Shots have been fired in the chicken wars!
Starting Thursday (May 20th), Taco Bell is bringing back their popular Naked Chicken Chalupa "in all its classic crispy glory" in an effort to compete with the ever-escalating chicken sandwich wars. Taco Bell Rewards members can get an early taste on Wednesday (May 19th) using the Taco Bell app.
"When you look at the industry, you see the same sandwich being introduced as new everywhere, but at Taco Bell, being a follower isn't our philosophy," noted Liz Matthews, Taco Bell's Chief Food Innovation Officer, in an amusingly snarky press release. "We've listened to our fans, and we're confident this is the perfect time to bring back this fan-favorite.
"The Naked Chicken Chalupa is just the beginning of Taco Bell's chicken offerings this year," she added.
Taco Bell describes the Naked Chicken Chalupa as all white-meat chicken marinated in Mexican spices, rolled in a crunchy coating, crisped to perfection, and loaded up with lettuce, cheddar cheese, diced tomatoes, and avocado ranch sauce. It's sold a la carte for $3.49 at most restaurants, or in a Crispy Chalupa Box for $5.99, which also includes a Beef Burrito, Crunchy Taco, and medium fountain drink.
Meanwhile, Taco Bell has also shared their mini-mockumentary about the role of the Naked Chicken Chalupa in the great chicken wars. Watch here: