the earlier Taco Bell and Salt & Straw collaboration. The previous Tacolate became a popular limited release, but customers had to visit Salt & Straw locations to try it. This time, Taco Bell is bringing the new ice cream taco directly to its restaurants nationwide.
The Latest Ice Cream Taco Update
Taco Bell launched the Salt & Straw Churro Ice Cream Taco on September 1, 2026.
The dessert is available for a limited time at participating Taco Bell locations across the United States. Customers can find it in stores while supplies last.
The starting price is $3.99 before tax. Actual prices can vary by location.
The new dessert combines several textures in one handheld treat:
- Crispy waffle cone shell
- Creamy Churro Ice Cream
- Dark chocolate-flavored coating
- Puffed rice for crunch
- Taco-shaped presentation
The product was created exclusively for Taco Bell through its collaboration with Salt & Straw. The companies developed a new flavor specifically for this restaurant release.
That makes the 2026 product different from the original Choco Taco and the earlier Tacolate.
Is the Original Choco Taco Back at Taco Bell?
No. The original Klondike Choco Taco has not returned as a nationwide Taco Bell menu item.
Klondike discontinued the Choco Taco in 2022. The company ended production of the iconic frozen dessert after decades on the market.
The original treat featured vanilla ice cream inside a taco-shaped waffle cone. It was covered with chocolate and peanuts.
Taco Bell’s new dessert uses a similar taco-shaped ice cream format, but it is a separate product.
The distinction matters because the current launch may look like a comeback at first glance. Taco Bell is using the familiar ice cream taco format, but the ingredients and collaboration are different.
Customers searching for the original product should not expect to receive the old Klondike recipe at Taco Bell.
Instead, the current menu item represents a new interpretation of the nostalgic dessert.
Why Taco Bell Is Bringing Back the Ice Cream Taco Concept
Taco Bell’s latest launch follows strong interest in its previous collaboration with Salt & Straw.
The companies introduced the Tacolate in 2025. That product combined a taco-shaped waffle cone with cinnamon-ancho ice cream, dark chocolate and crunchy toppings.
The Tacolate quickly attracted attention and sold out during its launch weekend.
The response gave both brands a reason to revisit the concept.
For the 2026 collaboration, the companies decided to create a completely new version rather than simply repeat the previous release.
The result is the Churro Ice Cream Taco.
This time, Taco Bell is also making the product much easier for its customers to find. The 2026 dessert is being sold at participating Taco Bell restaurants nationwide instead of being limited primarily to Salt & Straw scoop shops.
What Makes the New Dessert Different
The biggest difference is the ice cream.
The new Taco Bell dessert uses Churro Ice Cream developed by Salt & Straw. Its flavor profile is built around the familiar taste of churros, giving the dessert a cinnamon-forward character.
The ice cream sits inside a crispy waffle cone shell.
A dark chocolate-flavored coating surrounds the outside, adding a rich chocolate component. Puffed rice provides another layer of texture.
The combination creates a dessert that mixes creamy, crunchy, sweet and chocolate flavors.
It also gives Taco Bell a dessert that looks immediately recognizable without copying the discontinued Klondike product.
The taco shape remains the central visual feature.
How the New Taco Compares With the Original
The similarities between the two desserts are easy to see.
Both use a taco-shaped waffle shell. Both combine ice cream with chocolate. Both are designed to be eaten as a handheld frozen dessert.
The differences are just as important.
| Feature | Original Klondike Choco Taco | 2026 Taco Bell Ice Cream Taco |
|---|---|---|
| Ice cream | Vanilla | Churro |
| Shell | Waffle cone | Crispy waffle cone |
| Chocolate | Chocolate coating | Dark chocolate-flavored coating |
| Crunch | Peanuts | Puffed rice |
| Brand | Klondike | Taco Bell and Salt & Straw |
| Current status | Discontinued | Limited-time release |
The new version therefore should be viewed as a fresh dessert inspired by the same general format.
