Taco Bell's new carne asada is lime-paprika steak cooked sous vide, then seared and cubed taco-shop style. Six Cantina items with it started testing Thursday in two cities.
Taco Bell is testing carne asada, and it isn't simply the chain's regular steak with a new name.
The chain announced Thursday, Nov. 12, that a Cantina Carne Asada menu is now in a limited-time test at participating locations in Nashville, Tennessee, and the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, according to Taco Bell's newsroom.
The steak is marinated in lime and paprika, cooked sous vide, seared for a char and cut into cubes. Taco Bell says the citrus marinade, darker sear and taco-shop cut set it apart from the steak it serves now. Sous vide steak, from the home of the Crunchwrap. Fancy.
Every item comes with a packet of new Avocado Verde Salsa.
What's on the Taco Bell carne asada test menu?
Six items, all built around the new steak:
Cantina Carne Asada Chalupa Lime Bowl: Rice, black beans, carne asada, purple cabbage slaw, lettuce, guacamole, three-cheese blend, pico de gallo, reduced-fat sour cream, Spicy Ranch and Chile Lime Chalupa Chips
Cantina Carne Asada Burrito: A Sonoran-style flour tortilla with carne asada, slaw, lettuce, Spicy Ranch, cheese and pico, grilled to go
Cantina Carne Asada Crispy Taco: A fried white-corn shell with carne asada, Spicy Ranch and cheese inside, plus grilled cheese on the outside
Cantina Carne Asada Soft Taco: A Sonoran-style tortilla with carne asada, Spicy Ranch, slaw, cheese and pico
Cantina Carne Asada Rolled Quesadilla: Carne asada, cheese and Spicy Ranch, rolled, grilled and cut
Cantina Carne Asada Street Chalupa: A chalupa shell with a baked cheese layer inside, topped with carne asada, Spicy Ranch and cheese
The Sonoran-style tortilla and purple cabbage slaw are new for the test, too.
How much is Taco Bell's carne asada?
Taco Bell didn't list prices. It says prices, hours and participation vary by location, and the items are available "while supplies last." There's no end date.
For a rough idea, the Cantina Chicken versions of these items launched nationally in 2024 at $2.99 for the Crispy Taco and Soft Taco, $5.99 for the Burrito, $6.49 for the Quesadilla and $7.99 for the Bowl. Expect steak to cost at least that much.
Will Taco Bell's carne asada go nationwide?
Maybe. Taco Bell says the test could shape its future steak menu and that carne asada has the potential to become a permanent menu item. It hasn't announced a national rollout.
That's how the Cantina line started. Taco Bell launched its Cantina Chicken menu nationally on March 21, 2024, with slow-roasted chicken seasoned with garlic, onions and several chilies. Global chief food innovation officer Liz Matthews called it "a labor of love" at the time.
The carne asada test follows that chicken menu, Taco Bell said, and continues the Cantina lineup's expansion.
Has Taco Bell tested carne asada before?
Sort of. In October 2025, Taco Bell tested a Cantina Fajita menu at select Dallas locations, and those items could be made with carne asada or slow-roasted chicken, Parade reported. The bowl cost $7.99 either way.
Nashville and Minneapolis aren't new to this, either. That same October, Nashville tested Gordita Crunch Sliders and Minneapolis tested Diablo Nuggets, according to Parade. If you live in either city, congratulations: you're Taco Bell's favorite lab.
How do I find the Taco Bell carne asada test?
Taco Bell says only participating restaurants in the two test markets have it. A few tips:
Check the app. Set your store in the Taco Bell app and look for the Cantina Carne Asada items before you drive over.
Call ahead. Taco Bell tells customers to contact their local restaurant, since participation varies.
Go early. Test items can sell out, and these are "while supplies last."
Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.
Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
Hat Tips:
Taco Bell (Nov. 12, 2026), the carne asada test, cities, items and steak details
Taco Bell (March 14, 2024), the Cantina Chicken launch date, prices and Liz Matthews quote
Parade via Yahoo (Oct. 17, 2025), the 2025 Dallas carne asada option and earlier Nashville and Minneapolis tests
AI Disclosure: All articles are assigned, edited and reviewed by an experienced human editor before posting. Like most modern newsrooms, WebReef Media uses a variety of AI tools to help with accuracy and efficiency. Ways AI may be used in article creation include research, grammar, fact-checking and ideation, as well as occasional AI generated or enhanced thumbnails or graphics. No articles are generated or posted without human oversight or involvement.