It is not a relaunch of the original Klondike product.
The 2025 Tacolate Set the Stage
The latest release follows the success of the 2025 Tacolate.
That dessert represented the first major collaboration between Taco Bell and Salt & Straw around the ice cream taco concept.
The Tacolate featured a cinnamon-ancho ice cream center and a hand-pressed waffle cone shell. Dark chocolate and crunchy toppings completed the dessert.
Customers could also pair it with sauces inspired by Taco Bell flavors.
The product became a major talking point when it launched. Demand quickly exceeded expectations, and the initial supply sold out during the opening weekend.
That response helped convince the companies that the ice cream taco format still had significant customer appeal.
The 2026 release takes the idea into a different setting.
Instead of asking customers to visit Salt & Straw, Taco Bell is putting the new product inside its own restaurant network.
Where the New Ice Cream Taco Is Available
The Salt & Straw Churro Ice Cream Taco is available at participating Taco Bell locations nationwide.
That means customers in different parts of the country have an opportunity to try the dessert.
However, Taco Bell has made the product a limited-time offering.
Availability also depends on individual restaurant participation and inventory.
Customers should therefore check their local Taco Bell before making a trip specifically for the dessert.
Once supplies run out, individual locations may stop selling it even if the broader promotion remains active elsewhere.
The company has not presented the item as a permanent addition to its regular menu.
How Much Does It Cost?
The advertised starting price for the Churro Ice Cream Taco is $3.99 before tax.
Taco Bell notes that prices can vary by restaurant.
That means some customers may see a different price depending on their location.
The dessert is being offered separately rather than as part of a standard meal combination.
Because it is a limited-time product, customers who want to try it should not assume it will remain available for an extended period.
Taco Bell’s Other Salt & Straw Dessert
The collaboration does not stop with the ice cream taco.
Taco Bell has also introduced the Salt & Straw Choco-Waffle Chiller.
This frozen drink is available exclusively through select Live Más Café locations.
The Chiller uses a rich vanilla ice cream base blended with churro crumbles and waffle cone pieces.
A chocolate shell surrounds the drink. Whipped cream and additional waffle cone pieces finish the beverage.
The starting price is $4.69.
The Chiller is available at participating Live Más Café locations in California, Las Vegas, Houston and Dallas while supplies last.
It gives customers another way to experience the same dessert-inspired flavors.
However, the Chiller should not be confused with the nationwide Churro Ice Cream Taco.
The two products share the Salt & Straw collaboration but have different formats and availability.
The New Dessert Is Designed for Nostalgia
Taco Bell has positioned the latest collaboration around nostalgia.
The ice cream taco format has strong recognition among Americans who remember frozen desserts from earlier decades.
The original Klondike product became particularly familiar through grocery stores, convenience stores and ice cream trucks.
Its unusual taco shape helped it stand apart from traditional ice cream bars.
Taco Bell is now using that familiar format while giving it a modern flavor profile.
Churro Ice Cream replaces the classic vanilla center.
Puffed rice replaces the traditional peanut topping.
Dark chocolate provides the coating.
The result is familiar enough to trigger recognition while remaining clearly different from the discontinued product.
What Customers Can Expect From the Flavor
The Churro Ice Cream Taco centers on the flavor combination of cinnamon, ice cream and chocolate.
The Churro Ice Cream brings the main flavor.
The waffle cone adds a crisp texture and a toasted sweetness.
Dark chocolate provides a stronger contrast against the creamy ice cream.
Puffed rice adds crunch without introducing the peanut topping associated with the original dessert.
Together, the components create several textures in one bite.
The taco shape also makes the dessert different from a conventional scoop of ice cream or frozen bar.
For customers who remember the original product, the overall experience may feel familiar even though the flavor itself has changed.
Taco Bell’s September 8 Fan Promotion
Taco Bell is also giving Rewards members another opportunity to engage with the collaboration.
On September 8, 2026, Taco Bell Rewards members can enter a Tuesday Drop through the Taco Bell app.
The promotion begins at 2 p.m. Pacific Time and ends at 3 p.m. Pacific Time.
One hundred winners will receive a limited-edition Taco Bell and Salt & Straw decorated cooler.
Each cooler includes three Churro Ice Cream Tacos.
The promotion also includes a custom sticker sheet.
Eligible participants must meet Taco Bell’s stated requirements. The promotion is open to qualifying Rewards members who are legal residents of the contiguous 48 states and Washington, D.C., excluding Alaska and Hawaii.
Participants must be at least 16 years old. Minors need parental permission to enter.
No purchase is required to enter.
The promotion gives fans another reason to follow the limited-time release closely.
Salt & Straw’s Original Tacolate Is Still Available
Customers who want to try the earlier Tacolate still have another option.
Salt & Straw continues to offer its original Cinnamon Ancho Tacolate at its scoop shops.
The company also makes the product available for nationwide shipping through its website.
That product remains separate from Taco Bell’s new Churro Ice Cream Taco.
The original Tacolate uses cinnamon-ancho ice cream and a taco-shaped waffle cone shell.
It also includes dark chocolate and crunchy toppings.
This creates another choice for customers interested in the ice cream taco format.
However, neither the Tacolate nor Taco Bell’s new dessert is the original Klondike Choco Taco.
Why the Distinction Matters for Fans
The name and appearance of the current dessert can easily lead to confusion.
Many customers remember Taco Bell’s connection to the original Klondike product.
Taco Bell previously sold the Choco Taco and even worked with Klondike on a limited return in 2022.
That earlier promotion involved a small number of Taco Bell restaurants.
The product was later discontinued by Klondike.
The current Taco Bell collaboration happened years later and involves a different ice cream company.
Salt & Straw created the new Churro Ice Cream specifically for the collaboration.
The dessert therefore represents a new chapter rather than a restoration of the old menu item.
What the September 2026 Launch Means
The new release gives Taco Bell customers nationwide access to an ice cream taco again.
That is the biggest development for fans who remember the older dessert.
Taco Bell has also expanded the concept beyond a single frozen item.
The Churro Ice Cream Taco provides the handheld dessert.
The Choco-Waffle Chiller offers a frozen beverage inspired by the same flavor combination.
Together, the products show how Taco Bell and Salt & Straw are continuing to develop the ice cream taco idea.
The companies have moved from a highly limited collaboration to a broader restaurant launch.
That shift makes the latest release more significant than another small test.
How Long Will It Be Available?
Taco Bell has described the Churro Ice Cream Taco as a limited-time product.
The company has not announced a permanent place for it on the regular menu.
Availability also depends on supplies.
This means customers should not assume the dessert will remain in restaurants for months.
The exact end date has not been established as a permanent nationwide menu date.
Individual locations may also sell out earlier.
For anyone interested in trying the product, checking local availability before visiting is the safest approach.
The Bottom Line
The latest Taco Bell ice cream taco release brings a familiar dessert format back into the spotlight without bringing back the original Klondike recipe.
The new Salt & Straw Churro Ice Cream Taco combines Churro Ice Cream, a crispy waffle cone shell, dark chocolate-flavored coating and puffed rice.
It launched at participating Taco Bell locations nationwide on September 1, 2026, with a starting price of $3.99 before tax.
The release follows the strong response to the 2025 Tacolate collaboration.
For longtime fans, the new dessert offers a nostalgic shape with a completely different flavor profile. For anyone hoping to find the original Klondike version, the status remains unchanged: that product has not returned.
The current Taco Bell release is a new collaboration, not the original frozen treat.
Have you tried Taco Bell’s latest ice cream taco yet, or are you still hoping for the original version to return? Share your thoughts and stay tuned for the latest confirmed updates.